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FM10 - From the Top Down
FM2010
English Premier League: Tottenham Apologizes to Radii for ripping off his dynasty thread title, but here is the setup. This is my first FM purchase ever, just a few weeks ago, and I suck. I have toyed around with a few L1, L2 and BSP teams and figured a few things out. I am currently playing as Rushden in BSP, but I wanted to try a big name team. I read on CNNSI that the Yankees were looking into buying Tottenham, so I figure they must be pretty good, right? Why not try a career with them and see how quick I can sink them (not on purpose, I told you I suck at this game). Most likely I'll get fired before I can do any real damage. The goals? Win the Premier League. Win some of those Cup competitions they play? I don't get very excited about those since they hold no prestige to me personally, but I guess they are pretty important to the English! Coach a WC team. We begin in July 2009. July 7, 2009 Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chair, welcomes me to White Heart Lane. He has given me a 2 year contract worth $2,900,000 per year. Clearly I work for a deranged individual! Our fans call us the Spurs. Why? I have no idea. We have rivalries with Chelsea and Arsenal. I have heard of them. I set up with a 4-4-2 formation for now, because that is about all I know. I toyed with a 4-3-3 in FMH and I like that, but I am going to keep it super simple for now. The board asks me what my goals are for this year. I stay conservative and tell them a top half finish. They give me $10 million to blow....I mean spend, and an annual payroll budget of $80 million. Sounds good to me. The first thing I do as a good soccer manager is review my roster. This should be fun. The numerical representations of my player's skills means nothing to me, so I pretty much go exclusively by the star ratings and what my assistant coach tells me, and later by their match ratings. Keepers, or as I call them, Goalies. My best Keeper is missing a first name, or maybe a last name. He goes by Gomes. He is just 28 years old and rated 4 stars. You really have to love what my assistant thinks his strength is: Shot Stopping Well fuck, it better be, he is a goalie! We have an old Italian guy backing him up. 35 year old Cudicini. 3 stars. Jimmy Walker is third string. DY-NO-MITE! Defense – Left If anybody actually is reading this, can you tell me what WB means under position? Some of my guys are not only defensive players but WB's. I completely ignore that for now. 25 year old Benoit Assou-Ekotto is the best I got here, and he is only 3 stars. His backup, Gareth Bale looks to have a higher ceiling, but he is injured right now and is clearly not ready to be a starter. Defense – Right Not much better over on this side. 23 year old Vedran Corluka is my best bet to start. He is 3 stars. Kyle Walker backs him up. Defense – Center We are better down the middle. 28 year old Ledley King is our best overall defender. He is rated 4 stars. 29 year old Jonathan Woodgate is 3.5 stars and will probably be our other starter, but he is injured right now. We have some nice depth here with 22 year old Sebasten Bassong and 23 year old Younes Kaboul both checking in at 3 stars and injured 25 year old Michael Dawson with 2.5 stars. So best as I can tell, here is our defense, assuming everyone is healthy by the time the season starts: Assou-Ekotto King Woodgate Corluka It seems to me that some of the $10,000,000 should go to left and right defenders. Midfield – Another question for the experienced FM reader. Why are some midfields attacking and some are just midfielders and then some others, but only centers are defensive midfielders? Midfield – Left None of my players BEST position is ML, nut a couple of them can play there, including 23 year old Luka Modric, who rates 4.5 stars. That must mean he is real good! Also, Niko Kranjar, 24 years old, is rated 3.5 stars. Midfield – Right 24 year old David Bentley is the best, but that is not saying much. He is rated just 3 stars and Aaron Lennon, 22 years old, will back him up at 2.5 stars. Midfield – Center We are solid, but not spectacular here. 24 year old Wilson Palacios gets one spot being the best we have. He is 4 stars. We also have a pair of guys rated 3.5 stars, so I guess I'll give them both some starts and see who I hate the least. 22 year old Tom Huddlestone and Niko Kranjar....oh, I just noticed I have him as the left side backup. I guess he can be a versatile player for me. We also have a couple slouches to fill in, so we have depth in the middle once again. So, when healthy, we have: Modric Palacios Huddlestone Bentley Midfield right is going to be another area I should try to address. Strikes – I know what these guys do. They score the goals. Whats the difference between a ST and a FC? Probably like most FM amateurs, I love highly rated strikers. Well, I only have one. 26 year old Jermaine Defoe is going to be counted on heavily by me to put the round ball in the gigantic net. He is rated 4 stars. 28 year old Peter Crouch is 3.5 stars and is clearly my second best striker. We have a couple guys that are OK to back them up, both of them are loaners. |
So I check out who is transfer listed, knowing I would like to improve my DL/DR and MR positions. I get report cars on guys that are listed in the 3-5 million dollar range. It turns out they would all suck.
So, I start thinking about just spending the whole pot of money on one player and request a few more report cards. These guys all turn out to be similar to what I already have. It would give me some depth, but that doesn't really make my starting lineup better. So, for now I guess I sit on this money and maybe make some moves as the season wears on. |
As I advance the calendar towaards my friendly matches I start getting offers for King and Assou, two of my best players. Of course, I reject them. They were not even great offers.
I'm sure that is just going to piss these guys off, they will ruin team chemistry, blah blah blah. I don't care, they are staying put. Also, I guess I understand teams from other countries asking about these guys, but ManU? Really? I'm just gonna sell off my best defender to you guys because you are ManU? I hate them already. |
:D I like it. I'll be reading!
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We hit late July and the friendly matches and I get an interesting offer. My starting ML, Modric is valued at over $12 mil. Man City come in with an offer of over $25 mil for him. He is rated the top player on my squad though, at 4.5 stars.
They have given me a week to think about it. Any thoughts? I don't think I want to sell him, but they are offering double what he seems to be worth! |
As we wrap up my first month in charge, not much else happens. Here is a quick run down...
1) Some unemployed fitness coach announces he wants to join my team. I say sure, why not and offer him a contract. He accepts. My boards says, WTF are you doing? We don't need any more coaches. They neg the deal. Sorry unemployed dude, hit the welfare lines, or whatever they have in England. 2) A few more offers come in for my good players, I reject them all. ManU continues to harass me for a couple of my players. At one point, after rejecting them, they approach me and ask me what I would want for Assou, my DL. Fed up with these pricks, I tell them $330,000,000. The politely withdraw their offer. 3) I loan out some youngsters, and reject a few loan offers for a backup on my squad. 4) I discover I have some players OUT on loan. One seems pretty good as a transfer offer came in. I can't get a report card on him and I can't figure out how to recall him to my squad so I can take a better look at him. Oh well. Well, besides that, not much else going on. I see my first match will be on the road at Arsenal. That can't be good! |
A WB is kind of a hybrid fullback / midfielder. If you look at the positions on the tactics screen, the wingback can occupy the space between the fullback and the midfielder position (hopefully that makes sense). Not many tactics use wingbacks any longer though.
Central midfielders, as you have noticed, can fall into 3 different categories. The normal CM is basically your guy who plays in central midfield, running around and passing the ball. The attacking midfielder can often (but not always) play in the central midfield position and they tend to be offensive players with poorer defensive stats. They can also play just behind the strikers. The defensive midfielder is the opposite, i.e. better defense but poorer offense (though they can actually sit back and spray offensive passes in the right tactic). There is a transfer window so if you choose not to buy any players, you will have to put up with your squad until the window opens again. |
I advance up to my first real match, against Arsenal. Still not much happening, though I wish I could figure out how to get some of my loaned out players back to me. A couple of them seem pretty useful.
I loan out a couple other youngsters with some potential. Basically, I'm just trying not to mess things up too much yet, and see how ym team performs on the field for a month or two before I go making changes. Also, I'll get into match reports, but I want to try and do a dynasty report where I just talk about my thoughts on the team and the game universe as I advance. We'll see how that works out. |
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That actually made sense, and was helpful. Thanks! |
Re the loaned out players: Some players cannot be recalled because a fee has been paid for the loan. If this happened before you took over the club, that's likely why you can't find an option.
If I remember right, what you need to do is to right click on the player's name, go to "Transfer and Contracts" and there should be an option to "Recall" (or something like that). |
August 15, 2009
Tottenham at Arsenal I was hoping my debut match would be at home, and maybe a bit easier, but no such luck. I am thrown right into the fire for my opening match. As I put together my lineup, I notice a few things that are quite concerning. I outlined what I thought was going to be my starting 11 earlier when I initially reviewed my squad. Well, two of my projected starts on the defensive line are dealing with injuries and are out for this match. Even more disturbing is the fact that my star striker, Jermain Defoe took a sudden drop from 3.5 stars to 2.5 stars in a months time. I have to scramble to put together a new lineup and here is what we go with for the first match (with star ratings) GK Gomes (3.5) – Oh sweet, he dropped a half a star as well. WTF is going on?? DL Assou-Ekotto (3) DC Bassong (3) DC King (3.5) DR Kaboul (3) ML Modric (4.5) MC Palacios (4) MC Huddlestone (3) MR Lennon (2.5) ST Pavyluchenko (3) ST Crouch (3) We will come out in our 4-4-2 with a defensive mindset and hope for at least a draw, maybe even steal something here even though we are 3-1 dogs. 14 min: Arsenal puts the pressure on us early and often, finally getting the first strike of the match. Nicholas Bendtner drills one from just outside the big box. 0-1 32 min: We continue to be under the gun, but Gomes bails us out with a few pretty nice saves. Up until this point we haven't even made a serious threat on their goal. We finally get something going....I don't know exactly what, but a couple of headers in front of the goal, Arsenal looked all confused and then I see the ball bounce off one of their heads and into the goal! 1-1 on a total fluke, but I'll take it! I find it funny that my guys are celebrating their asses off and I tell them to calm the fuck down, we didn't even score that one. 40 min: Our showboating pissed Arsenal off and they go back on a serious attack. Lucky for us they kick a few wide. Then a throw in from the side and about 8 people go up for the header and Assou Ekotto gets called for a penalty. I scream at the refs, I scream at the players, I scream at my monitor. Of course Bendtner drills it for his second goal. 1-2. 62 min: I need to get a goal back so I switch to an attacking mindset in the second half. MY guy gets bulldozed in the box and I know that has to be a penalty. Instead Arsenal punts the ball out for a throw in and no penalty called. I am furious now. 76 min: I bring in a couple sets of fresh legs. Dafoe gets a chance at Striker and Niko Kranjar comes in at MC. 78 min: A golden opportunity. One of the few threats we have....a big shot deflects off the Keeper right onto the foot of one of my guys...not even sure who. It is just him and the keeper in the little box right in front of the goal. My guy kicks it right into the keeper's chest. Heartbreaking. 84 min: I switch my tactics to Overload and try to get that equalizer. 93 min: We work it around for one last chance it seems. We get a clean shot from inside the box and it bounces off the crossbar and that is all she wrote. |
August 18, 2009
Burnley at Tottenham We don't get much time to stew over the loss to our rivals from Arsenal. 3 days later we are back on the pitch to face Burnley. We make a few changes to get some fresher legs on the pitch and give Dafoe a try as a starter. GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3) *DC Kaboul (3) DC King (3.5) *DR Walker (2) ML Modric (4.5) MC Palacios (4) MC Huddlestone (3) *MR Bentley (3) *ST Dafoe (2.5) ST Crouch (3) We are favored at home 4-7. We'll come out with a controlling strategy to start things up. I tell my keeper I expect a performance and let everyone else know they can win this game! 15 min: We get some early pressure, but cannot take advantage of a few corner kicks. Finally, Crouch gets the ball and makes a few nifty move and then sends it into the net for a 1-0 lead! 45 min: Both teams get just one or two decent chances, but cannot convert. In injury time, Dafoe, who I originally projected as a big star, coughs up the ball. He hustles back to steal it back then coughs it up AGAIN, leading to an easy strike by Burnley. 1-1 I seriously consider benching him for the second half, but he out up a 6.9 rating in the first half, which is better than most of the team, so I leave him in for the time being. I also switch to an attacking strategy. 48 min: We look really confused out there and I ask myself outloud, literally, what are they doing? As I say that, Modric breaks the goal, the pass from Palacios is picture perfect and there it is, 2-1. Oh, but it is called back due to offsides! You have to be kidding me!? 58 min: Dafoe looks injured so I bring Pavly in for him. 90 min: My guys start sucking wind and despite shutting Burnley down in the second half, every chance we get goes flying over the bar by 10 feet. Pathetic (and a reason why I find this game very random, like they put so much emphasis on media interaction but forgot to work on the game engine. Not that I know a thing about soccer, but how could these world class guys send every shot flying into the stands?) 1-1 draw. At least I get my first point of the year. |
I get back to my office only to find out that my very best player, Modric, is grumbling about being on this team and wants out. Great, just what I needed.
He says he wants to win trophys. I announce that he is not going anywhere. Behind closed doors I offer him the captaincy and a fat renegotiated contract. While that is being worked on, I accept a transfer offer of 1.5 million for a backup to a backup Striker. A day later Modric tells the press that that he is not backing down. Well guess what Modric? You are under contract until 2014. I reject his request to be transfer listed. While dealing with this little punk, I realize we have a match coming up tomorrow on the road against the Wolves. I meet with my assistants and we hammer out a game plan. We really need to grab those 3 points and settle things down here at the club. |
August 22, 2009
Tottenham at Wolves We shuffle the defense a bit, hopefully getting stronger there. Lennon gets a start in midfield and Pavyl back in for the embattled Dafoe. GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3) DC King (3.5) *DC Bassong (3) *DR Corluca (3) ML Modric (4.5) MC Palacios (4) MC Huddlestone (3) *MR Lennon (2.5) *ST Pavyl (3) ST Crouch (3.5) We are a slight favorite at 5-4. I go with a control strategy to kick things off. 5 min: Just a beautiful give and go from Pavyl to Crouch, and when Crouch has an open look, he makes good more often than not. This time was no exception. He buries it to give us the very early 1-0 lead. 9 min: I don't know if soccer uses plays like American sports, but Pavyl and Crouch ran the same drill. This time Crouch didn't have the best look and was just outside of the box when he sent it wide. Would have been a great start. 40min: The Wolves have one corner and a throw in but we clear the ball out pretty easily. On the other hand, we have had some chances. Just now we get a corner and land it at point blank range. Their keeper makes an amazing save to keep the game at 1-0. 67 min: Not much action in the second half, which is fine by me if we can hold the lead. King picks up an injury and I bring DC Kaboul in for him. 72 min: I bring in a couple fresh players for the stretch run here. DMC Jenas for Huddlestone and DR Walker for Corluca. 73 min: Well, I guess I subbed too soon. Just after my guys come in, the Wolves get a breakaway and beat Gomes. 1-1. There go my three points. Now I am just hoping to hang onto 1 point. 79 min: We get a corner kick, header....another header....the ref calls a penalty! And of course it is Modric. As he lines up for the penalty shot, I pray that our off the field issues are left off the field and he makes good here. He looks left, goes right and scores! 2-1 Tottenham. 82 min: I go defensive here. 93 min: The give it one last run, but Gomes just has to make one easy save and there it is, 3 points for Tottenham and my first ever victory! |
The day after the match I confirm the deal to send Striker Jonathan Obika to Stoke for $1.5 million. I don't think he would ever see the pitch for me, so I figured why not.
Modric snubs my lucrative reworking of his contract. No big deal. I fully plan on keeping him here until his contract run out in 2014. After that nonsense, I settle in and try to work up a game plan for the Cup competition coming up in a few days. Meanwhile my phone rings and some Olympique team wants to buy my DL Assou. I issue a hands off warning. These other clubs are persistant. I also request some scouting reports on a couple transfer listed strikers. Hopefully something nice comes back and I could purchase a player to pair up with Crouch. |
August 25, 2009
Tottenham at Accrington – FA Cup 2nd Round Accrington is a L2 team, so this should just be academic, even with myself in charge. We send out this lineup (as always, *'s indicate a change from last game) GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3) *DC Kaboul (3) DC Bassong (3) *DR Walker (2) ML Modric (4.5) MC Palacios (4) MC Huddlestone (3) MR Lennon (2.5) ST Pavyl (3) ST Crouch (3.5) Basically, just resting a couple of players on defense who are a tiny bit worn down. We are 1-6 favorites today, and we will have an attacking strategy to try and end this game early. 6 min: We come out on the attack, firing shots constantly. DR Walker, kicks a nice cross and Crouch heads it into the goal. It played out perfectly and you just saw it coming the whole way. 1-0 16 min: We intercept a pass deep in their territory and Lennon, my other sub 3* rated player kicks another nice cross, again to Crouch, who heads it in for the 2-0 lead. 45 min: The 2-0 lead holds until halftime. Accrington have 2 shots, none on target. We have 12, 5 being on target. Complete domination, but it doesn't really tell us much about our squad considering the competition. 62 min: I feel this game is easily in hand, so I try to save the stamina of a few important starters. Kranjcar comes in for Modric. Dafoe in for Crouch. 81 min: On a corner kick, Accrington gets called for a penalty in the box. Pavyl steps up for the penalty kick. No doubt about it. 3-0. At this point I make one more sub, Jenas for Huddlestone. I also dial it back and go to a control strategy. FT: A nice, easy 3-0 win for Tottenham. I'll take it. I'll take any win in this early stage of my career. |
So far my search for another good striker to pair up with Crouch has proven unsuccessful. All of the guys I recently scouted have graded out poorly. The search goes on though.
Meanwhile, the FA Cup Third Round draw is going on. We get a home match against another Premier League team: Portsmouth. I don't know anything about them at this point. We have a match coming up in league play, at home, against Stoke. The standings don't tell much this early in the season, but for the record, we sit in 8th place and Stoke in 3rd. |
August 29, 2009
Stoke at Tottenham So, we have a home game against a team that is pretty good early on, so I want to send out the best lineup I can and see how we stack up so far. We go with: GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3) *DC King (3.5) DC Bassong (3) DR Kaboul (3) ML Modric (4.5) MC Palacios (4) MC Huddlestone (3) MR Lennon (2.5) ST Pavyl (3) ST Crouch (3.5) Kaboul moves over to DR and King comes in to replace Walker. Outside of DC Woodgate and AMR Bentley, who are both injured, this, I think is our best lineup. Now, we can stick Kranjcar in there at MC for Huddlestone, and while it would be a slight improvement, Kranjcar's versatility makes him a great sub. For the record, writing this stuff up has helped me identify with my players after just a handful of games, more than I have in any of the 'practice' careers I have toyed around with. We are 4-6 favorites today. I'll start with a control strategy. I'm always weary of being counter-attacked. I tell the team to win one for the fans and send them out onto the pitch. 17 min: The first real action happens around the 13th minute when one of their players are lying in a crumpled heap thanks to Bassong's challenge. We get a corner out of the the play and seem to dictate the game from that point until now, when Pavly stands in the corner of the box, turns and drills an impossible looking shot off the far post and right into the net! GOAL! 1-0 25 min: We have a free kick from inside that little semi-circle. I missed who kicked it, but it goes flying over the bar. That drives me insane. 31 min: Somebody lofts a kick into the box. Pavly controls it, passes it off to Modric and he puts it away to give us a wonderful 2-0 lead! Modric runs around the pitch with his arms spread like he is a jet airplane. I smile to myself and think, “Modric is coming around...” 44 min: I see my two goal lead getting cut in half when Stoke has a wide open shot from inside the penalty spot. Gomes just guess right and makes a diving stop! Amazing. I don't plan on any changes at the half. I just tell the team that I am pleased and send them back out. 48 min: The first action of the second half see us with a corner kick. Now, on almost every corner, my guy sends it in and they head it out. Well, this time, it worked like I always feel these things should work. Bassong gets his head on the corner and their keeper can only watch. 3-0 Tottenham! Hell yes! 71 min: Time for some subs. Kranjcar in for Huddlestone. Defoe in for Pavly. 90 min: Stoke never puts up much of a scoring threat and I am very pleased with the 3-0 victory today at White Hart Lane! |
We have more than a week off before our next match, and although the transfer deadline has passed, I am still on a hunt for a striker, and I finally find one. His name is Adriano and he grades out to be even better than Crouch. It takes my entire transfer budget and some serious haggling, but his club, Flamengo agrees to sell him! Woohoo!
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September 13, 2009
Tottenham (8th) at Wigan (19th) Television Match. We've won 3 in a row, 2 in the Premier League. Now we go back on the road against what seems like a weaker team. My starting 11 is starting get settled. Here is today's lineup: GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3) DC King (3.5) DC Bassong (3) DR Kaboul (3) ML Modric (4.5) MC Palacios (4) MC Huddlestone (3) MR Lennon (2.5) ST Pavyl (3) ST Crouch (3.5) Same as last outing. DC Jon Woodgate is just about back from injury and will eventually take over for Bassong on the back line. He will be a sub today and I'll try to get him some action. We are favorites, 6-4. I'll go with a control strategy to begin the game. 8 min: Bassong is denied a golden opportunity from point blank range. We can't do anything with the ensuing corner. 12 min: Bassong in a big collision and has to come out. The long awaited return of Woodgate begins about 45 minutes earlier than i hoped for. 15 min: Wigan on the attack. A jump ball, but Gomes cannot get to it and Wigan strikes first. 0-1. 31 min: Prior to now, we seemed to be rushing things when we got into their zone. But this time, Huddlestone makes a picture perfect pass to Modric who is streaking in on the left side. Modric makes good on the chance and we equalize. I am starting to love this man. 1-1. HT: I don't make any chances at the half. I usually re-evaluate again around 60 minutes, or if a goal is scored. 61 min: I sub in Defoe for Pavly and switch to an attacking strategy. 78 min: Wigan has a free kick from just outside the box. It rebounds off the wall back to them. Another kick, another rebound off the wall that they get. Third time is a charm as they put that one away. 1-2. I immediately switch to an overload strategy. I also bring in Kranjcar for Palacios. FT: Wigan play it defensively and we continue to blaze shots over the bar. That pisses me off to no end. At least make the keeper move his feet for crying out loud. We lose, and it really wasn't a good effort. I tell the team it was disappointing. |
I get back home and head to my office. At least there is some good news waiting for me. Adriano's work permit went through and the deal is done. He will join our squad on January 1, 2010. I blew my entire transfer budget on one guy. I have no idea if that was smart, or really dumb. He is only 27 years old so he should have some great years ahead of him and it will give us a lethal 1-2 punch with him and Crouch.
The way I see it, we are not going to win anything this year, but maybe one full season under my belt will give me enough experience to really start putting things together next season. I'll try for a top 10 finish this year, or at least top half and then improve one piece at a time. No word on what the fans think about this signing yet. |
September 20, 2009
Everton (2nd) at Tottenham (11th) This is going to be a serious challenge, even at home. Just as Woodgate is rounding into form, Bassong is out long term. We also seem to have picked up various minor nicks and bruises. GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3) DC King (3.5) DC Kaboul (3) *DR Carluka (3) ML Modric (4.5) *MC Kranjcar (3.5) MC Palacios (3.5) MR Lennon (2.5) ST Pavyl (3) ST Crouch (3.5) Just a couple of changes to account for injuries. We are dogs in this match, lilsted at 13-8. Hey look, Tim Howard is in goal for Everton! I know him. We'll come out defensive and try to make this an ugly game. 18 min: Everton takes a shot from wayyy out. The ball was smoking it was moving so fast. Unfortunately it deflects off of Modric and into the goal. 0-1 Cheese. 21 min: Everton celebrate an own goal like a bunch of assholes. That's OK, it just fires our guys up. We take the kickoff and work it around for a good three minutes. Crouch makes a nice moves and rips on. Their keeper deflects it right back to Crouch. He rips it again and gets it in the net! 1-1 HT: No more action in the first half. Pavly is having a bad game so I sub Defoe in for him. Still keeping with a defensive strategy. 62 in: Gomez is standing on his head and making saves this half. Finally they get to him though with an easy shot from inside the box. 1-2 74 min: I switch to an attacking strategy. FT: We get a few more decent chances the rest of the way, put cannot manage the tying goal. Losing at home sucks. |
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Yep, that's my favorite part about doing the dynasty I'm doing as well. I could tell you my lineup and most everyone's strengths without having the game open at this point. Quote:
Hopefully someone else can weigh in here, this strategy was confusing to me until I downloaded/read the huge tactical theorem PDF's. My understanding of control is that its designed to break down a strong/technical/turtling defense. The idea is to frustrate the defense by controlling possession until they break down and come out to try to steal the ball away and then you attack. I am not sure if that strat will help prevent counter attacks, unless there's more to it than I realize. |
September 23, 2009
English League Cup – Third Round Portsmouth (PRM) at Tottenham (PRM) Another Cup match. There seems to be a few different ones, and my guess is that this is the most prestigious? With a pretty short turn around time, I do make a minor change: GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3.5) DC King (3.5) DC Kaboul (3.5) *DR Walker (2) ML Modric (4.5) *MC Jenas (2) MC Palacios (3.5) MR Lennon (2.5) ST Pavyl (3) ST Crouch (3.5) I bring in a couple weaker players, but Walker has played very well in his limited time and I don't think Jenas will kill us. I have options to replace him if things do not go our way. We are slightly favored in a pick 'em situation. I start out controlling strategy. 23 min: We win a corner kick and Pavly goes up big time for it. The header goes by their keep and two other guys standing in goal! Seriously, their keeper is wearing a full body outfit in an off-shade of pink. There is no way we don't win today. 1-0 39 min: I turn for a drink of water and the screen is flashing. Goal for Portsmouth. Shit! But wait, we catch a break and they were offsides! 47 min: We have a corner and I swear the ball is rolling in the goal, but their pink colored keeper falls on it, literally on the goal line. We still have the 1-0 lead at the half. We are playing alright, so no changes yet. 74 min: My guys are getting tired, but my fear is, if I start subbing, I just know they will tie it, then I have to go extra time with less subs. I'm superstitious about this game and feel like making chances never helps. I stay as is for a bit longer... 85 min: Still no subs, but I go defensive for the last few minutes. 88 min: I knew it. Fast break Portsmouth. Goal. I swear this game is hard programmed to screw me. 1-1. FT: Now I have to sub. My guys are slumping. They are tired, and they are pissed off. Corluka in for Kaboul. Bentley in for Lennon Kranjcar in for Jenas. We head to extra time. 105 min: We have the only legit chance in the first half of extra time, but their keeper makes a brilliant save. Both teams are playing very defensive. At this point, I think back to my short FM history and realize I am probably 0 for 5 in Pks, so I throw it all out there and go attack for the final 15 minutes. 120 min: They had the better opportunities, but Gomes refused to let anything through. We go to Penalty Kicks. I'll send up the following five, in this order (and their PK rating) Modric 15 Pavly 17 Kranjcar 15 Bentley 14 Crouch 12 I am worried about the Crouch pick. There is a little used back who is a 14, but Crouch is a proven commodity, so I stick with him. Portsmouth: Boateng steps up, goes right, and so does Gomes! Gomes dives and saves! Spurs: Modric goes left, so does the keeper. It hits either the keeper or the post and goes in! 1-0 Portsmouth: Vanden Bore goes right, Gomez left. Goal. Spurs: Pavly goes right. The keeper hesitates. Goal. 2-1 Portsmouth: Mokoena just drills on straight in. Goal. Spurs: Kranjcar goes left, another hesitation by the keeper! Goal. 3-2 Portsmouth: Kanu goes right, Gomez barely moves. Goal. Spurs: Bentley goes upper right corner. Dangerous. I thought the keeper guessed right, but it gets in. Goal. 4-3 Portsmouth: Utaka goes straight up the middle, it bounces off of Gomez! We are through to the next round!!!!!! Tottenham fans rush the field! Wait, do they do that? I doubt it. |
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Interesting. There is a little description that pops up when you select. I know there are two strategies that start with a C. I thought one was what you described and the other (control, I thought) was if you were superior, but were weary about the counter attack. I'll double check during my next match. |
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OK, so here is what the in game says, summarized: Contain: Frustrate opponent, reduce space, slow things down, keep the ball, waste time. Control: best employed for matches in which you believe you are the stronger team but are wary of your opponents counter attack. move the ball and patiently probe the final third. Take it for what it is worth. |
Is Jermaine Beckford from Leeds available? He might be a good pairing with Crouch if you can tear him away.
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I spend entirely too much time partying it up after that last win, that I oversleep and miss the English League Cup 4th round draw. My assistant, Kevin Bond, wakes me up at my desk and announces that we get another home game and we drew Stoke!
This is exciting because we already beat Stoke 3-0 this year. |
September 27, 2009
Aston Villa (11th) at Tottenham (14th) So, i just realized that there are only 20 teams in the Premier League, so 14th place is pretty bad. I really need to get into the top 10 and this game turns out to be extremely important to reach that goal. GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3.5) DC King (3.5) DC Kaboul (3.5) *DR Corluka (3) ML Kranjcar (3.5) MC Jenas (2) MC Palacios (3.5) MR Modric (4.5) *ST Defoe (2.5) ST Crouch (3.5) I want to integrate Woodgate back into the lineup, but it says he is severely lacking match fitness. Kaboul and King are his equals and this is an important game, so I guess I just try to get him some late minutes. The benefit of having Woodgate, is that I can move Kaboul to the right side. Corluka should be OK though. Huddlestone is out for a while so I have to shuffle the midfield a tiny bit while I give the speedy Lennon a break today. Pavly is a bit tired so Defoe gets the start, but he is on a short leash. We are favored 5-4. I stick with the control strategy, although Radii has me a bit spooked about it now! I won't hesitate to go attack. 5 min: Nightmare scenario. Crouch goes down and doesn't get back up. This was no flop. He is gone. I'm gonna give seldom used Eidur Gudjohnson a chance. He is a loaner from AS Monaco FC. 15 min: Aston has really been in control, but they get a bit careless on the attack. Modric makes a steal and races up the pitch. He spots Defoe streaking towards the goal. It is a perfect feed and a perfect finish! Way to make good on getting the start Defoe! 1-0 18: We seem to be counter attacking a lot and trying to feed Defoe. This time Jenas is rushing up field, I figure he will try to feed it. Instead he rips one from a good 35 yards out. Probably the keeper didn't even expect it and....GOALLLL! 2-0 22 min: Another counter opportunity and this time Defoe is way ahead of the pack. I figure he has to be offsides. Even me, who doesn't fully understand the rule, thought he was cherry picking. No flag from the ref though and we are now up 3-0. How sweet it is!!! 31 min: Same old, same old. Aston Villa work the ball around near our goal. One bad pass or one interception and we are racing the other way, trying to feed Defoe. My first hat-trick! This is the Defoe I thought I was getting on my initial roster review. He is brilliant today! 4-0 HT: Best half of play on the year. It is a good opportunity to get a few backups in. Woodgate in for Kaboul Walker in for King We also go defensive for the 2nd half. 49 min: This half we work the ball around. No more fast break. Same results though. Modric weaves his way through traffic. The keeper takes a horrible angle and it is an easy goal. 5-0 77 min: Aston is on an all out assault in the second half now, and Gomez has made great save after great save. Eventually Aston gets on through. 5-1 and just when I am bummed about no shutout, the ref raises the flag. Offsides. No goal. 5-0 90 min: Game over. What a dominating performance. I tell the team, “Sensational!” |
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He is not transfer listed, but I realize that doesn't mean anything and i could still go after him. Too bad I spent all of my transfer funds. :) |
He is also rated as 1 star by my assistant on the report card and he says to only sign him as a last resort.
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After the game, it is reported that Crouch will miss about a month. Defoe's performance today makes me not quite as nervous about this situation. He has not done much up until today, but I hope he turned a corner.
The win moves us up to 10th place in the Premier League. We have about a week off until we have another game. We travel to last place Blackburn. We have struggled on the road, but I will try to figure things out during our time off. In other news, disgruntled Midfielder, Luka Modric has won Premier League player of the month. Defoe, thanks to his one fine performance was 3rd place for this award. The latest financial report has us losing $6.6 million last month, this after previous months seeing the team take huge losses. How is that possible? As our next match is quickly approaching, I take a look at the league table. Interesting, after that 5-0 win, we are tops in the league in goal difference with a +6. Our next opponent, Blackburn is dead last at -9. |
Huh, interesting. I went back and found what I was reading from:
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I'm sure a combination of all are correct. I know contain is recommended to be used only in limited fashion, for example to hold on to a lead in the final 10 minutes against a better team, but that trying to do it all game will lead to a lot of problems. The link from the FM10 thread if you're interested in some riveting reading is: TacticalTheorems10.zip |
October 3, 2009
Tottenham (10th) at Blackburn (20th) Road games like this are must wins if we are going to end up achieving a respectable league position. I go with the following lineup: GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3.5) DC King (3.5) DC Kaboul (3.5) DR Corluka (3) ML Kranjcar (3.5) MC Jenas (2) MC Palacios (3.5) MR Modric (4.5) ST Defoe (2.5) *ST Pavly (3.5) The only change is Pavly in for the injured Crouch. Defoe needs to step up like he did in the last game over the next few weeks. We don't have any depth at striker until January 1. We are 4-6 favorites and I decide to come out with an attacking mentality. 25 min: A real lack of action so far in this game. Jenas gets a pretty good chance from the edge of the box, but puts it inches wide. 28 min: Defoe puts a screaming shot on goal, but their keeper makes a nice save. 35 min: Pavly gets up for a corner kick and gets his head on it, but again, we are just wide on the shot. HT: We have had all the good chances, but cannot finish today. This just means that Blackburn will have one good chance, score and win 1-0. No changes at the half. I just tell my guys that they can definitely win this game! 75 min: Not too many chances for either team. King gets hurt a bit so I bring in Walker for him. I move Modric back to ML and bring in Lennon at MR for some speed. FT: We end up with 3 shots on goal. Blackburn with no shots at all on target. Very disappointing that we could not score a single goal on the road against them. |
So, the one point we got from the last match moved us up to 8th place, for now. We have played one more game than a couple of teams just below us though.
We have 2 weeks off before we travel to ManU. |
October 17, 2009
TV Match Tottenham (9th) at Manchester United (3rd) Even I know that ManU is the team to beat every year in the Premier League. We have been pretty bad on the road, so I think a draw would be about the best I can hope for today. Still, I want my guys to go out there and compete and see how they measure up. GK Gomes (3.5) DL Assou-Ekotto (3.5) *DC Bassong (3) DC King (3.5) DR Kaboul (3.5) ML Modric (4.5) MC Jenas (2) MC Palacios (3.5) *MR Bentley (3) ST Defoe (2.5) ST Pavly (3.5) Bassong is health, so we bring him back in, which also gives us some better depth on the bench.. I still can't figure out how to get Woodgate in game shape, so I will try to get him in this game. Bentley in, Kranjcar on the bench for versatility later in the game. We are huge dogs at 13-2, so I go defensive. 13 min: ManU gets the first great chance. They beat our defense, but the ball bounces off the far post. We dodge a bullet there. 17 min: ManU has dominated possession, but we make a steal and Pavly finds DeFoe way up field. He gets a good shot off, but hit hits the side netting. 18 min: On the ensuing goal kick, Ronney gets the ball at the top of the box and drills one past Gomes. So there we go, 0-1. 28 min: We start to get in the game a bit. A couple corners and some possession. Defoe has a long chance and it looks decent, but again he hits the side netting. HT: We are only down 0-1, so this is not over yet. I bring in Lennon for Bentley. I also being in Kranjcar for Jenas, who is not having a good game. 46 min: Pavly tries to go 1 on 4. He dekes a few defenders and finds Defoe, but his shot is wide. 58 min: After Defoe wastes another good chance, I sub Gudjohnsen in for him. 65 min: We get a lucky deflection and Modric sees the ball come right to him in the box. He puts it over the far corner though. 72 min: I switch up to an attacking strategy. FT: The rest of the match flies by and we don't even get another shot on goal. We lose 1-0, which on one hand is not horrible. On the other hand, we haven't scored a goal in 2 games now. |
We have 3 home matches in a row now, including the League Cup 4th round game.
Bad news: Pavly strained his neck in the last game and will miss about 2 weeks. We are dangerously thin now. But bad news is followed by good news, as it seems Crouch is pretty much ready to come back. I realize I didn't get Woodgate into the last match. Damn, that guy is going to get seriously pissed off soon. |
October 25, 209
Fulham (18th) at Tottenham (13th) Not much to say here, other than 3 home games and I expect 3 victories. GK Gomes (4) – He is up to 4 stars now DL Assou-Ekotto (3) – Down to 3 stars, not good DC Kaboul (3.5) *DC Woodgate (3.5) *DR Corluka (3) ML Modric (4.5) MC Jenas (2) MC Palacios (3.5) *MR Lennon (2.5) ST Defoe (2.5) *ST Crouch (3.5) I decide just to put Woodgate in there and let him work his way back in. King dropped a half a star, so I leave Kaboul in. Lennon is pretty much interchangable with Bentley. Bentley is half a star better, but Lennon is 0.50 better in average rating. Crouch returns, Pavly injured. We are 5-4 favorites. I decide to come out attacking and try to build an early lead. 29 min: Other than a few early chances, both teams just pass the ball around. Finally, Modric intercept s a pass and we move forward quickly. Defoe gets the ball, shakes his man and finishes! GOAL! 1-0 44 min: Fulham with a corner that gets bounced out towards midfield. They pick it up and fire off a great shot. Gomes makes a really incredible diving stop. HT: That was pretty much all the first half action. I can't complain. Woodgate and Crouch are a bit tired, both coming off of injuries, so I will probably sub them soon. 48 min: Modric with a great chance from in the box, but he cannot finish. The rebound to Crouch, but he cannot get a clean shot off. 50 min: Jenas with a great interception, then sets up Defoe. The shot hit the crossbar, bounces on the ground in front of the goal and then back up. Their keeper grabs it. A couple of wasted opportunities. 58 min: Lennon finds himself alone with the keeper. He probably shoots too early, but it was still a good one. The keeper has to jump high and stretch to get his hands on it. One of the finest saves I have ever seen. 65 min: A nice centering pass is headed by Crouch, but it is over the net. Time for a couple of subs. Gudjohnsen in for Crouch. King in for Woodgate. 80 min: Corner kick. Kaboul gets his head on it and it bounces off the pitch and off the post and in! That should do it! 2-0 86 min: Fulham with a break away but Gomez makes a terrific save to keep the heat off of us. 88 min: Defoe rips one from the semi-circle and it is good! Great to see him find the net again. 3-0 Kaboul looks hurt on the play. Bassong in for him. FT: A great win to start our 3 game home stand. I just want everyone to rest up for the Cup game coming up next. |
Our coach tells me Kaboul will be out for 2-3 weeks following his injury. He was MotM in his last game.
The victory moved us up to 8th place in the Premier League. Kaboul and Defoe were named on the League team of the week. |
Just be a little careful relying on your assistant manager's ratings.
You have to make sure that his "Judging Player Ability" and "Judging Player Potential" stats are decent before you trust it fully (same for your scouts). |
October 28, 2009
League Cup 4th Round Stoke at Tottenham Here is our lineup: GK Gomes (4) DL Assou-Ekotto (3) *DC Bassong (3) *DC King (3) DR Corluka (3) ML Modric (4.5) MC Palacios (3.5) *MC Kranjcar (3.5) *MR Bentley (3) ST Defoe (2.5) ST Crouch (3.5) We are favored, 4-5. I'll come out attacking once again. 1 min: We take the opening kickoff and work it around and around. Modric finally ends up with it in the left corner of the box and strikes. GOOOOAL!!!!!! An early 1-0 lead. 20 min: Crouch goes off the crossbar, but nobody can get to the rebound. 25 min: Stoke with a free kick just outside the box, but it goes way wide and too high. 31 min: Crouch feeds Bentley on the right side of the box. He advances a few steps and somehow sneaks it in on the right side of the keeper! 2-0 40 min: Crouch with two great moves to shake two defenders, but his shot hits the right post and rolls across the goal line before Stoke put it out for a corner. 41: The corner kick gets headed out but we control it. A shot from the right by Bentley deflects off a defender, right onto the foot of Defoe. He knows what to do with it and scores easily! 3-0 HT: Everything looks great. I use this opportunity to get Woodgate in for the second half. King comes out. Gudjohnsen in for Crouch, just to give him some extra rest. We switch to a control strategy. 62 min: Corner kick, but Bassong puts it over. 63 min: Off the ensuing goal kick, Stoke go on the attack. Their striker makes a nice move and just beats Gomes. 3-1. I'm not worried, but I go defensive anyways. 66 min: Stoke have put it into another gear. Gomes has to make a fingertip save to keep the game at 3-1. A bit worried now. 67 min: Another fingertip save by Gomes to foce another corner kick on the opposite side this time. 76 min: We survive Stoke's pressure and get a free kick from just outside of the box. The keeper leaps and grabs the ball. I think that would have went in and not over. 85 min: Palacios feeds Defoe dead center in the box. He jukes right, curls around the defender left and beats the keeper. That is all she wrote!! 4-1 FT: We are through to the next round. Hoping for a great draw. |
law, thanks for the great advice.
My assistant, Kevin Bond, does not seem to grade out that good....Judging Ability: 7. Judging Potential: 8 If I get rid of him and find somebody better, is that going to really disrupt team chemistry???? |
Wigan knocked out ManU in the Cup competition on penalty kicks.
We only have a few days off before we get back at it against Sunderland. The Quarter Final League Cup draw begins. 6 teams down and no Tottenham yet. Finally our name gets called as the home team. I eagerly await the opponent.........Man City. Ouch. So, I decide to fire my assistant and go after somebody who can judge my players much better. I mean, I go by that almost exclusively, so I should get somebody I can really trust. As I am interviewing (on the down low) for a new assistant coach. The board informs me they will provide me with an extra 1.2 million in transfer funds. Awesome! Huddlestone and Pavly are both back to full training, so we have a pretty complete roster right now. I find somebody I like and offer a contract. He accepts, but the board disallows it, saying I don't need to assistant coaches. OK, guess I need to fire my man first. Kevin Bond here are our walking papers. |
November 2, 2009
TV Match Sunderland (12th) at Tottenham (11th) Here is our lineup: GK Gomes DL Assou-Ekotto DC Bassong DC King DR Corluka ML Modric MC Palacios MC Kranjcar *MR Lennon ST Defoe ST Crouch Just the one change. No assistant to help me with this match. We are favored, 5-4 and will start out attacking once again. 6 min: Kranjcar with the first good attempt of the game, but he puts it just over the bar. 8 min: Sunderland with a corner. They cry for a penalty, but none given. 2 more corners and a free kick for them before we finally clear it. 23 min: Defoe to Modric and then a pass to the left side back to Modric. He sneaks it in the left corner of the goal from an impossible angle! 1-0 28 min: Modric intercepts a throw in and lobs it over the defense to a streaking Defoe. It is him and the keeper and Defoe waits for the last second, then fires, beating the keeper and giving us a nice 2-0 lead! 42 min: Crouch tries to lob one over the keeper from the top line of the box, but it bounces off the bar and goes over. HT: Kranjcar got a little shaken up in the first half so I send in Jenas for him. 55 min: Their keeper makes 2 incredible saves in a row to keep the game just within reach for Sunderland. 59 min: Woodgate in for Bassong. 63 min: Lennon with a nice centering pass, but Crouch puts it over. 76 min: Crouch out, Gudjohnsen in. We go defensive for the final 15 minutes. 89 min: Defoe looked to cap off this 3 game home stand with a nice goal, but he was called offsides. I saw it the whole way. FT: A very nice all around effort. |
First order of business is to welcome my new assistant coach, Ross MacLaren.
Our first order of business together is to review our squad, position by position. Keepers. Gomes has been excellent for us. MacLaren rates him as 3.5 stars. He has a 6.84 average rating. Cudicini is rated 2 stars and is the backup. Jimmy Walker will never see the pitch for us. Defense – Left Bassong and Assou-Ekotto are my two best DL's. They are both rated 2.5 stars. Assou has started every game for me at DL so far. Gareth Bale is only 2 stars, but has 3 star potential. Defense – Right Kaboul and Corluka are both rated 2.5 stars. Walker only 1.5 stars, but with 3 star potential. So far, my defense is not as good as I previously thought. Defense – Center King and Woodgate are my two best, both coming in at 3 stars. Besides, Bassong, Kaboul, Corluka and Walker, who can all play center as well, we have Michael Dawson at 2.5 stars. Midfield – Left Modric still rates at 4.5 stars and is my best player. Midfield – Right Lennon is 3 stars and Bentley is 2.5, which is the exact opposite as my last assistant had them. Midfield – Center Palacios and Kranjcar are both 3 stars. Huddlestone, who is finally just about back from injury is 2.5 with 3 potential. Jenas is 2.5 stars. Strikers I was very interested to see how MacLaren rated these guys. It turns out Defoe is our best rated at 3 stars. Crouch and Pavly are both 2.5 stars. Gudjohnsen, my loaner is 1.5 stars. This will all be very useful as I construct my lineup, but I really don't expect huge changes. Defoe is going to get plenty of time until Adriano joins us in January, then we will see who our top 2 strikers are. Interestingly enough, I was out earlier today and playing some FMH on my iPhone. I play a BSP team there and I got a note that said Tottenham has signed Adriano. Weird coincidence. |
November 7, 2009
Tottenham (8th) at West Ham (10th) We come out with the following lineup: GK Gomes 3.5 DL Assou-Ekotto 3 DC Woodgate 3 DC King 3 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Kranjcar 3 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 ST Crouch 2.5 We are favored today at 6-4. I know we have not played well on the road, so I am going to try and go all out attacking to get started today. 5 min: Nothing fancy here. Lennon just zooms down the right sideline, centers the pass perfectly and Defoe does what he does. GOAL! 1-0 9 min: West Ham do the same thing we just did, but Gomes is able to make the safe and he holds the ball tight. 13 min: West Ham with another golden opportunity, but Gomes is able to deflect it back. 33 min: Both sides take a few long range kicks in the last 10 minutes, but none of them ever had a chance to go in. 36 min: Modric with the ball enters the box. He is tripped up from behind. Penalty kick! Easy goal for Modric! 2-0 39 min: We dial it back a bit and go with a standard strategy. HT: Everything looks great. No changes. 59 min: King goes down with an injury. We bring in little used Michael Dawson. 63 min: Defoe turns it over and it leads to a run out for West Ham. With only the keeper to beat, Gomes makes a two handed deflection! 71 min: Corluka is in pain. I bring in Bassong to play DR, even though it is not a listed position for him. 78 min: The squad is tiring. I bring in Bentley for Lennon and go defensive. FT: We withstand a few attacks by West Ham, but the defense breaks it up or Gomes comes up with another save and we take this one, 2-0. Feels great to finally win on the road. |
So, first things first...an injury check. DC King is going to be out for 4-5 weeks. That hurts.
Michael Dawson for just a week. Our fans were jubilant after this victory. They filled the little green bar to the top, which I have never seen before. Yay for me. It is tough to climb the ladder in the Premier League. This win just moved us up 1 spot, to 7th, with a game in hand over a couple of teams no less. MacLaren has filed his report on Adriano for me. It is a full 4 stars. I can't wait to get him here. |
November 23, 2009
TV Match Portsmouth (18th) at Tottenham (8th) Considering the way we have been playing, a home game and the competition, this is probably as close to easy as it gets in the Premier League. GK Gomes 3.5 DL Assou-Ekotto 3 DC Woodgate 3 *DC Bassong 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Huddlestone 2.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 ST Crouch 2.5 Two changes, both for injury situations. King is out, so Bassong will step in for him. Huddlestone is back from a lengthy injury and we throw him right back into it. We are huge favorites, 1-6. We will attack and try to win big today for the home fans. 20 min: We've had some trouble getting into a groove today, at least on offense. We get a run out from an intercepted pass and Defoe ends up with the ball on the left side. As he rushes in, the keeper rushes out. Defoe gently lobs the ball over his head and it gets down quick enough to get in the net! 1-0 28 min: Lennon to Crouch on a cross, but the ball hits the side netting. As it unfolded I thought for sure it was going to be a goal. 41 min: Huddlestone with a midfield steal. He passes to Crouch, to Defoe in the center, then to Lennon on the right. Lennon hits the post! Could have been goal of the year. HT: No need for any changes at this point. 52 min: We have 3 point blank shots off of rebounds in the space of 10 seconds and the keeper makes 3 tremendous saves. He is keeping them in this game single handidly. 64 min: Crouch to Defoe in a little two man game. Defoe puts it in the net but is called offsides. I don't know about that one. 70 min: Modric with a throw in from right near the corner. He throws it into a crowd in front of the net. Bassong gets his head on it and puts it in! 2-0 72 min: Kranjcar for Huddlestone and Kaboul for Corluka, just to rest our two most tired guys. FT: Actually, a pretty boring match. It was only a matter of time before we scored that second goal, and Portsmouth never really threatened to do anything on offense. |
That win actually moves us up to 6th place in the PL. We have all played 13 games.
Here are the top 10: Arsenal 31 ManU 26 Everton 25 Chelsea 24 Man City 24 Tottenham 23 Aston Villa 23 Liverpool 21 West Ham 20 Stoke 20 King is still the only injury we need to deal with, and he is only a couple/few weeks away from returning. |
November 28, 2009
Tottenham (6th) at Hull (16th) Our lineup for today: GK Gomes 3.5 DL Assou-Ekotto 3 DC Woodgate 3 DC Bassong 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 ST Crouch 2.5 The only change is to sit Huddlestone. He is still trying to get his fitness up to snuff, and he is a bit tired after the last match. We are favored, 4-7......or is it easier to say Hull is a 4-1 underdog? Either way, we are attacking out of the gate, because that has been working so well for us lately. 12 min: Hull gets a fast break with a long lob pass up ahead. A short cross and Gomes has zero chance to get to the ball. 0-1 15 min: Jenas coming down the middle pushes it forward to Defoe. Defoe shoots from just inside the box and it beat the keeper! An instant reply! 1-1 21 min: Same play as last time, but Jenas to Lennon this time around and he buries it, but is called offsides. No disagreement from me. 23 min: Kranjcar in for Palacios, who picked up an injury. 41 min: Lennon centers for Defoe. Defoe shoots and I am sure it is going in. Their keeper dives and gathers it up, literally on the goalline. 42 min: We intercept his throw in. Defoe rushes forward and shoots. It is deflected to Lennon, who cleans it up and puts it away. 2-1 HT: No changes necessary at this point. 60 min: Kranjcar centers to Lennon at the top of the box. Instead of shooting he flicks it a bit right to Crouch, who is wide open. Crouch delivers! 3-1 68 min: Fancy moves by their left winger, who then centers for Altidore. Hey I know that guy! Altidore scores to cut our lead to 3-2. I make some subs. Kaboul for Corluka and Bentley for Lennon. We go to a controlling strategy. 72 min: Altidore allowed to run right up the middle and he gets off a clean shot to equalize. 3-3 I immediately go back to attacking. 74 min: Crouch takes it upon himself to beat two defenders, run towards the keeper and beat him to the right, as the keeper was going right. A sneaky good goal to get us back ahead 4-3. I go defensive. 84 min: Bentley races up the right sideline with ball. He centers to Crouch, slightly to the right of center, and he sneaks it in to the right of the keeper for another similar goal and his hat trick!!! 5-3 FT: Great game to come back from the early defecit. Then blow a 2 goal lead, but then still win by 2. All that plus a hat trick on the road. We are starting to really come together as a team, and just in time for our Q-Final match against Man City coming up. |
We have moved up to 4th place in the PL. Man City, our Cup opponent in the next game is actually one point ahead of us and in 3rd place. I don't really know if we are 4th place good. We have built up some points against the bottom half of the league and failed in our few games against the cream of the crop.
In the meantime, the English FA Cup 3rd round draw is going on. With all these L1 and L2 teams in it, we draw PRM team Everton. At least we get a home game out of it. I was also second place in 'Manager of the Month' |
December 1, 2009
English League Cup, Quarter Final Man City at Tottenham GK Gomes 3.5 DL Assou-Ekotto 3 DC Woodgate 3 *DC Kaboul 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 *MC Huddlestone 2.5 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 ST Crouch 2.5 King is still hurt and Kabong will come off the bench, so Kaboul gets the start. Palacios injured in the last game, so Jenas and Huddlestone will start. We are actually favorites 5-4. Man City dogs at 7-4. Should be a real close match. We'll come out attacking. I tell the players to do this one for the home fans! 6 min: Just what I was afraid of...Man City pushes forward every opportunity. Their first shot on goal is nothing fancy, but it beats Gomes and we are down 0-1. 14 min: Defoe coming down the middle passes it off to Modric on the left side. Modric shoots, and scores! But the ref immediately calls him offsides. I think that was a horrible call. 21 min: Jenas finds Corluka flying in from the right. He feeds him. Corluka has a man right on his hip, but he gets a clean shot and beats the keeper! We are level, 1-1. 37 min: Two centering passes in a row for Lennon, but Defoe and Modric both go wide. 43 min: Huddlestone feeds Defoe in the box. A shot and fingertip save by their keeper to send it over the goal. 45 min: Man City with two clean shots from around the box. Gomes saves one, the rebound shot....Gomes grabs it and holds on! HT: I could see our guys are starting to tire already. No changes yet, but we'll have to make use of all three subs today to stay fresh in the late going. 51 min: Man City with a free kick from the middle, just outside the box. It is a screamer, but Gomes is able to deflect. 63 min: A Man City shot from the left side, hits the right bar, then the upper bar and bounces in. That hurts. We are down 1-2. Bentley in for Lennon. Kranjcar in for Huddlestone. Pavly in for Crouch. 73 min: We cannot get a clean shot off on two corner kicks. 80 min: Defoe with a turn around move and a screamer, but their keeper tips it over the bar. I go to overload strategy. FT: We look so disorganized the last ten minutes. Our team is exhausted and we can't make a credible threat. We lose 1-2. Tough to swallow. |
After the match, rumors come out that I am going to sell Modric to Man City. I deny these rumors. Modric says he can't wait to make the move. I pull him aside and tell him that I will make Tottenham the kind of club he feels he needs it to be to further his career. I refuse to let him dictate to me. I will not sell him.
The next day Modric is quoted in the papers as saying he likes that Tottenham wants to be more successful and he is backing down from his transfer requests! I knew I would break him down. |
December 5, 2009
Liverpool (9th) at Tottenham (4th) GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Bale 2 *DC Bassong 2.5 *DC Dawson 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 MC Huddlestone 2.5 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 ST Crouch 2.5 Our defense is extremely tired so we have to go with some backups for this game. It will probably come back to haunt us in the final results. We are favored 6-4, Liverpool are dogs, 13-8. Should be a tight match. Conditioning seems to be an issue today so we'll just start out with a standard strategy. 7 min: Crouch beats two defenders, but cannot beat the keeper on a good chance. 18 min: Defoe with a screamer that bounces off the keeper's head. Crouch with a rebound try, but it is deflected back. So close on both attempts! 21 min: Bale with a cross to Huddlestone, who is about 10 yards outside of the box. He screams one over the goal. Wasted opportunity. 28 min: Crouch with a header way over the goal on a free kick. We have had opportunities, but cannot cash in any of them. HT: We have been the better side, by a good margin, I think. But the important thing is the score, which is still 0-0. Lennon is not playing great, so I bring Bentley in for him. 48 min: Jenas's condition just went way down so I bring in Kranjcar for him. 52 min: Liverpool with a goal kick. It goes very long. Gomes comes out to get it, but misses. Open goal. Liverpool takes advantage. Horrible play. 0-1. I switch to attacking strategy. 67 min: Kaboul in for Corluka, who looks a bit shaken up. 85 min: We haven't had another chance yet, so I go overload. 91 min: We press too much and Liverpool counter easily. 0-2 and that does it. I'm disappointed. We've dropped 2 in a row, both at home, to a couple of the name teams in the PRM League. I hope things don't start to spiral out of control (like they usually do in my practice careers prior to this one.) |
I get back to my office and get a small bit of good news. We have received $1.6 million dollars from a previous transfer with Sunderland. I guess the player has appeared in enough matches to trigger this clause. My transfer budget is $2.41 million right now, but I'm not sure I can bring anybody in that would really impact the team.
I do a little search and find a young DC who could eventually become one of the best defenders on my team. He is valued at over two million, but is transfer listed and my assistant believes I can get him for about $200K. I put a bid in. My MR, Lennon says he needs to move to a bigger club. Bullshit. He is under contract until 2014. He is not going anywhere. He eventually backs down from his stance. Good boy. We are trying to enjoy a week off to get rested and healthy before we travel to Man City for our next match. I am fearful that this losing streak is going to continue. But as you know, you can never rest. Some team named Sevilla are lining up to buy my DR Corluka. I issue a hands off warning. Some good news though, the transfer of a hot young prospect, Marc Muniesa goes through. |
December 12, 2009
Tottenham (7th) at Man City (3rd) GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Assou-Ekotto 2.5 *DC Woodgate 3 *DC Kaboul 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 MC Huddlestone 2.5 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 ST Crouch 2.5 We get our better defensive line back together for this match. Man City is a favorite today as a pick em. We are dogs at 11-5. I'll come out defensive and try to get a 1 goal win or a draw today. 3 min: Man City on the early attack. Gomes turns one behind, then makes a nice save on the corner. 30 min: Man City is controlling this match, but our defense and Gomes are bailing us out time after time. It is just a matter of time though. HT: We survive the first half, with barely any challenges on gaol of our own. I'm not going to make any changes at this point. 48 min: Man City still attacking hard, but Crouch intercepts and races up the field, out running 3 defenders. He gets off half a chance, and the keeper easily turns it back. 54 min: Finally Man City break through with a goal. They just flat out beat our defense and there was nothing Gomes could do....but the ref has his flag up! Offsides. No goal! Dubious decision, but I'll take it. Huddlestone looks shaken up so I bring in Kranjcar. 64 min: Gomez makes a great save from point blank range. We get the rebound and move up field. A half hearted attempt on goal leaves us with a throw in. 65 min: Defoe passes to Crocuh, but a weak attempt is easily saved. Defoe is dragging so I sub Pavly in for him. 68 min: Pavly rips one on his first touch, and their keeper just barely saves it. 73 min: Modric passes to Pavly. He turns and fires on over. I bring Bentley in for Lennon. 77 min: I knew it was just a matter of time. Man City has outplayed us and they finally get a goal. It was sort of a cheapie, as a defelcted ball trickled to their guy and Gomes never had a chance. I switch to overload. 88 min: Kranjcar has a wide open shot and fires it right at the keeper. Totally ridiculous. Injury time: We have one last shot, but Pavly passes it to their keeper instead of taking a shot. FT: Another loss. Things are slipping out of control. |
Not long after the match, Corluka expresses his desire to move to a bigger club. He is signed until 2014 and I handle this the same way. You are not going anywhere and I will build this team to be that larger club you desire.
Corluka backs down from his comments. FC Bayern are interested in buying Woodgate. Now here is a guy who is 29 yeas old, has some injury history and could draw a hefty sum of money. He is also only signed through 2011. I decide I will sell him only if the right price is offered. He is valued at $7 mil. Iwould think it would take $10+ for me to let him go. King should be recovered from his injury, which is some good news. |
December 15, 2009
Blackburn (17th) at Tottenham (8th) GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Bale 2 *DC Bassong 2.5 *DC Dawson 2.5 DR Corluka 3 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Palacios 3 MC Huddlestone 2.5 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 *ST Pavly 2.5 We will be a bit substandard on defense, but the last few matches took a lot out of our regulars. Palacios is back which helps our midfield greatly. Crouch gets a rest. We are heavy favorites at 1-4. Blackburn listed at 9-1 dogs. We'll come out attacking and look for a 3 goal victory. 23 min: The first real chance is a feed from Lennon to Pavly. He has a bad habit of either sending it over the bar or directing it right towards the keeper. 40 min: Pavly with another chance, as well as Lennon, but we can't get anything on target for a legit chance. The guys are lacking something today. 42 min: Defense falls asleep and we give Blackburn a way too easy chance, which they finish. 0-1. This is bad. HT: Bassong is having a terrible game so I bring Woodgate in. I am sick of watching Pavly so I bring in Crouch. 53 min: Still very weak on defense. Blackburn with a golden opportunity and only their incompetence keeps the score at 0-1. 60 min: We have a corner and Crouch gets his head on it, but puts it way over. 64 min: Huddlestone takes a very ill advised shot from a good 10 yards outside of the box, but he places it perfectly through traffic and we somehow equalize!! 1-1 74 min: I was checking the status of my guys and called for Gusjohnsen to sub in for the underperforming Defoe. I look up to see Defoe strike on from 2 feet out! We go up 2-1!!! I've already called for the sub, so we go defensive. 89 min: Crouch and their keeper race for a loose ball. The keeper gets there just a fraction of a second and deflects it out to Huddlestone. A totally open go but it must be a 50 yard strike. It hits the crossbar. Ouch. 92 min: Murphy, for Blackburn gets his second yellow as he takes Crouch down on a clear breakaway. He is off. FT: We survive a very ugly effort and still pick up 3 points. |
December 19, 2009
Tottenham (6th) at Bolton (13th) Short turn around and a road game. GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Assou-Ekotto 2.5 DC Bassong 2.5 *DC Woodgate 3 *DR Kaboul 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 *ST Crouch 2.5 We send out a better lineup, particularly on defense, than the last game. Conditioning might be an issue, with some recent short turn around times. Bolton is favored 6-4. We are 13-8 dogs. I'll come out in a control strategy. 3 min: Defoe wastes a golden opportunity after he beats a pair of defenders. 10 min: Defoe once again denied and Palacios blasts a kick over after the corner. 24 min: Bolton with a free kick from distance and they lob it into the box. The ref calls a totally bad penalty. Gomes cannot make the save. 0-1 I switch to attacking. 39 min: Defoe to Lennon, but he doesn't have a great angle and the keeper makes yet another save. HT: Bassong is not playing good at all so I bring King in for him. 53 min: free kick for Bolton and they drill it right into the net. Down 0-2 and we are in big trouble. 81 min: We cannot generate any chances. I go overload, but I know it won't matter. 81 min: Instead we immediately give up another goal. 0-3 FT: Lennon boots an easy chance in injury time to at least put us on the board. Story of the game. Worst loss of the season. |
We have slid down to 9th place. We have two home games coming up in the next 9 days, which puts us at 3 games in just over a week. Even worst is that the two home games are against Chelsea and Arsenal. They are 3rd and 1st in the PRM League.
December 23, 2009 Chelsea (3rd) at Tottenham (9th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Assou-Ekotto 2.5 DC Bassong 2.5 DC Woodgate 3 DR Kaboul 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 *MC Kranjcar 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 *ST Pavly 2.5 Just a couple changes, despite the short time between matches. Chelsea are 4-6 favorites. We are 7-2 dogs. I'll come out attacking and tell my team not to be intimidated. 8 min: Defoe works his way up the middle and fires off a screamer, but it goes over. 11 min: Defoe races up the left sideline and find Pavly. He doesn't even take his time with room to work and just fires a shot over. 13 min: A perfect centering pass for Chelsea and I think we are dead, but the header goes just wide. 24 min: Lennon finds Defoe in the middle, but another rushed shot leads to another one going over the bar. 29 min: Modric intercepts a pass and forwards it to Defoe, but he can't seem to direct one on goal today. 34 min: After a Chelsea corner, they gain control and center one from the baseline. There is no way it can go in the goal, but it must have deflected off of Gomes and goes in. Cheapest goal ever. 0-1 45 min: We intercept at midfield. Pavly works his way forward. I figure he will blast one, but he passes left to Defoe. Defoe finally finds the net! We equalize right before half. 1-1 HT: Assou-Ekotto not playing very good so I bring in Bale for him. Crouch in for Pavly, despite the nice assist. 57 min: Breakaway for Chelsea. They try to get a little too fancy and never get a good shot off. 62 min: Chelsea with a corner. It is headed out, but nobody picks them up and a screaming shot from the line goes in. 2-1 75 min: We go overload and try to get the equalizer. 84 min: Bentley in for Lennon 91 min: We couldn't ask for a better opportunity for Crouch. I am sure he is going to finish, but from about 5 yards out he puts it over. I want to strangle these pricks. FT: We never get another shot off. Another loss. This is getting bad. |
December 28, 2009
Arsenal (2nd) at Tottenham (9th) My assistant seems to think that Arsenal struggle against teams who run a 4-5-1 set. I figure, what the hell, and we give it a try. GK Gomes 3.5 DL Assou-Ekotto 2.5 DC Bassong 2.5 DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 3 DMC King ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 Arsenal are 4-7 favorites. We are 4-1 dogs. I'll go with this new formation and attack, try to get a lead then bunker down on defense. At least that is the plan. 1 min: Defoe tries to move into the box, but is cut off. He goes left and tries to center. In the next 10 seconds there are at least 3 Arsenal penalties in the box, with my guys going down everywhere. None are called. However, the ball trickles to the right side, Lennon's eyes light up and he slams it home!!! 1-0 14 min: Arsenal pushing hard, but Gomes makes two great saves like they were nothing. Great job there. 19 min: Modric tries to bend one on goal, but it goals wide. Way too fancy after we worked so hard. 45+ min: Our chances have been limited, but so have Arsenal's. In injury time we intercept at midfield. King, to Defoe to Modric on the left side and he strikes! Wow, we are up 2-0!! HT: King is a bit tired, but I'm not sure who can actually play his DMC position. Oh, it looks like I can move Jenas back there and then sub in Kranjcar for King. I stay attacking, just because I am afriad to change it and jinx things. 53 min: Defoe, maybe frustrated by the way he is being closed down on in the 4-5-1, rushes a shot and puts it wide. 59 min: Defoe gets the ball in the same spot, but I think he learned something. He waits, waits....finds Lennon on the right side and Lennon rewards him and the team with a GOAL!! 3-0 It is at this point, I start thinking about changing to a 4-5-1 permanently. I don't know if we have the personal, plus I just spend a fortune on a second striker, but if I can do this, to Arsenal....well, it is worth thinking about. 78 min: Free kick for Arsenal but they put it way over. They are clearly frustrated. 80 min: Lennon is tiring, so Bentley in for him. Crouch in for the tiring Defoe. 85 min: Kranjcar with a steal at midfield. It leads to an open shot by Crouch. He puts it away! Make that 4-0! 88 min: Woodgate with a nasty takedown for no reason and he gets red carded. I go defensive. FT: My greatest win as an FM manager. |
I get a call from Newcastle after the game congratulating me on the win. Then they informed me that because Bassong has played in 15 matches with us, I owe them $825,000. Ouch!
We have a 2 day turn around to travel to last place Burnley. December 30, 2009 Tottenham (9th) at Burnley (20th) I decide to work in the 4-5-1 again. It paid off so nicely against rivals Arsenal, that it is worth experimenting with. GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Bale 2 *DC Kaboul 2.5 *DC Dawson 2.5 *DR Walker 1.5 *DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 *MR Bentley 2.5 *ST Crouch 2.5 Lots of substitutions with only 2 days in between matches. We also have the 3rd round Cup match coming in about 4 days, so the rest will have our best players ready for that one. We are favored 4-6. Burnley are 7-2 dogs. We will attack. 8 min: They beat our defense and it looks like we are dead. Gomes deflects it, but right back to the striker. Another shot and Gomes has to dive backwards, twist his body and somehow, someway, makes the save. 20 min: Burnley has had the better of us so far, but we come down with a nice cross from Bentley. Crouch gets on it and lobs it over the keeper, but over the bar as well. 40 min: A bland first half so far. Until Bentley tries the cross pass to Crouch again. Crouch gets it down on his foot, one dribble and beats the keeper! 1-0 HT: They have dominated possession, but we had the better chances and the one goal. No changes yet. 47 min: Gomes takes a bad angle and misses a save. The ball rolls loose and we are quite lucky that they cannot finish. 66 min: Three changes to get fresh legs in. Lennon for Bentley. Kranjcar for Palacios and Corluka for Huddlestone. We also go control strategy. 88 min: Boring match continues. Lennon gets the ball, passes way forward to himself, but leaves no angle. FT: It wasn't pretty, but a tired team, on the road and we get 3 points, so I'll take it. |
January 1, 2010
Transfer window opens. Tottenham welcome the much anticipated arrival of Adriano! We also welcome a hot youth prospect in Marc Muniesa. Today also starts the ridiculous chasing of a few of my players who I have clearly indicated are not going anywhere. January 2, 2010 FA Cup Third Round Everton at Tottenham So, my assistant says that Everton have success against the 4-5-1. I don't know how they perform against a 4-4-2. I'm going to stick with my new formation though. GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Assou-Ekotto 2.5 *DC Bassong 2.5 *DC Woodgate 3 *DR Corluka 3 DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 *MR Lennon 3 *ST Defoe 3 OK, so we get our better players back in. I know, where is Adriano. He is at 90% fitness, so I'll probably bring him in later. Build up the suspense. We are a pick em favorite. Everton is a 11-5 dog. We will attack. 10 min: Defoe fires off our first shot from the left side. A bad angle and an easy save for Howard. Tim Howard? I know him! 20 min: We survive three Everton corners in a row. HT: Neither team had any real chances. Palacios is injured and Modric is really winded, so we shuffle around. I bring in Kranjcar for Modric. I move Huddlestone up for Palacios and then bring in King to play MDC. 63 min: A very boring game so far. I give Adriano his debut. 78 min: A corner for us and I think Huddlestone can get it in, but he goes way over the bar. 90 min: Huddlestone gets it to Adriano. He fires one off and the keeper takes a step back and grabs it at the goal line! FT: A 0-0 draw, which means we have to win at their place now. |
Gomes has now gone over 3 games without allowing a goal. Impressive.
FA Cup 4th round draw. Should we get by Everton, we would have a home game against Arsenal. Could this be the toughest draw ever? Yes. Among other teams, ManU will not leave Modric alone. They make a 16.5 million dollar bid for him. It is actually tempting to get rid of this ongoing headache, but I refuse to be broken. He is my best player by a full star rating. I reject it. AC Milan then comes along and offers $20,000,000 plus incentives for Modric. Holy cow. It is 4.1 million now and 16 million over 24 months. I reject it. A 12+ million bid for Corluka comes in. We have Kaboul who is only a half star worse and we have Walker who is only 1.5 stars now, but can grow into a 3 star player. This is tempting. I have to think on it. The actual deal is 2.3 million now and 10 million over 30 months plus 20% of the next sale's profit. After some thought, I reject it. I don't know why. I guess I feel it makes us a worse team right now, and I want to win games. |
January 9, 2010
Wolves (14th) at Tottenham (8th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Assou-Ekotto 2.5 DC Bassong 2.5 DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 3 DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Kranjcar 3 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Defoe 3 I have been giving Jenas too much starting time so Kranjcar gets in there. Adriano is lacking match fitness, so I'll bring him in in the second half to get some time. We are 1-2 favorites. Wolves are 9-2 dogs. We attack. 35 min: The first shot of the game for us comes this late and it is a weak shot that goes way over by Lennon. HT: A horrible first half. I am angry at the guys and I let them know it. 69 min: Still no effort from our guys. At least the Wolves are posing no threat of their own. I get Corluka out and bring in Kaboul. Defoe out, Adriano in. Huddlestone out, Jenas in. 79 min: Palacios to Lennon and he blows an easy one. I am furious. 80 min: Adriano with a nice move to get open, but he doesn't have much of an angle and can't get it past. 85 min: Multiple corners for us but we can't do a thing and Jenas finishes it off with a blast into the stands. 88 min: Palacios way over the bar. This is pathetic and borderline ridiculous. FT: 0-0 draw. I simply tell the team they are not good enough. |
Sevilla make a $10 million offer for Kaboul. He is a part time starter, part time backup. He gives us depth. I counter some of the terms and see what happens.
They withdraw their bid after considering my counter. Oh well. Fenerbahce ask if I will loan Kaboul for 1.1 million. I dont see the benefit there, so I reject it. FC Bayern offer $12 mil for Kaboul. I finally decide to accept an offer. Most of the money is to be paid over 30 months, but Kaboul is not worth it in my book, so I take the deal. His average rating in league play has been 6.95. Meanwhile..... January 13, 2010 FA Cup Third Round Replay Tottenham at Everton GK Gomes 3.5 DL Assou-Ekotto 2.5 DC King 2.5 DC Kaboul 2.5 DR Corluka 3 DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Kranjcar 3 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Adriano 4 Maybe Kaboul's last game with us, so I give him a start. Adriano gets his first start and we hope he makes a big impact. Everton are 5-4 favorites. We are 7-4 dogs. I'll come out controlling. 16 min: Lennon runs and runs, down field, all the way across and fires one too high. Does he know he has teammates? 20 min: Gomes with a spectacular shot. He is now over 400 minutes without a goal allowed. Did I just jinx him? 38 min: Some pressure from Everton, but Gomes tips the shot over the bar. HT: Lately my games have been very dull. We cannot generate a goal, but our defense and goal keeping has been superb. No changes yet. This could go a long time still. 46 min: Modric finds Adriano up ahead, but he rushes the shot and it goes well wide. 61 min: A second yellow for an Everton player. He is off. We stay controlling but we have to be spurred on now! 71 min: Adriano with our first legit chance since the red card, but he rifles it over. So frustrating. 90 min: We have a corner. The header looks like it has a chance but it is off the bar! 90+: We go to extra time. I need to make subs. Defoe for Adriano. Jenas for Huddlestone. Bentley for Lennon. 97 min: I can't believe they get the first chance. Our defense looks confused, they get a clean one and we are in deep trouble. 0-1. I go to attacking. 106 min: Finally! We are tired, we are demoralized, but Defoe won't let us give up. He feeds Palacios and he makes it count!! 1-1 113 min: Defoe gets the ball outside the box. He hesitates, makes one move and then beats Howard! We go up 2-1. I go defensive right away. FT: We did it. We pulled this one out, somehow. |
Not much rest before our next match, but I do manager to take an offer for Cudicini, my backup Keeper. He is old and sucks, so I'll gladly take the 1.5 mil for him.
January 16, 2010 Tottenham (8th) at Stoke (11th) GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Bale 2 *DC Bassong 2.5 *DC Woodgate 3 *DR Walker 1.5 *DMC Jenas 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Gudjohnsen 1.5 MC Palacios 3 *MR Bentley 2.5 *ST Defoe 3 The team is exhausted after the last match and we send out a fairly weak team. We are favored 5-4. Stoke are 7-4 dogs. We will use a control strategy. 8 min: Palacios finds Modric on the left side, but he doesn't have enough room and his the side net. 11 min: We have a throw in. Jenas finds the ball on his foot and just turns and shoots. It goes in! 1-0 24 min: We survive a few corners and a throw in, not to mention a foul called in the penalty area. Thankfully, it was on them. 38 min: They have been getting a lot of pressure on us, and we finally break and concede a goal. I really thought Gomes was all over it, but no such luck. 1-1 43 min: Gusjohnsen injured, so Kranjcar in for him. HT: No subs yet, but I do switch to attacking. 50 min: Bentley leads the fast break and he pushes it forward to Palacios. He outruns his man and has just the keeper to beat. He goes upper right and makes it good! 2-1 78 min: We are getting tired and I am fearful of allowing the equalizer. Lennon in for Bentley. Kaboul in for Walker. I go defensive. 79 min: Modric rushes down the left side. He makes a picture perfect centering pass to Palacios, who has no choice but to score. That was too easy and should clinch it. 3-1 FT: That does it. A much needed three points! |
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LOL welcome to my world every Saturday morning during the EPL season :) Good stuff Marmel, enjoying the read. |
We get a much needed week break before our 4th round FA Cup clash with Arsenal.
Woodgate wants to move, but I changed my mind on him and decide to try and keep him happy. That last win has moved us up to 7th in the PRL League. I do confirm the transfer of Cudicini and collect $1.5 million. I also ship out Kaboul for a $12 million dollar deal. I liked the guy, but the offer was too good to pass up. I have some money to play with an find a guy named Sulley Muntari, rated 3.5 stars and could play the DMC spot in my new formation. I put in a bid. The offer is accepted and I make a contract offer. Muntari rejects the offer, but I think I gave him exactly what he asked for. I try again. Oh, I see...my board won't let me give him what he wants, despite the fact it would keep me under my wage budget for the year. Shit. |
Thanks BYU!
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January 23, 2010
FA Cup 4th Round Arsenal at Tottenham So, Arsenal is our rival and they are the team we blasted when we introduced the 4-5-1 formation. I have high hopes and run out the following team: GK Gomes 3.5 DL Bale 2 *DC King 3 DC Woodgate 3 *DR Corluka 3 *DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 *MR Lennon 3 *ST Adriano 3.5 Lots of changes, but back to one of our stronger lineups. Ekotto out with an injury. We are favored 5-4. Arsenal dogs at 7-4. We'll attack. 10 min: An Arsenal corner. Lennon picks up the header and races up field. He tries to find Adriano, but can't quite place it. 16 min: corner kick and a head....it bounces off the top bar and into the net on top of the goal. 21 min: Arsenal moving the ball around our area until we finally make a mistake. They get by the defense and beat Gomes. We are down 0-1. HT: No more action. Arsenal is bunkering down and trying to hold on. Kranjar in for the injured Jenas and Bentley in for the injured Lennon. 59 min: Defoe in for the injured Adriano. Just great. 64 min: Was Adriano's injury a blessing in disguise? Defoe takes the ball curls around the penalty area and strikes one true! We equalize! 1-1 70 min: We get a midfield steal. Defoe to Kranjcar to Palacios, but the keeper dives and makes a great save. Damn. 75 min: A foul called just inches outside of the penalty box. Off the free kick, Defoe goes inches wide. I was so hopeful! 85 min: Kranjcar winds his way through the defenders, has an OK look, but goes over. FT: A draw. Now we have to play at their place. |
FA Cup 5th Round Draw.
Should we beat Arsenal, we would have a road game against PRM League team Fulham. The search for a transfer target goes on, with time running out. The only guys I want, I can't have. January 26, 2010 Tottenham (7th) at Everton (8th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Bale 2 DC King 3 DC Dawson 2.5 DR Corluka 3 *DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 *MR Bentley 2.5 *ST Defoe 3 Lennon and Adriano won't be available for a few more days. Everton is favored 6-4. We are 13-8 dogs. We will still attack. 26 min: A couple mediocre chances for each team. Dawson has to come off due to injury. Woodgate in. 34 min: We get lucky. Our defense gets beat and the Everton striker has room to work. Gomes cannot get to the shot, but it goes inches wide. Dodged a huge bullet. 34 min: We turn it over and Everton get a corner. It was perfect. We are down 0-1. HT: I just tell the team that I need to see more out of them. At least get the draw!!! 48 min: Defoe does his little dribble across the box, turn and fires, like he has done so many times. It goes wide though. 57 min: Modric steals a pass while they are on the attack. Long pass up to Defoe. He is far left. A long centering pass and there is Bentley streaking in. His header is true. I shed a tear. 1-1 70 min: we are tired. Huddlestone out. Kranjcar in. Jenas goes to DMC. Corluka out, Walker in. 75 min: Bad move bringing Walker in. He gets in Gomes way, the ball bounces off Walker's foot for an own goal. Makes me sick. 1-2. We go overload. 91 min: Defoe with a chance to be the hero, but Tim Howard anticipated his move and makes what turns out to be an easy save. FT: This one is pretty painful. |
Quote:
Try changing his role in the team when it comes to the contract offer. There a few options there, like "Backup", "Rotation", "First Team" and "Key Player". Sometimes if one option doesn't give you the budget you require, you up it to the next level and see if the board will allow you to offer more. |
January 30, 2010
Wigan (10th) at Tottenham (8th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Bale 2 DC King 3 *DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 3 DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Bentley 2.5 ST Defoe 3 Bale is our only option today at DL. We get Woodgate back in the lineup and keep everything else the same. Adriano is only listed at 89%, so he is a sub. Truth be told, I am underwhelmed by him right now. I am also a little underwhelmed by the way we are playing in the 4-5-1. I may go back to the 4-4-2 soon and pair up Adriano and Defoe and see how that works out. We are favored 4-7. Wigan are 4-1 dogs. This is pretty much a must win, at home. We will attack. 23 min: So far we have controlled the action but have not been able to put a shot on goal. A few corners and a few horribly aimed shots. HT: 7 shots total for both teams, not a single one on target. I get Lennon in for Bentley. 54 min: Jenas feeds Lennon. He runs around in the box until all the defenders gather and the keeper gets set, then he fires off a shot that has no chance. 56 min: Walker in for Corluka and Adriano in for Defoe. 62 min: Lennon centers for Huddlestone who is trailing the play. He has a clean shot fro the semi-circle and sends it into orbit. WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR SOCCER PLAYERS TO KEEP A SHOT LOWER THAN, WHAT? 8 FEET? HOW HIGH IS THE GOAL? 71 min: A perfect centering pass for Wigan and an easy finish right in the middle. The defense did nothing to help Gomes. 0-1. I switch to an overload strategy. 88 min: My keeper comes out to play a ball in no man's land. He misplays it, leaves the goal wide open and we are down 0-2. So, I am doing something wrong in every career I have started. I start out good the first couple of months, usually top part of the league, then things completely unravel over the course of the next few months and by the time 2010 rolls around I want to quit the game, delete FM and wonder why I ever tried a soccer sim to begin with. FT: I basically tell the team they are horrible and to suck my balls. I'll push on and try to figure it out though. |
Thanks to law's advice, I am able to secure DMC Sulley Muntari just before the transfer window closes. I spend all $8,000,000 of my money, plus another 2 million in future payments. This transfer means I am sticking with the 4-5-1 for the season.
February 3, 2010 FA Cup 4th Round Replay Tottenham at Arsenal GK Gomes 3.5 DL Bale 2 DC King 3 DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 3 DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Jenas 2.5 MC Palacios 3 *MR Lennon 3 *ST Adriano 3.5 Just a couple of changes to get our two best guys in at AL and ST. So, Muntari comes over injured. You would think that I would get some notice that I am buying damaged good for $10 million? Nope. That is great. Arsenal is favored as a pick em. We are 11-5 dogs. I will just go defensive and try to make this a 120 min long, drawn out, ugly 1-0 match. 2 min: Nothing fancy, just better football and a great shot by Arsenal puts us in a very early 0-1 hole that I know we cannot get out from. 3 min: Or maybe I am wrong. Adriano centers for Palacios. He is about to shoot but sees Lennon has a better angle. He feeds him and it is too easy! 1-1 10 min: van Persle scores his second Arsenal goal from the exact same spot in the box and with the exact same angle as last time. I'll just assume Gomes thought he would go the other way this time. 1-2. 44 min: We equalize right before half on a play stolen from the basketball court. Adriano gives it up to Palacios, then he breaks for the goal. Palacios give it back...ya know, the 'ol give and go. Adriano puts it away for his first (I think) Tottenham goal, and a huge one at that! 2-2 HT: If I have to watch Huddlestone fire blasts into the upper deck for another minute, I'm gonna be sick. The guy is a total waste of roster space. I move King up into the DMC spot, even though it is not a natural fit for him. Walker then comes in to play the back line. 63 min: Arsenal getting too much pressure on me and it seems like it is just a matter of time so I come out of the defensive strategy and go to a control strategy. 64 min: van Persle just misses his hat trick with an absolute bullet from way out that ricochets off the bar. 66 min: Defoe coming in for an exhausted Adriano. 82 min: I go all out attacking for the final 10 minutes. 85 min: Arsenal is offsides and score easily. I just pray it is called.....and it is. Whew! 86 min: Defoe with a cross to Palacios. His header might fall in behind the keeper, but it bounces off the bar and out. So darn close. 87 min: Palacios finds Modric and it is an easy chance, but he kicks it right to the keeper. No way! 89 min: Defoe squeezes one in to a cutting Lennon, but the keeper makes the save of the game. I can't hardly believe this. 89 min: Walker gets the ball in the box after the corner but hits the side net. 90 min: We go to extra time, just like I predicted, but not at 0-0, but at 2-2. We have one more sub left and I bring Bentley in for Lennon. We will go with a control strategy. 103 min: Modric makes a great sliding steal, get up and passes the ball to Defoe. Defoe races down the left, cuts in and at the last second passes to Bentley who finishes!!! We go up 3-2. I stay in a control set. 105 min: Can we hold on for 15 more minutes? Jenas is hurt, but I have no subs. Everybody else is totally sucking wind. 114 min: Arsenal throw in from way deep in our territory. The ball is tipped straight up right in front of the goal.....then goes over for a corner. 115 min: On the corner, they pass it in low, Vela gets it turns, shoots and this one is probably going to PK's. 3-3 120 min: We have a late throw in but can't do anything, so we go to Penalty Kicks. I'll send out: Modric Pavly Adriano Kranjcar Bentley Arsenal: van Persle goes left, so does Gomes. He saves it! It looked like a half-assed effort from van P. Spurs: Modric steps up, the keeper barely moves. GOAL! 1-0 Arsenal: Vela steps up, Gomes guess correctly but still can't stop it. GOAL Spurs: Bentley sends the keeper left, he goes right. GOAL 2-1 Arsenal: Fabregas goes straight middle, or so it seemed. It bounces off Gomes, rolls down the line. No Goal! Too good to be true! Spurs: What? Bale is taking a kick? WHY? He wasn't in my 5 picks. Thank god he scores a GOAL. I need to figure out the PK rules. 3-1 Arsenal: Vermaelen has to score here. With no effort he kicks it straight. Gomes saves, throws it in the air and hell yeah! 3-1 We do sometimes have a flair for the dramatic!!!! |
OK, that match was on February 3rd. We have ManU at home on the 6th, 5th place Aston Villa on the road on the 9th and then the FA Cup 5th round on the road at 17th place Fulham on the 13th. Then we finally get a week off. We are going to have a tired group of guys. Is there anyway to ask for a reschedule??
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February 6, 2010
TV Match Tottenham (8th) at ManU (4th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Bale 2 DC King 3 DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 3 DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 *MC Kranjcar 3 MC Palacios 3 *MR Bentley 2.5 *ST Defoe 3 Just a few minor changes. Kranjcar and Bentley are not the official regular starters, but they play enough to be considered at least part time starters. Adriano just needs a bit of a rest for this match. He may come in later. Really, I am just trying to survive this match. We don't have the talent, and it is on the road. I'll take a draw. We are 3-1 underdogs. I'll play a control strategy rather than defensive. With defensive, it just seems we try to hold them off as long as possible, but the damn always breaks. Maybe with control we can find some opportunities of our own for our midfield and Huddlestone to blast over the bar. 4 min: Kranjcar feeds Modric inside the box, but he can't beat Foster, their keeper. He had a real good chance there too. 19 min: ManU has been controlling the action. A few very dangerous headers in the penalty box are up in the air, up for grabs. We finally force a goal kick. 21 min: Rooney leading the break for ManU. Everytime he passes off, our defense just lets him run. He gets a beautiful assist and we are down 0-1. 32 min: We work the ball pretty good in the middle half of the field, but when we close in on goal, we just can't get clean shots. Modric sends a very wishful shot way over the bar. 45 min: Defoe with a golden opportunity, just like Modric had in the 4th minute, but our shots are not good enough. HT: We have some pretty tired guys, so I use all 3 subs right here. Gidjohnsen for Modric. Walker for King. Crouch for Palacios, even though it is not his position. We'll also go on the attack and try to equalize. 56 min: I can't say we haven't had opportunities. Gusjohnsen gets the ball on the break, he comes down the middle, beats his man but cannot beat the keeper. 62 min: The one time I use up all my subs, we get an injury. Corluka is out. We play with 10 men. I go back to control and hope we can poach a single goal. 80 min: I go overload and pray for one goal. 89 min: We have a throw in this late in the game, but what a surprise, the shot goes over. 93 min: Gusjohnson drills one from outside of the box, it hits the top bar and goes about a mile up in the air. When it comes down, ManU clear it and that was probably our last chance. FT: 0-1 is not bad against them, but we really need points right now. |
February 9th, 2010
Tottenham (9th) at Aston Villa (5th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Bale 2 DC King 3 DC Woodgate 3 *DR Walker 1.5 DMC Huddlestone 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Kranjcar 3 MC Palacios 3 *MR Lennon 3 *ST Adriano 3.5 Other than Assou-Ekotto and Corluka's injuries on our defensive line, this is our best team on paper. We are 7-2 underdogs. I'll come out in a control strategy. 26 min: Our control strategy has made this a very boring game. No shots on goal, no real threats. Hey, if I can get a 0-0 draw today, I'll take it. King gets injured and Bassong comes in to replace him. 42 min: A throw in from basically the corner kick spot. Adriano gets his head on it right on the penalty spot, but their keeper steps up and grabs it safely. It really was a great save. HT: A very boring game, like most of my games lately. No changes at the half. 66 min: Still no real action. Adriano tries to blast one in from way outside the box after making a nice move, but it is an easy save. 68 min: I bring Corluka in for Modric and have him switch up with Kranjcar. 69 min: Gomes makes an amazing save from point blank range to keep the score level. 73 min: Gomes makes a great save. There is a scrum around the keeper, who si on the ground clutching the ball. An Aston Villa player kicks it out of his hands and the ball dribbles in the goal. Total bullshit. 0-1 I go attacking. 82 min: We try to clear out a corner, but Aston picks it up. They fire a longe range shot, which Gomes has a bead on, but the ball deflects off of somebody and goes in. Two cheap goals. 0-2 FT: I'll do anything for 3 points right now. |
Our next game is on the 13th in the FA Cup 5th round. We last played on the 9th. The good news is that our opponent, Fulham, just played on the 10th. The bad news it that it is on the road.
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February 13, 2010
FA Cup 5th Round Tottenham at Fulham GK Gomes 3.5 DL Bale 2 DC King 3 DC Woodgate 3 *DR Corluka 2.5 *DMC Muntari 3.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Kranjcar 3 MC Palacios 3 *MR Bentley 2.5 ST Adriano 3.5 Modric will make his Tottenham debut. Corluka back from injury. Lennon needs a bit of a rest. I really feel like we have a great shot today. Let's see what the odds makers think... Fulham are 6-4 favorites. We are 13-8 dogs. I'll come out attacking. 5 min: We are playing with an orange ball today, whatever that might mean. Gomes has to make dive to the left, but he gets to the bal for a great save! 21 min: We have multiple chances in a row. Each time a nice pass into the box, but their defense continues to make nice sliding tackles, force the corner and then defend it well. 26 min: We have a throw in from the left side. A couple of passes and Adriano gets it in the box, still on the left. He fakes right, shoots left. GOAL! 1-0 41 min: Second corner kick in a row for us. Adriano gets his head on it from about 10 feet from the goal, but the keeper was positioned perfectly. HT: We are a bit tired, but no subs yet. I want to ride the starters a bit longer if I can. 49 min: Kranjcar injured. Huddlestone in for him. I swap him and Muntari. 53 min: We get burned on defense, but they shoot it wide into the netting. 56 min: Palacios outruns their whole team, but the keeper deflects it right to Adriano. He shoot, but the keeper gets in the way again. 79 min: Bassong in for Bale and Walker in for Woodgate. 90 min: Free kick to Fulham just outside of the box. It was a screamer towards the left side of the goal. Gomes with an incredible fyling save. It was probably the game saver. FT: We hold on for an ugly 1-0 win, which I gladly take. I also decide to scrap the 4-5-1 experiment. My new guy Muntari can play MC as well, so I am not stuck with him. He is still a great addition and had a 6.8 match rating in his debut. Gomes was an amazing 8.4, while Corluka was an 8.6 in his return. |
FA Cup 6th Round Draw
We are on the first line. Unfortunately we play on the road. We draw Portsmouth, who are 20th in the PRM League. Could have been worst, but I was hoping for the CH team or even the L1 team that was still alive. I decide to go back to the 4-4-2 tactic. The other one was fun for a bit, but it just was not working. We are getting some guys back from injury: Ekotto and Jenas. |
February 20, 2010
TV Match Blackburn (15th) at Tottenham (10th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Bale 2 DC King 3 DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Adriano 3.5 ST Defoe 3 Ekotto will sit one more match, but I'll probably bring him into this one if needed. This is actually a pretty darn solid team on paper, isn't it??? Somehow Blackburn is favored, 6-4. We are 13-8 dogs at home? We will attack. 15 min: We have put a lot of pressure on Blackburn and had a few nice shots on goal, including Adriano's just now, but their keeper is saving everything so far. 16 min: Lennon races down the right side and centers perfectly for Adriano. A finesse header is lobbed gently over the keeper and in it goes!!! 1-0 26 min: Gomes comes wayyy out of goal and I wonder what in the world he is doing as a Blackburn player races towards him with the ball. Amazingly, he cuts off all angles and makes a wonderful sliding save. Maybe the most risky, but sweetest save I have seen. HT: Not too many chances either way so far, but I am pleased with the early goal. No changes yet. 51 min: Modric lobs it in for Adriano, but his header goes off the post. 62 min: Bale is injured, so I bring Ekotto in. 80 min: Blackburn has yet to make a serious threat in the second half. Defoe so close to wrapping this game up, but he hits the side net. Better than putting it over I suppose. 94 in: Gomes has to make a save on a desperation shot, but there was never any real danger. FT: Wow, we earned 3 points. We needed that. Feels great to win again, though it was still a pretty ugly victory. |
February 27, 2010
Tottenham (9th) at Fulham (17th) GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Ekotto 2.5 DC King 3 *DC Bassong 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Adriano 3.5 ST Defoe 3 Ekotto back in as our best DL after some time off with an injury. Bassong is rated lower than Woodgate, but has a high average match rating. For now, they are interchangable. MC Jenas and ST Pavly have pretty much been demoted. Neither are even subs for this game. Fulham are 6-4 favorites at home. We are 13-8 dogs. I feel we are the better team, by a decent margin. We will attack. 16 min: Fulham has put some decent pressure on us the last 5 minutes, but we avoid any real chances on goal with some solid defense on a couple of corners and a throw in. 22 min: Defoe gets called for a penalty on a corner. Shorey puts it away for Fulham and we are down 0-1. 33 min: We still have not had a good shot on goal. Gomes has to make a backpedalling save on a real screamer to keep the defecit at 1 goal. 36 min: Fulham were offsides, with no call, but Gomes still able to make a great stop. 37 min: Defoe in a two man game with Adriano. He feeds Adriano on the left, and he shoots cross pitch to just clip the inside of the far right post. It settles in the net and we have equalized! 1-1 45 min: Again we are trying to survive some heavy pressure from Fulham. This time Ekotto gets a steal, pushes it up to Adriano, who finds Modric cutting in from the left. The pass is right on target and Modric goes across the pitch with his shot. Just like Adriano's goal, it is off the far post and in! 2-1 HT: I consider pulling Defoe, who hasn't played good, but that assist he had bumped up his game score. I'll leave him in for now, but I expect to get Crouch in soon. 51 min: Defoe finds Lennon coming in from the right. The shot is saved by the fingertips. I thought for sure it was an easy score. 52 min: Off the corner kick, Lennon ends up with the ball in the same spot, and this time he makes good for his last shot. GOAL! 3-1 63 min: Muntari to Adriano to Defoe. GOAL! It was beautiful teamwork. I have to think this one is out of reach for Fulham now. 4-1 72 min: Poor defense on a throw in leads to a quick and easy open shot right on the penalty spot. Nevland scores for Fulham. 4-2 72 min: I bring Bale in for a tiring Modric and Crouch in for Defoe. 83 min: My two subs work magic. Bale on the left side centers for Crouch. Crouch gets his head on it and drills it home! 5-2 FT: When we start scoring goals, we are a very dangerous team. One of my top 3 performances of the year. Despite the great win, about the best I can do is finish top 7, maybe with a lot of luck squeeze into the 6th spot. There really should be an 8 team playoff or something. The season is so very anti-climatic without any promotion in the premier league. |
The goal for the rest of the season is to beat the PRM League teams I am supposed to beat, contends with the better teams and keep a top 10 finish, preferably in the top 8.
Also, we have the FA Cup Quarterfinals coming up in about a week. I would love to win this competition. We have a winnable game against Portsmouth to get to the semi-finals. After that, the other quarter finals are: ManCity vs. Chelsea – winner must be favorites the rest of the way Blackburn vs Stoke - 15th and 10th place in the PRM League. We could beat either team. Newcastle vs. Norwich – CH team vs League 1 team. Winner will be the huge dogs. First we have to take care of business in the Quarters... |
March 6, 2010
TV Match English FA Cup Quarterfinals Tottenham at Portsmouth GK Gomes 3.5 DL Ekotto 2.5 DC King 3 DC Bassong 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Adriano 3.5 ST Defoe 3 No changes. I am a bit concerned about Corluka and Modric's conditioning, even after the nice long break. I have subs ready for both of them, but both are key members of this team. We are favored as a pick em. Portsmouth are 11-5 dogs. We will attack. 4 min: We have controlled the ball for a few minutes now, but it has been sloppy and lots of headers trying to gain firm control. Finally Lennon has it, advances forward, finds Defoe just outside the right corner of the box. Defoe does his patented turn and fire, which never works....except this time he buries it!!!! 1-0 9 min: Their striker dekes out my entire defense, but Gomes is my rock. He makes the save like it was nothing. 18 min: Defoe being cocky now, tries the same move. This time we get the usual over and wide by a mile result. 32 min: we waste two corners in a row. Then Palacios dribbles and dribbles, can't find anyone and turns it over. Portsmouth on a fast break, but Corluka back quick enough to break it up. 37 min: 3 corners in a row for Portsmouth. On the third one, I don't know what happened, but the ball comes flying out to midfield where Adriano is ahead of the pack by a full step. He gets tackled roughly from behind at the semi-circle. No penalty kick from there. Just a free kick. Bain gets a yellow card, should have been a red. Adriano kicks it into the wall and it deflects back 50 yards. HT: No changes. I am keeping an eye on Modric, his condition is getting low. 67 min: Walker in for Corluka and Bale in for Modric. Both of the starters had serious condition concerns. This makes us noticably weaker on the pitch though, so I go to a control strategy. 86 min: We are applying some pressure, trying to get the ball in the box and get that game clinching goal. The ball is up for grabs and I hear a whistle. I think Defoe gets fouled in the box, but he is called for the foul. No penalty kick. 89 min: For the second game in a row, my two subs work the magic. Walker centers for Bale, who heads it in. Hello Semi-Finals!!! 2-0 FT: This is getting pretty exciting. I can't wait to see the other results and get the draw for the Semi-Finals. Also, we are on a nice little roll here as we approach the end of the season. |
In other FA Cup results:
ManCity and Chelsea will have a replay after a 1-1 draw. Stoke beats Blackburn, as expected. Newcastle beats Norwich, also as expected. As I prepare to watch the Semi-Final Draw, I only hope that if I draw ManCity/Chelsea, that I at least get a home game to give myself a fighting chance. The first team up is ManCity/Chelsea as the home team. I yell at the monitor as I click 'Draw Next Team' “NOT ME NOT ME NOT ME” Its me. I never catch a break. In the meantime we have about a week off before we get back into League Play. |
Actually, you have a TON to play for going down the stretch
Yes, you're not going to win the league.. however, you could qualify for Europe one of two ways. A) Finish in the top 5-7 of the league. The top 4 teams in the English Premier League qualify for the UEFA Champions League, a big-money competition featuring the top teams from all over Europe. The next 1-3 teams qualify for the Europa League, the second-level competition.. not as big-money, or as prestigious, but it can be a very welcome boost to team finances... Note I said 1-3 teams.. B) Win the FA Cup, and no matter where you finish in the league, you'll at least be playing in the Europa League next year. I don't see who won the League Cup, but if they already qualify for Europe by league placement, the "extra" spot goes to the 6th place team. The FA Cup is similar, except it goes to the winner, and then to the losing finalist, before going to the next placed league team. So there's really a lot of interest in top 8 or so games the rest of the way |
Thanks for the great info Foz. I was a bit fuzzy on who qualifies for Europe, and had no idea there was a Europa.
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March 13, 2010
Tottenham (8th) at Sunderland (14th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Ekotto 2.5 DC King 3 DC Bassong 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Adriano 3.5 ST Defoe 3 I've settled on this lineup being my best, at least while I seem to be playing good. Anytime I am playing a team ranked lower than 10, whether it is on the road or at home, I expect at least 1 point, if not 3. I would really like to grab 3 here obviously. We are 6-4 favorites. Sunderland are 13-8 dogs. We attack. 9 min: Sunderland with a free kick from in close. The bal is deflected up. Gomes can't get to it, but they send it high and wide. 11 min: They have a breakaway. The centering pass looks good but the header is over. Nice to see the other team doing that. 17 min: They have been getting the better of us so far, and they get the first goal as well. A simple play in the middle of the field that our defense just seemed to let happen. 0-1 38 min: We still haven't had a real chance. Sunderland with a corner and they convert. We are in some serious trouble now. 0-2 HT: I read them the riot act at the half. Crouch in for Defoe and Woodgate in for Bassong. I go to an overload strategy and hope I can get 2. 50 min: We finally get a decent chance on goal, but a pair of centering passes are not quite on target to get a good shot off. 67 min: A corner kick for us looks like it has potential but the header goes way over. Things are looking bleak now. FT: Not much else to say other than we were totally outclassed. I am very disappointed in the team today. |
March 20, 2010
West Ham (7th) at Tottenham (9th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Ekotto 2.5 DC King 3 DC Bassong 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 *ML Bale 2 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Adriano 3.5 ST Defoe 3 Modric is going to be out for 2-3 weeks. Bale is a huge drop down in quality. It goes without saying that this is a huge match if we are going to improve our league position by year's end. West Ham are 6-4 favorites. We are 13-8 dogs. I'm going to just start with the standard strategy today. 34 min: A horribly boring game. Neither team has had any real threat, and very few shots even. Defoe with the first semi-chance of the game for us, but he goes very wide. 38 min: We have a free kick from the side. Bassong with the header that didn't have a chance. 42 min: Adriano centers for Defoe who is wide open, but his header is so weak. Where are his finishes??? HT: Neither team has much to be proud of. We really need the 3 points. I will switch to an attack. 58 min: Defoe just taking batting practice from outside the box every time he touches it. He was close once, but has yet to actually make the keeper make a save. 59 min: Crouch and Pavly in for Adriano and Defoe. Drastic measures. 61 min: Bassong with a foul in the penalty area. How come my team never gets a penalty kick. It is a conspiracy. Of course it is good. 0-1 73 min: Pavly with a terrific turn around and shoot move, making the keeper do some actual work. It was a great save. 75 min: I switch to an overload strategy. 77 min: Pavly trying to reward me for giving him playing time has another great chance at goal, but their keeper is wonderful today. FT: No more threats from us, and we go down in embarrassing fashion at home. To not even get one point in the last two games is pretty lousy football. |
Chelsea beats ManCity in the FA Cup replay. So we travel to Chelsea. That is a huge hurdle.
Oh but wait, we actually will play at Wembley. Is that Chelsea's home or is it neutral?? We have a bit of history on our side as the two teams met in the 1967 final, with the Spurs coming out victorious. March 27, 2010 Tottenham (9th) at Portsmouth (20th) GK Gomes 3.5 DL Ekotto 2.5 DC King 3 *DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Bale 2 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Adriano 3.5 ST Defoe 3 The only change is Woodgate for Bassong. If we can't get 3 points today, we might as well pack it in for the season. We are favored as a pick em. Portsmouth are 11-5 dogs. We attack. 3 min: Defoe outruns the defense on a break away. Adriano does the same down the middle. He stays onsides, gets the centering pass. Nobody is on him....and he pooches it. What an asshole. 13 min: Defoe with a can't miss opportunity from 5 feet in front of the keeper, all alone. He misses. 18 in: Muntari to Defoe. He lets off a shot. The keeper deflects it. Lennon finds it at his foot and he cleans it up! Finally a GOAL!!!! 1-0 32 min: Defoe with a steal. He passes it off to Adriano who is inches wide after he faked the keeper out and sent him the wrong way. What is wrong with Adriano today?? HT: Honestly, this game should be 4-0. The good news is that Portsmouth has not had a credible chance in the first half. I hate to switch, but I am going to change to a control strategy. I am not confident in scoring again, and just want to avoid giving one up. 59 min: Funny game. All those easy opportunities in the first half and we couldn't finish. Now, Bale tries to make a pass, it takes a weird deflection off the defender, lands at Defoe's feet in the middle of the pitch with nobody near him. He beats the keeper. 2-0 61 min: Ekotto makes the steal and moves it forward, getting it over to Lennon. Lennon with his speed just dashes down the right sideline, centers for Defoe. A perfect finish! 3-0 68 min: I bring Pavly in for Adriano and little used Dawson in for Woodgate. Just to give some bench players some playing time. 87 min: Bassong in for Corluka. FT: We just waste time and run out the clock. A precious 3 points. Perhaps I shouldn't attack so much and just stick with the control strategy a bit more? |
There's always something to play for. Getting good league positions will increase your club's reputation, which in turn reduces the chances of your players wanting to leave and allowing you to buy other players more easily (in the sense they are willing to come play for you).
For England, it will be positions 5 and 6 that get spots in the Europa Cup along with the FA Cup winner. The League Cup no longer gives a european place. Re Control: Personally, I think it's a good option if you're playing a weaker team that is going to counter-attack against you. The idea behind it from what I understand is that you are going to take your time to build your attacks and that reduces the chances of a breakaway by the other side. |
April 4, 2010
TV Match Man City (3rd) at Tottenham (9th) GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Bale 2 DC King 3 DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 2.5 *ML Assou-Ekotto 2.5 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Adriano 3.5 ST Defoe 3 Basically, I am just going to make our midfield as strong as possible without Modric, by moving Ekotto up there and then playing Bale at DL. Man City are 6-4 favorites. We are 13-8 dogs. We are going to try a counter strategy. We have a couple good forwards and a very speedy right midfielder. I don't expect to win anyway, so I might as well try something different. 11 min: Both teams feeling each other out a bit early on. We have a free kick at midfield. Palacios gets it in the center and passes left to Adriano. He passes across the box to a cutting Defoe. Defoe goes right, and beats the keeper!! We take an early lead! 1-0 That is Defoe's 20th goal of the season. 12 min: Our lead is very short lived. Man City take the ensuing kickoff and I think we were still celebrating. Wright-Phillips buries an easy one. 1-1 42 min: A lack of action for a good while. Here, Adriano centers for Palacios, who is trailing the play and is still outside of the box. His attempt goes flying over. HT: I don't see any need to make changes at this point. 64 min: Gomes has to make 2 fairly routine stops in a row. Adriano is shaken up on the play, so I replace him with Crouch. 71 min: Corluka has it stolen from him deep in our own territory. I think it is going to cost us, but their shot goes a hair wide. 73 min: Gomes has to make another great save, tipping it over the bar for a corner. 76 min: We are under heavy pressure for the last 4 minutes. A bad defensive positioning give up an open look, but Gomes turns it aside again. 85 min: We work so hard to cross midfield, then work our way forward. As soon as Defoe gets the ball, way out of the box none the less, he rips a useless shot. 89 min: We have a throw in. Ekotto to Crouch to Defoe who turns and fires. Oh....just inches wide. FT: I can't really complain with the draw. I'll take my 1 point and hopefully this gives the team confidence when we go against Chelsea in a couple weeks. |
10 days until the Semi-Finals. Adriano tells the fans he will have to watch from the sidelines due to the injury he picked up against Man City.
I plan on using Crouch to fill in. Pavly will be ready as a sub. Modric is back to full training, so he should be ready for the match. We have a home match against Hull, 3 days before the match against Chelsea. I'll probably try to get my key players as much time off as possible in that game. April 10, 2010 Hull (15th) at Tottenham (8th) GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Ekotto 2.5 DC King 3 *DC Bassong 2.5 DR Corluka 2.5 *ML Modric 4.5 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 *ST Crouch 2.5 ST Defoe 3 OK, I lied. I want this win, so I play my best guys. I will make use of all three subs though. We are favored 4-6. Hull are 7-2 dogs. We will try to use the control strategy again today. 10 min: Palacios to Crouch. Crouch beats the keeper, but can't be the right post of the goal. It bounces way up and Hull clears it out. 17 min: Palacios and Lennon both get a couple good rips on goal, but their keeper comes up big both times. 19 min: Modric beats his man and races down the left sideline. He passes to Crouch who is just inside the box, also on the left side. Crouch looks confused, but he makes a move, sheds his defender and beats the keeper, barely, but it is a GOAL! 1-0 25 min: Lennon runs down the right sideline, passes to Defoe. Defoe to Crouch who is blazing in from the left. Crouch takes a second, fires and.....GOAL! 2-0 38 min: Hull answer back here with a goal. It was off a throw in, and the pass was to a Hull player inside the small goalkeeper box. Gomes couldn't do a thing. But the goal has been disallowed! Offsides. (I thought so!) 39 min: On the ensuing goal kick, we race up field with Crouch feeding Modric who is cutting in from the left. When this guy is focused he is as good as anyone. Modric put it way and we are up 3-0. HT: Bale in for Modric. I need Modric fresh as possible for Chelsea. 56 min: Bentley in for Lennon. Pavly in for Crouch. 70 min: Defoe passes off to Bale, who subbed in for Modric at the half. Bale shoots to the close side of the goal and beats the keeper! The rout is on, 4-0 FT: We just kill time the rest of the way and pick up 3 points with a nice easy win. |
We get word that our game with Chelsea is expected to draw 90,000 fans to Wembley. That would be a sell-out and the biggest crowd most of my guys have ever played in front off.
The fans seem pessimistic about our chances. Perhaps I am overrating my squad, but I think we can make this a knock down ugly match and sneak something out in extra time or penalty kicks. Chelsea played on the 11th of the month and lost on the road. We last played on the 10th, at home and won, obviously. So we have an extra day of rest and are coming off a good result. |
April 14, 2010
TV Match FA Cup Semi-Finals Wembley Stadium Chelsea vs Tottenham GK Gomes 3.5 DL Ekotto 2.5 DC King 3 *DC Woodgate 3 DR Corluka 2.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Muntari 3.5 MC Palacios 3 MR Lennon 3 ST Crouch 2.5 ST Defoe 3 That is the very best lineup I have available to me today. Chelsea are 4-5 favorites. We are 3-1 dogs. We'll try to counter, as we did against Man City to get the draw. 10 min: The first chance of the game goes to Chelsea and they just outplay us, work it inside for a great shot and Gomes can't come up with it. 0-1 Nightmare start. Oh, and it was Landon Donovan who scored. Bastard! 15 min: We have a corner kick. Crouch gets to it, but their keeper makes an incredible save to tip it over the bar. So close! 32 min: We withstand some decent pressure by Chelsea and Gomes comes up with a couple of saves. We get an attack going, but Modric can't finish. It wasn't a clean look anyhow. 41 min: We switch to a control strategy. My hope is that it limits Chelsea's chances. We cannot give up that 2nd goal. HT: Our two strikers are tired. Pavly will probably end up coming in for one of them soon. No changes right now though. 61 min: Defoe gets banged up. Pavly in. We switch to a standard strategy. 63 min: Lennon centers for Crouch, but he puts it a bit wide. How are we going to find that one goal??? 72 min: Lennon fires one over. We are getting desperate. I switch to an overload strategy. It is do or die time. 85 min: Modric is cutting in from the left with the ball. It is clear in front of him. I pray. He fires. It is over the keeper, it clips the top of the bar, hits the pitch and bounces away safely. That was probably our last shot. Huddlestone in for Muntari and Gusjohnsen for Crouch. I try to get some real fresh legs in for a couple of very tired players. FT: It sucks that we couldn't even manage a single goal today. The dream is over. |
April 17, 2010
TV Match Tottenham (8th) at Liverpool (1st) GK Gomes 3.5 *DL Bale 2 *DC Bassong 3 *DC Dawson 2.5 *DR Walker 1.5 ML Modric 4.5 MC Muntari 3.5 *MC Huddlestone 2.5 MR Lennon 3 *ST Adriano 3.5 ST Defoe 3 Lots of new faces for this game. We have virtually no chance today. Liverpool are 4-5 favorites. Tottenham are 3-1 dogs. If my board and fans were smart, they would bet every penny on Liverpool today. We will try the counter strategy again. We are speeding things up here for the last 4 games of the season.... HT: A few decent chances both ways, but the half arrives with a 0-0 stalemate. I'll take it. No hcanges as of yet. 55 min: Liverpool finally beat my second team defense on a corner kick. 0-1 61 min: Babel with his second goal for Liverpool. 0-2 91 min: They get a penalty kick to add insult to injury. 0-3. FT: I've had it with this season. I am looking forward to the offseason and see what we can do to improve. I go on vacation for our next 3 games. |
Pack up and take a holiday back to the States. My cell phone is on hand to keep tabs on things back at Tottenham.
April 24, 2010 Tottenham 4 – Birmingham 2 We sit in 8th place still. 3 clear from 9th place and 3 behind 8th place West Ham, who has played one less game. May 1, 2010 Tottenham 1 – Bolton 2 Liverpool has 'done the double' whatever that might mean. I do know that they have clinched the Premier League Title. May 9, 2010 Tottenham 0 – Chelsea 1 We finish in 9th place. We get a check for $20,450,000 for our league position. Holy shit! We pay out $1,700,000 to the team for their league position. Modric was named to the Premier League “Team of the Year” as a substitute. Liverpool's manager was named manager of the year. Wonder if I got any votes? I guess that is it until the World Cup. |
World Cup 2010
and other Tottenham notes I list Huddlestone for transfer. I pick up a cheap transfer from the Liverpool reserve squad. Palacios was voted Tottenham player of the year. We get $48.5 million in TV fees for this coming season. I tell the board I will finish top half this year. They give me a measly 4.4 million in transfer money. Odds to win Premier League this year: Man City 7-4 Liverpool 5-2 Chelsea 5-1 Man U 6-1 Arsenal 8-1 Aston Villa 33-1 Tottenham 150-1 LMAO! I guess I did a good enough job. The board has offered me a new contract: 2 years, $2.9 million per. I take it. Huddlestone is shipped off to Aston Villa for 12 million. I was fed up with his performances. Most of this off season is spent rejecting transfer offers that come out of nowhere for my best players. World Cup Group State Results Group A Italy and Chile advance. Ghana does not. Group B Denmark and Ivory Coast advance. Spain with 3 draws does not! Japan does not either. Group C Argentina and Mexico advance Group D Cameroon and Scotland advance. Croatia does not Group E Russia and Holland advance Group F USA and Paraguay advance. France does not. Group G England and Brazil advance. Group H Uruguay and Germany advance. 2nd Round Results Italy beats Ivory Coast Denmark beats Chile Argentina beats Scotland Cameroon beats Mexico USA beats Holland – GO USA! Paraguay beats Russia Brazil beats Uruguay Germany beats England Quarter Finals Italy beats Cameroon Argentina beats Denmark Brazil beats Paraguay Germany beats USA Semi-Finals Italy over Germany Argentina over Brazil Finals Italy beats Argentina. Italy are repeat World Cup Champions! |
Good read so far, it sucks being within reach of a goal at the end of a season and coming up short. 150-1 odds, awesome. Good luck in year 2!
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