[Abe Sargent]

My appeal goes through and I pay 1.2 mill in compensation to Dinamo Buc to sign my DC. We get the link with Deinze. A lot of offers have come through for Gabi and another player I liked. Assuming they go elsewhere, who are my next choices?

Let’s look at my new players first:

MC, AM RCL Joe Cole, 33, English, Homegrown, 15k/week, 1.2 mill. 13/12 speed, 15 pas 13 cross, 16 first touch, technique, 15 drib – also 15 corners, 12 penalties. 16 work rate, determination, decisions, 15 creativity, flu, anticipation, 14 otb flair, teamwork. Just here for one year. Light-Hearted, spearks French too

I make Joe Cole my new captain

DC Joleon Lescott, 32, English, Homegrown, 28k/week, 1.8 milll value, Started for Man City for years, as well as Everton and Wolves, started eight seasons with 20 or more games in the EPL. Rating in the 6.77, 6.93 and 6.96 area. He’s a guy for a year for me. 17 head, 15 jump, 14 mark, 16 tack, 11/12 pace, 16 str, teamwork, determin, 15 work rate position, bravery, Resilient .


DC Victor Iordache, 19, Romanian, Ambitious, 1.2 mill value, 11.5k/week. Contract through 2018. I work on his speed in training. 11/11 speed 16 head and jump, 15 mark, 12 tack, pass, 17 stam, 12 stren, 14 anticipation, determi, 12 decision, work rate, position, bravery, concentration. Needs work, had to sign to rotation deal instead of hot prospect I wanted. Expect some play, but not a lot. Gives me 5 DCs for DC spot – Barty starter Lescott starter, start either Gromstad and Mbemba and this guy rotationally a needed. All three are on rotation deals.


GK Joe Murphy, 33, Irish, Homegrown, 8.75k/week, 475k; Balanced. Not super great. The best GK I could find willing to sign a backup contract. Just here for a year. Slow too. Worse than Delle by far. Delle is given 3.5 stars by my coach, and Murphy 2.