Year 7 Update
Team: Bristol City
League: Barclay's Premier League
Record: 1st (30-5-3, 95 points)
Silverware: Premier League, FA Community Shield, Champions League
Cups: Defeated Aston Villa 4-1 in the FA Community Shield, lost to Chelsea in the Carling Cup quarterfinals, lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinal, and defeated Sporting in the Champions League final.
Summer Transfers: Taison (CAM - Internacional), Wellington (ST - Hoffenheim)
Winter Transfers: Jack Rodwell (CDM, Everton), sold CM Tom Huddlestone.
Goal Scorers: Delfouneso (41), Campbell (37), Maynard (27), Wellington (15), Barnes (15), Delph (12), Akinde (7), Kightly/Elliott (5), Rodwell/Myrie-Williams/Soares (4), Taison/Shelvey (3), Martin/Taiwo (2), Sproule/Stanislas (1).
Manager Thoughts:- Finally! After 7 seasons, back-to-back heartbreaking finals losses, and early exits...we were victorious! Champions of Europe! We drew AC Milan in the first knockout stage and advanced 4-2, then knocked out Slavia Praha 8-4 in the quarterfinals.
Our biggest test was facing our nemesis Arsenal in the semifinals. We won the first away leg 4-1. We fell behind 3-1 early in the home leg before Delfouneso fired us into the final with a hat trick as we drew 4-4. I think it is very fitting that in order for us to taste Champions League glory, we had to beat the team that had kept it from us. It has been a long journey and I feel a tremendous sense of pride in the fellas.
- I think this season probably feels the best. Not only because we won the Champions League, but we did with the same core group of guys. I bought a lot of these guys when they were teenagers or in their early 20s. I had to put progression restrictions in place so they didn't get too good too fast, but watching them progress and gel as a team over the past 7 seasons is a great feeling.
It is a bit sad though. With most of the guys pushing 30 and there being a lack of accurately rated younger regenerated players, I realize that I won't be able to start the process of bringing in young players and molding them into champions all over again. Unless, of course, I start over. Which is not something I want to do.