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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Spurs have announced that they have appointed Stephen Keane. Keane is an inexperienced manager and Spurs is his first managerial job. Many think that he'll make Spurs into a mid table team, while others think he can lead them to Champions League football. Keane and Spurs held a press conference and they had this to day.
"I know that I've haven't had much managerial experience but I'm hoping that I'll do good. Spurs has the team to get Champions League football and I wanna bring them there. I wanna get top 4. I want to possibly win the FA Cup. It's a stretch but I believe Spurs can do it. Thank you and have a nice day."
OUT:
Roberto Soldado Spurs -> Marseille $20,000,000
Emmanuel Adebayor Spurs -> Bor. Dortmund $17,000,000
IN:
Christian Benteke Aston Villa -> Spurs $10,000,000 + Etlenne Capoue
Luka Modric Real Madrid -> Spurs $64,500,000
Friendly
Spurs - Chievo (4-0)
WIN
Friendly
Valencia - Spurs (1-0)
LOSS
Friendly
Spurs - FC Bayern (2-1)
WIN
Barclays PL Match 1
West Ham - Spurs (0-2)
WIN
Barclays PL Match 2
Spurs - Liverpool (3-0)
WIN
Barclays PL Match 3
Spurs - QPR (3-0)
WIN
A new CM to run along my AC Milan one, I've somewhat decided to have this CM has my main one.
Last edited by Solarios; 01-07-2015, 01:02 AM.Comment
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How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Man it was already extremely hard for me to come to my decision and now you make me feel bad about it :/ the other team I was thinking about using was Racing Santander, recently promoted from the 3rd division. Now I'm wondering if I should just drop the Osasuna career and make one with Racing instead. What do you guys think?
Edit: On second thought, I think I will just stay with Osasuna. I already typed the introduction anyway. One thing I don't like is that the board wants me to gain automatic promotion and I would have wanted to turn off the first transfer window and get to know my squad. With that objective I don't feel I have enough room to breathe in order to do that. Another thing I don't like is they have so many non-Spanish players! Racing only has 1 and he's a loanee. I have a lot of work to do in the transfer window.Last edited by _ChicoBass; 01-07-2015, 02:26 AM.Comment
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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Unfortunately for Oswaldo, he needed to move on to open up funding for me to bring in the five boys who have been so important this season: Knockaert, Camara, Sanogo, Cataldi and Rose. I could have kept him, but he was a bit too slow for my liking. I have to feel for Aristeguieta, though. The guy has been more or less shunted to the side with Sanogo and Schechter in such good form, but he did make a resurgence in 2015, only to suffer a massive setback, which you'll see in my future updates.
Anyone but Juventus!
Yeah, I suppose it wasn't all luck, but the fact that it went in rather than coming out after hitting the post was fortune. No question that we will be competing for the title in the years to come, but the real question is how we will fare against Europe's finest while handling the increased workload that comes with continental competition. I'm also stoked that you chose Osasuna, and I can't wait to see what you do with the team. I expect a strong academy and loads of stinginess!
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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Jeu à la Nantaise: March 2015
Reims 0-1 Nantes
MOTM: Lindsay Rose (FCN)
Fernando Aristeguieta made a rare start as Nantes sought to consolidate their strong league position with a win over Stade de Reims, and the Venezuelan bagged the only goal of the match with just under 40 minutes on the clock. Lindsay Rose marshalled the back line in the absence of Papiss Djilobodji, who now trains with the reserves.
"We're very happy to win," said an elated Aristeguieta, adding that he did not expect to score. "When you don't have that run of games, it's not easy to score, but strikers have the advantage of knowing where to be at the right time. I'm glad to be on the score sheet, but the most important thing is the team got the three points today."
"I've said before that I haven't been fair to Fernando by leaving him out for most of the season, but we're starting to see his contributions slowly come to light. Ever since Itay's form began to dip, we needed someone to step up, and it's great that Fernando is coming good at this vital part of the season," Indi Blue said after the game.
Nantes 0-0 Evian
MOTM: Papiss Djilobodji (FCN)
Indi Blue shocked everyone when he named Papiss Djilobodji to the starting lineup, and his faith was rewarded as the Senegalese centre back put in a man-of-the-match display to deny Evian any joy. Nantes were also kept at bay themselves, unable to penetrate the Evian defence deeply enough to make any chances of real substance.
"Papiss had a word with the boys a few days ago, apologising for his behaviour and for failing to keep a lid on such a sensitive document," Indi said. "I had their faith and support to play him, and it paid off. His professionalism was there for all to see."
Rennais 2-1 Nantes
MOTM: Ola Toivonen (REN)
Sweden forward Ola Toivonen scored twice, including a strong header in the second minute, to secure a prestigious Derby Breton double for Stade Rennais. Serge Gakpe picked up another goal, but it wasn't enough to prevent Nantes from suffering a significant loss. Given the precarious nature of the league table, it could prove costly.
"We're not happy with today's game; not the result, not the performance," said newly re-instated club captain Olivier Veigneau. "This isn't how we should be playing against such a big rival, especially after we lost at home. We have to come back from this and win the next two or three games to have a chance of remaining in the top five."
"What can you say? We lost to a better team, but they were better because we let them be better," sadid a philosophical Indi Blue. "We've had success in big games this season, but this particular tie wasn't meant to be. I hope we beat them next year."
Player of the Month
Defensive midfielder Birama Toure capitalised on his opportunity, coming in for the tired Lucas Deaux and putting in a number of quality performances. The young man from Mali is now a contender to possibly replace Papiss Djilobodji in defence next season; he certainly has the skills and discipline needed to excel in that position.
Ligue 1
1. PSG 69
2. Bordeaux 68
3. Marseille 64
4. Nantes 61
5. Lyon 60
...
18. Lorient 24
19. Lens 19
20. Caen 11
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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Jeu à la Nantaise: April 2015
Nantes 3-0 Caen
MOTM: Danilo Cataldi (FCN)
Fernando Aristeguieta scored the opener on the brink of halftime, beating two markers to head in Danilo Cataldi's corner. Cataldi added the second with an hour played, pulling off a classy feint before beating the keeper in style. Papiss Djilobodji scored Nantes' third, his first of the season, by nodding in another Cataldi corner.
"We were too good," said Indi Blue. I'm made up for Fernando, and it's important that Papiss continues to remain professional as he has done. Dani was the star today, and a performance like that deserve spraise. He was unplayable; Caen couldn't come up with anything to stop him. It's fantastic to see how him turn his bad start around."
Fernando Aristeguieta
Fractured tailbone, 5 months
Saint-Etienne 2-1 Nantes
MOTM: Mevlut Erdinc (STE)
With resurgent forward Fernando Aristeguieta suffering a season-ending fracture, it was Itay Schechter who was preferred to lead the line. Mevlut Erdinc scored the first, and the Israeli ended his goal drought to give Nantes hope, only for Erdinc to set up Benjamin Corgnet for the late winner. Could this loss prove to be the one that pushes Nantes out of European qualification? Only time will tell, but things are looking tough.
"This was not a game we could afford to lose," said Indi Blue. "Saint-Etienne are just two points behind us now, and we needed to win to keep the pressure on them. We have to hold our hands up and accept our mistakes. They showed great spirit and played very well today, so we cannot feel upset with anyone but ourselves."
Nantes prepare for Marseille showdown
As the Coupe de la Ligue final between Marseille and Nantes draws nearer, the major question on everyone's minds is whether the spectre of Papiss Djilobodji's betrayal will affect Nantes' mentality and approach. Indi Blue will not be keen on starting the Senegalese in this title match, even if he has displayed professionalism in his recent starts. The cup final is a sacred institution reserved for those who have given the team everything since the beginning of the season. It is for players who have earned the right to play in it; players who deserve the honour. One can argue that despite his talent, Djilobodji has relinquished his claim on starting the game at Parc des Princes.
Indi is expected to continue with his narrow 4-4-2 diamond. Sources say the manager will name Kian Hansen of Denmark as Lindsay Rose's partner in central defense, with the pair flanked by club captain Olivier Veigneau and right back Issa Cissokho, who is set to play through injury pending a last-minute fitness test. Birama Toure will anchor the base of midfield, just behind Abdou Camara and Jordan Veretout, with Italian dynamo Danilo Cataldi starting in the trequartista role. Serge Gakpe will play striker, occupying one of the two forward roles, and Yaya Sanogo is expected to partner him.
Marseille's worries are low-key in comparison. Marcelo Bielsa will continue with his first-choice team. Roman Alessandrini should cause problems from the left wing, especially with Issa Cissokho likely to be carrying a minor niggle if he starts. Up top, it is uncertain whether Artyom Dzyuba will hold on to his berth as the starting striker, or if El Loco will give the injury-hit Andre-Pierre Gignac the green light. Belgian forward Michy Batshuayi is not expected to start for L'OM but could make the bench.
Marseille 1-2 Nantes
MOTM: Remy Riou (FCN)
A capacity crowd at Parc des Princes belted out anthems and chants for close to an hour before kickoff, as Marseille and Nantes prepared to do battle for league cup honours. Oddly enough, most of the fans in the stadium were backing Marseille, the hated rival of local team Paris Saint-Germain. As expected, Issa Cissokho's bruised calf did not prove to be a stumbling block, with the Senegal right back passing a late fitness test to be deemed okay to start. The only surprise of the match came from Marseille, who left the prolific Artyom Dzyuba on the bench in favour of Andre-Pierre Gignac, who has been hit by a number of injuries this season and scored only thrice.
Danilo Cataldi drew first blood with 10 minutes on the clock, sliding in to get a foot on the end of Cissokho's early cross. He immediately wheeled off towards his manager, and the pair celebrated the young Italian's remarkable turnaround after a poor start to life in France. Serge Gakpe, who has been banging goals in all season, pulled off a breathtaking move to put Nantes 2-0 up before the break. Receiving the ball deep on the left of midfield, the Togolese beat a number of Marseille defenders who tried just a bit too hard to tackle him. On the receiving end of his most dazzling bit of skill was Gianelli Imbula, who was left on his bottom after falling prey to a perfectly executed Cruyff turn. Gakpe then cut in with his strong right foot and smashed the ball past Brice Samba, first-choice following Steve Mandanda's January switch to Barcelona.
Following the break, Marseille kicked into top gear, creating as many as a dozen chances in the first 15 minutes of the second period. Gignac rewarded his manager's faith with a sublime header nearly 70 minutes into the match, and Indi Blue quickly brought on Lucas Deaux for Cataldi to shore up the midfield. In the end, it was Nantes who came out on top, holding their shape in the last 20 minutes with resolution to prevent Marseille from sending the match into extra time. Remy Riou was named man of the match for a fantastic display in goal for Nantes as Indi picked up his first trophy with the club, Nantes' first since returning to Ligue 1 in the summer of 2013.
"Congratulations to Nantes. They were the better team when it mattered. We thought we had a good chance going into the game, but we also knew we had to respect the other team. I think we did what we needed to, but Nantes were just better when it came to stopping us than we were at stopping them. It's not a good feeling to lose like this, but we have to focus on the next few games. We want to be in the Champions League next year, and we have to win the rest of our games to ensure it," said Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa, who was seen consoling Gignac at full time.
"Marseille gave us a proper challenge, and my players rose to it without batting an eyelid. Each and every one of them, whether starting or coming off the bench, played a signifcant part in the outcome of this game," said Indi. "I'm so proud to manage these lads, and it hurt that I had to leave one or two deserving names out, but that's the nature of the job. Winning your first trophy also gets the monkey off your back as a manager, so I'm happy to achieve that. Now, we need to focus on the next task, which is finishing the season as strongly as we have progressed through it."
Club captain Olivier Veigneau was just a happy. "We're thrilled with the win. It's my first trophy for the club, and to lift it as captain feels amazing," he said. "Remy was excellent for us today, and Dani showed us why the boss kept playing even when he wasn't in his best form. It was a team effort, and now we need to focus on Toulouse."
Issa Cissokho
Sprained ankle, 3 weeks
Toulouse 0-1 Nantes
MOTM: Jordan Veretout (FCN)
Nantes were without Issa Cissokho, whose minor niggle going into the Coupe de le Ligue final against Marseille ended up as a full-blown ankle sprain. Jordan Veretout put in a fantastic performance on the day, the midfielder scoring the only goal of the match to ease the pressure. Coupled with Saint-Etienne picking up all three points, the result allows Nantes and Indi Blue to continue in their quest for European football.
Academy graduate, local hero and fan favourite Jordan Veretout said after the match, "I grew up supporting this team. I came through the academy four years ago, and now I'm playing in and winning cup finals with the club I love. The growth we've all had by playing under Indi has been so fantastic. I'm playing the best football of my career, which shows on days like this. I'm pleased to score, but what matters is that we won."
Nantes 2-2 Marseille
MOTM: Andre Ayew (OM)
Abdou Camara's opening volley was quickly cancelled out as Nantes gave away a rare penalty, with the ensuing spot kick dispatched clinically by big man Andre-Pierre Gignac. Andre Ayew scored with an hour played, but Serge Gakpe followed that up with a goal of his own to prevent Saint-Etienne from taking the lead and pushing Nantes out of the European qualification spots. More significantly, the draw all but ended Marseille's title hopes, putting them nine points behind a dominant PSG side with four league fixtures left to play. Indi Blue was quite relieved at the final whistle.
"It's not an ideal result, but you can't complain about not beating Marseille; not if you're a club of our size, and not if you just won against them in final of a cup competition. Thankfully, we have a stronger goal differential to keep up propped up, but we cannot rely on that to do the job. We have to win as many games as possible in May, which is going to be tough seeing as we play PSG and Bordeaux," Indi said.
Player of the Month
Jordan Veretout has been excellent throughout April. Before scoring a crucial goal against Toulouse, it was his 40-yard pass that allowed Issa Cissokho to provide the assist for Nantes' first in the Coupe de la Ligue final. He has been an engine and leader in the middle of the park as Indi Blue moved a midfield-heavy 4-4-2.
Ligue 1
1. PSG 80
2. Bordeaux 78
3. Marseille 71
4. Lyon 70
5. Nantes 68
...
18. Metz 30
19. Lens 20
20. Caen 16
Last edited by indiblue; 01-07-2015, 05:40 AM.Comment
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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Jeu à la Nantaise: May 2015
Nantes 1-1 PSG
MOTM Salvatore Sirigu (PSG)
Yaya Sanogo scored with 20 minutes on the clock, giving the visitors one hell of a rude awakening after a period of laxity. That lead was kept until there were just three minutes to go, leading Bordeaux to believe they had just taken the lead at the apex of the league table. Jean-Christophe Bahebeck had other ideas, rounding Remy Riou to equalise with minutes to go. PSG salvaged a point and retained a one-point lead.
"After that first goal, we found our way to further progress blocked by a fantastic goalkeeper. PSG should do everything in their power to keep Salvatore Sirigu; he's simply incredible. A draw is not a great result for us or PSG, but with the other results around the league, we can both breathe a sigh of relief," said Indi Blue at full time.
Bordeaux 2-2 Nantes
MOTM Cheick Diabate (GDB)
Check Diabate's double came sandwiched between goals by Lucas Deaux and Anthony Knockaert, who returns to the side after a lengthy spell out due to Indi Blue's change in tactics. By drawing, Bordeaux allowed PSG to win and go three points clear at the top of the table. Further slip-ups will cost them any chance at the title, which already seems to be staying put in Paris. A distraught Henri Saivet had to be consoled at full time by his compatriot and good friend, Nantes midfield enforcer Abdou Camara.
"You have to admire the passion with which Bordeaux played. They knew they needed to win to have a realistic shot at the title, and you can see how much it meant to all of them by how they reacted to what would otherwise be considered a fair result," said Indi Blue. "We know the feeling all too well; of doing all you can but not coming away with what you feel you earned. They'll bounce back, I'm sure. But we've to be grateful that Saint-Etienne dropped points, allowing us to stay in the top five."
Nantes 1-0 Lorient
MOTM Danilo Cataldi (FCN)
Danilo Cataldi orchestrated a fantastic display of ball retention as Nantes came away from this crunch fixture with three points. The diminutive Italian midfielder scored directly from a free kick with 77 minutes gone, sending the home faithful into a rapture. A much-needed win in this regional derby gave Nantes some breathing room, though it did not take the pressure entirely off them. The final week should prove interesting as Nantes, Lyon and Saint-Etienne all have 73 points. Though none can qualify for the Champions League, one will not be competing in the Europa League.
"We absolutely needed that win, and it was Dani who stepped up to give it to us. That free kick is one of the best I've seen this season, and we've scored three or four of those. We go into the last day knowing that a win will give us what we fought for all season. It's a great feeling to have your destiny in your own hands," said Indi Blue.
Lens 1-2 Nantes
MOTM Serge Gakpe (FCN)
Away from home on the final day of the season, Nantes squared off against the team they beat 6-2 in their opening league fixture. Serge Gakpe gave the away fans plenty to cheer in the first half, with two goals in seven minutes. Alharbi El Jadeyaoui then pulled one back for the hosts, putting the game at 2-1 come halftime. With word spreading that Lyon were losing 2-0 at Lorient, the away support was a mixture of expectation and concern, knowing that Lyon possessed the quality to come back and win. Their team managed to see the game out, scoring none and conceding none in the second 45. With the result, Nantes secured a fourth-place finish in the 2014-15 Ligue 1 season, achieving the Europa League qualification they had been seeking.
"What's left to say? I think the boys did it all out there on the pitch, and you could see how much it meant to our fans," said Indi Blue, who was drenched in sports drink. "I was more than happy to let them have an hour with the away support, who have been extremely dedicated in following us around France all through the season. We couldn't have done this without all our supporters, home and away. This achievement is dedicated to them. I think my boys have earned a good rest now, but I'll be back in the office next week to start figuring out how to win the Europa League next year!"
"We could not have done this without the support of our fans, and all the players who pulled in the same direction," said the normally reserved Serge Gakpe, who finished the season with 25 goals in all compeitions. "With one or two exceptions, we were all focused on the target of winning each game as it came. I speak for the team when I say how happy we are to have Indi as a manager. We can't wait for European football!"
Player of the Month
Jordan Veretout proved the difference once again, shepherding his team through May with the experience of a player with far more experience than his 120+ games. The dynamic midfielder is being considered as Olivier Veigneau's long-term replacement as captain, though that depends on whether Nantes can hold onto their bright talent.
Ligue 1
1. PSG 90
2. Bordeaux 85
3. Marseille 80
4. Nantes 76
5. Saint-Etienne 76
6. Lyon 73
7. Monaco 59
8. Stade Rennais 59
9. Toulouse 51
10. Lille 49
11. Montpellier 46
12. Stade Reims 42
13. Nice 41
14. Bastia 41
15. Evian 34
16. Lorient 34
17. Guingamp 32
18. Metz 32
19. Lens 20
20. Caen 18
Coming soon...
• Season recap
• Squad report
• Team of the Year
• Individual awards
• European champions
• Press conference
• Transfer watch
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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Jeu à la Nantaise: 2014-15
Season Recap
We finish the season in a wonderful fourth place, qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League. I'm not sure if Lyon will join us by way of the Coupe de la Ligue spot going to the sixth-placed team, but Stade Rennais will after losing to PSG 2-1 in the Coupe de France final. But whatever... what matters is we did what we wanted to.
We had some high-flying moments, starting with Yaya Sanogo's quick hat-trick in our first league game against Lens, which we won 6-2. There were memorable wins against Lille, Lyon, PSG and Marseille. One of those got us the French league cup, my first trophy with Nantes and the club's first since making it back to the top flight. We had a number of 1-0 and 2-0 wins but still conceded 40-ish goals, which is something to avoid this season, when we will be gunning for a top-three finish. Of course, everyone else will be strengthening, which means the task becomes even tougher.
My only regret is losing sight of our tactics and trying too hard against Lille in the Coupe de France round of 32. I think if we had won that match, we'd have had a real shot at making the final. I'm also quite happy we didn't overachieve and qualify for the Champions League; a lot of our players could do with another year of growth and development before we're ready to take on the best of Europe's heavyweights.
That said, we can't wait to test ourselves against some of Europe's finest in the Europa League, which I think is a competition that is not respected as much as it should be. We could be playing against some very good teams like Everton and Tottenham, but we'll be looking to win it, even if the board only asks us to go as far as the round of 16 or the quarter-finals. The increase in revenue will also help us bring in a second youth scout to supplement our first, who's brought six players to our academy since arriving (academy report to follow from now on). It's a bright future.
Squad Report
We had a fantastic season. Looking back at those who contributed, it's surprising to note that there was not much rotation. That won't be the case this season with Europa League football eating into our fixture list. Consideration for the squad report is only open to players who made 10 or more appearances in all competitions.
GK Remy Riou: 45 apperances, 14 clean sheets
He remained unchallenged for the goalkeeper's position not due to a lack of fair competition, but because of his own incredible form. He'll keep his spot next season.
CB Papiss Djilobodji: 41 appearances, 1 goals, 13 clean sheets
Papy started the season so brilliantly, and it looked like he was going to be the very enormous rock to build the team on, until he refused a new contract and almost derailed the season with his morale funk. He will be sold regardless of any U-turn.
CB Lindsay Rose: 31 appearances, 3 assists, 10 clean sheets
Lin was a fantastic loan signing, and he'll be the first player we get on a permanent basis once the window opens. I think he is one to develop into a really great player.
CB Kian Hansen: 24 appearances, 1 assist, 6 clean sheets
Kian might be a 68 OVR player, but he feels like 75. This is because of athleticism and defensive attributes in the mid-70s or higher. He received a new contract at the end of the season and will feature this coming season as a crucial block in our defense.
LB Olivier Veigneau: 42 appearances, 1 goal, 6 assists, 11 clean sheets
The club captain lost his armband at the start of the season, only to recover it after the Djilobodji episode took off. He contributed a good number of assists from out wide, and we will look for him to repeat that performance in the coming season.
RB Issa Cissokho: 43 appearances, 5 assists, 13 clean sheets
Our only quality right back lost a bit of his pace towards the end of the season, but he hasn't lost anything by way of defensive ability, and his engine remains secure with 88 stamina. We'll need to bring in a right back to challenge for his spot, but he will stay.
CDM Lucas Deaux: 33 appearances, 3 goals, 4 assists
Lucas is our all-action midfielder who contributes heavily both going forward and while defending, which makes him a crucial part of our two-man holding block. I see no reason for him to be anything but crucial during the next few seasons at least.
CDM Birama Toure: 13 appearances, 1 assist
Birama was brilliant in the first team towards the end of the season. He helped us finish strongly, and though he's positioned at CDM, I see his future in central defence.
CDM Abdou Camara: 30 appearances, 2 goals, 3 assists
Abdou played well beyond his stats, which have unfortunately remained the same since he joined us. Without some sign of growth, I can't see him holding a first-team position for much longer than another couple of months, and even that's questionable.
CM Jordan Veretout: 44 appearances, 3 goals, 4 assists
Jordan has been the best midfielder in our team for me. He moves much faster than his pace stats indicate, and he has fantastic vision that'll be proven at European level.
CM Danilo Cataldi: 25 appearances, 6 goals, 3 assists
Dani felt like a dud at the start, but I'm used to new players having poor starts. I gave him enough chances to let him settle, and he rewarded me with a good tally of 6 goals from midfield. I can't see anyone else but him at CAM for the first friendly match.
CAM Alejandro Bedoya: 26 appearances, 6 goals, 2 assists
Alex did quite well. Six goals from midfield is a respectable return, but he's on rather high wages of £40k per week, which I'd like to free up to bring in other players. Not for any fault of his own, he'll be leaving the club in the upcoming transfer window.
LM Serge Gakpe: 38 appearances, 25 goals, 11 assists
Here comes the star man. Without his goals, we would have finished well outside our target zone. I would love to keep him for another season and let him loose on Europe, but that all depends on the offers I get for him... and I expect to get plenty of offers.
RM Anthony Knockaert: 28 appearances, 7 goals, 4 assists
Tony has turned out to be one of those signings. He wasn't poor by any stretch, but he wasn't particularly great either, and he just feels like a poor fit for what I want in the final third of the pitch. I hope someone comes in with a reasonably good offer for him. Failing that, I'll use him as a makeweight to bring in an athletic, dynamic winger.
RM Georges-Kevin Nkoudou: 16 appearances, 1 goal, 2 assists
Kevin wasn't too bad, but once I brought Kingsley Coman into the side on loan, he quickly lost his spot as my impact sub from the bench. His low defensive work rate means he's not suitable in a wide attacking position, while his finishing isn't good enough to merit a spot in the middle. I'll probably send him on loan until his value gets high enough to merit a decent fee, which means we need to get another winger...
ST Itay Schechter: 37 appearances, 15 goals, 9 assists
Our centre-forward from Israel returned a respectable tally of goals and assists, but he is by no means the answer moving forward. I need my striker to be the axis of my attack, and Itay is just not athletic and dynamic enough for me. I'll be selling him.
ST Yaya Sanogo: 15 appearances, 8 goals, 3 assists
What a sensational goals-to-game ratio this guy had. That hat-trick against Lens helped, but he really does have the quality to lead my line. My only issue is his M/M work rates, but that can be overlooked, especially since he is out of contract next summer and could be had on the cheap. He's definitely on my radar for strikers.
ST Fernando Aristeguieta
Honourable mention goes to the Venezuelan, who scored 3 goals in 7 games before going down with a tailbone fracture. I remain convinced he would have netted another 12-15 if I had given him enough game time, but given his situation, we can't put all our eggs in his basket. I fear he'll be the victim of his injury and spend another season making the odd appearance, but hopefully I can get him out on loan next January for some regular action before incorporating him into my squad in 2016.
Individual Awards
Golden Boot
23 Andre Ayew (Marseille)
22 Serge Gakpe (Nantes)
20 Yannick Carrasco (Monaco)
Assists
13 Lucas Moura (PSG)
10 Serge Gakpe (Nantes)
9 Burak Yilmaz (Lyon)
Clean Sheets
17 Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
17 Salvatore Sirigu (PSG)
12 Remy Riou (Nantes)
Manager of the Year
Laurent Blanc (PSG)
Ligue 1 Player of the Year
Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)
FC Nantes Player of the Year
Serge Gakpe
Ligue 1 Team of the Year
GK Remy Riou (Nantes)
RB Mariano (Bordeaux)
CB Nicholas Nkoulou (Marseille)
CB Ludovic Sane (Bordeaux)
LB Diego Contento (Bordeaux)
RM Florian Thauvin (Marseille)
CM Yohan Cabaye (PSG)
CM Gregory Sertic (Bordeaux)
LM Andre Ayew (Marseille)
ST Burak Yilmaz (Lyon)
ST Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)
Europe's Champions
Manchester City picked up 86 points to beat Chelsea to the Barclays Premier League title on goal difference, with Manchester United and Arsenal finishing third and fourth on 82 points each. Borussia Dortmund won the Bundesliga over Bayern Munich by half a dozen points, with Schalke and Wolfsburg joining them in the top four, the latter also claiming this year's Europa League title with a 2-1 win over Tottenham. PSG finished comfortably as Ligue 1 champions, with Bordeaux second and Marseille third.
Juventus caught up with Lazio to win Serie A by a two-point margin on the final day of the season, while Roma joins them in next year's Champions League by finishing in third place. Ajax pick up the Dutch title, securing the Eredivisie with six points over PSV Eindhoven. Benfica had the biggest margin of victory in Europe, romping to 91 points in Liga ZON Sagres, 18 more than Sporting CP from the capital of Lisbon.
Dinamo Moskva were named champions of Russia, several points clear of city rivals CSKA Moskva and Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg. Real Madrid took the Liga BBVA title ahead of Barcelona, scoring 97 goals and accumulating 91 points. They also managed to go all the way in the Champions League, beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final and becoming the first side since Milan to retain European football's prized trophy. Finally, Besiktas were named champions of Turkey with a four-point margin, securing the Super Lig with a win over Galatasary on the last day of the season.
Press Conference
Indi, welcome to Europe. How does it feel?
It's what we wanted to achieve. The only reason we stand before you today as European competitiors next season is because the players believed they could without thinking they would. That combination of hard work, application, and not taking our success for granted is why we achieved the goals we laid out at the beginning of the season. That same combination is why we will prove we belong at this level.
You moved between the 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 a lot this season. Why's that?
I only joined this club last summer, which means that I need to try out a number of tactics before I figure out which one is best suited to the long-term future of this club and its players. We had good results with the 4-4-2, but there are some issues with width and patience. The 4-2-3-1 seems a lot more feasible for now. It lets us stretch the field, but we can also play both possession and counter-attacking games. We'll see how things go over the next few months, but it's very likely that we'll use them both.
What's happening with Papiss Djilobodji?
The club is speaking with Papy's new representatives to try and find a solution that benefits the player as well as this club. We don't want to keep someone who doesn't want to stick around, but we also don't want to lose what is undoubtedly a valuable asset for less than its value. It's a matter I'm not getting involved in at this point, but we are working on a solution that makes everyone happy. You'll hear more about it when the club has information or developments to share. Until then, I ask that you pose no more questions about this subject, please. We want to focus on the good.
Serge Gakpe has been sensational. A lot of us think was the player of the year.
Well, you need to have a word with the folks who run the league. They didn't even include him in the team of the year, even though he was better than several names who did make the list. Our fans didn't miss out, though. They voted him as the club's player of the year, as did his teammates. I think everybody involved with Nantes can see how fantastic he's been for us, and how important and loved he is at this club.
Is that your way of telling him you want him to stay?
Serge knows I want him to stay; I've told him so at least 20 times since the season ended, so he knows. But there is a clause in his contract which states that we must consider any offer of £10 or more from a Champions League club. He's 28 years old, and for someone who relies on his pace to enable the technical side of his game, that means another three or four years at the top of his game. Maybe the boy wants to play in the Champions League now, with a team that has a chance of winning it. I can understand that ambition, and I'm sure if Serge chooses to follow up on such an offer, he will do so with the utmost respect to his teammates and the fans of this club.
But why would you sell such a dynamic player?
It's down to ambition, as I just said. If he were maybe two or three years younger, I would convince him that he should stay to be part of the long-term success this club will enjoy, but Serge is 28. I can't guarantee that we'll be fighting for major titles in another season or two, and I won't lie to him just for our benefit. If the price is right and the player wants to go, the sale will happen, and we'll move on with our project.
What's the news with the training ground?
I thought you guys would never ask. We inaugurated the complex, which is located just outside the town of Carquefou, with a charity match last week. We now have around six of our promising academy players training there to get a feel for the first-team facilities. After the players return from their hard-earned holidays, they'll report there for preseason fitness tests and training, and we will move forward with that as our new base. I think with the new facilities and resources at our disposal, there is no reason we should not achieve our goals, so I'm very grateful to our chairman for his investment. Now if you'll excuse me, I believe there is a glass of champagne with my name on it. Enjoy your summer, and I'll see you all next season.
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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Glory Glory Man United
January 2017
Transfers In
Iker Muniain
82 Ovr, Left Winger, 24 Years Old, Spain
Swap Deal With Nani
In this transfer window Manchester United got rid of older players and they replaced them with younger ones. One of these deals was the swap deal between ManU and Athletic Bilbao which saw the Basque club accept a non-Basque player, Nani, in their team. The young Spanish talent went the other way to England. Muniain is a fast winger who is a good dribbler and he had a year left on his contract. He won't probably get that many chances to play because there are two players in front of him in the playing order.
Alexandre Lacazette
82 Ovr, Striker, 25 Years Old, France
Swap Deal With Paco Alcacer
The second player who Manchester United signed for the price of one player was the French attacker Alexandre Lacazette. In the deal Paco Alcacer was sent to Lyon after a disappointing year at Man United. Lacazette is pacy and a very clinical finisher who became a big player in 2014-15 when he won the golden boot. Lacazette will get a place on the bench as the second choice striker.
John Stones
76 Ovr, Centre Back, 22 Years Old, England
€5,000,000
John Stones was the only British player who was signed by Manchester United in this transfer window. The young central defender arrived on deadline day after United sold two of their reserve centre backs which left them with only one backup centre back. The youngster is a talented defender and he can become a big name in the near future. A lot of people think that he is ruining his career by joining such a huge club when there are better defenders than him in the team.
Thibaut Courtois
86 Ovr, Goalkeeper, 24 Years Old, Belgium
€5,000,000 + Samir Handanovic
Manchester United have had some goalkeeping problems this season that lead to the young Alphonse Areola playing as the starting keeper. He has done a good job but he isn't good enough to be a starter for a great team like United which lead to the signing of Thibaut Courtois. In the deal the flop Samir Handanovic was sent the other way to the white part of Madrid with a fee of five million euros. Courtois is a young and good keeper who has showed that he is world class.
Mats Hummels
88 Ovr, Centre Back, 28 Years Old, Germany
€15,000,000 + Thiago Silva
The biggest and final signing Manchester United completed in the winter transfer window was signing the German star defender Mats Hummels for a fee of fifteen million and Thiago Silva. Silva didn't have the greatest of spells at United and he made some mistakes which lead to goals and he was 32 years old. Hummels is four years younger and he is considered one of the best in his position, as well. Hummels has been linked with Man United since 2013 and now he will form a partership with Sergio Ramos in the middle of the defence.
Transfers Out
Marnick Vermijl to Derby County for €950,000
Will Keane to Birmingham City for €1,500,000
Ashley Young to Everton for €4,300,000
Marcos Rojo to SL Benfica for €15,000,000
Manchester United 1 - 1 Liverpool FC
Benzema 34'
Pogba 67'
The second match of the season between these two big teams ended in another draw. Man United got the lead half an hour into the game when he hot the ball into the top right corner from a pass but Paul Pogba equalised after the hour mark from a parried shot.
Manchester City 1 - 2 Manchester United
Cavani 22'
Sterling 6', Benzema 57'
Only three days after the Liverpool game Manchester United faced their rivals from the same city Manchester City. On the sold out Etihad the supporters were silenced only six minutes into the game when Raheem Sterling had moved into the box and he curled a ball into the bottom right corner. Fifteen minutes later the Citizens equalised with a beautiful long shot which curled away from the keeper. Ten minutes into the second half Karim Benzema decided the game in United's favour when he scored from a pass by Di Maria.
FA Cup Round of 64
Manchester United 5 - 1 Huddersfield
Shaw 4', Wilson 19', 51', Di Maria 62', Alcacer 77'
Dixon 34'
Capital One Cup Semi Final
Chelsea 0 - 2 Manchester United
Sterling 44', 83'
It has been done! Manchester United and Simeone Corleone have finally beaten Chelsea! This game wasn't as even as the other ones between these two teams had been and Raheem Sterling scored the first goal right before half time after cutting in and shooting the ball into the bottom right corner. Ten minutes before full time he got a brace from a counter attack. Karim Benzema got injured for a month.
West Ham 0 - 1 Manchester United
Sterling 77'
Manchester United 2 - 0 Sunderland
Wilson 24', Muniain 57'
Capital One Cup Semi Final
Manchester United (5) 3 - 1 (1) Chelsea
Chicharito 2', Sterling 10', Lacazette 90'
Marin 81'
Manchester United have made it to the Capital One Cup final! After winning the away leg by two goals Man United didn't have a lot of pressure on them but the second leg turned out better than they expected. Chicharito scored only two minutes into the game when his high pressing lead to him stealing the ball and finishing it past Petr Cech. Eight minutes later Raheem Sterling scored the second goal with a second-touch shot in the box. The following seventy minutes weren't interesting but in the 81st minute Marko Marin pulled one back with a header. Ten minutes later Alexandre Lacazette scored his first goal for the club from a counter attack.
FA Cup Round of 32
Shrewsbury 0 - 1 Manchester United
Di Maria 81'
Player of the Month
Raheem Sterling
The English winger had the month of his life in January. He just came back from an injury but that didn't stop him from playing amazingly. Sterling scored five important goals and he assisted a few more in this month as he played an important role in Manchester United's attack.
League Table
1. Manchester United, 56 pts
2. Chelsea FC, 49 pts
3. Arsenal FC, 44 pts
4. Manchester City, 43 pts
5. Tottenham Hotspur, 41 pts
6. Liverpool FC, 39 pts
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18. Hull City, 19 pts
19. Cardiff City, 15 pts
20. Wigan Athletic, 14 pts
Sorry this update took a long time to come out. Also, sorry for no press conference again.
Thank you for reading this post! I hope you have enjoyed it! Any feedback or suggestions will be appreciated!
-Simppu12-
Playing at the moment: FIFA 17
Hertha BSC
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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Is it just me that Paco Alcacer is a turn off to buy due to his work rates. I would prefer to buy Lacazette over Alcacer due to the workrates
Glory Glory Man United
January 2017
[B][SIZE=3]Transfers In
Alexandre Lacazette
82 Ovr, Striker, 25 Years Old, France
Swap Deal With Paco Alcacer
[SIZE=3][SIZE=2]The second player who Manchester United signed for the price of one player was the French attacker Alexandre Lacazette. In the deal Paco Alcacer was sent to Lyon after a disappointing year at Man United. Lacazette is pacy and a very clinical finisher who became a big player in 2014-15 when he won the golden boot. Lacazette will get a place on the bench as the second choice striker.Comment
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Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
I'm glad you enjoy them. My player is currently 70 overall, before the injury he was 69. I did start with the +5 attribute(I think it was +5?) bonus.
Don't worry lad, it is ok, we are all busy. Just gotta steal time to make posts I guess, eh?
The injury sucks really bad, I felt so good after that Wycombe game and then getting injured was a real bummer.
I'm glad you like it! I got no clue on what will happen during January and when or if ever (not saying I might not) leave Morecambe. At the moment, one thing is certain - I want to finish this season in Morecambe and strong. I was thinking that leaving in January could be a possibility, but after the injury, I am planning on finishing this season in Morecambe for sure.
I actually like your idea better, damn it! :P
I haven't really simmed too much on, and Morecambe have done alright so far without me, I will go into more detail about it next post.
I actually haven't thought about the fact that we might not get promoted, lol. In my mind, if I get my form back after the injury (or Thomas gets it back, either way), we are getting promoted for sure.
I guess everything depending on Thomas leaving - we shall see next season. But like I mentioned earlier, I have not actually played the month of January, so anything might happen there. But for now, the clear plan is to bounce back from the injury strong and fight for promotion. Leaving is not on my mind. Yet if anybody really coughs up the price for me and Morecambe do decide to let me (or Thomas, again) go, then who knows where the road will take me.
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@Simppu and Jagger - I LOVE Alcacer, I have no idea how you do not enjoy him. I haven't played with Lacazette, so can't really comment on him, but I really enjoy playing with Alcacer.
To eaches own, I guess.
I just got home from school so I will start reading up on everybodys career modes right now and leave my thoughts in a bit. :PComment
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