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The turning of the tractor returns

My career with Ipswich on FM14
Started on 26 October 2013 by Ivan_Campos_Hair
Latest Reply on 27 October 2013 by Rablador
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Hi folks this thread will be ongoing and will cover my successes and failures at my home club Ipswich Town, nicknamed the tractor boys.

A bit of background info on Ipswich at present, currently in the Sky Bet Championship and they are infact the longest serving team in the division now, having been in there since there relegation from the Premiership back in 2002. The last 4/5 years inparticular are rather forgettable ones having finished in the bottom half of the table each season. They have also chopped and changed managers several times and were very lucky last season to have not been relegated to League One thanks to Mick McCarthy doing an incredible job pulling us off the bottom of the table to safety. Ipswich's current owner Marcus Evans is one of the few people in this country that seem to be profitting in the current economic downturn. However having given previous managers Jim Magilton, Roy Keane and Paul Jewell large amounts of money to spend he has had enough. So the purse strings have been tightened considerably. Over the summer Ipswich have purchased several players but only one fee, an impressive 20k. The rest have been free transfers.

My challenge will be to make the most of the free agents and loan signings to guide Ipswich up the table and push for promotion to the Premiership and that illusive 80million pound. Then slowly build a decent young squad and try to work my way up the Premiership, I will continue to make the most of the free transfer market and Ipswich's renowned youth system.

More to follow
Nick
Having forgot to start this story at the actual beginning of my game I will be covering my first season very briefly and mostly from memory. Before the start of my first season at Ipswich I had several players on trial but only two won permanent contracts. Keith Fahey and Mogaro Gomis, here are there stats. As you can see there stats are decent for Championship level, Fahey was bought into push for the first team and Gomis as back up.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/KeithFahey_OverviewProfile_zps23424c0c.png
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/MorgaroGomis_OverviewProfile_zpsc5841f94.png
I had a decent start to the season but then a couple of months in following 3 straight defeats something strange happened. My tactics really started to click and my team went a bit goal scoring mad, this continued right into the new year and I found myself top following this great run.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/IpswichTown_FixturesSchedule_zps95ba23ee.png

However at the end of December Paul Taylor my most crucial player suffered a terrible injury putting him out for the season. This made me realise my squad was still simply not deep enough so I once again searched the free agents and two names kept screaming out to me. David Bentley and Sylvain Ebanks Blake. I had already had Ebanks Blake on trial for several weeks with him only having just recovered from a serious injury I wanted to get him match fit and prove the worst is past him before I hand him a contract. I ended up getting both of them.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/SylvanEbanks-Blake_OverviewProfile_zps7f9b4397.png

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/DavidBentley_OverviewProfile_zps6b0ed326.png
My second half to the season proved to be a real struggle. Without the influential Paul Taylor finding the net was proving to be a real challenge. I never really found any form after March and I found myself knocked off the top spot with just 6 games to go. Even worse with just 3 games to go I found myself out of the top 2! Meaning the dreaded play offs were calling me.

Luckily I managed to win my last three games and not only did that mean I would finish in the top 2 I ended up winning the league :)

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/IpswichTown_FixturesSchedule-2_zps3e35e2ac.png

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/SkyBetChampionship_OverviewStages_zps42f3fa1a.png

I do feel very fortunate to have gone up let alone won the league, my second half of the season form simply wasnt good enough. I put my promotion down to one thing, which I call my awesome foursome. These players were the spearhead to my attack.

David McGoldrick ST finished with 17 goals although was very poor towards the end of the campaign.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/DavidMcGoldrick_HistoryCareerStats_zpsa235f645.png

Daryl Murphy LW/ST was very solid and got on the end of so many crosses.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/DarylMurphy_HistoryCareerStats_zps883e9461.png

Paul Anderson RW had a terrific season, he terrorised defenders with his runs down the line and cutting in. He ended up with very impressive stats for a winger.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/PaulAnderson_HistoryCareerStats_zpsa1d919bc.png

Paul Taylor LW/ST by far the best performer, I have no doubt without his injury he would have been top scorer by some distance and my promotion secured much easier. The variety of goals he got was sensational he could beat the defender and tap in or blast them in from long range. By far the most impressive figures.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/PaulTaylor_HistoryCareerStats_zps237d88df.png
Now onto a very important and busy summer. It was clear that the team that I went up with would not be able to keep me up. I couldnt run the risk of one player getting injured crippling me like it did last season.

From the back Scott Loach who was my number one last season wasnt good enough and couldnt command his box enough. He has dropped to my number two choice. In came Ross Turnbull on a free transfer having decided to leave Doncaster. Ross is clearly a decent keeper having once been Chelsea's back up keeper to Petr Cech. I could only get him to sign a one year deal however I do plan to extend this mid season depending on his form.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/RossTurnbull_OverviewProfile_zpsb401d178.png

Right back. Last season Elliot Hewitt played a hell of a lot of games but performed admirably for such a young player. Carlos Edwards was his back up last season but it was evident he wouldnt cut the mustard at top flight football. Out went Edwards on a free transfer and incame Joel Ward. Joel had been transfer listed at Crystal Palace having fallen out of favor. There loss my gain. He cost me 350k.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/JoelWard_OverviewProfile_zps2bf6f8bc.png

Centre back. This position last season was one of my strongest covered positons with 3 top centre backs (Luke Chambers, Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra) and 2 promising youngsters (Frederic Vesseli and Tyrone Mings). This season I have added Jose Fonte on a free transfer to add a bit more strength in depth should an injury crisis occur.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/JoseacuteFonte_OverviewProfile_zps23129b33.png

Left back. Aaron Cresswell is a very talented young English player and probably just about the best left back in the Championship. However I knew I need back up to him this season coming. Upstepped Patrick Van Aanholt at a steal of just 250k. This guy has played with some of the best players in the world at Chelsea, but was surplus to requirements there so I snapped him up.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/PatrickvanAanholt_OverviewProfile_zps5c8250dc.png

Defensively he was my final addition next post will be the midfield.
Midfield I play a DM 2xCM's a LW and a RW.

Deep midfield the anchor man. I already had this position locked down by Cole Skuse and the promising Luke Hyam. Being a true Ipswich fan I want to try and bring through the young talent that the club has to offer, as things currently stand Luke Hyam is just about the best I have to offer. Depending on how the season starts I do feel this is a position which will be key to my survival so if a more experienced better player comes available I may look further into it.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/LukeHyam_OverviewProfile_zpsaddc5560.png

Centre midfield deep lying playmaker. Last season Mogaro Gomis ended up dominating this role, however I felt strenghtening was required so I snapped up Johnnie Jackson, he was available on a free having opted to leave Charlton who he was relegated to League One with. Johnnie doesnt have many seasons left in him but I feel he can be a decent player for me for a couple of seasons.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/JohnnieJackson_OverviewProfile_zps79e8838c.png

Centre midfield advanced playmaker. Either Keith Fahey or Anthony Wordsworth played this role last season but I wanted someone with a bit more creativity and flair to open teams up when I get the chance. Once more is was a free transfer that came up to fill this role in Tom Cairney. Hull did offer him a new deal but he opted for first team football with me. If you ask me this was without a doubt my best signing of the summer.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/TomCairney_OverviewProfile-2_zps28c81958.png

Next up will be my crucial spearhead attack.
The tractor and the hair are back!

Moderator Comment: Story moved to the FM14 section.
Right wing. Paul Anderson was simply brilliant for me last season and I knew David Bentley was good back up too. However I stumbled across a very talented player with experience at this level and just coming into there prime. Anthony Pilkington, released by arch rivals Norwich City, I wouldnt normally sign rival players but he is simply too good to miss out on. His stats arent great on here yet but I feel this is due to lack of first team football I have no doubt he will improve vastly this season in my team.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/AnthonyPilkington_OverviewProfile_zpsce1f0231.png

Left wing. With Paul Taylor and Daryl Murphy I felt this position was covered enough and strong enough, Pilkington can also play on the left.

Striker. I knew David McGoldrick and Sylvain Ebanks Blake wouldnt be enough for me to stay up so I had been searching for a while when I came across a promising young Italian striker who first came big on the season 4/5 years ago but has gone off the boil in recent years. Federico Macheda, once claimed to be the next best thing, joined me on yet another free transfer. I feel if I can get this guy firing on all cylinders he can become a top top player and my main striker for many seasons to come.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/FedericoMacheda_OverviewProfile_zps579a50d7.png

So as you can see I am more than happy to get a free player i so long as they seem good enough and not past it. Here is an overview of all my summers dealings.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/Ipswich_TransfersTransferHistory_zpsa0ab3c65.png

Next up will be my attempt at Premiership survival.
2013-10-26 14:23#139583 Akash : The tractor and the hair are back!

Moderator Comment: Story moved to the FM14 section.

Certainly am! :)
Into the new season I went I opted to continue the formation that served me well last season. It is just one I created myself, I have made 3 but only ended up using the main one.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/IpswichTown_TacticsOverview_zpsc9483eb0.png

I knew I had to start the season well as I have some very tough away games early on. As soon as I won promotion I knew my home form at Portman Road was going to be key to my survival. There is simply no way I can go to Old Trafford and the Emirates and play United or Arsenal off the park, not yet anyway.

First game up was Fulham at home. I felt this was very much a game I could win. First game back in the Premiership n all that. I got just what I asked for. A very good performance to match a very pleasing result. Macheda getting the winning goal was brilliant too! Also the first time Portman Road has been full in a long time too.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/IpswichvFulham_OverviewOverview-2_zps0ebcc322.png
Next up was a very tough trip to Wales against Swansea. Other than the big teams in the premiership this is the one game I was dreading, due to Swansea's style of play being similar to mine, albeit it at a higher tempo. The result of the match was predictable, however until I scored I was actually giving them a very good match. But soon as I scored they just bombarded my goal and it couldnt have been more than two.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/SwanseavIpswich_OverviewOverview_zps93051248.png
The following weekend another away fixture, this time Arsenal the homeside. I honestly thought this game could end up a cricket score and after only a few minutes of play it looked a real possibility with my goal constantly under threat. Somehow they only got 3 and to be honest if someone had offered me to only conceade 3 I would probably have taken it.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/ArsenalvIpswich_OverviewOverview-2_zps9a94f4f3.png
Nice start to the story, and good signings. Keep it up m8 :)
Following my defeat at Arsenal I had two home games on the trot. Sunderland and then Liverpool. I was hoping for 3/4 points out of the two matches. I didnt manage this but I did avoid defeat in both.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/IpswichvSunderland_OverviewOverview_zps54eea085.png

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb413/NickITFC/FM14/IpswichvLiverpool_OverviewOverview_zps62705d45.png

Shortly after the Liverpool match I had an agent approach me regarding one of his players. American international Jermaine Jones. He looks a very good player and a very good anchor man to play the DM roll that I require some more experience in. I currently have him on trial but QPR have now offered him a contract so I have had to as well.
Anthony Pilington At Ip5w1ch? Never In a million years. Surely the fans reacted bad to that!

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