The retirement of Alex Taylor

nice

Not huge budgets but enough to improve & put together a title challenge I reckon. Also, only just above Liverpool? Surely there's been a mistake! Those guys are terrible

Deadpool Cheers, thanks for reading

Lippo Decent budget for the league I think, with a couple of sales I will have enough.

I know didn't realise the state the club was in before I took over, only just above Liverpool

After a week in Qatar and a week with his parents Alex returned home while Rachael and the kids went to her parents house. Alex was pleased to miss that trip out and was focused on trying to find the goal scorer he needed.



An offer had been accepted for Teofilo Gutierrez and a contract offered to him. Unfortunately, AA Gent had also offered him a deal and Alex hoped that he would be able to seal the deal. Coincidentally the two sides played each other in a pre-season friendly that day. Before they did Alex had a talk with Jelle Vossen.

“You have until the January window to prove yourself here or you will be sold.” Alex started the conversation with a bombshell and kept going. “You are the best paid player in the league and looked nothing like it since I have been here so if you can’t perform well to start the season then I will cut our losses and sell you.”

Jelle seemed shocked and took some time to respond. “Well, fair enough I guess. I want to stay here and will show you why I should.” With that he left, Alex hoped the conversation would motivate him to prove him wrong and not wallow in self pity.



Alex was pleased as he watched Brugge beat AA Gent with some ease, Alex hoped they could do that when the games really counted.



As Alex was heading back to his office he was stopped by Roel. “Just need you to sign and N’Djeng is a Rennais player.” Alex completed the deal and was still shocked that despite his awful time at Brugge Rennais had paid 8 times for than he cost Brugge. While he was happy with the sale the loss of a striker made the need of finding a new one go up quite a bit.



When Alex got back to his desk he saw that he had more transfer issues to deal with. He negotiated over the price for Leonardo Pereira with a Turkish side and held firm refusing another bid for De Bock from Nantes, Alex hoped that he would be a strong challenge at left back for Joao Paulo and possibly over take him this season.



Alex received a call from Roel that said that Gutierrez had chosen to go to AA Gent, the need for a striker was getting quite pressing but, they still had time to find a good one. A quick browse through some rumours brought Alex a laugh. He was apparently interested in a player he had never heard of but, it was the name of the manager that made him laugh. Argel Fucks.





A few days later Alex watched on disappointed as his side could only draw with Amiens 1-1. At least Vossen had scored a goal, Alex hoped his kick up the arse had worked.



It did highlight the need for a striker and Alex went back to work with Roel on that. He had an offer for Swedish striker Marcus Berg accepted and when the agent called with the wage demands for Berg Alex just hung up as they were impossible to pay in this league.



The next day Alex had finally found a striker who was good, cheap and didn’t want a lot of money. A deal had been reached with Santos and the player. They were just waiting on a definite answer. The deal would go though on July 11 if it did as Ribiero was on loan at Atletico Mineiro and that was the soonest he could be recalled. Alex didn’t mind as long as he signed for Brugge. He was confident enough that the deal would go ahead that Alex sanctioned the sale of Leonardo Pereira to Eskisehirspor for €1 million a nice fee for someone who had missed a lot of good chances and only scored once for Alex.

Alex had just been about to leave for the day when Roel called to say that Fluminese had made a bid for Joao Paulo. Alex had no intention of selling and even if he was the bid was far to low so he told Roel to reject it.



The next day right after training Alex had a knock on his door. It was Joao Paulo and he looked unhappy. “What’s the matter?” Alex asked although he could already guess it.

“It’s been a dream of mine to play in Brazil and I can’t believe you have blocked it. I want to be able to talk to Fluminese if another bid is made.”



Alex was confused. “Your dream? You played in Brazil for 14 years before you moved here. How can it be your dream, you have already done it? For a long time. But, I want to keep you what can I do to keep you here.”

Joao thought for a second before responding “If you can guarantee a league win then I will stay.”



Despite having been told by the board that the title was the goal and telling the players the same thing Alex felt unable to say that they would and felt as though due to a MASSIVE ANNOYING ERROR he could only promise to win it next year.

Joao’s response to the massive annoying error was simple. “Then as you are oddly unable to promise me the league I want to leave.”

Alex was annoyed at his massive error and tried to show his strictness. “I will sell you when I want to and not before.”

“No.” Was Joao’s response. “As I showed when you oddly refused to promise we could win the league I am impatient and want to leave now.”



Alex was defeated. “Fine I will sell you.” Looking satisfied Joao left.

Alex soon got another call from Roel. “Newcastle have made a bid for Denswil.”



“Damn” Was all Alex could say. He looked over the bid and rejected it. He hoped Denswil was happy at Brugge as Newcastle could offer him a massive pay rise.

Alex soon had Denswil in his office. “I’m happy to stay but, given the interest in me, my improved form and skill level I would like a new deal.”



Alex was happy to oblige and soon a new deal was given to Denswil and despite a late bid from his old club Ajax, who would get a quarter of any fee, Denswil signed a new deal, although as the club photographer was on holiday Alex had no photo of the occasion.

That could be a costly "MASSIVE ANNOYING ERROR" there mate, hopefully it doesn't come back to bite you. Bloody FM!

Lippo Yeah, he only has one year left on his deal so it is really annoying. Been so good as well.

Alex had hoped his side might have been able to upset Lyon but, they had succumbed to a battling 2-0 loss with Denswil celebrating his new contract by gifting a goal to Lyon.

The next day the transfer window officially opened, Alex felt as though he had been working in it for ages already. It meant that Andre Martins and Mustafa Saymak officially joined the club having agreed to do so months ago.



In the first training session Alex was impressed by Andre Martins who looked very good. He was talented technically and also looked quite physically fit which was pleasing. He seemed to be the second best option for central midfield behind Vanaken so Alex was pleased to get him on a free transfer.



Saymak had some work to do to overtake Izquierdo, Gedoz or Ebert but, could do it and was a good rotation option for Alex to have.

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Nicholas Castillo also returned from his loan spell in Chile and Alex was impressed with what he saw from him and would use him in a rotation role and possibly first team if he could find form.

With some free transfers signed Alex wanted to get some more as he knew players would be more willing to take wage cut and step down.



Alex decided to be ambitious and try to land a big name signing. He was close to authorizing an offer on the ex AC Milan, PSG and Chelsea player when he saw a bigger name for less. Gareth McCauley would add cheap experience to his back line and be another veteran presence.





In far more exciting news Alex had been able to agree to a deal with Fernando Torres, although other clubs were interested so there was no guarantee that he would sign. Alex was shocked he would consider the move, he had a decent year at Atletico and would without a doubt be the biggest signing for Club Brugge a Champions League, World Cup and Euro 2008 and 2012 winner.



While waiting for a response Alex had negotiated a deal that would see a publically unhappy Joao Paulo leave for Italy not Brazil as he had dreamed of. So Alex wasn’t sure if he would accept the deal.



In the meantime Alex identified a replacement, Caju from Santos. After some long negotiations a deal was agreed and Alex held talks with his agent. After the first offer Alex made the agent said the next one would be final. Alex made an offer and the agent refused it.



Alex was really annoyed with the agent as Caju was a good player and a good deal had been worked out with Santos.



It turned out Alex wasn’t the only one annoyed with the agent as Caju. However, Santos were now refusing to sell for anything so Alex would have to shift his plans.

Alex was pleased with what he saw from the win over AZ. Vossen bagged a brace and Alex was feeling as though telling Vossen what he thought of him was a good move, although he would wait until competitive matches to pat himself on the back.



Next up was a long flight to Russia where Vossen was again on target in a narrow win over FC Ufa. Alex hadn’t wanted to play there but, the money they were offered for appearing convinced the board to sanction he friendly.



After the game Sebastian Bruzzese the back up keeper came to Alex and asked for a first team football. Alex told him it would mean a move away and Bruzzese was happy to accept that.



Alex looked around for a replacement Abbiati was a decent looking option but, in the end he decided to promote a good looking Greek prospect from the youth academy as the next back up goalkeeper.

Alex then had to wait of some very poor wi-fi and scanners to sign the documents to complete the signing of Gareth McCauley and Killian Pagliuca.



McCauley was an experienced defender and for very cheap wages would add experience and a hard working hard tackling defender to the squad. Alex would likely only use him for a year as a rotation option and then release him.



Killian Pagliuca also arrived for cheap wages on a free transfer from the much renowned Lyon youth academy. Alex thought he had decent potential for a free agent and at €800 a week if he was proved wrong it wouldn’t cost him a lot. With the way his strikers had done last year he might even get some first team game time this year.



After confirming his signings Alex then confirmed the sale of Ibini to Melbourne City in Aus. He didn’t look up to the standard so Alex was more than happy to get rid of him and bring in a bit of money to the club.



The next day Alex brought in a replacement for the likely to be Joao Paulo. Fabian Schonheim cost €2.1 million from Berlin-Kopenick Dammfeld in the German second division. A solid dependable back up left back he was defensive minded and slightly less than Alex would get for Paulo. The plan was for him to back up De Bock who was moved to starting left back.



With a replacement in Alex confirmed the sale of Joao Paulo to Verona. It was decent money and after how he had acted Alex was pleased to see the back of him.



After another long flight Vossen continued to look good netting a brace to put Sovetov to the sword.



To give the final piece of cover on the wings Alex confirmed the signing of Wellington Silva, who had left Arsenal on a free transfer. He hoped he could push his way up to start but, wouldn’t give him for than a year if he didn’t due to his wages. He looked good in his first couple of training session which encouraged Alex.



Thiago Ribeiro also joined after Santos were able to cancel his loan. Alex was annoyed with them as they played him in a league game for the 2 hours they had him before sending him to Brugge. He did score which was encouraging. He looked to Alex like a solid dependable striker and Alex hoped he would be able to cut up the Belgian league and fire in the goals.



Just before heading on a flight to Greece for their next friendly Alex confirmed two more deals. De Fauw left on a free to Viborg, he had lost the quality needed for the level and Alex was happy to get his wages off the books. Bruzzese left for a small fee to Greece and Alex wished him the best and hoped he could do well.

Just caught up man, really good read, season is going to be very interesting to say the least!

mgriffin2012 Cheers, hope it is a good season. Just hope the Champions League part of it doesn't end soon

Greece was a nice stay and Alex saw his team win again in pre-season. Early goals from Vossen and Gedoz were enough for them to sneak a win over Larissa.



Alex got bad news after the game as Fernando Torres had picked to go to Bologna over Brugge. Alex couldn’t complain as they had offered him twice as much money per week. The lure of Champions League football hadn’t been enough to convince him that Belgium was the place to make his home.



Alex had planned to loan out back up keeper Kevin Sousa and only Monchengladbach and Leverkusen bid for him and Kevin chose Leverkusen. While he wouldn’t be playing first team football he would have better coaches and facilities so Alex allowed it.



Alex also confirmed the sale of Sobota to Guingamp. He was surplus to requirement having not impressed on loan so Alex was pleased to get over a million euros for him and not have to pay another players wages to save some money.

After that Alex turned on the TV to see which team Brugge would face in the Champions League third place playoff. His side were seeded and would be drawn first. There was one team he really didn’t want but, he felt the rest were beatable.

Alex watched on as Dnipro got Young Boys. The Plzen got Feynoord. Zenit got PAOK. Besiktas were next out the hat and Alex let out a groan as Steaua Bucharest were pulled out of the hat. It only meant one thing.

“Club Brugge will face” A wait as they opened the final ball. “Association Sportive de Monaco.”



The worst draw he could have got. The silver lining was he saw that they had just sold Bernardo Silva so they had one less talented player to hurt them with, he still wasn’t feeling confident.



A look at the draw showed they had definitely drawn the worst side.



A couple of days later Alex was encouraged as the only narrowly lost to a supremely talented Leverkusen side which had added Bendtner and Mkhitaryan to an already talented team.



Alex decided that he wanted another DM as Simons and Zokora were both well over 30 and Vormer was the only fit one. Alex identified the transfer listed Fresja was his target and had a fee and contract accepted unfortunately to late to have a chance of being registered before the Monaco game.



Alex was hoping for a big crowd to intimidate Monaco and the news on season ticket sales encouraged him. Another thousand more than last year and given the stadium only held 30,000 it should be close to full for every game.

Before he could think about Monaco though he had to focus on tomorrow when they would kick off in the league against last season’s third place side OHL.

woah loads of ins and outs man xD good stuff

Tough draw against Monaco man! Hope you can pull it off!

Man, that CL draw could have been kinder.....