Palace: Can lightning strike twice?

Here's a bit of background before I begin my new story.

After getting FM12, I decided I wanted to manage in the Championship, with the aim of eventually getting them into the Premiership. Now it's no fun just to pick one of the favourites, as I wanted a bit of a challenge.

After looking at the clubs in the league I settles on Palace, not only are they a local club to me but they offered a challenge, as they have a media prediction of 18th.

The season that follows was one of the best I've had, and would have made for an epic story. Against all odds we achieved promotion!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/Football%20manager/Palacestory.png
Final positions after my first season!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/Football%20manager/crystalplace02.png
Wanted to throw in a screen shot of a sweet regen I picked up

So after updating the database I decided to try it again. Can I do it again? We'll see.

Next post I'll take you through things I've learnt managing palace and my pre-season.

Managing Palace

So the season begins, the board expects a mid-table finish, to do this they provide:
Transfer budget: 0kpal
Wages: 120k (Already spending 120,805k)

Luckily Crystal Palace have a large squad and there are plenty of options available to sort this out, below are the transfers I have made so far. With the money from the transfers I increased my wage budget allowing me to sign some good free players.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/Football%20manager/crystalplace03.png
Balancing the books is key for me

I've still got a few problems to sort our before I am completely happy with the squad, one is Calvin Andrew. He is definitely not good enough to be in the squad yet he is on 3k a week wages, I've tried everything to get rid of him but I think I might have release him on a free.

There's also the Glenn Murray conundrum, he is a decent player but Palace have a lot of striking talent, and he has 10k a week wages. Personally, I feel they could be better spent elsewhere.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/Football%20manager/crystalplace04.png
A fairly standard pre-season, lets hope we can push on

Next post will be after 5-10 games with a report on my seasons progress.

So 5 games down the line and things are going okay at the moment. Second in the league is good, we have been playing well in the league games with some good defending, my main concern is the lack of goal scoring.Also got knocked out of the league cup on penalties by West Ham which was annoying but they have a much stronger squad so I'm happy it wasn't a demolition.

A few changes to the squad have been made, by biggest is selling McCarthy for 1.2mil. The coffers were also boosted by 500k from a clause on Tom Soares so that was a big help. Here's my transfers as they stand.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/Football%20manager/crystalplace07.png
Couldn't turn down 1.2mil for McCarthy!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/Football%20manager/crystalplace05.png
League table as of 5 games. Encouraging so far

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/Football%20manager/crystalplace06.png
My fixtures

I know Scannell can be a goal machine at this level, I just need to find the right way to get him motivated and playing well.Next update will be after 10 games, stay tuned.

10 games played and things are going really well. 2nd in the league only to West Ham, so a good start to this campaign. My only loss came away at Birmingham with a 2-0 defeat, we were really dominated in this game and shows the need to improve the squad across the board to be able to compete in the premier league.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/crystalplace08.png
League table, 2nd place get in

My priority in January will be to reduce my squad size and wage bill, having such a large squad means player selection is becoming and issue. I trying to let go of Iverson, Murray, Moxey and a few other fringe players.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/crystalplace09.png
My fixtures, all going to plan

Manager of the month for September! Glad to be recognised but I'm not going to rest on my laurels and push onwards. My minimum plan for January is to be in the play-off places, with a hope to be in the automatic places.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/dannye200/crystalplace10.png
Ahmed Soukouna, one of my highest recommendations for any championship team

Toying with the idea of changing my blog/story to monthly reports, with more focus on the stories of the matches. Any feedback would be great

Great choice, I chose to manage Palace for my first season and after 20 games am 3rd in the table. Sean Scannell is an absolute, IS a goal machine, scored 14 goals in 18 matches, absolutely fantastic, Garvan aswell is an assisst machine with 10 in 14. Im hoping i can keep this going but at the same time i feel as if promotion may come a season too early for my palace team as i feel theyve got a lotta good youngsters who could do with that extra season.

But well see what happens, Good Luck

What is the tactics you use and the formation can you a screen shot of the tactic and the formations and what countrys have you selected for leagues

I remember when i created a team with the editor and put sean scannell in there..... 38 in 34
He's a speed machine.