2021, the Everest of the New Age

The final friendly thus far pitted us against Italian Serie B side Ternana. Wanting to give the vast majority of players the chance to impress, I opted to test my back-up tactic, with a defensive midfielder in play, and both the wingers coming forward to be attacking, inside forwards.

Starters are:
GK: Stephan
DR: Vajda
DC: Varol
DC: Bayer
DL: Halberg
AMR: Nilsson
DMC: Bottarelli
MC: Farver
AML: Oauttara
ST: Nicholson
ST: Griffin

The secondary tactic seemed to have worked, with only the keeper Stephan and promising striker Griffin having off days at the office. The wide defenders and attacking wingers had storming games, as they also clocked up the kilometers, with all four of them clocking up double digits.

Nicholson started the route when their keeper sent the ball directly to Bayer, headed down field for Nicholson to run on to and fire one through the keeper. We had a bit of a scare when just before half time, a set piece floated to the head of centre back Tognozzi and passed keeper Stephan to go to the sheds one all.

Telling the lads I still expected a win, and substituting key players Nicholson (for Czerwinski) and Farver (for Rubal) the team responded magnificently. Centre back Varol took the opportunity for a rebound header in after the corner had been passed to Bayer, and deflected away. Score 1-2.

Oauttara scored a fortuitous goal, by being in position. From a set piece, Vajda passed to Czerwinski, who ran hard towards the goal and floated a pass infield for Oauttara to latch onto. Score 1-3.

On seventy minutes, Halberg and Czerwinksi combined for an outstanding goal. Halberg floated a pass from deep inside our territory and Czerwinkski dived on the ball to push it through into the goalmouth. 1-4.

Soon after, Oauttara again proved his worth, taking the pass from midfielder Bottarelli, he ran at the four man defensive line, and slotted a goal home.

The final scoring play came on the stroke of eighty min, right winger Nilsson ran hard down the line in an attempt to set up either Griffin, or Czerwinski, and ended up getting it deflected in goal by Ternana central defender Tragoni. Final score 1-6 win.

English utility Nikki Wisker will represent my last signing for this transfer window. Coming in from Southampton he made a “dream come true” move to Osasuna for a fee of 900K. Covering the central defense, and both central midfield roles, as well as striker, the deal proved to be irresistible. Solid double digit scores in an eighteen year old mean the lad is talented, but I am particularly impressed with high scores for work-rate, team work and determination. He was another player who was unhappy with his lot at Southampton, and I am hoping the Spanish sun will provide more appealing.

A wee bit slight at 76kg, he signed on a four year contract at 1.3K per week, but again, had the agent charge 825K for the privilege, so the deal isn’t as bargain basement as it first sounds. I am hoping this will provide answers around who the second centre back may be, or who will play the aggressor in the midfield should Farver be rested.

Finally, after I forget how many times to try and offload the guy, Joshua (yes, the one who played for Man U) King agrees terms with Gold Coast United for 575K. Gold Coast were the only A-League team who didn't have a marquee player. I am grateful to see the back of him!

Fingers crossed León may soon leave. Paris Saint-Germain look like they may be interested. After bringing him in for 1.4M last term, I've set the price at 1.5M. Let the negotiations begin!

I never thought I'd be sooo relieved to get rid of a player, and at a loss to boot. León is leaving for France for 1M on a one year deal at an incredible (to me at least) 56K per week.

I have released four of my over age and therefore promoted, but rubbish, former under 19 squad. I hope they have better luck elsewhere, but I couldn't find anyone to take them, even at zero down and ten percent of the next sale price!! Why is that?

Who would have thought that Huddersfield Town would have been in the EPL, let alone competitive! After promotion to the Championship in the '13/14 year, they gained promotion in consecutive years, finishing mid table over the last three.

They were again my saviours whilst shopping for an experienced central back. I was more than happy to let them discuss terms with Deivid, who takes a year long contract at 11.5K per week. We trade him for 1M, after bringing him in for 550K eighteen months previously. His average score during his time with us was 6.60, so I wish him well for the future.

Thirteen of my players either playing u-19 or u-21 representative football, and all of them largely disappointing. Add to that the six injuries I am carrying and I am not a happy camper!!

11 August ‘21
I have about ten days to prepare for the season opener against Valencia.

At this stage, I have an alarming injury toll and thirteen more players at risk. I think the game against Valencia is going to be a massacre, with half my allotted 25 man squad on rep duty, and another six down with various ailments.

Mário Quintal, supposedly my starting keeper, is out for 5-6 weeks with a broken finger.

Melvin Tolido, centre back, is lacking match fitness and conditioning and still has up to twelve days out with a sprained ankle.

Mikel Ensel, midfielder, is out for three weeks with a twisted ankle.

Gontzal Ramos, my captain and influential striker, is out for three weeks with a twisted ankle.

Emelrick Ouattara, my striker cum winger, is on the sidelines for eleven days with a chest complaint and will be pushing it to be fit for the first fixture.

Injury prone striker Pelayo Fernández is also back on the physio table, this time only for ten days for a twisted ankle.

I do hope this is not a sign of things to come, and I seriously want my junior reps to come through the rest of their games intact, and with a bit of match play under their belts!

I've now finalised my squad for the season - and I have 24 at this stage; helped by the fact a number of them fall into the eighteen years old or younger on 1.1.22 and don't need to be registered. I'm now trying to find young German goalie Stephan a loan contract as I bought four 'keepers into the squad! No takers at the moment.

Good luck for the coming season, entertaining story

#51049 BeanyUnited : Good luck for the coming season, entertaining story

Thanks for the comment BeanyUnited, I'm certainly having fun writing it, although I have to be careful not to let FM become the centre of my world, I'm not sure the wife, nor work would appreciate it much.

15 Aug 21

Have just got the projections for season ticket sales, and we expect about 15,700. Last season was 15,688, so not many changes yet but my design for the club and the type of football we will play should push that figure up in the coming seasons.

The finances are such that we are currently classified as "rich", and I will be keeping a careful eye on the monthly figures to ensure that the wage budget is offset by the ticket sales, watch this space.

The other thing I have noticed is the squad personality is "hungry for success". I haven't seen that before, but I am hoping it is a positive trait!

Oh great, my chairman is now making small noises about being "happy to stay".