FM13 - The turning of the tractor

The season is now over and I had a poor finish to the season and ended up finishing 11th. A big surprise was Middlesborough were relegated.



I am now in July and there has been a hell of a lot of transfer activity at Portman Road, I was gutted when Aaron Cresswell was subject to bids from 2 Premiership clubs and wanted to go. I got good money for him though (6 million). Here is the overview of all my ins and outs.



I decided to call time on the careers of Jason Scotland and Carlos Edwards, both were 34 approaching 35 and both featured very little towards the end of the season. Zanetti was well past his peak at 35 and was also released. Owen Hargreaves picked up a fairly bad injury towards the end of the season, which I dont think he would have ever recovered from fully otherwise I was going to offer him another 1 year deal. Andy Drury is a player I would have liked to have kept but his wage demands just simply outweighed his ability so was also released.

Darren Petrie finally signed, he was a target for me all season but I simply didnt have the funds to buy him. My scouts rated him very highly and so do now my coaches. He will be a Town player for a long time and a complete bargain on a free.



Ryan Gauld was another target from Dundee Utd. Also a young talented player with a very bright future. He too was a free transfer.



George Friend is a direct replacement for Aaron Cresswell. No he isn't as good but is more than good enough to help me get out of the championship this season.



James Marshall, Jon Daly and Paul McGowan are players I have already mentioned in early posts but are now wearing the blue and white shirts of Ipswich Town.

Jordan McGhee, another youngster, will probably end up being CB partners with James Marshall in the long term. Once again though a complete bargain!



Alan Judge, I was trying to unsettle this guy for basically the whole of last season in the hope I could get him on a free transfer.... It worked. Class player. Really happy with this one.



With Carlos Edwards being released it meant I needed to get a replacement RB. Step up Paul Caddis on yet another free transfer. Good direct replacement possibly even better. Carlos was constantly out of position as his stats represent more of a wingers, which was his natural position a few years ago.

As you can see I am very much building for the future. This is something that no recent Ipswich manager has done and it's about time someone did. I have a transfer budget remaining of over 5million but I just dont see any need to spend it.

This is my likely starting 11 with 7 subs.



If you have come across any star players that you think I should sign, please mention them below.

Thank you to anyone who has read my first season in this story and I hope you will continue to follow.

Just another small update. Couple more back up/squad players signed on free transfers.

Good first season, Nick, consolidating your position in the nPower Championship. It would've been fun to see you finish above Blackpool and clinch that 10th spot, giving you a top 10 finish.
Pretty smart transfer business, going for youth that can do the job. That money you have left will probably come in handy if things don't do your way and you need someone in January.
Unfortunately, I don't know enough about the transfers in that league to help you out with more transfers, but I'm sure you'll handle yourself well.

Good luck on a 2nd season!

Lot of new signings. Hopefully you can rally together and push for auto promotion!

Not sure if it will help, but take a look at Johnny Russell from Dundee United? He was a great cheap striker in LFC's summer update for FM12.

Fantastic start.

I have just begun as Millwall, and very much looking to skim into a playoff spot. Afew games in and it is not easy at all.

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your career.

2012-10-24 07:50#68363 akash.vidyasagar : Good first season, Nick, consolidating your position in the nPower Championship. It would've been fun to see you finish above Blackpool and clinch that 10th spot, giving you a top 10 finish.
Pretty smart transfer business, going for youth that can do the job. That money you have left will probably come in handy if things don't do your way and you need someone in January.
Unfortunately, I don't know enough about the transfers in that league to help you out with more transfers, but I'm sure you'll handle yourself well.

Good luck on a 2nd season!

Yeah I think I will just keep it in the bank. Otherwise if I dont go up this season I wont be making the club go bankrupt.

2012-10-24 09:11#68368 Arvind K : Lot of new signings. Hopefully you can rally together and push for auto promotion!

Not sure if it will help, but take a look at Johnny Russell from Dundee United? He was a great cheap striker in LFC's summer update for FM12.

Thanks, just looked at him unfortunately for me he has already moved to Celtic

Im nearly at the start of the season now and the team have almost perfected the tactics already, whereas last season I was nearly at christmas by the time they learnt them. Im hoping to just get off to a decent start and be in and around the play offs come January. The squad is stronger in depth this season as well. However still not sure what to do with Paul Taylor I am debating selling him.

2012-10-24 13:40#68387 Party_Turtle : Fantastic start.

I have just begun as Millwall, and very much looking to skim into a playoff spot. Afew games in and it is not easy at all.

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your career.

It is not easy at all! It is harder than FM12. Millwall got relegated on mine so best of luck to you, I am trying to get Liam Trotter back to Portman Road from The Den.