The Saints Are Here.. Champs League Football!

Well after some searching for the perfect job, Nicola Cortese approached me, Former England International Tom Hosking to take the club forward in it's first season back in the Premier League.
After Nigel Adkins left the club due to an argument with the board over Transfer Funds, Although the local rumours are that Adkins had been having an affair with the wife of Chairman Nicola Cortese & after the secrets of the affair were publicised online
Nigel Adkins resigned from his post stating at Mutual Consent & has rejected all rumours.
So in my first meeting with the Chairman, He stated his ambitions & firmly believes that with 4.5 Million as A transfer budget we could avoid relegation, Which I agreed.
When I looked in the transfer market, I saw that with a few more million I could possibly take the side to another level...
So I went back to the board & requested more funds, At the first time of asking the board were happy to up the overall transfer budget to £ 12 Million which was exactly the type of cash I was after.
I have always been an FM manager that likes to clear out most of the rubbish or average players in a squad, get some cash & then re-invest.. So as shown below I was lucky in being able to flog various players & raise 12.5 mil myself
All transfers In & Out are below, Underneath will be why I have signed them etc..



Transfers In

W.Nem- Will play AM or LW for me, Depending which he & Gaston play better at... Usally try to get him, Worth 9 mil, Can get for 3.5 absolute bargain for an asweome 20 year old & future world class player.
J.Butland- Willl challenge Boruc for a first team spot, Boruc is only slightly better but with Butland’s huge potential he may get more games than Boruc to advance his development, Bargain at what I paid, Add-ons could go up to 4 mil but still a snip long term.
A.Williams- Will start CB for me, Solid stats & will also be Vice Captain, Add-ons will take it up to 4 mil but he will be a key player for my side, Not many better I could have got.
R.Martin- I managed to get him as cover for Clyne & CB cover, Again another bargain as his stats are really good, Add ons taking it possiblty tyo 3.5 mil, Although he is good I only signed him as I saw Liverpool pay 9 mil 2nd season on another file.
W.Hughes- Love this guy in real life, Think he could be the English Xavi... Brought in for reasonable 700k adds on could raise it to 1.9 mil but don’t mind paying that for a wonder kid of this class! Thought he would be loaned out but I have played him a bit and is scoring goals!
A.Cornelius- Good young striker, I know he gets world class but not quite ready to break in so I have loaned him to Brighton for the season.
JA Riise- We all know what Riise can birng, Couldn’t believe my eyes when he was Transfer Listed by request aafter rejecting a new contract at Fulham with an asking price of 2.9 mil it was impossible to say no, Fox isn’t quite there but will do as Back up, Bring young shaw in if needs be.
W.Zaha- Although Zaha’s stats looking awful he is just one of those players, Similar to a Walcott that just kills teams with his dribbling & Pace, My intention is to play Zaha RW & turn him in to a key England international.
N.Stanciu- A player I came across playing the Beta version, Tricky little young winger for 100k YES PLEASE! Will get to a good level & provides excellent competition with Zaha & Puncheon on the right.
T.Watt- A few of you may have heard of this young goal machine in real life & for 800k his stats are very good for an 18 year old ST, I have laoned him out to Norwich though, Already has 2 in 2 games!
M.Diskerud- Have a look at Rosenborg, Plenty of cheap players in Norway & Denmark... His stats are very good & having seen him move to Arsenal for 29 mil, I knew I had to get him for 200k It is a great bit of business.
K.Salnaes- Technically probably the best youngster I have ever seen on FM! A young Iniesta he is, Worth 12k so you can generally get him for 200k plus, At 18 he can only grow in to a world class player.
O.Hiljemark- Bargain at what I paid for him & at 20 has superb potential
J.Okore- Will probably partner Williams at CB, Young & physically brilliant he just needs a season or so to improve technically but will be a key member of the squad.
L.Kweuke- Always see this guy going to Spurs for 3mil so I thought I would have a go, Stats wise you think yeah this guy will score goals, But I was still unsure as I hadn’t used him before...
R.Drenthe- Will add competition with Nem & Rodriguez & give me a more natural wide man, With the advantage of him joining for 0 & adds another option at LB.
Anderson- Transfer listed Anderson for 4 mil.. Yes please, He is actually a good player with decent stats who will improve so he will add something classy to the midfield.

The Season Is Here!

So after a nice pre-season I had a pretty good idea already who was going to be in worth a shout of starting the 1st game against Man City...
The first game was here and realistically I could hope for was a point at best but this is FM and always be hopeful, Especially after the successful transfer window we had.

This is what I was looking at playing in the run up to the game...


SOUTHAMPTON 4-0 MAN CITY


Well that went ok..... I couldn't believe it! Fills me with confidence for the rest of the season that is for sure.

Flying In The Top 5!

Well it's has been a very decent first half of the season currently 5th & looking like a team that can stick around the top 5.. Kweueke really has been banging in the goals with 16 in 15 league games so far this season, Young Will Hughes has been a key player, He broke into the side early in the season when Diskerud broke his leg & I just haven't been able to drop him as his form as been so good.
Wellington Nem's from has been awesome, him & Kweuke have been running the show really usually with Lallana LW & Gaston Ramirez RW who has chipped in with a few goals himself.
Ashley Williams has been like a gladiator at the back partnered mostly by Simon Kjaer who I managed to get on loan on deadline day, Okore Struggled early on in the season & has lost his place since.
I have had lots of injuries though, dam Lallana hasn't started much as he keeps picking up small knocks during games, deminishing his fitness for the next fixture.
Wilf Zaha & Diskerud & Drenthe have hardly played at all due to nasty injuries, Diskerud should be back soon from a broken leg, Zaha is now back from a broken arm.
Due to the injuries I have had to emplot 3 CMS usually Cork, Hughes & either Salnaes or Anderson with Nem LW, Gaston RW.

January Transfer Window

The january transfer window is here, I am not looking to bring anybody in really, although a CB is an option as Hoiveld has been injured all year & is budget, So i need somebody to play with Williams, Okore & Kjaer.
Although there is a mystery marquee signing the manager had kept quiet on.. Having signed the player 1 week before his contract was about to expire...



Very Happy with this signing, The fans love it, The board love it so a great bit of business for everybody!!

Ronaldinho's Debut...



Ronny on his debut!!! Great start... He did play ST though, Just a possible option while Kweuke is at The african Nations

Awesome keep it up.

This is brilliant, could you put up a download link for this save file?

Great story so far, loving it.

You've made some great buys - Butland, Zaha, Ronaldinho. It will be great to see how they get on. How do you plan to play Ronaldinho most?

Also, some great potential players too. Just to warn you,don't get rid of Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse. In the Soton XI now and will be great. Jake Sinclair and Callum Chambers are possiblities too..

Good luck with the story.

NO... Wont sell Shaw or Prowswe, both on loan at the moment but Shaw will be in
the 1st team next season for sure.
Ronaldinho will mostly play behind Kweuke with Gaston Rw & W.Nem Lw, Club skipper
Adam Lallana may have to sit on the bench.
Only other January signing was Jack Rodwell on Loan.

Will get some download links & more updates ASAP

THE SAINTS ARE HERE!!!!

WHAT A SEASON!!!! CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOTBALL HERE WE COME!




Well I don’t really know where to start, The ambitions were to stay up but the team has been amazing! Finishing ahead of some great teams.
I’ve had plenty of injuries but 3rd is just unbelievable, Cant wait for next season.

SEASON SUMMARY





THE SQUAD



KEY PLAYERS



Williams has captained the sdie most of the season & an average rating of 8.00 is out of this
world, for Ashley Williams..... For any defender! He only cost 3 mil but final paymnets total to 4.2 mil what a bargain, Just a rock at the back for the saints!


Kweuke has been by far my best buy... If he didn't go to the african nations & played 38 games imagine what could have happened..!? His value has risen hugely but I cant sell him, He will bang them in in Europe next year.

At first I thought a transfer listed Kjaer would add something to the side in the end he was just a rock alongside Williams... Kjaer's value has now risen from 3 mil to 8... Tempted to bring him in permanently he may have justified me having to pay 10 mil or so...

Gaston has picked up a knock or two but has been awesome playing mainly RW but att 22 is only going to improve as well.

As written in January Huhes was brought in to go out loan but I put him in for 1 game he scored so I just kept playing & as it shows for a 17/18 year old he was absolutely brilliant! Has helped his development no end!

Wellington Nem has played mostly LW since Ronaldinho came in but either playing out wide of behind Kweuke he just cant stop assiting, 3.5 mil, Brazilian international, Young what a signing!

Although Butland's average rating was really dissapointing the team conceded very few goals &
I expect him beign 19 effected this but I had to show him as his stats Improvement is up there with the most improvement I have seen 1st season in any player, Maybe it was his training, Maybe playing so much football... He was called up to every England squad but not capped yet.

So all in all I am over the moon with the season, had a lot of top perforances, Will be looking to get rid of the likes of Lambert, Puncheon, Fox, etc now my plans for the club have been excelled!
2nd season budget next... Cant wait!!!

Ole Kristian Salnaes is a wonderful player. I had him on loan in my KuPS story last year if you read it and he was simply mind-blowing. May I have a screenshot of him?

Although he struggled to find any form in the season, He is technicaaly awesome & will no diubt become a key player

2013-2014 SEASON

So after a season that will never be forgotten at Southampton, Champions League Football was achieved in their first season back in the big time!
A week or so after the season I just had a glance at my staff as I' brought in a couple more coaches etc. My Board of Directors had changed..
Still ran by Mr.Cortese I saw that RUI COSTA had joined as Marketing Director & A Chinese guy called ZHAO JUN...
I have scrolled through my Inbox & cant find any record of it saying about new board memebers joining etc but maybe Champs League qualification brung this on, But the club's Finances have improved hugely!



TRANSFER BUDGET

Board ahve been very kind for this my 2nd season, But after finishing 3rd I wouldn't of expected anything less than a war chest! especially after seeing a couple of new directors have joined.

Initial Transfer Budget- £48 MILLION!!!!
All of this with a very good wage budget..
The only bad thiing about going to big to quick is now after a great season m ost of the key players like Kweuke, W.Nem, Cork etc. Also with players I am looking at bringing in want crazy wages to match or exceed the key players I already have. But I have plenty of room to move in the window especially as my budget is able to be adjusted to £55 mil at the moment, I also have plans to get rid of last years deadwood (Hoilveld, Fox, K.Davis, S.davis, Lambert, Jay Rod?)

TRANSFER TARGETS

- A Goalkeeper to play alongside Butland, Maybe somebody better than Butland
- Tim Krul, R Zieler are best options at the monent.

CB- Ryan Shawcross is off to City for 19 mil so ooking at cheaper options.
Jagielka- Had the 3rd highest Average Rating last year ideal partner for Williams
Kjaer- Wolfsburg want 15 million for him now I have turned him from a 3 mil player to a
world class defender!
Bassong- Average rating of 7.45 last season & stats wise is fantastic, can get him for 6 mil.
Mbiwa- Stats are awesome & is transfer listed by request for 12 mil.
Aldenwield- Could add a bit of class to my defence & could probably get for 12 mil or so.

LB- Not many great FB on the game so Riise may keep his place as Shaw isn't yet ready. especially for Champs League.
Santon- Newcastle had a bad year last season so he is available for 4 mil or so, Could be a no brainer.

CM- I have a quality midfield with the likes of Cork, Anderson, Hiljemark, Diskerud, W.Hughes, But maybe laon out Salnaes & One otehr & bring in somebody else. Unsure yet though.
Tiote- Tiote wants out of Newcastle but I dont know if he really is better than what I have.
M.Sissoko- I can get him for 13-18 million, He may be the best option as physically & Technically he is a great player.
A.Poli- Poli wants out of Sampdoria he could add some genuine passing quality to the side but do I pay 15 mil..?
M.Verratti- Verratti spent most of last season on loan at Napoli & is transfer listed & not need by PSG despite only being 20 still his value has dropped to 1.7mil so I reckon a sly 4mil could prise him away, He will be a Southampton player soon!

MF- I need somebody especially on the Right as Nem, Gaston, Lallana & Ronny can all play LW but only Zaha is natural RW, Gaston played there last season as did Hughes quite a lot.
Walcott- Theo is interested in returning due to Arsenal not being in the top 4! He could be a key player on the right adding another option to Kweuke upfront.
The Ox- Alex Oxlaid Chamberlain is transfer listed by request at Arsenal after not playing much alst year, He isn't as good as Walcott, Only just a little better than Zaha but like Walcottt I need a couple more players that have been trained at the club.
B.Ruiz- Liverpool have just had a 7 million bid rejected but Fulham want Drethe from me so I may offer 6 plus Drenthe.

ST- Every report I do every striker is better than Kweuke apparently but he scored to many goals last year I cant just ship him off! I am looking at players like walcott who could challenge up front of if not play on the wing.
Borini- Can snap him up for 7 mil, Is trained in England which always helps as well & stupidly on FM he is actualy a good player....
Berbatov- Transfer listed by request at Fulham, Still awesome but Do I pay 5 million for him, He may be the perfect backup for Kweuke.
P.Cisse- Lots of players want out as they had a bad year last season, Newcastle especially. He would be a bit pricier though so looking at many other options atm...

3 Players join the Saints!

Nathan Redmond cost 2.9 million & although isn't great he will become a key player at the club


Although I shouldn't be unhappy, I kind of am as I brung In Mbiwa by accident not reading my computer screen properly! haha, I am not one that believes in quitting back to last saved point etc so never mind. But he was only 12 million & Will teach him to play RB, Still after a cheap option to play at the back as well


The LB problem is solved for many years to come, With Santon wanting to leave he was only worth 2.7 mil so a cheeky 4.5 mil & he is here. What a bargain! With him & Riise, Luke Shaw on loan at Celtic the LB future is bright!

VICTOR IBARBO



How is he worth £ 17.25 mil? I have heard a fair bit on forums about this guy but from what I can see he is junk! He only averaged 6.86 last year.. I am tempted to just break the boat & make an offer but he isn't good enough in my view... He is certainly no Kweuke! Yes he has huge gas! but I think he just a similar Walcott, But Walcott in my view is better & somebody I would prefer... I do have something in the back of my head saying Sign this Guy!!!