The Lions will roar

England handed easy group for World Cup

England have been handed a fairly easy group in the World Cup facing:
USA
Lithuania
Senegal

However their European Championships Qualifying section includes:
Russia
Czech Republic
Wales
Luxembourg

A trickier test but one they should get through nonetheless.

I am happy with the World Cup group, and our preparation against Brazil and Colombia away will help us greatly. It's about getting used to the playing conditions and we must adapt to get far. - Michael Stanley

I'd watch out for Lithuania, everybody knows how good they are

NOTE: 300th viewer

Walcott out of World Cup



It's a big shame because Theo was and is key in my England plans. - Michael Stanley

It is thought Stanley will take Welbeck Rooney and Bent as his strikers.

Rookie I'll be sure to be careful! maybe go defensive and go for the point ?! :p

England World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers
Joe Hart
Fraser Forster
Jason Steele

Defence
Kyle Walker
Micah Richards
Chris Smalling
Phil Jones
Joleon Lescott
Gary Cahill
Jack Robinson
Leighton Baines

Midfield
Tom Huddlestone
Tom Cleverly
Jack Wilshere
Will Hughes
Jonjo Shelvey
Scott Sinclair
James Milner
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Forwards
Gabby Agbonlahor
Danny Welbeck
Wayne Rooney
Darren Bent

World Cup Group Stage

England 4 - 1 Lithuania
Shelvey x1
Baines x1
Chamberlain x1
Welbeck x1

England 5 - 0 USA
Milner x3
Bent x1
Welbeck x1

England 0 - 1 Senegal


England play Italy in the knockout round... seeking revenge for the penalties defeat in the Euros.


Two good games and the game versus Senegal we had the better chances, that's football sometimes. Chamberlain is injured now but Wilshere who has missed the first 3 games is back. Michael Stanley

England Lift World Cup






Last 16
England 1 - 0 Italy
Lescott x1
Quarter Final
England 2 - 1 Turkey AET
Wilshere x1
Lescott x1
Semi-Final
England 4 - 2 Cameroon AET
Rooney x2
Nkoulou O.G
Bent x1
Final
England 1 - 0 Senegal
Welbeck x1


On club management...
It would be hard to turn down if the right job came along...

On keeping the England job whilst managing a club...
I like to set myself challenges, and that is certainly one.

On how his team did...
We overcame struggles with injuries to Theo and Alex, Rooney being banned for the final was hard for him and us, but we have quality to step in and Danny Welbeck showed that!

Operation: GET STANLEY

Michael Stanley is a sought after man with his destination looking to be PSV in Holland. Due to fly in 25 days before his England side face Holland at the Amsterdam Arena Stanley has told sources around him he is happy with the wage and transfer budgets thought to be around £20m and with around 170k worth of wages to spend! for a team that has no continental competition to compete in they are looking ambitious.



RING RING.... RING RING...

MS: Hello, Chris what's up?

Chris Stanley: Michael, as your brother and agent I have put you in touch with PSV, the club has a great future possibly, the funds and players are there, but you've got another offer

MS: Chris, I appreciate that but I'm just about to go out for my first training session now, we've got an intra-squad friendly later on today, I'm here to stay.

CS: It's Barcelona Mike.

MS: *Gulps* What?

CS: Villanova has took the Spain job, they want you, Di Matteo of Chelsea as expressed an interest and Chelsea fans want his head! you need to act fast.

Stanley does managerial U-Turn

Michael Stanley's press conference at The Camp Nou...

Barcelona is a big club and this chance may never come again, It's true that I had signed for PSV, it was a 3 year deal and I was happy that I could change the clubs fortunes. But my brother and agent informed me Barcelona were interested so I responded with a job application.

But Mr Stanley do you feel guilty?

Yes of course, I cannot apologise enough to the PSV fans, board and players, but when Barcelona come knocking what can you do? before the World Cup Championship sides in England rejected me, now Europes biggest club want me, you have to take your chances.

But PSV could have been that chance to propel you? You did not have the hardest matches at the World Cup and some say you are still not up for the challenge, what do you say to that?

I agree, and that was the plan, to re-establish them and for my reputation to grow... but there is no bigger challenge than to manage at Barcelona. I'm not going to entertain the World Cup question, I have won the matches I needed to win, I didn't control the people I came up against.

With an already world-class squad how do respond to some sections of the media saying that this is not a proper challenge as Barcelona are already world class?

It's a challenge as the pressure to win is unbelievable, to think that I am expected to win is a daunting prospect.

Stanley in control



Barcelona and England management is seeming to be a walk in the park for Michael Stanley, he is sitting at the top of La Liga joint on points with rivals Real Madrid. The highlight being a 7-1 thrashing of Athletico Madrid. The defeat to Juventus flattered them massively, with Barcelona dominating large parts of the game, but Stanley remains confident of continental and domestic success.


England duty is still very important to me, I want to win the Euro's too so won't be resigning. We've had good results and good players coming into the frame...

Barcelona are a superb team and I really want to impress the fans.


Transfers






With Thiago being sold to Man City Stanley has replaced him with young Spaniard Isco who's recent performances have wowed the Barcelona fans.

Chamberlain has been a favourite of Stanley's with England and for 18m Stanley has done a great piece of business.


These two join Edinson Cavani whom Villanova signed for 45m.

My Laptop has had to be reset after ongoing problems with it shutting down etc. So I have restored it and will be looking to start a new story once I re-install FM13...