After the club’s last day survival last season the club decided not to keep faith with Mark Hughes & although Harry Redknapp was due to be introduced as his replacement but there was an issue between him & owner Tony Fernandes after day 1 of training & after Redknapp had bought in quality like Samba & Remy But Fernandes said the club should move on quickly so he looked towards young manager Tom Hosking to take the reins, Hosking said he would sell any deadwood & bring in young quality players to take the club forward.[/color]
A relaxed Hosking said..... ‘The last couple of years at the club have been strange one moment realising a dream a Premiership football, the next nearly losing that status but this season I hope the club can build on last year’s experiences & build a squad that can challenge the top teams & Tony shares my ambitions as we believe we can take the club to a whole new level over the next few seasons!’
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TRANSFERS
With only 3 mil to work with I decided to sell a near half of the squad but they were players who weren’t really good enough but many had a decent asking price & after carefully plotting what I had going out so I could also calculate what was coming in, all in all a big sum of 28.5MIL was raised.
Adel Taarabt was the biggest departure, although a decent I offered him to clubs for 22mil... no takers but was a bit of interest so I tried 15, Inter & Spurs both made bids but Inter tied the deal up nice an early, Apart from him all other transfers were back up or reserve players so very happy with what I managed to sell.
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PLAYERS IN
Wellington Nem- 3.5m
Nem was the ideal replacement for Tarrabt, with a bit more variety as a winger , 3.5 mil for a 21 year old technically brilliant AMR I couldn’t resist.
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Raul Albiol-Loan
After seeing he was interested it was a no brainier to bring him in a perfect partner for Samba...
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Julian Velazquez- 2.9m
I liked the look of him at first glance a technically decent young defender, stats good in all the right places will have to play 2nd fiddle at the moment but has the stats to be a solid RB so will train him up.
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Jozy Altidore- 6.75m
I now had a bit of funds to play with & a goal scorer was a much needed thing, Altidore was a known predator & had the potential to ruin defences I couldn’t argue with the price either.
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Ruben Jenssen- 1.5m
Jenssen had all the stats I was looking for a tidy little passer who could knit my play together nicely, very cheap, with room for improvement.
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Niclos Gaitan- Loan
Gaitan Is a classy player but has the potential to go off the boils a bit so when he was loan listed it suited me perfectly and was a quick fix for that position.
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Bressan- 2m
Although only 2mil I wasn’t sure how Bressan was going to do but he looked a tidy player who could certainly improve, FCP also chased him so he may have a little bit about him I hope....
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Valon Behrami- Loan
Snapping up Behrami was a strange one, his contract status was back up and had abysmal morale so I tempted a cheeky loan bid with a 1mil for the season and with the hope I could snap him up next summer. May look to play him RB when looking for that option but can add a good physical approach in the midfield.
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Ole Salnaes- 300k
Knowing of the player I purposely loaded the Norwegian league at 17 he is technically brilliant and with a bit of work and a loan move or two can hopefully turn this kid into a top player.
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Adryan- 850k
A good young AM will have a loan move or two before featuring I expect but huge potential t a cut down price.
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Max Clayton- 400k
Although Clayton was playing In league 2 hisd stats for hius age shwoed if he could get a couple seasons of first team football in the Championship he could turn in to a very decent forward.
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I now had a decent few players at the club and relegation as not a worry and I had high hopes to finish in the top 10 I like to play attacking football and had options in a few areas.....
JANUARY SOON APPROACHES........ With the team playing well and lying nicely in 10th place I wanted a couple of players to give me something different going forward. But I also had one I eye on next season Europe was probably out of my reach so I wanted to conserve funds for next season when I would try and push even further but was happy to stay top 10 this year.......... but when I saw the legendary RONALDINHO had not managed to agree a contract extension he left Brazil and I managed o tempt him with what I thought was a nice contract of 40k a week for both parties, both Chairman & Fans were on cloud 9 on when the free transfer was announced, I was hoping he could make a positive impact within the squad as well as on the field....
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I then came across 3 more bargains firstly in the shape Of M Diame who would had some much mneeded bite to the midfield & if I knew of his 3.5m release clause I would of signed him earlier. A young brazilian CB Doria, who at 700k was a snip.... As well as Will Hughes who lit the Championship up in the first few months of the season and 1.5m for a player of his quality & potential was great business.
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A SOLID SEASON COMES TO AN END.......
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9th in the League was a fantastic achievement Liverpool were miles behind as well as many other top 10 candidates.
Most of the squad had performed very well all season..........
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Although our defence record was far from the greatest in the division, Samba & Albiol were both Unbelievable with outstanding average ratings.
Bressan & Jenssen were both players I had a few nerves about pre season but the both proved me wrong becoming key players in the process and really made the team tick.
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A relaxed Hosking said..... ‘The last couple of years at the club have been strange one moment realising a dream a Premiership football, the next nearly losing that status but this season I hope the club can build on last year’s experiences & build a squad that can challenge the top teams & Tony shares my ambitions as we believe we can take the club to a whole new level over the next few seasons!’
TRANSFERS
With only 3 mil to work with I decided to sell a near half of the squad but they were players who weren’t really good enough but many had a decent asking price & after carefully plotting what I had going out so I could also calculate what was coming in, all in all a big sum of 28.5MIL was raised.
Adel Taarabt was the biggest departure, although a decent I offered him to clubs for 22mil... no takers but was a bit of interest so I tried 15, Inter & Spurs both made bids but Inter tied the deal up nice an early, Apart from him all other transfers were back up or reserve players so very happy with what I managed to sell.
PLAYERS IN
Wellington Nem- 3.5m
Nem was the ideal replacement for Tarrabt, with a bit more variety as a winger , 3.5 mil for a 21 year old technically brilliant AMR I couldn’t resist.
Raul Albiol-Loan
After seeing he was interested it was a no brainier to bring him in a perfect partner for Samba...
Julian Velazquez- 2.9m
I liked the look of him at first glance a technically decent young defender, stats good in all the right places will have to play 2nd fiddle at the moment but has the stats to be a solid RB so will train him up.
Jozy Altidore- 6.75m
I now had a bit of funds to play with & a goal scorer was a much needed thing, Altidore was a known predator & had the potential to ruin defences I couldn’t argue with the price either.
Ruben Jenssen- 1.5m
Jenssen had all the stats I was looking for a tidy little passer who could knit my play together nicely, very cheap, with room for improvement.
Niclos Gaitan- Loan
Gaitan Is a classy player but has the potential to go off the boils a bit so when he was loan listed it suited me perfectly and was a quick fix for that position.
Bressan- 2m
Although only 2mil I wasn’t sure how Bressan was going to do but he looked a tidy player who could certainly improve, FCP also chased him so he may have a little bit about him I hope....
Valon Behrami- Loan
Snapping up Behrami was a strange one, his contract status was back up and had abysmal morale so I tempted a cheeky loan bid with a 1mil for the season and with the hope I could snap him up next summer. May look to play him RB when looking for that option but can add a good physical approach in the midfield.
Ole Salnaes- 300k
Knowing of the player I purposely loaded the Norwegian league at 17 he is technically brilliant and with a bit of work and a loan move or two can hopefully turn this kid into a top player.
Adryan- 850k
A good young AM will have a loan move or two before featuring I expect but huge potential t a cut down price.
Max Clayton- 400k
Although Clayton was playing In league 2 hisd stats for hius age shwoed if he could get a couple seasons of first team football in the Championship he could turn in to a very decent forward.
I now had a decent few players at the club and relegation as not a worry and I had high hopes to finish in the top 10 I like to play attacking football and had options in a few areas.....
JANUARY SOON APPROACHES........ With the team playing well and lying nicely in 10th place I wanted a couple of players to give me something different going forward. But I also had one I eye on next season Europe was probably out of my reach so I wanted to conserve funds for next season when I would try and push even further but was happy to stay top 10 this year.......... but when I saw the legendary RONALDINHO had not managed to agree a contract extension he left Brazil and I managed o tempt him with what I thought was a nice contract of 40k a week for both parties, both Chairman & Fans were on cloud 9 on when the free transfer was announced, I was hoping he could make a positive impact within the squad as well as on the field....
I then came across 3 more bargains firstly in the shape Of M Diame who would had some much mneeded bite to the midfield & if I knew of his 3.5m release clause I would of signed him earlier. A young brazilian CB Doria, who at 700k was a snip.... As well as Will Hughes who lit the Championship up in the first few months of the season and 1.5m for a player of his quality & potential was great business.
A SOLID SEASON COMES TO AN END.......
9th in the League was a fantastic achievement Liverpool were miles behind as well as many other top 10 candidates.
Most of the squad had performed very well all season..........
Although our defence record was far from the greatest in the division, Samba & Albiol were both Unbelievable with outstanding average ratings.
Bressan & Jenssen were both players I had a few nerves about pre season but the both proved me wrong becoming key players in the process and really made the team tick.
