Arsenal: The Nationalist Challenge

Today, I bring to you a new sort of challenge which I have not seen attempted on FM Scout a lot: The Nationalist Challenge.

But What is the Nationalist Challenge?

Well the main aim of this challenge is to create a team from only one nation. Your team choice is up to you, and you might want to bring a lower league club up from the depths to European glory with only English players, or lead a top club with lots of money down a new path. Basically, you can only sign players from one nation, which will be England.

What are the rules?

From Day One all of your signings must be English. Every time a foreign player is sold, it basically gives you space for more English talent.

You obviously cannot get rid of all the foreigners from one club immediately, so there are rules for how many foreigners you can play with:
Season 1: There is no restriction on the amount of foreign players you have in your team.

Season 2: Only 5 foreign players can be on the pitch for you at any point, including substitutes.

Season 3: Same as Season 2, but this time only 3 foreign players allowed.

Season 4: By the start of the league season, you should now have all the foreign players at your club gone, and the challenge begins properly.

What about dual-nationality players and staff?

I am deciding that I will try to only sign players that are at least English as their primary nationality. I am also going to be trying to complete the challenge with only English staff.

Objectives

- Win the Premier League within 3 seasons.

- Win the Premier League with an all-English team.

- Win the Champions League within 3 seasons.

- Win the Champions League with an all-English team.

- Set a new Premier League trophy record. (Bit ambitious?)

- Develop youth players into world-class stars.

- Have England line up with a starting XI of my players.

Good luck

2013-08-14 14:00#127984 wellsy1498 : Good luck

Cheers mate

Joe, this is a great challenge, but it is too complicated and could get boring for you since there won't be TOO MANY good enough english players. I would suggest, just don't sign any foreign players..ever. Try and sell the foreign guys but don't go overboard. That'll make the challenge fun for you

2013-08-14 14:04#127986 Akash : Joe, this is a great challenge, but it is too complicated and could get boring for you since there won't be TOO MANY good enough english players. I would suggest, just don't sign any foreign players..ever. Try and sell the foreign guys but don't go overboard. That'll make the challenge fun for you

Cheers Akash, I gave this save a trial go before I decided to start a story, and I thought it worked out quite well, so I think it might work

Football unknown Joe Dowley explains philosophy

Football manager wannabe Joe Dowley has explained what he believes to be the best philosophy for producing English talent, and one that will make sure that English players will prosper in Europe and the world. He has named it as a ‘Nationalist Challenge’, and vented his frustrations on social networking site Twitter after England’s penalty defeat to Italy during Euro 2012. Many England fans pointed out on radio show Talksport that, as a country, England do not have the same youth development systems as countries like Spain or Germany, who seem to have young squads preparing to dominate the near future.

But who is Joe Dowley? He describes himself on Twitter as a young manager with great ideas. We have also discovered that he has recently completed his coaching badges, and is looking for a new job. So is this just a publicity or do his points actually have some meaning to them?

Dowley’s idea is that a team should sign only English players, and that would mean that club’s have less choice on players to sign, and would have to delve into teams youth systems and develop players. Dowley has said that he would like to see a top English team try this method out, as it could be very beneficial to the club and England. Dowley reportedly pointed out Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal as good candidates as they produce many players of which most are English.



But will Dowley be able to take over at any of these clubs? Manchester United have recently signed David Moyes to manage the club, after Sir Alex Ferguson retired from football. Liverpool have now had Brendan Rodgers for a season, whereas Arsene Wenger has been manager of Arsenal since 1996.

Could Dowley be looking for an ambitious pop at one of these jobs?

Top managers respond to unknown Dowley

In the wake of unknown English manager Joe Dowley’s comments on Twitter this week, many managers have responded to the comments made by Dowley. He had previously said that one club should buy all their talent from England, and basically become an all-England club. This is very similar to what Yorkshire County Cricket club used to do, as they used to only play people from within Yorkshire.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pelligrini was asked about his thoughts on Dowley’s comments during a press conference on their tour of South Africa: ‘I disagree with Dowley. I believe that England do not have the best players in the world anymore and for that reason top clubs like City, Chelsea and many others worldwide have to go abroad to be able to compete.’

However, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was quick to say that Dowley’s idea was a smart one, and when asked he had ever thought about the same idea, he responded with this: ‘I have always liked to develop my squads with some English players. We have Stevie G, Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll, Jordan (Henderson), Jonjo (Shelvey) and Raheem Sterling, amongst other English youngsters.’

Arsene Wenger only responded with the words: ‘He is very smart.’, before moving onto his next question.

We will find out soon whether or not Dowley will have anymore involvement in this summer’s media.

Arsene Wenger will retire from Arsenal

We are very upset to announce that long-serving manager Arsene Wenger will retire from Arsenal Football Club with immediate effect. Arsene will be leaving after 16 succesful years at Arsenal Football Club.



Mr Wenger led us to a brilliant unbeaten streak where he was beaten on 49 game unbeaten run, winning the league in the process. Although we have not won a trophy for a while at Arsenal, we have succesfully qualified for Europe for nearly 10 years straight, and we are extremely sad to have to say goodbye to a true legend at the club.

Joe Dowley announced as new Arsenal manager

Arsenal have today announced that the unknown manager that has been in the news recently, Joe Dowley will now manage the club. The English manager has been appointed until the end of the season, but his wage is yet to be announced.



Dowley had been in the news for talking about his beliefs of only signing English players, and now he may have a chance to show off his managerial talent.

It has also been reported that Arsene Wenger had recommended Dowley to be his successor, although nothing is concrete.

Dowley’s first press conference

Press: We are here to speak to the new Arsenal manager Joe Dowley today. Are you worried about your inexperience and the fact that many of your staff have now left the club after Arsene’s departure?

Dowley: Of course I am not worried, and the pressure from all this just gives me more determination to do well at the club. Many of the staff left but I have many coming into the club, all English, to help out with my challenge.

Press: And will your policy be to follow your self-created Nationalist challenge?

Dowley: Of course it will, I also have made many bids for English talent, whilst I am also preparing to ship out many of the current squad’s players.

Press: How long will it be before we know about all these dealings?

Dowley: You should hear about it by tomorrow.

Press: Thanks for your time Mr Dowley.

Staff In

After all of our foreign staff were kicked out of the club by me, I have signed the next group of staff who are all English.

Arrivals and departures begin to flow at the Emirates

Arsenal have today announced that they have completed the signings of ex-Derby midfielder Will Hughes, and Luke Shaw from Southampton. It is believed that the two were signed for a combined fee of £18.5 million, with the majority being spent on Luke Shaw.

Arsenal have also not been shy with getting rid of players, and certainly Dowley has left his mark on the club already. Nicklas Bendtner was sold to new big-spenders of Ligue 1, AS Monaco, for a fee of around £5.5 million. Bacary Sagna has now left to Manchester United for around £12 million, and Per Mertesacker was sold to United's rivals, Manchester City for a fee thought to be around the £15 million mark.

It is also believed that deals for Southampton youngsters Nathaniel Clyne and James Ward-Prowse, and Stoke keeper Jack Butland are close to being completed, and all three could officially be Arsenal players within the next two days.

More arrive at Arsenal

More English players have arrived at North London club, with five more signings completed in the last two days. The following players have arrived at the club:

Jason Steele from Middlesbrough - £6.75 million

Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton - £13 million

James Ward-Prowse from Southampton - £13.75 million

Jack Butland from Stoke - £8.75 million

Kieran Trippier from Burnley - £4.2 million

By the signings that Arsenal have made so far however, it would seem difficult to see them doing well, as the have sold many players and have signed many young players, some of whom were only beginning their careers in the Championship. Only time will tell.

Nice young signings there! Good luck!

2013-08-15 13:07#128206 FM-LD : Nice young signings there! Good luck!

That's not everyone yet, just a few more coming