Football Manager

[Lanteri]

Don't do it.

 

[Fappin Raptor]

Like clockwork, December = injuries. Gareth Bale, Ben Arfa, Bojan, Baines, Gary Cahill and Jack Rodwell are all out with injuries.

 

[Lanteri]

Lost to Stuttgart 3-2 on aggregate in the Europa League First Knockout Round.

And more importantly, lost Gabby Agbonlahor for 4 weeks in the all-important run out to the domestic season. Not good.

Got smoked 5-1 by Arsenal in the Carling Cup Finals as well.

With 11 games to go, we're in 8th with 44 points with one game in hand on 6th place Bolton who have 48 points, and 7th place Liverpool who have 45.

I signed Tony Hibbert from Everton as well for some defensive help prior to the close of the January window.

In our last 5 games we've conceded just 5 goals so the additions of Hibbert and Vertonghen have done wonders. (outside of the CC game which I holiday'ed and didn't set what lineup to use so god only knows who was on the backline).

 

[Fappin Raptor]

Didier Drogba has arrived in Everton for around $300K.

 

[Lanteri]

Oh, and Darren Bent got a 3 match ban for a straight red in the CC game with Arsenal.

So my strikeforce now consists of Eren Derdiyok and Emile Heskey.

God help me.

 

[Lanteri]

I swear the AI cheats sometimes. I was dominating the second half of the derby against Birmingham, 68% possession total for the game.

In the 78th minute one of their players got injured, laid there for 2 full minutes, then it took literally 3 full minutes more for him to walk off the field. 3 minutes later Carr goes down and takes another 2 minutes off the clock.

Total stoppage time? 3 minutes. GTFO. They wasted close to 10 on the injuries alone.

Anyway, as expected the strike force was completely useless. 68% possession, 17 shots, 8 on target to 6 and 4 for Birmingham, and we lost 1-0 at home.

Pathetic.

 

[Fappin Raptor]

Every fucking December/January we go on this shitty streak. It's so annoying. Our last 8 games in the league we have 4 draws and 4 losses after starting 8-5-1. We're not bad, we've beaten ManU and Chelsea both on the road, it's just injuries.

Only bright spot is that Drogba has 4 goals in the 3 league games he's been in with us.

 

[Lanteri]

Aaaand lost Tony Hibbert for 8 weeks to 2 months, essentially the remainder of the season, with 8 games to go to strained knee ligaments.

He had a 7.26 rating in 6 apps since his acquisition. Fuck.

 

[Bigpapa42]

I swear the AI cheats sometimes. I was dominating the second half of the derby against Birmingham, 68% possession total for the game.

In the 78th minute one of their players got injured, laid there for 2 full minutes, then it took literally 3 full minutes more for him to walk off the field. 3 minutes later Carr goes down and takes another 2 minutes off the clock.

Total stoppage time? 3 minutes. GTFO. They wasted close to 10 on the injuries alone.

Anyway, as expected the strike force was completely useless. 68% possession, 17 shots, 8 on target to 6 and 4 for Birmingham, and we lost 1-0 at home.

Pathetic.

Yeah, it does feel that way sometimes. That shit does happen in reality - look at most of the matches that Arsenal draw or lose against sides outside the big four and they tend to be that way. Man U losing to Wolves was that way. It feels like it tends to happen a bit more in the game than the real game, but hard to say...

Had a head-knocker recently in a friendly. Late in the match and up by a few goals, and my fullback decides to try heaving a defensive-zone throw-in 40 yards upfield - despite not having the skill or the tactical settings for it. I have no players in the area, so it goes right to an opposing defender, who snaps a perfect 30 yard through ball to the striker breaking through my two central defenders. My keeper barely tips it wide. The game skips ahead a few minutes of play and when it returns, the same player is taking a throw-in at almost exactly the same spot. I get ready to bash my head into the computer desk, because I know what is about to happen. Sure enough, a 40-yard throw to an opposing defender, who fires it back with a perfect through ball onto the forward who smashes it into the top corner. I don't think either the defend who made the pass twice nor hte striker have a relevant stat over 10, yet it was a play that I can't get the best sides in the world to manage... Grr....

 

[mgoblue2290]

Think I'm going to start a new save up with a more mid-table club. Thinking about Birmingham, Bolton, or Fulham. Or possibly Newcastle so I can use the Carroll money.

 

[1ke]

After winning the double at Red Star very very easily....I left in a hurry and and now I took over Sheffield United. Transfer budget if 3 mil and Im on my way!

 

[Lanteri]

:smug:

We're now in 6th in the table with 7 to go. 14 points behind 4th, so there's no prayer at all of Champions League football, but it's certainly going to be a battle for Europe with Bolton a mere 3 points behind us.

 

[calgaryballer]

Been running into hot keepers every where. Scott Carson stoned me twice in the Carling and then the League, and now Steve Harper is putting on a clinic

 

[calgaryballer]

Demba Ba also can't score for shit

 

[Fappin Raptor]

Wat?

 

[Lanteri]

Been running into hot keepers every where. Scott Carson stoned me twice in the Carling and then the League, and now Steve Harper is putting on a clinic

That reminds me.

Friedel and Guzan's contracts are up at the end of this season. I'm letting Friedel go for sure as he just turned 39. He's missed the last 3 games with an injury and is out for a couple more weeks. This is giving Guzan a decent opportunity to prove whether or not I want to keep him.

Still probably going to be looking for a keeper in the summer window.

Keepers I'm scouting:

Oscar Ustari
Stephane Ruffier
Sergio Romero
Asmir Begovic
Artur Boruc

 

[calgaryballer]

Switched a 4231 formation, goals are flowing. To be fair, it's only Stoke, but I need to get Carlton in good positions

 

[BigHouseUSA]

Demba Ba also can't score for shit

I remember getting him for cheap in FM09, probably one of the best purchases I've ever made. Sucks they've changed him.

 

[calgaryballer]

I remember getting him for cheap in FM09, probably one of the best purchases I've ever made. Sucks they've changed him.

His stats are OK, and at one point I know his finishing was a 9 (now a 12), but he just can't finish 1 on 1s. Probably has something to do with the 8 composure

Regardless, through to the Carling Cup quarters against Sunderland

 

[mgoblue2290]

Going to go with Fulham so I can utilize Dempsey...and potentially make a move for Donovan.

edit- Yeah scratch those Donovan plans. Bargain shopping it is.