hursty2 Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share Posted November 26, 2011 Mega signings there! Makes it interesting, rather than breaking top 4 then winning the Premier League! Breaking top 6 is the first challenge. Premier League definitely tough at the moment then. Yeah, no one has come close so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share Posted November 26, 2011 2014 World Cup Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share Posted November 26, 2011 JULY – OCTOBER UPDATE Media Prediction: 12th Board: Top Half Finish 21M/715K P/M FA Cup: 1/4 Final Carling Cup: Blood youngsters Overall Aim: Get more consistency with results throughout the season which will be achieved through a more consistent line up. TRANSFER NEWS I really need to strengthen this season by adding some quality players to the team. I did so by bringing in four new first team players in the form of Lee Wallace (8M), John Fleck (6.5M), Shikabala (3.4M) and Simone Padoin (3M), spending all of my 21M budget. Hopefully these signings add stability to the first eleven and give me more consistency throughout the year. Tommy Martin a hot prospect at RB also came into the team for only 7K, who knows why he was so cheap? PRE-SEASON Not much to comment on here apart from some decent results, whilst again we went on a tour of Germany in where we seem so popular. PREMIER LEAGUE Only 6 games in and I’m unbeaten and sit in third place, which is my best start to a season so far. This has been down to great performances from new signings from Rangers, John Fleck and Lee Wallace. A good 1-1 draw with Chelsea shows the progression we’ve made as a team since last season. LEAGUE CUP A chance to play some fringe players and young players came and they have done well so far, winning both games against Bury and Aston Villa 3-0. TOP TRANSFERS IN ENGLAND Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Good start with solid signings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotChocolate Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Looking good! Lets hope you keep up the good performances or the board wont be happy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Some room for improvement after previous seasons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyBaldBuddhist Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 John Fleck he's the scottish Freddy Adu in my eyes, been around a bloody age and still a hot prospect on most games. Good start to season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK22 Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Fleck may turn out to be a good signing for you. Hopefully you'll be back in the top half next season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 Good start with solid signings. Cheers! Looking good! Lets hope you keep up the good performances or the board wont be happy! Yeah board will kill me for spending 21M. Some room for improvement after previous seasons. Let's hope so. John Fleck he's the scottish Freddy Adu in my eyes, been around a bloody age and still a hot prospect on most games. Good start to season Yeah, I think I've signed him in at least 3 of the past 4 FM's. Fleck may turn out to be a good signing for you. Hopefully you'll be back in the top half next season Looking good so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 OCTOBER – FEBRUARY UPDATE TRANSFER NEWS I had one deal agreed throughout the season in time for the January window. This signing was a 25 year old Daniel Sturridge who had become unhappy at the lack of first team opportunities at Chelsea. He gives us another option up front as well as being an Inside Forward from the AML position. PREMIER LEAGUE I haven’t, yet again, been able to string a good set of results together. I had a brilliant start to the season sitting around the CL spots but then I slowly faded off and now sit in a lacklustre 9th not far from Southampton but well off 6th place, again. I haven’t got a consistent striker that will bang in the goals all season long. LEAGUE CUP I reached the Quarter Finals again, bowing out to Liverpool 3-1 but not before I had comeback to beat Newcastle 4-3 in ET, in the previous round. It’s a Man Utd v Man City final, should be interesting. FA CUP It has only just kicked off but I was handed an easy third round tie with Fleetwood winning 3-0 then progressing onto another easy tie in the form of Rotherham, beating them 2-1. It wasn’t so easy after all. KEY PLAYERS – SO FAR John Fleck – He’s my top scorer in the league and has been worth every penny I spent on him, although he has gotten two straight red cards so far this season. Andras Nagy – He’s not quite the finished article yet but he will eventually get there and hopefully be very lethal for me. Tom Cairney – Just been a really consistent performer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Sturridge is a good signing, no doubt about that. John Fleck has developed rather well in your save - he's just not that good in mine. Andras Nagy is a really exciting prospect, though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 You're starting to get somewhere now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 You're starting to get somewhere now. Doesn't seem that way atm. :/ Sturridge is a good signing, no doubt about that. John Fleck has developed rather well in your save - he's just not that good in mine. Andras Nagy is a really exciting prospect, though Fleck is a beast, in fact Rangers as a team are! They won the Europa League first season and have been attracting and selling decent players all throughout my save. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 6, 2011 Author Share Posted December 6, 2011 END OF SEASON UPDATE 2014/2015 Well what a season of up and downs, with poor performances in the league whilst doing pretty well in the league. The club is apparently struggling for money at the moment too so it seems as if I will have to offload a few players in order to bring us back into the money. PREMIER LEAGUE Another disappointing season in the league, in where we only finished in 8th but perhaps that can be called an achievement based on last seasons position. All throughout the season we struggled to find any consistency in our results which ultimately led to our downfall. FA CUP Winners!!! Yes, you should have seen me when we clinched a 1-0 victory over Arsenal after they had only days earlier beaten us 4-0 in the league as well as not tasting defeat against us for a total of 8 games! I am so delighted with this win and it is my first trophy as Stoke manager in four years. In terms of tactic for that game I knew that we always seemed to concede a lot of goals against the big sides, especially in the last game against Arsenal. Therefore in the fixtures leading up to the final I played a 5-3-2 in order to sure up the defence and then hit them on the counter attack. This change in tactic definitely made the difference and Arsenal couldn’t break us down. This also meant that we’re in Europe next year too! STOKE CITY -KEY PLAYERS John Fleck – He was one of, if not my best player this season and scored the winning goal in the FA Cup Final, adding to his 12 goals in the league from AM. He also received PFA Young Player of the Year and deservedly so. Andras Nagy – Another great year for my young striker notching up 18 goals and breaking the record for most goals in a season at Stoke. Tom Cairney – The young Englishmen, or should I say Scotsmen now, having taken up a Scottish cap was another key performer throughout the season. Fabian Delph – He really put in some great performances throughout the season, pushing out Palacios in the pecking order. Daniel Sturridge – Coming in January it is sometimes hard to settle in but Sturridge didn’t seem to have any problems. PREMIER LEAGUE: 8th (Man City Champions) LEAGUE CUP: 1/4 Final (Lost 3-1 vs. Liverpool) (Man City Winners) FA CUP: Winners RESERVES: 10th YOUTH: 3rd Europa League: Arsenal (2-0 ET. vs. Seville) Champions League: Barcelona (1-0 vs. Man Utd) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK22 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Nice cup win, that gets you back into Europe next season Well done on getting back into the top half of the Premier League too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Nice cup win, that gets you back into Europe next season Well done on getting back into the top half of the Premier League too. Cheers mate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Stoke Board Announce New Ten Year Sponsorship DealPeter Coates has said that he is delighted to finally be able to gain a new sponsorship deal for the stadium and is delighted that BBC Radio Stoke, have come back on board with the club. “It’s great for the club and shows the progress we are making as a whole community rather than just a football club. New sponsor’s such as this one go directly towards developing youth football in the region.” Peter Coates claimed. The deal is said to be worth 2M over 10 years and with this means that all Stoke news, such as transfers and the latest results as well as live coverage of the games, will be covered by BBC Radio Stoke. BBC Radio Stoke also stated that a new Stoke City by BBC Radio App will be available from the iTunes app store as of today, which will include live streaming of radio and behind the scenes footage. BBC is also reporting that Britannia have increased their funding to 2M per annum. By Neil Jacobs . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotChocolate Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Great season there! Good luck in the Europa League Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 Great season there! Good luck in the Europa League Thanks mate. Expect a change in formats of updates/information in order to drum up more interest in the thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyBaldBuddhist Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Great cup win. Hope you manage a bit more consistency next term and move a few places up the league Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Interesting to see how you do in Europe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
City2000 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Congrats on the FA Cup win! Great season from Fleck, i've always found him pretty hit and miss to be honest but this year was certainly a hit! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 As if BBC Radio Stoke would fork out £2,000,000 a year. Excellent Cup win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 As if BBC Radio Stoke would fork out £2,000,000 a year. Excellent Cup win. 2M over 10 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 As if BBC Radio Stoke would fork out £2,000,000 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotChocolate Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 As if BBC Radio Stoke would fork out £2,000,000 a year. Excellent Cup win. As if BBC Radio Stoke would fork out £2,000,000 I had to re-read that for a sec. You do crack me up Nobby You're the like the Paddys of Bladesmad (that is a compliment by the way ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 I'll take your word for that as I have no idea what you are on about! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotChocolate Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 I'll take your word for that as I have no idea what you are on about! In short, bladesmad (a forum for Sheffield United fans) 'Paddys' is the comedian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 Britannia Stadium set for expansionThe club has stated recently that Britannia Stadium will undergo construction in order to increase its capacity to over 39,000 up from the 32,000 people it now holds. The expansion costs are expected to cost Peter Coates and the board 9.5M but really shows the rest of the Premier League that Stoke are on the way up, especially after their recent FA Cup win. However because of the proximity to the recent season the construction work will commence midway through 2016, in order for the club to come up with the funding needed. Along with the stadium expansion the club also announced that its youth facilities are to be upgraded in line with the schedule for the stadium work. Richard Little BBC Stoke As you can tell, I've just had a little conversation with Peter Coates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotChocolate Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Great news. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Now Coates has money thanks to the success of Bet 365's online arm of the business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 JULY – OCTOBER UPDATE 2015 Media Prediction: 8th Board: Top Half Finish 9M-715K P/M FA Cup: 1/4 Final Carling Cup: N/A Europa League: 1st Knockout Round Overall Aim: To push on in the league and make it into the top 7, maybe even breaking into the top 6 which no other team has managed. Europe wise I must make it out of the group stages and with some good results along the way, possibly push for a quarter finals game. TRANSFER NEWS It was a quiet transfer window for me, in terms of buying players with no massive amounts of money being spent. Only two players came into the squad, former Liverpool striker Oscar Cardozo (550K) and youngster Goran Knezovic (1M) adding to the Eastern European influenced side. Firstly, let me explain the signing of Cardozo or rather say what you’re probably already thinking. The man has exceptional finishing and composure and is an ideal role model for my young striker Andras Nagy, who he is now tutoring. If Nagy can develop at the rate he has previously done, especially improving his composure, I am sure he can become a great striker for me. This transfer window also saw me sell a few of my previously signed players. Rasmus Falk, my first signing at the club departed for a cool 7M, making a profit of 5.2M – he just wasn’t performing to warrant a place in my team any more. Another of my very first signings, Yassine El Ghanassy also left the club for 2.7M and he was definitely a massive disappointment and showed no evidence of improving. Finally a signing of just two seasons ago, Gary Hooper, left for Tottenham for 6.25M. PRE-SEASON In pre-season I let my assistant have a go at controlling the matches and he always seems to play the youngsters. It was somewhat disappointing but it is more about the fitness rather than getting results. I did have one competitive game, playing Man City in the Community Shield and despite dominating we again succumbed to a loss, courtesy of two Dzeko goals who seems to have a habit of scoring against us. PREMIER LEAGUE Not much to comment on here, we’ve only played 4 games and are sat in 11th position whilst the rest of the league have played six games. I’m hoping for some better results as the season progresses. LEAGUE CUP The third round drew me against newly promoted Premier League side, Cardiff. They were no pushovers and managed to take the game to extra time after forcing a 2-2 result. Then on in I thought I had won with a goal in the 107th minute but then they equalised several minutes later to take the game to penalties. The penalty shootout finished 4-2 to them and sent my young side out. EUROPA LEAGUE Maritimo were the team we had to beat in order to progress to the group stages and we duly did so, comfortably winning 7-0 on aggregate. Seeded second for the draw we drew APOEL Nikosia, Dynamo Kyiv and Viktoria Plzen in Group A. The first tie of the group was against APOEL, in sunny Cyprus, where we went onto win 3-1 with goals from Nagy(2) and Fleck. A good start so hopefully we continue to build on it and easily progress through the group. SQUAD As a whole I think the squad has reasonable depth but it has been a struggle to attract players of real quality to add to the strength of it. I have no real replacement for Fleck, if he gets a lengthy injury apart from playing a youngster in their or playing someone out of position. What I am pleased with though is the amount of forward options we have in Nagy, Cardozo, Sturridge and Shikabala, who can all play well up there. There was no reason for me to add to the defence as I feel as if I’ve got enough cover in all areas there with Shawcross, Huth, Situ, Wilson, Hubocan, Mattock, Wallace and Martin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotChocolate Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Apoel and Viktoria Plzen, aren't they in the wrong competition? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyBaldBuddhist Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Looks like you should have got something against City. Still need a bit of consistency (should have beat Wolves at home) but looks like not conceding too many. At least you have a easy looking Euro group. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
City2000 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Great news on the stadium and i'm liking that Europa League group. I have a question on Nagy, I can't make my mind up on him looking at the screenshots and I just wondered whether or not you think he has what it takes to be a top player or whether long term (or possibly sooner) you will be looking at replacing him? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 Apoel and Viktoria Plzen, aren't they in the wrong competition? Not good enough, eh? Looks like you should have got something against City. Still need a bit of consistency (should have beat Wolves at home) but looks like not conceding too many. At least you have a easy looking Euro group. Yeah, definitely need to improve on my consistency throughout the season. Great news on the stadium and i'm liking that Europa League group.I have a question on Nagy, I can't make my mind up on him looking at the screenshots and I just wondered whether or not you think he has what it takes to be a top player or whether long term (or possibly sooner) you will be looking at replacing him? Here's Nagy now. I don't know if it's just nostalgia that is tainting my view of him but he seems to have all the right attributes in order for him to become a great poacher. Either way, his value is sky rocketing and I'm sure I'll benefit off him one way or another. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
City2000 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 I like the look of Nagy more in the latest picture for sure, I think you are right that he has the chance to be a great poacher and his value now would suggest that for sure. I'm looking forward to seeing how his career develops. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 He looks dangerous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 I'd give him a good long run in the first team to see what exactly he can accomplish - that way, you'll know whether to cash in or to develop him further! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 I like the look of Nagy more in the latest picture for sure, I think you are right that he has the chance to be a great poacher and his value now would suggest that for sure. I'm looking forward to seeing how his career develops. Yeah, just wish he would hurry up and start banging them in already. He looks dangerous. I'd give him a good long run in the first team to see what exactly he can accomplish - that way, you'll know whether to cash in or to develop him further! That's the plan this season, now Hooper has gone so hopefully he goes on a good scoring run. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 Fleck is being a **** and is unhappy with my team talks(one ffs) and has now just gone and missed a training session. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityAndColour Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 I genuinely go straight for a two weeks' wage fine. If he whinges or misses training again, it's transfer listing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h0rn3r Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 you need to show who is boss straight away hursty, you need 100% discipline from your squad to find the consistency that your craving this season! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 Northern Ireland have just offered me the job as international manager...not sure if I want to go into international management though? Thoughts? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 I decided to reject Northern Ireland as they failed to qualify for the Euro's Playoffs and therefore can't even make it into the Euro's. So effectively I'd just be playing friendlies for a while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyBaldBuddhist Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I'd have turned that down too. International management can be a chore at the best of times. I only find it worthwhile/enjoyable if you get to manage at the Euro/World Cup finals Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 I'd have turned that down too. International management can be a chore at the best of times. I only find it worthwhile/enjoyable if you get to manage at the Euro/World Cup finals Yeah that's how I feel about it too, I remember playing one game with it and it ruined the whole save for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
City2000 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I took over Turkey about the same time you had the NI offer, I just had friendlies for a long while and even now that I am into the qualifiers i'm finding it a bit of a chore at the moment, to the point it's really slowing me down. I think you made the right call in turning it down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotChocolate Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Nagy has poacher written all over him. Not quite literally though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 I took over Turkey about the same time you had the NI offer, I just had friendlies for a long while and even now that I am into the qualifiers i'm finding it a bit of a chore at the moment, to the point it's really slowing me down. I think you made the right call in turning it down. I definitely feel better now that I've rejected it. Nagy has poacher written all over him. Not quite literally though. Going through a little injury crisis atm, Fleck, Huth, Mattock and Shikabala on international duty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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