abulezz Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 2017/18 August Update August An incredible start to the campaign was gifted to Jnoubi as Bromley routed Sunderland 4-1 at home, delivering perhaps their finest performance of all time. New 18 year old New Zealand striker Ryan Lazarus took the plaudits, scoring a brace in his debut, with Elliot Rudd contributing one, as well. Up next was a 2-1 victory over Crawley in the League Cup First Round, an expected result against a League 2 opponent. The first away match of the season was at Brentford, a team that had been in the Premier League a season earlier and had gotten themselves relegated. The talent difference showed, as Brentford defeated Bromley 3-0 in a one-sided affair, bringing the club back down to earth quickly. The club then took two respectable draws (2-2 against Peterborough and 1-1 against Aston Villa) in the Championship before defeating Reading on penalties in the League Cup Second Round to end the month. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share Posted March 9, 2014 2017/18 September Update The month started off with a 3-2 loss at home to Reading, the team Bromley had just beaten as it advanced to the Capital Cup Third Round. Ryan Lazarus scored his 5th goal in 5 games, but Bromley as a team had now conceded 10 goals in the league. They did not fare much better away to Barnsley (8th), losing 3-1 in an underwhelming performance that saw the club drop down to 19th Place, just one point away from the relegation zone. The winless streak continued in the next game, although a 1-1 draw with Blackpool at home was a result to be proud of. What was even more encouraging was something Bromley fans had not seen in a while – their GK winning a PoM, as Boy de Jong was named the best player on the pitch for the day. Another positive result was taken in the next game, as Bromley earned a 1-1 away draw to Everton, with Damien Menzo scoring in his third consecutive game for the club. They were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by West Ham, losing 2-0 away from home, and rounded up a winless month with a 1-1 draw away to Hull, which was a respectable result in itself. Still, Bromley had gone since its first game without a win, and were now just one point off of the relegation zone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 2017/18 October Update Hopes of ending the winless streak at home to start the month were dashed as Bromley fell 3-2 to lowly Sheffield United in a disappointing performance that continued to add misery to the club. It did not end in the next match, either, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Leicester, who had just been taken over by a consortium led by a local businessman. Against Burnley (4th), however, Bromley finally pulled off a 2-0 victory to end its longest winless streak under Kafra Jnoubi’s reign, leaving them three points above the relegation zone in 21st Place. A tough match turned out well as Bromley held Huddersfield (4th) 2-2 away from home, with Ryan Lazarus scoring a brace to bring his 9th goal in the league in his 13 appearances. That match was followed by two other draws – 1-1 at home to Fulham and 1-1 away to Derby – ending the month with only one win. Although the draws in itself were acceptable results, Bromley was languishing in 20th Place, one point away from the relegation zone and with just two wins in their first fifteen games. Bromley Strengthens Squad With Free Transfers Kafra Jnoubi looked to the transfer market this month to strengthen his squad, adding Alvin Arrondel to strengthen the backline and Guatemalan international Marco Pappa to give depth to the club’s flanks. The 23 year old Frenchman was featuring for Paris Saint-Germain before being let go, while the 29 year old Guatemalan was with Dutch club Heerenveen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Struggling a bit... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Struggling a bit... Yes we are That's the problem of going up the leagues too quick - you usually hit a brick wall at some point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK22 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 At least you're not Bolton, though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Or Sheffield United. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 2017/18 November Update November saw the club play only three games, starting out with a 4-2 home loss to Birminghan. The squad played well, but they were overmatched by a bigger and superior team. The next match went smoother, as the club drew 4-4 with struggling Bolton away from home in a very exciting match, with newcomer Marco Pappa scoring Bromley’s last goal. The winless streak ended at 5 games as Bromley defeated Walsall 2-1 at home to end the month, thanks to a brace from striker Damien Menzo. The club remained out of the relegation zone having garnered 4 points during November, fighting its way into December with its goal of avoiding the drop still intact. Roma Sack Manager After Poor Start One of Italy’s biggest teams, Roma, let go of their manager Stefano Colantuono after the club fell to 17th Place at the beginning of the month. Colantuono took over in May 2016 after Vincenzo Montella left the club, and led them to a 3rd Place finish in 2016/17. The results this season, however, were deemed unacceptable, and Colantuono was given his marching orders. He was replaced by Giuseppe Pillon, who came from Lyon for a compensation of £325k. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 21, 2014 Author Share Posted March 21, 2014 At least you're not Bolton, though Or Sheffield United. Lol, they are struggling bad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 22, 2014 Author Share Posted March 22, 2014 2017/18 December Update Bromley won two games in a row in the Championship for the first time this season to start off the month of December, as they defeated relegation candidates Ipswich 3-1 away from home in a very impressive performance. Damien Menzo scored in his third consecutive game, as his form was beginning to pick up. The club stayed away during their next match, which ended up being a respectable 1-1 draw to Milwall, making four straight games unbeaten for Bromley. The streak was extended to five as the club won 2-1 at home against Bournemouth, taking it to 18th Place and putting it 8 points clear of the relegation zone. They rest of the month did not go so well, however, drawing at home 1-1 against Middlesbrough, and ending the month with two consecutive losses, 3-1 against Nottingham and 3-0 against Sunderland, both away from home and both a result of disappointing and uninspired performances from the squad. England Legend Lands Fulham Job England and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was promoted to manager of Fulham this month after the club sacked Dougie Freedman after ten months on the job. The club was relegated from the Premier League under Freedman last season, finishing in last place and failing to stay up for the first time since the 2001/02 season. The club had ambitions of fighting for first place in the Championship and coming straight back to the Premier League this season, but found itself in 6th Place, leading to Freedman’s sacking. Steven Gerrard will be in his first managerial role since retiring from playing in 2015. Moyes in Shock Sacking Manchester United shocked the footballing world this month, sacking manager David Moyes after a historically bad start to the season. The Premier League champions have found themselves remarkably in last place following their successful 2016/17 season, having won just 2 of their first 14 games. Moyes had been in charge of the club since the summer of 2013 when legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired, ending Manchester City’s three season reign at the top last season. He had led the club to the Semi-Finals of the Champions League last season, losing to Barcelona. Despite Manchester United’s terrible start, his sacking still came as a shock as it was expected that Manchester United will be able pick themselves up. Their replacement was a continuation of the drama, as Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, the former Man United player and legend, was named as the new manager, with the club paying Monaco £575k in compensation for him. One would think that would have been the end of the soap opera, but in spirits with this saga, Moyes took over Solksjaer’s old club in Monaco, effectively swapping jobs with the Norwegian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 2017/18 January Update The month started in fantastic fashion for the club, as they came back from behind to defeat Peterborough 4-2 away from home, with Ryan Lazarus again playing the hero by scoring a fantastic hat-trick, but the club’s FA Cup run ended in the Third Round with a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. They stayed at home against league leaders Aston Villa, and put up a respectable 1-1 draw, and they got back to their winning ways of late with a fantastic 3-2 win at home over Barnsley. Lazarus scored a brace in the game, taking his total up to 18 goals, good enough to become the league leader, while Elliot Rudd was now second in the league with 12 assists. Against Reading, the club fell to a 1-0 loss away from home, but made it up during the last game of the season with a 3-2 win against Blackpool that saw Lazarus again score a brace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 28, 2014 Author Share Posted March 28, 2014 2017/18 February Update February was a decent month of football for the club, as they only lost once to Everton, drawing two other games and winning against Brentford and Sheffield United. Marco Pappa and Ryan Lazarus continued to be the best performing players in the squad, scoring two goals each, respectively. The only knock on the club this month was the fact they failed to score more than one goal in any of their games, although defensively they did very well, as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted March 28, 2014 Author Share Posted March 28, 2014 A useless youth intake with the exception of the Goalkeeper below. He could become something special. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Unbelievable Abulezz. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 Unbelievable Abulezz. Im just happy I was able to keep the team up - their form got better as the season came to a close. Im happy with the Youth Intake as I haven't had anyone of standard since Elliot Rudd during my first year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I was referring more to Kamara. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 5, 2014 Author Share Posted April 5, 2014 2017/18 Review League Review - Fixtures - Player Stats The team started with the season with the goal of staying up and avoiding relegation, and manager Kafra Jnoubi was happy to accomplish just that. It was not always smooth sailing for the club, especially in the first few months, but they finished strong, avoiding a relegation battle throughout the season and moving further away from it. As has been the trend over the last few years, the squad was better offensively than defensively, but they did make progress at the defensive end. They ended up finishing in 13th Place, while they exited both the FA Cup and the Capital One Cup in the Third Round, losing to Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, respectively. Although the club remained under very tight financial constrain, the TV deal earned by participating in the Championship kept it in the black at the end of the season, of which Jnoubi decided to re-invest in the transfer budget, with another £300k going to investing in the training facilities, as well. GOALKEEPERS Boy de Jong, GK, 24 Years Old: While the stats might suggest otherwise (1.63 Con/90, 71 goals conceded), the Dutch keeper’s debut season with the club was an impressive one. Not only did he show significant improvement in his ability as throughout the season, but he also managed to put in a number of good performances. After suffering through two seasons of sub-par play between the sticks, Bromley fans were glad to have a young, reliable GK who looks to be their No.1 for the years to come. DEFENDERS Rab Woods, DC, 20 Years Old: It definitely was not a season of progress in terms of form for the highly touted youngster, who struggled throughout the season to impress the way he did during his first year with the club. Talent-wise, there is no argument that he remains Bromley’s best in the center of the backline, and many blame his regression in form on playing a much higher level this year as compared to last, but the expectation was that Woods would do better than he did. In 41 appearances, he scored 3 goals and recorded a 6.79 AR as well as a mediocre 2.71 TpG, a low number for a defender. He is no danger of losing his place in the first team, but he will be expected to perform better in 2018/19. Anthony Williams, DC, 20 Years Old: As expected, Williams performed better in his second season than his first as he was played in his natural position in the center of the defensive line. Although he recorded a weak 2.59 TpG, he played in 42 games and registered a decent 6.86 AR and had a team high 566 interceptions – the problem was he did not show the type of improvement in ability that was expected from him, suggesting perhaps he is nearing his cap in terms of ability as a player. Nevertheless, he was an important contributor to the club and will remain so next year after signing a contract that will keep him at Bromley till 2020. Yann Songo’o, DC, 26 Years Old: The defender’s third year with the club saw his role diminish a little bit, as Pearson re-earned his job as fulltime starter at the right back position, leaving the Cameroonian to be the first backup for the center and right sides of the defensive lines. He still appeared in 34 games, registering 3.54 TpG, 337 interceptions, and a 6.76 AR, fulfilling his duties in a decent manner with a good amount of consistency. Matty Pearson, DR, 24 Years Old: Some suggested he was out of his depth in the Championship, and they may still be proven right, but Pearson showed this season that he could be capable of being a starting right back at this level. His start to the season was very slow, but he did well over the course of the second half, registering 41 games, 2.93 TpG, 339 interceptions, and a 6.78 AR. Whether he will remain the answer for the club going into the 2018/19 season at right back remains to be seen, however. Les Neilson, DC, 18 Years Old: The Bromley Youth Academy product spent the season on loan, but given his evident ability at such a young age, it is expected that Jnoubi will begin utilizing his talents with the club next season. A very similar player to Anthony Williams, he has the same set of strengths as the Bromley starter, and seems to have the work ethic to continue his improvement. MIDFIELDERS Elliot Rudd, MR, 20 Years Old – Career Stats: The Bromley Youth Academy’s greatest product continued to perform for the club, leading the entire Championship with 17 assists, a career-high for him, as well. His performances crowned him the Championship Young Player of the Year for the 2017/18 season. He also broke the club’s league appearance record, and has now become Bromley’s leader in league appearances with 158 games and counting. This season, in 37 games, he registered 6 goals, 17 assists, 4 PoMs, and a 6.92 AR – while his assists went up, his goal-scoring took a dive from 11 goals the previous season. His pace remains his greatest weapon, but his technical skills, once insignificant, have become a focal part of his game, as well. Marco Pappa, ML, 30 Years Old: Signed after the season had already begun, the Guatemalan left winger ended up being one of the club’s most important players by the time it ended. In 30 appearances, he registered 8 goals, 7 assists, and a 6.86 AR, scoring quite a few important goals for the club in their successful quest to stay in the Championship. While his age suggests that he is not a long term solution for the club at the left wing position, but his play was enough to merit demoting young Alessio Oliva, once touted as a potential Premier League type talent at the position, to the bench. James Horsfield, MC, 22 Years Old: Its easy to forget the club’s vice-captain is only 22 years old, and as such consistency is still not a strong part of his game. Although his second season with the club was decent, he regressed in terms of form from his debut season – in 42 games, he registered only 2 goals and 2 assists to go with his 6.81 AR. Still, he was one of the first names on the team sheet every match-day, and will likely remain so going into next season. John Walley, MC, 21 Years Old: It has become obvious that some glaring holes in Walley’s game, such as defensive abilities and certain attacking aspects, will remain weaknesses throughout his career, but the technical expert responded to criticism that he did not deserve his place in the first team after a dreadful second season by giving the club his finest year yet. In 41 games, he registered 4 goals, 6 assists, and 6.95 AR, a big improvement over his numbers in his second season with the club. He might be an incomplete player, but he remains very good at what he does well, which is his ability with the ball at his feet. FORWARDS Ryan Lazarus, SC, 18 Years Old: No-one expected the New Zealand international to have the impact he did in his first season at the club, especially given that he is still a teenager. Yet the his impact was immense, as he broke the team’s record with 27 league goals in a single season, doing so in 44 games and registering 9 assists, 7 PoMs, and a 7.11 AR, as well. He was named Bromley’s Player of the Year for 2017/18, and looks to be the club’s future upfront for years to come. Having did what he did at only 18 years old, it is safe to say that the club and its fans are excited about what he can potentially accomplish as he gets older. Damien Menzo, SC, 24 Years Old: The Dutch striker cost the club £180k, and he did well despite being ravaged by injuries throughout the season. He only played in 33 games, registering 12 goals, 8 assists, and a 6.86 AR, but strained knee ligaments kept him out of action for almost two months, and he had to deal with a number of other small injuries, as well. Still, when he played, he was amongst the club’s best, and he will be further relied on to partner Lazarus upfront in the upcoming season as the frontline looks the most solid for the club. ONES TO WATCH Ignacio Veloso, DL, 17 Years Old: The Spaniard’s first year in England was a tough one after coming for a club record £350k from Celta – in 16 appearances, he registered a 6.39 AR and 2.27 TpG. Still, there is no doubting his ability – the youngster has tremendous ability in the air and is already improving on his good set of defensive skills. Given his versatility, he can also play just as well in the center of the defensive line, and the Bromley coaching staff expect him to be a good defender at the Premier League level in a few years. Laurie Jones, SC, 16 Years Old: Although he struggled many days to make an impact, Jnoubi made it a point to feature the young striker as much as possible, even playing him out on the wing when he could not fit him in as a striker. His 6.58 AR in 25 appearances, where he only scored a single goal, suggests it was a disastrous season for the youngster, but the experience gained proved invaluable, as his skills improved dramatically as the season progressed. Bromley have high hopes for Jones, and they seem to be justified on the flashes of potential he has shown every so often. Jonathan Kamara, GK, 15 Years Old: A graduate from the Bromley Youth Academy, he made his first appearance in March at the age of 15 years old. He went on to feature two more times, recording a clean sheet in the process. Physically, he is very impressive for a player so young, and has already shown to have some very good shot stopping skills. He definitely looks like one to watch over the coming years as a potential star for the team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 World News Champions League Knockout Stages – Dream Team Second Round Genoa vs. Bayern Munich: The first leg saw an entertaining game in Italy with Bayern Munich taking a 3-2 victory away from home. Robert Lewandowski scored a brace to give Bayern a 4-1 victory over the Italians in the second leg to send the defending champions to the Quarter-Finals. Bayern Munich: 7-3 Shakhtar vs. Manchester City: The English champions were hoping to move past the Second Round, where they were knocked out by Porto last year, but fell 1-0 to the Ukrainian side in Donetsk in the first leg. Manchester City ended up falling to the same fate this season, as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home in a shock that sent Shakhtar to the Quarter-Finals. Shakhtar: 1-0 Juventus vs. Manchester United: A solid 2-0 win victory for the Italian champions over the English club in Turin was followed by 3-1 Man United victory at Old Trafford, but the away goal rule went to effect, awarding Juventus the tie based on the rule. Juventus: 3-3 (away goals) Wolfsburg vs. Paris Saint-Germain: Three first half goals gave the French champions a 3-0 victory in Germany in the first leg, and a Romelu Lukaku brace gave them a 3-1 win in Paris to advance them to the Quarter-Finals. Paris Saint-Germain: 6-1 Dortmund vs. Real Madrid: The first leg saw Real Madrid hold Dortmund to a 1-1 draw in Germany, but they turned up it up at home, defeating the Germans convincingly 4-1 thanks to three first half goals. Real Madrid: 5-2 Roma vs. Chelsea: The English side took a convincing 2-0 away win in Italy in the first leg, and remained in sharp form in London, defeating Roma 2-1 to advance on a 4-1 aggregate. Chelsea: 4-1 Porto vs. Monaco: Known for its overachieving ways in Europe, Porto was unable to contain Monaco at home, losing to them 3-2 in the first leg. Despite taking a 2-1 victory in France, Porto were unable to turn the difference, and Monaco advanced to the Quarter-Finals on away goals.Monaco: 4-4 (away goals) PSV vs. Atletico Madrid:[/b The Spanish side took a 2-1 away victory in Holland in the first leg, and followed it with a tough 1-1 draw at home which was enough to send them through past their Dutch opponents. [b]Atletico Madrid: 3-2 Quarter-Finals Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich: The English club took a big 2-0 lead in the first leg against the defending champions, but true to form, the champions would not roll over and die. The second leg saw a Thomas Muller hat-trick that inspired a big 5-2 victory in Munich that sent the German squad to the Semi-Finals, knocking out Chelsea in the Quarter-Finals for the second year in a row. Bayern Munich: 5-4 Paris Saint-Germain vs. Shakhtar: The Ukrainian champions continued their sensational run with a 3-0 victory at home, thanks to Wilfried Bony’s brace. Despite Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-0 victory in the second leg, it was Shakhtar that advanced thanks to their great display at home, knocking out one of the favorites to win the tournament. Shakhtar: 3-2 Juventus vs. Atletico Madrid: Despite the Italian champions being the favorites to win the tie, it was the Spanish club that came out on top after a Lucas Moura brace gave them a 2-0 victory at home that overturned a 1-0 Juventus win in Turin. Atletico Madrid: 2-1 Monaco vs. Real Madrid: The Spanish team took a 3-0 victory both home and away, with Cristiano Ronaldo delivering a brace in the first leg at home and Gareth Bale doing the same in France to send Real Madrid to the Semi-Finals. Real Madrid: 6-0 Semi-Finals Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich: These two met in the Champions League Finals in 2015 that saw Bayern defeat Madrid, and again last year in the Semi-Finals that also saw the German side victorious. With revenge on their mind, Real Madrid took the first leg 2-0 at home, and squeaked by in Munich thanks to a 74th minute Sergio Ramos goal that ended the result 2-1 in favor of the home side, but gave Madrid the all-important away goal to send them to the Finals and finally claim their revenge against the Germans. Real Madrid: 3-2 Atletico Madrid vs. Shakhtar: Both teams were underdogs going into the knockout rounds of the tournament, but both found themselves one step away from their first ever Finals appearance. Atletico Madrid struck first with a huge 5-2 victory at home that made things very difficult for the Ukrainians, who could only muster up a 2-1 win at home. Atletico Madrid’s win meant that for the first time ever, there was going to be a Madrid derby in the Champions League Finals. Atletico Madrid: 7-3 Finals The Stade de France was the chosen location to play host for the first ever Finals that featured two Madrid teams fighting for the right to be called champions of Europe – on one side, there was Real Madrid, the most successful team in the history of the tournament, while on the other side stood Atletico Madrid, who were making their first ever appearance in the Finals. It was a match void of any real drama, as Real Madrid captured a record eleventh Champions League title, with their first goalscorer being 18 year old Turkish striker Ecevit Gonulacar, who scored his very first goal for the club in the biggest event of the year. The PoM was Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos, who was also their captain on the night as he captured his second Champions League trophy with the club. Real Madrid’s Isco was named the Champions League Best Player, scoring 3 goals in 11 games for the club in the tournament. English Premier League Review – Team of the Season For the eighth straight year and the eleventh in twelve years, the title once again went to a Manchester club, as Manchester City dethroned the defending champions Manchester United (11th) after the latter had an epic disaster of a season. When their former manager David Moyes was sacked in December, the club was incredibly bottom of the league. It took a club legend in Ole Gunnar Solksjaer to set the club back on the right track, climbing back up the table to a mid-table finish. As for Man City, they captured their fifth title this decade and seventh time overall in their history, led by Sergio Aguero (36 apps, 21 goals, 6 PoMs, 7.51 AR), who was crowned the Top Goalscorer for the second time in his career. Marek Hamsik (26 apps, 8 goals, 9 assists, 6 PoMs, 7.67 AR), in his third year with the club after making the £26m move from Napoli, was perhaps their most important player after Aguero, as they finished nine points ahead of Chelsea (2nd), who were led by Willian (31 apps, 9 goals, 10 assists, 7.69 AR), who was crowned the Footballer of the Year, and Eden Hazard (38 apps, 8 goals, 8 assists, 5 PoMs, 7.52 AR), who was named the Players’ Player of the Year for a record 4th time in a row. Liverpool (3rd) earned a Champions League spot for the first time in three years, with Tom Ince (29 apps, 11 goals, 8 assists, 7.31 AR) delivering a career year for his club. Arsenal (4th) beat out overachieving Watford (5th) for the last Champions League spot on goal difference, with Swansea (6th) finishing above underachieving, high spending Newcastle (7th), who sacked Tony Pulis at the end of the season. Mario Balotelli (27 apps, 8 goals, 6.92 AR), who was bought by Newcastle for £52m two seasons ago, was sold to Man City by the club for £33m, the highest amount paid for a player this year in the Premier League. Alex Sandro (30 apps, 6 assists, 7.12 AR) was bought by Manchester United from Porto for £31.5m, the highest amount paid for a player not in the Premier League. Italian Serie A Review – Team of the Season For the first time since 2012, a new Serie A champion was crowned, as AC Milan beat out the defending champions Juventus (2nd) after they had won the title a record six straight times. Two years after billionaire Rotem Avrahami acquired the club, and a year and a half after Marco Biesla took over as manager, the club returned to the top of Italian football, where they had historically always been. Morgan Schneiderlin (29 apps, 3 goals, 7 assists, 7.53 AR) was the club’s best player, as he was named the Serie A Foreign Player of the Year in his second year with the club after coming for £28.5m from Benfica last season. Belgian striker Christian Benteke (34 apps, 17 goals, 7.07 AR) might still not be playing worth his £44m that was paid for him last season to bring him from Monaco, but he was the second highest goalscorer in the league this year. Overall, AC Milan spent £100m this year after spending £126m last year in order to bring home the title for the first time since 2011. Juventus’ Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal (36 apps, 9 goals, 10 assists, 8 PoMs, 7.78 AR) was named the Serie A Footballer of the Year after playing the best season of his career, while teammates Doria (32 apps, 3.91 TpG, 82% Pass Ratio, 7.30 AR) was named Defender of the Year and Wojciech Szczesny (26 apps, 18 conceded, 12 clean sheets, 7.07 AR) was named Goalkeeper of the Year for the second year in a row, while Fernando Llorente (35 apps, 20 goals, 7.24 AR) was the Top Goalscorer for the second straight year, and the third time since coming to Juventus five years ago. Genoa (3rd) won a Champions League spot for the third straight year, with Inter Milan (4th) missing out on one for the second year in a row, despite Roberto Pereyra (38 apps, 6 goals, 17 assists, 7 PoMs, 7.50 AR) leading the league in assists and being named the Serie A Fans’ Player of the Year. Roma (5th) again underachieved, grabbing the last Europa League spot, ahead of Napoli (6th) and Torino (7th). Spanish La Liga Review – Team of the Season The defending champions Barcelona successfully made it two titles in a row, thanks again to the immense play of the world’s greatest footballer, Lionel Messi (31 apps, 22 goals, 9 assists, 14 PoMs, 8.33 AR), who captured the La Liga Player of the Year award for a record ninth year in a row. The 30 year old legend had some help from the club’s £39m signing from Tottenham, Erik Lamela (36 apps, 12 goals, 13 assists, 7.75 AR), who was the La Liga’s biggest signing of the season and also Messi’s teammate on the Argentinean national team. For the fourth year in a row, Marc-Andre ter Stegen (33 apps, 29 conceded, 15 clean sheets, 7.25 AR) won the Goalkeeper of the Year award, while Neymar (35 apps, 14 goals, 11 assists, 7.63 AR) came second in the running for the La Liga Player of the Year. For the first time since 2008, a team other than Barcelona and Real Madrid (4th) finished in second place, as Champions League Finalists Atletico Madrid (2nd) and Valencia (3rd) both beat out Real Madrid in the table. For Real Madrid, who ended up winning the Champions League, Juan Mata (35 apps, 12 goals, 9 assists, 7.78 AR) and Isco (33 apps, 12 goals, 5 assists, 7.65 AR) were amongst the best players in the league, while Granada’s (6th) Seydou Doumbia (37 apps, 24 goals, 8 assists, 6 PoMs, 7.21 AR) was the Top Goalscorer and Sevilla’s (5th) James McArthur (35 apps, 3 goals, 14 assists, 7 PoMs, 7.58 AR) led the La Liga in assists. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 World Cup 2018 - Russia Overview - Knockout Stages - Player Stats - Dream Team GROUP A The hosts Russia impressed, winning all three of their matches, while the favorites in the group before the tournament had become, Mexico, failed gain a single point. Senegal beat out Greece for a place in the knockout rounds by the slimmest of margins, scoring an extra goal than the Europeans. Russia’s 22 year old striker Igor Maslovskiy scored two goals to lead his team through to the Second Round of the tournament they were currently hosting. GROUP B Perhaps the biggest shocker in recent memory took place in Group B, as Honduras topped the group ahead of England, Ukraine, and Colombia, all of which were heavily favored to finish above the Central American nation. England could only muster up a win and two draws, and despite conceding no goals during their three matches, they also only managed to score only one goal. Their stellar defensive play was led by Steven Caulker, who captured two PoMs out of the three games he played in the Group Stages for his nation. GROUP C The defending champions, Germany, stayed true to form, winning all three of their games, conceding only one goal in their three matches. They were joined by Nigeria, who beat out Austria and Australia for second place in the group. Thomas Muller scored a sensational hat-trick against Austria, leading Germany in their three matches as their best player. GROUP D Croatia were highly impressive in their Group Stages matchups, winning all three of their games and beating out favorites Italy for first place in the group, with Chile and Iran losing out and being knocked out. Controversial Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli scored three goals for his nation during the Group Stages, also playing the best football of anyone in the group. GROUP E Perhaps the most impressive team in the Group Stages was Brazil, who won all their matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding only a single goal during their group games. Neymar was the hands down the best player through the Group Stages, registering 4 goals, 2 PoMs, and an 8.43 AR as he guided Brazil through its first three matches. Ivory Coast lost only to the South Americans while making quick work of Sweden and Uzbekistan, who both recorded only one point each. GROUP F Finalists Spain and Third-Placed Belgium both made it out of the group as expected, but they took two different routes. Spain expectedly won all their matches, conceding no goals and scoring 7 goals, while Belgium stuttered into the Second Round, barely beating out Uruguay, who were disappointing in their own right, and New Zealand. Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa led the way for the Spanish, scoring 2 goals in the Group Stages for the 2010 champions. GROUP G While Argentina expectedly qualified top of the group, winning all their matches while scoring 8 goals and conceding none, the battle for second place went down to the wire. It was the USA who eventually captured it on goal difference, despite Ghana and Serbia sharing the same number of points as the Americans. Lionel Messi and Javier Pastore were, after Neymar, the most impressive players in the Group Stages, with both recording 3 goals each for their national team. GROUP H The biggest shock of the Group Stages after Honduras was Holland, but for all the wrong reasons. The Dutch team finished bottom of their group with zero points, losing all their matches. Portugal topped the group, winning all their matches, and they were joined by Japan in the Second Round, who beat out North African nation Algeria. Second Round ENGLAND vs RUSSIA: 1 - 0 – The hosts put up a good fight against the English, but a Chris Smalling goal just before the half was enough to put them away and send England into the Quarter-Finals. Otherwise, it was a relatively uneventful matchup, with not many chances for either side, although England was the better of the two teams. Russia’s youngsters were impressive throughout their games in the tournament, leaving the hosts with a sense of satisfaction with their national team’s performance. POM: Valentin Vvedenskiy, Russia SENEGAL vs HONDURAS: 1(p)-1 – Honduras’ impressive run ended in the Second Round, but not before taking the West African nation to the limits. It took penalties to separate the two teams and send Senegal to their second Quarter-Finals appearance in their history after an entertaining 120 minutes. Both goals came in the second half, with Senegal’s Moussa Sow scoring his third goal of the tournament thus far. POM: Hernan Calix, Honduras CROATIA vs NIGERIA: 3-1 – The Croats continued their perfect record at Russia 2018 thanks to a Mario Mandzukic brace that brought his total number during the tournament up to 4 goals. The two teams were fighting for the right to face England in the Quarter-Finals, and the Croats played a better game than the Nigerians, who looked overwhelmed at times. POM: Mario Mandzukic, Croatia GERMANY vs ITALY: 1-0 – The most anticipated matchup of the Second Round ended up being anti-climactic, with the only goal coming from Julian Draxler in the second half of the match. The defending champions played the better game overall, with their players performing more efficiently while the Italians could not get a team game going, wasting more chances than the Germans. This was the second straight World Cup that the 2006 champions ended up being knocked out in the Second Round. POM: Philip Lahm, Germany SPAIN vs IVORY COAST: 1-0 – Rarely does a game with no goals scored deliver excitement, but that was exactly the case as the 2010 champions and 2014 finalists Spain took on the West African nation. In all fairness, the Europeans were the better team, but Ivory Coast did have a few chances where it looked like they might score. At the end, both figuratively and literally, Spain came out on top – in the dying seconds of the match, left back Jordi Alba finally put Spain ahead and crushed Ivory Coast’s heart to give his nation a 1-0 win and book themselves a place in the Quarter-Finals. POM: Jordi Alba, Spain BRAZIL vs BELGIUM: 1(p)-1 – The 2014 World Cup hosts were knocked out in the Second Round in one of the biggest shocks in the history of the tournament last time around, and in Russia 2018, they were in danger of having the same thing happen as they faced a Third-Placed Belgium side that managed to score in the first minute of the match. It took until thirteen minutes into the second half for Brazil to finally equalize, and after that, the match went all the way to penalties before the South Americans could confirm their place in the Quarter-Finals and face another year of underachievement. POM: Toby Alderweireld, Belgium USA vs PORTUGAL: 1-0 – Both teams were fighting for the right to face Brazil in the Quarter-Finals, with the prospect of a Portugal vs. Brazil matchup having both fans of the teams and neutrals excited. The Americans had other plans, however, and shut Portugal, a team that looked so impressive in the Group Stages, out by not allowing them to score a single goal. They found the net themselves in the 50th minute, and that was enough to send the Americans through to the Quarter-Finals for the third time in their history. POM: Omar Gonzalez, USA ARGENTINA vs. JAPAN: 5-1 – There was no doubting who the favorites to win the title were after Argentina’s dismantling of their Asian opponents in the Second Round, setting up a dream match with Spain in the Quarter-Finals. Lionel Messi continued to have a beast of a tournament, scoring a brace and bringing his total goals to a tournament leading 5 goals. There was no stopping the South Americans, as they created chance after chance and ran circles around a completely overwhelmed Japanese side. POM: Lionel Messi, Argentina Quarter-Finals ENGLAND vs CROATIA: 3-2 – In what was perhaps the World Cup’s most entertaining game thus far, England came out victors in extra-time against an impressive Croatian team that had won all their games up to this point. Mario Mandzukic scored another brace, with his second goal coming in extra-time, one of three goals scored by both teams in the 30 extra-time minutes. His total was a tournament leading 6 goals upon his team’s exit, and he was one of the World Cup’s most impressive performers this year. As for England, it was their first trip to the Semi-Finals of the tournament since 1990. POM: Mario Mandzukic, Croatia GERMANY vs SENEGAL: 3-1 – For the second World Cup in a row, Germany deposed of an African opponent in the Quarter-Finals with a 3-1 result. Leverkusen winger Jonas Hoffman scored a brace in the first half , and Marco Reus scored Germany’s third goal before an 89th minute consolation was scored by Moussa Sow, who scored his 4th goal of the tournament before bowing out. The defending champions continued their perfect run, and this was only the second goals they conceded in the tournament thus far. POM: Jonas Hoffman, Germany ARGENTINA vs SPAIN: 2(p)-2 – This was a clash of the titans, as the South Americans faced the 2010 champions and 2014 finalists in an epic Quarter-Finals showdown. Lionel Messi was the first to score, bringing his total to 6 goals, equal with Mandzukic for best in the tournament. Spain responded exactly ten minutes later, before Erik Lamela scored just before the half-time whistle to give Argentina the lead. Monaco winger Koke equalized for Spain in the second half, and neither team could find the net after 120 minutes, sending the match to penalties. Argentina finally did at the penalty shoot-out stage, winning over the Spanish national team, but the two goals conceded was more than the team had conceded the entire tournament so far. POM: Erik Lamela, Argentina BRAZIL vs USA: 1(p)-1 – The Brazilian were fighting to qualify to the Semi-Finals for the first time since they won the World Cup in 2002, but the Americans were looking to make it as hard as possible for the South Americans. In fact, it took Brazil a penalty shootout to finally decide the winner, and it was actually the USA who took a shocking lead in the 2nd minute. Brazil equalized in the second half, and despite dominating possession and having a lot more chances, the Americans were much more efficient with the ball. Eventually, the Brazilians kept their nerves and set up a date with the defending champions Germany in the Semi-Finals. POM: Omar Gonzalez, USA Semi-Finals ARGENTINA vs ENGLAND: 1(p)-1 – On one end, Argentina were trying to advance to their first Finals appearance since 1990, while on the other hand, England were trying to get to their second Finals after their only appearance in 1966 on home soil. They say history does not lie, and nothing could have been truer, as England once again saw their exit in the most heartbreaking of fashions – by penalty shootout, as has been their tradition. A Gonzalo Higuan goal in the dying seconds of the first half was countered by a Harry Kane strike equaled the match and sent it into overtime. After 120 minutes, there was still no separating the teams, and the decision was finally handed in Argentina’s favor after the penalties. England, who was supposed to be fielding one of their weakest teams in modern times, advanced further than anyone had expected and could rightfully be proud of their performance at Russia 2018. Argentina, however, were beginning to look like a team that was destined to capture the title and vindicate Lionel Messi, who was quite ordinary on the day, as perhaps the greatest player of all-time. Argentina was now one win away from their third World Cup title in their history. POM: Gaston Gil Romero, Argentina GERMANY vs BRAZIL: 2-0 – The defending champions continued on their trek to be the first team to win back-to-back titles since their opponents did it in 1962, scoring two second half goals to get revenge on the team that beat them in the 2002 Finals in Korea/Japan by the same scoreline. In all honesty, the Germans were the better team throughout the match, playing with ruthless efficiency, as is their trademark, and overwhelming their South American opponents. The Germans had now made it to the Finals a World Cup record of 9 times, this time facing their 1990 opponents, Argentina. POM: Thomas Muller, Germany Finals ARGENTINA vs GERMANY: 2-0 – There could no more talk about whether Lionel Messi belonged in the same breathe as Pele and Maradona, not after his display at the Finals of Russia 2018 in Moscow. He provided arguably the greatest display of any individual in the Finals not to score a goal, but his influence was such that he did not need to score to put forward one of the best performances in the history of the tournament against what many believed to be an unbeatable German team. The defending champions were overwhelmed from the beginning by a team that not going to befall the same fate as 1990, and Erik Lamela struck first in the 13th minute to put Argentina up after a brilliant Messi assist. Gonzalo Higuan scored Argentina’s second goal in the 62nd minute, again through a Messi assist, and the match was effectively over at that point. Messi went on to win the PoM, and solidify his place as perhaps the game’s greatest player of all-time. Already considered the greatest footballer ever in club football, he now had a World Cup trophy to go with his unmatched accomplishments on the club level. As for Argentina, they waited 28 years to finally earn their revenge on Germany after falling to them in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, winning the third title in their history – perhaps their sweetest one yet. POM: Lionel Messi, Argentina Awards BEST PLAYER: Lionel Messi - He had no equal, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that if he was not considered the best player to ever play the game, at the very least he was equal to Maradona and Pele. He registered a tournament leading 6 goals and 7.97 AR, winning 3 PoMs in his 7 games. BEST YOUNG PLAYER: Robert Povrezenic – Croatia were impressive in their run to the Quarter-Finals of the tournament, and 20 year old central defender was a big reason for that. He registered a 7.10 AR, and given his performances with his club Besiktas, he looks like he is going to make a big money move soon. BEST GOALKEEPER: David De Gea – In his 5 appearances for Spain, who fell in the Quarter-Finals to Argentina, he conceded only 2 goals – incidentally, they both came in that Quarter-Finals loss. He registered 4 clean sheets before that to go with his 7.18 AR, as the 27 year old provided the best play between the sticks of any player in the tournament. TOP GOALSCORER: Lionel Messi – See Best Player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Some things never change. When will England learn to score from 12 yards? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 Some things never change. When will England learn to score from 12 yards? lol - Semi-Finals is a pretty good result though! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidBeckham Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 The best player in the world finally lifts the world cup with his country! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 The best player in the world finally lifts the world cup with his country! In my save, if it was real life, I think there would be little doubt of Messi's credentials as the football's greatest player ever given his club, personal, and international accomplishments. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 2018/19 PREVIEW Team Analysis As the World Cup took center stage in the world of football, Bromley’s owner Kafra Jnoubi put another £300k into his training facilities and £200k in his youth facilities in order to help the team maximize its potential and talent. Jnoubi also not only spent a record £1.35m on transfers, but earned a record £6.68m from sales, as the Bromley Youth Academy began to produce financial benefits for the club after years of investment. Jonathan Kamara, the GK who had recently graduated to the first team, was impressive enough in his few performances that Manchester United offered £5.25m for him, a deal that was accepted by Bromley for the 16 year old. The sale of Jonathan Kamara, an obvious future Premier League talent, was allowed to happen thanks to the club’s belief in its current No. 1, 24 year old Dutch GK Boy de Jong. Although his numbers during his first season with the club were not impressive, the fault did not lay with the GK, who had a shaky defense in front of him that was more to blame. He comes just the way Jnoubi likes his GKs – good in the air, at communicating directions, and at shot-stopping, with no controversy or eccentricity coming along with the package. The Bromley defensive line had a sort of exodus this summer, with five first team rotation players leaving the club – Yann Songo’o, Teddy Ngoy, Jamie Reckford, Alvin Arrondel, and Fahd Aktaou. The first two had spent a few years at the club, so there was some sentimental value to their departure, while the last two earned a combined total of £70k in transfer fees for the club one year after joining on Free Transfer. They also sold Les Neilson, an 18 year old Bromley Youth Academy product, for £750k – Neilson had spent last season on loan, and was looking to make an impact this year, but the offer was too good for Jnoubi to refuse from Celtic. The core of the back four remained intact, however, starting with Anthony Williams and Rab Woods. The two central defenders, both of whom were entering their third season with the club, were the most consistent presence in the back for Bromley last year and Jnoubi will continue to have faith in their ability and hope for further improvement. They will be joined by Guinea-Bissau central defender Kevin Gomis and highly rated youngster Ignacio Veloso, who will act as cover for them. Gomis was signed from Mechelen in the Belgian Pro League on Free Transfer, while Veloso, although obviously talented, proved last year he still was not ready to be given a starting position fulltime. That being said, Veloso showed a lot of improvement during the summer, and Jnoubi will begin utilizing him at his more natural position of central defender instead of left back as he did last season. At right back, with Songo’o gone, Matty Pearson will assume starting responsibilities for the club – the 25 year old Englishman will be playing his fourth year with the club, and continues to be a source of consistency at the position for Bromley. He will be joined in the squad rotation by Carlos Perreira, a 22 year old Portuguese signed from Academica who will be able to slot in at either wing back position. At left back, after last year’s unimpressive signings to find a solution for one of Bromley’s weakest position, Jnoubi has again tried his luck on the transfer market, bringing in highly touted Giorgos Klokidis, a 23 year old Greek who was formerly playing for Panthrakikos. Scouting reports suggest that Klokidis was talented enough to shine in the Championship, and Jnoubi paid good wages to get his man, making the Greek amongst the top paid players in the squad. Bromley’s midfield remained relatively unchanged, although Jnoubi did bring in additional help for his starters. The central midfield positions remained manned by James Horsfield and John Walley, both whom have their inconsistencies since joining the club but both whom have the talent to contribute and succeed in the Championship. Horsfield is the team’s vice captain, and its workhorse in the middle of the pitch – the 23 year old will be starting his third season with the club, one which Jnoubi is hoping will be his finest yet. While Horsfield plays more of an anchorman position, the team relies on Walley for creative inspiration in the middle of the park, something which he provided last year after a disappointing 2016/17 season. The 22 year is technically gifted with the ball, and although he does not have a great attacking instinct, he has been more than capable of setting up players that can cause damage going forward. The manager also brought on 23 year old Belgian Francois Marquet and 16 year old Jonay Diaz to act as cover for the central midfielders, finally giving up hope on the disappointing Tony Forker, who was let out on loan and most likely having played his last game for the club. Marquet’s strength lays in his versatility – he is comfortable playing anywhere in the middle of the pitch, as well as wing back and as a winger. Technically and creatively, he is gifted, as proven by his 8 goals and 10 assists while playing for Lierse in the Belgian Second Division last season, while Diaz is young but full of potential. The Spanish midfielder cost the club £350k, but looks to be well worth it. At the ring wing position, the club’s finest player in its history and its captain, Elliot Rudd, is coming off a fantastic season where he was crowned Championship Young Player of the Year. The 21 year old Australian also broke the club’s record for most league appearances last year, and currently holds it at 166 and counting. His pace is a problem for any defender, and he has learned to exploit it, delivering a league-high 17 assists last season. At the other end, Marco Pappa will begin the season as the starting left winger, despite spending the entire summer injured after a surgery at the end of the 2017/18 season. He was impressive for the club last year, but 30 years old, he cannot be considered a long term solution, which is why Jnoubi brought in 23 year old German Ferit Guray on Free Transfer from Bayern Munich. It is most likely that Jnoubi will implement a squad rotation between Pappa and Guray at the left wing position, as he loaned out Alessio Oliva after shopping him around this summer. Oliva was once touted as the future for the club at the left wing position, but has failed to prove himself on the numerous chances he has been given. A few changes took place in Bromley’s front-line this summer, as well – namely, the acquisition of record signing Marcio for £1m and the letting go of started Damien Menzo for £500k. Bromley’s record setting goalscorer Ryan Lazarus remains the main fixture upfront, however, as the 19 year old New Zealand striker became one of the club’s most important players in his first season, scoring 27 league goals and shattering the club’s record in the process. Backing him up will be 16 year old Bromley Youth Academy graduate Laurie Jones, who could potentially be a star or end up being another youth with wasted potential. New Signings Marcio – £1m: Bromley’s record signing will immediately be thrust into a starting role despite his young age, with Jnoubi hoping for similar success from the Brazilian as Lazarus gave him last year. He has the pace to threaten the best defenders in the Championship. Jonay Diaz – £350k: The 16 year old Spanish midfielder looks to be an immediate contributor this year backing up the central midfield position, despite his very young age. Carlos Pereira – Free Transfer: Capable of playing in either full-back position, Pereira will most likely be switching between them throughout the season as part of the rotation. Kevin Gomis – Free Transfer: Brought in to shore up the central defense, Gomis will be the first name off the bench as cover for the two central defender positions. Ferit Guray – Free Transfer: A rotation player brought in who can play at either winger position. Most likely will see most of his playing at the left wing, alongside Marco Pappa. Giorgos Klokidis – Free Transfer: A left back who is has also become the highest paid player on the squad, he comes very highly touted by the Bromley scouting department. Francois Marquet – Free Transfer: Versatile central midfielder who can slot in at any position down the right flank, as well. Will be looked upon to use his wide range of abilities in the center of the pitch. Willi Persich – Free Transfer: Another central midfielder who will look to solidify his spot in the rotation through his high creativity. Andrea Paolelli – Free Transfer: Brought in as cover for the left back position. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 2018/19 OCTOBER UPDATE October started with Bromley in 11th Place, having won 3 of their first 9 matches. The first match of the month was away to Milwall, which Bromley lost 1-0, making it three straight games without a win. The squad made up for it, however, with a 2-1 away win against Middlesbrough – an impressive come from behind win with Marcio scoring the second goal. They remained on the road for their third straight game, drawing against Sunderland 2-2 in an entertaining match, earning a point which saw the club remain firmly in the middle of the table in 13th Place. The club finally returned to Hayes Lane against Hull, taking a 2-0 victory with Marcio and club captain Elliot Rudd scoring the two goals, the former scoring his 5th goal and the latter his first of the season. The club rounded up the month with a fantastic 4-2 home win against Blackpool, with young Laurie Jones putting in the performance of his career, scoring the second goal in the match and winning the PoM in his first start of the season. The win catapulted Bromley up to a play-off spot in 6th Place, despite the inconsistent performances the club had displayed so far in the first three months of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 2018/19 NOVEMBER UPDATE November started off the way October ended – a home victory with Laurie Jones winning the PoM. Bromley beat Birmingham 2-0 in an impressive overall display, with Jones delivering both assists to Marcio and 16 year old Jonay Diaz. The other two matches during the month saw Bromley defeat Tranmere 2-0 but lose to league leaders Brentford by the same margin to end things on a low note. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 2018/19 DECEMBER UPDATE December saw the return to Hayes Lane for the club, and the return to winning ways, as Bromley defeated Walsall 2-1, with Jones scoring his 5th goal of the season to give the club the win. The three points put Bromley back into 3rd Place, three points off of Sheffield Wednesday, who were in 2nd Place. Up next were back to back away games, with the first ending in a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace, while the second saw the club fall 4-2 at Derby. Worryingly for Jnoubi, his defense, which had been putting out solid displays just a month back, was now conceding at an uncomfortable rate. The club did manage to end the year on a good note, with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth at home, with Ryan Lazarus scoring in his third straight game and, more importantly, the squad managing to keep a clean sheet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidBeckham Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 League unbelievably close apart from the leaders Brentford, good luck and hope you finish second! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 14, 2014 Author Share Posted April 14, 2014 2018/19 JANUARY UPDATE January was an extremely active month for the club, who played in a total of eight matches, two of which were in the FA Cup. Bromley managed to overcome Hull in the FA Cup Third Round, only to run into the brick wall that was Manchester United, falling to them 3-1 at Hayes Lane. The other matches all took place in the Championship, of which Bromley only won two of them. The first victory was a highly impressive one, however, as the club destroyed promotion contender Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 at home. Kafra Jnoubi also welcomed winger Mats Daehli, whom he signed off the Free Transfer list. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
b101 Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Amazing how tight that league is... A couple of back to back wins and you're right in there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 14, 2014 Author Share Posted April 14, 2014 League unbelievably close apart from the leaders Brentford, good luck and hope you finish second! Amazing how tight that league is... A couple of back to back wins and you're right in there. One of the most exciting seasons I have ever played in any FM to be honest! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 14, 2014 Author Share Posted April 14, 2014 2018/19 FEBRUARY UPDATE Ryan Lazarus signaled his intent with a brace in Bromley’s 2-1 away victory against Peterborough to start off the month of February, bringing his total to 9 goals in the league. The club went on to have a perfect month, winning all four of the rest of their games, with Marcio scoring 5 goals throughout the month. This put Bromley in 3rd Place, tied on points with Birmingham – the only thing separating the club from an automatic promotion spot now was goal difference. Australia Captures Asian Cup on Home Soil Australia defeated Iran 4-1 in the Finals of the Asian Cup at the Adelaide Oval to capture its very first Asian Cup title, winning all their matches in the tournament. Led by manager Ludovic Batelli, the Australians scored a total of 20 goals, breaking the Asian Cup record. Tommy Oar was crowned the Best Player of the tournament, scoring 3 goals and registering a 7.64 AR on the way to the title. Sengal Crowned Champions of Africa The African Cup of Nations came to a close in Tunisia with Senegal winning their second ever title, with their first being in 2015. The Senegalese defeated Cameroon 1-0 in the Finals, gaining revenge on their opponents, who had defeated them by the same scoreline in the Group Stages. Moussa Sow and Mame Diouf led the Senegalese with 5 goals and 3 goals, respectively, while South Africa’s Tokelo Rantie captured the Best Player and Top Goalscorer award after scoring 7 goals in the tournament. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidBeckham Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 Fantastic February, surely the momentum is with you now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 15, 2014 Author Share Posted April 15, 2014 Fantastic February, surely the momentum is with you now! It was a great month, and kept up in March too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 15, 2014 Author Share Posted April 15, 2014 Nothing much out of the Youth Intake Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 15, 2014 Author Share Posted April 15, 2014 2018/19 MARCH UPDATE Five games were played in March, and Bromley kept their non-losing streak alive in all five of them, bringing the streak to eleven games, a new record for the club. They finished the month off with a fantastic 3-2 home victory against league leaders Brentford, and were now just a single point off of the top going into April. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidBeckham Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Exciting stuff, surely you gonna win this now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 16, 2014 Author Share Posted April 16, 2014 2018/19 MAY UPDATE A total of eight games remained for Bromley till the end of the season, and they started off the month of April just a single point off of the top of the table. The first match ended in a 1-1 draw away to Tranmere, which was a decent result, but the second match of the month was a huge disappointment – a 2-1 home loss to Wigan that put a big dent in the club’s quest for an automatic promotion. Marcio scored a brace for the club as they tried to make amends with a 3-2 away win at Walsall, but what followed were two defeats – one away to Birmingham and another very upsetting home loss to Crystal Palace. The two defeats put Bromley in 5th Place, three points off of the top with some very tough matches coming up. Just two days later, the club hosted Derby, and sadly lost 2-0 in an underwhelming performance that put all the season’s hard work at jeopardy. The club had now lost three games in a row and four out of their last five in what was the worst way to bring an end to their season. With just two games left, both away and both to tough opponents, Bromley were now just four points ahead of Wigan for a play-off spot. The first of the all-important two games was against Sheffield Wednesday, and true to their recent form, the club fell to a 2-0 defeat away from home. It was another disappointing performance, and the squad was now in full blown crisis mode. They had lost four in a row at the most pressing time of the season, and were left with a tough final match away to 5th Place Reading with only one point separating them from Wigan in 7th Place and out of a playoff spot. As it would have it, Wigan took a 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace in their last game, while Bromley succumbed to a 3-1 loss to Reading, bringing an end to a catastrophic collapse that brought the club down from the verge of an automatic promotion to missing out on the play-offs completely in a span of a month. (I am sick to my stomach – this was the worst collapse of form I have ever experienced in all my years of playing CM/FM! Considering how crucial of a time it was – we were so close to the Premier League – I am almost tempted to just resign. Just wow.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 16, 2014 Author Share Posted April 16, 2014 Exciting stuff, surely you gonna win this now! *Sobbing Loudly* Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK22 Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Wow, that is sickening And you were on such a good run leading up to May too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidBeckham Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 These things happen in football, keep going and go again next season you can do it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 Wow, that is sickening And you were on such a good run leading up to May too. These things happen in football, keep going and go again next season you can do it! Hugely disappointing - I thought I had atleast a playoff spot all locked up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 2018/19 REVIEW League Review - Bromley Player Stats No words could console Kafra Jnoubi after the catastrophic collapse of his team in April led the team from being automatic promotion contenders to missing out on the play-offs all together. Still, if one was to remove emotions out of the equation and look at the season objectively, it was a success in every sense of the word, as the squad was meant to fight for its place in the Championship, not almost find a way to progress to the Premier League. As a result of the team’s success, Jnoubi put in an investment of £1.3m at the end of the season to expand Hayes Lane by about 1,000 seats, bringing the total up to around 6,000. At the end of the day, however, no matter how successful the season was, it still ended in the most heartbreaking of fashions, with the club just missing out on a play-off spot during the last game of the season. GOALKEEPERS Boy de Jong, GK, 25 Years Old: Injuries limited the GK to only 33 games this season, but he still kept 6 clean sheets, conceding 52 goals in the process. His 6.82 AR was an improvement from his first year with the club, and the Dutch GK continued to prove that he deserved his place in the team and the faith his manager had shown in him. DEFENDERS Ignacio Veloso, DC, 18 Years Old: After a rough first year at the club, the Spanish youngster turned things around in his second season, becoming the squad’s most important player in the back four. He featured in 41 games, scoring 4 goals and registering 3 PoMs and a 6.89 AR – a huge improvement from the 6.39 AR he recorded in 2017/18. Still very young, his aerial ability is already second to none, while his defensive instincts and abilities have shown great progress throughout the season as he led the team with 487 interceptions. In terms of potential, he is one of the highest rated players on the squad, with many scouts stating that he will have the ability of a Premier League defender before long. Carlos Pereira, DL, 23 Years Old: It was a successful first season at the club for the Portuguese left back, who played in 37 games, registering 4 assists and a 6.86 AR. He has good pace, good physical ability, and good defensive abilities, so it was no surprise that he was a source of solid and consistent form throughout the season. What was once one of the club’s weakest positions is no longer a problem area. Helped out a lot during the season with his versatility, as well, switching to right back when injuries hit the squad. Kevin Gomis, DC, 30 Years Old: The Guinea-Bissau central defender brought depth to a position that was strangely inconsistent this season outside of Veloso, and ended the season as Jnoubi’s preferred choice in the center of the back four alongside the young Spaniard. Injuries limited Gomis to only 26 appearances, but he was solid when he did play, registering a 6.82 AR. Anthony Williams, DC, 21 Years Old: Although his playing time was somewhat limited by the signing of Gomis and injuries, Williams still delivered his finest season for the club yet when he did play. In 29 games,he registered a 6.93 AR, which was a little flattering as he did have bouts of inconsistent form. Still, he was mostly on form for the club, and while he never developed to the ability most thought he would, he remains an important rotation player for the club. Matty Pearson, DR, 25 Years Old: Playing in his fourth season for the club, Jnoubi again relied on the right back more than he would have liked. While Pearson did a decent job, playing in 30 games and registering a 6.74 AR, it has become clear that he is not starter material at the Championship level. The manager will probably be looking for a new starting right back this summer, with plans of having Pearson act as a cover for the new signing. Giorgos Klokidis, DL, 24 Years Old: Jnoubi’s highest paid player and one of his most heralded signings in the off-season ended up being a disappointment. His teammate Pereira is clearly the better left back, and the Greek found himself on the bench by the time the season came to an end. Overall, he played in 32 games, registering a mediocre 6.67 AR – not numbers you would want from your highest paid player. Odds are, Jnoubi will be looking to unload him and his salary during the summer. Rab Woods, DC, 21 Years Old: Perhaps no one had a more disappointing season on the squad than Woods, who started the season as the first name on the sheet in the back to barely playing at the end. Since signing on three years ago, Woods has progressively gotten worse in terms of form, and the 6.70 AR he recorded this season was his worst. He only ended up playing in 23 games, with only 8 of them being starts. It is a shame because the talent is very evidently there, but it seems he just has not figured out how to utilize it. MIDFIELDERS Elliot Rudd, MR, 21 Years Old – Career Stats: Is he Bromley’s greatest ever player? Not many would argue that title, especially now that his 196 league appearances for the club are a record. The captain was again one of the squad’s most indispensable players, recording 38 appearances, 9 goals, 11 assists, and a 6.90 AR. Injuries ruled him out of the last month of competition as the club went through a catastrophic collapse, which must have been painful for him to watch on the sidelines. While he will never wow anyone with his technical ability, his pace remains such as strength that he is a nightmare for almost any fullback in the league. Mats Daehli, ML, 24 Years Old: He only joined the club in January, but he quickly became one of its most important players, much in the same way the man he replaced as starting left winger (Marco Pappa) did the previous year. In 22 games, he registered 3 goals, 7 assists, and a 6.90 AR, turning a problem position into one of the best for the squad. His combination of pace and knack for flair made him a handful for defenses, and the hope is he will be even better next season now that he has adapted to the English game. James Horsfield, MC, 23 Years Old: The club’s vice-captain showed improvement in his third year with the club, playing in 43 games while registering 3 goals, 4 assists, and a 6.91 AR. The former Manchester City youth academy product was perhaps the club’s most consistent player this year, both in terms of form and fitness, as he is blessed with great stamina. Will again be one of the first names on the team sheet next season. Francois Marquet, MC, 24 Years Old: Versatility might be the Belgian’s strongest attribute, as he was able to play in the midfield and as a right back when the club needed him to do so this season. Still, it was in the center of the pitch that he did his best work, registering 8 assists and a 6.90 AR in the 37 games he played. He replaced Jon Walley, who was let go by Jnoubi after a falling out, but his technical ability is just as good as the Welshman. FORWARDS Ryan Lazarus, SC, 19 Years Old: Bromley’s record breaking striker last year faced four different injuries in his second season with the club, limiting his impact and appearances throughout the year. He played in only 33 games, registering 13 goals (down from 27), 5 assists, and a 6.89 AR, numbers that were mediocre compared to his first season. The New Zealand international will be looking to bounce back in his third season with the club, as his ability is unquestionable, as evident by his performances during his first year with Bromley. Marcio, SC, 19 Years Old: The club’s record signing at £1m, his debut season showed that he was worth the price. In 33 games, he scored 17 goals and registered a 6.96 AR, the highest on the team. He did have his share of injuries which limited his appearances, but his pace and technical ability remain a danger to all defenses going forward. ONES TO WATCH Laurie Jones, SC, 17 Years Old: The Bromley Youth Academy product finally broke out this season, playing in 36 games and registering 11 goals, 7 assists, and a 6.79 AR. The last number points out his biggest weakness – inconsistency, a common trait at his age. Still, he is Bromley’s finest attacking prospect, and it makes it all the more special that he has come up through the youth ranks of the club. Jonay Diaz, MC, 17 Years Old: Signed for £350k from Tenerife based on his potential, no one thought he would contribute as much as he did this early in his career. In 24 appearances, he registered 4 goals, 5 assists, and a 6.85 AR – all while playing multiple positions. He adapted very quickly to England, and has now become Bromley’s finest midfield prospect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
b101 Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Exciting stuff, surely you gonna win this now! Kiss of death :( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Kiss of death :( Tell me about it, lol. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 A collapse the England cricket team would be proud of. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 World News Champions League Review - Knockout Stages – Dream Team Second Round Atletico Madrid vs. Manchester City: The champions of England had been knocked out in the Second Round by supposed inferior opponents two years in a row, and were looking to finally advance to the Quarter-Finals at the expense of last year’s beaten Finalist Atletico Madrid. They did a good job in the first leg, defeating their Spanish opponents in Madrid 2-1, and did just enough in Spain to finally push past the Second Round, drawing 2-2 thanks to a goal in the dying seconds of the match. Manchester City: 4-3 Hannover vs. Marseille: The home side almost lost their match in France in the first leg, before finally equalizing in the 80th minute to draw Hannover 1-1, but they made up for it in Germany, defeating Hannover 2-1 to advance to the Quarter-Finals. Marseille: 3-2 Juventus vs. PSV: The Italians could only muster up a 0-0 draw against the Dutch squad in Holland in the first leg, but they did just enough at home, winning 1-0 in what was the least entertaining draw of the Second Round. Juventus: 1-0 Liverpool vs. AC Milan: The Italian champions played the first leg in England, drawing 1-1 against Liverpool, and then dominated the second leg in Italy, winning 4-1 with Chris Benteke scoring a brace. AC Milan: 5-1 Olympiakos vs. Real Madrid: The defending Champions League title holders were expecting an easy match in Greece, but instead found themselves on the losing end of a 1-0 result in the first leg. It did not get much better for them in the second leg, as the defending champions could not find the net, with a shocking 0-0 result in Madrid sending the Greek squad through in one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. Olympiakos: 1-0 Valencia vs. Paris Saint-Germain: Beaten in the Quarter-Finals last year, Paris Saint-Germain were desperate to see the Finals, and they got off on the right foot with their 1-0 defeat of Valencia in Spain. In the second leg, however, they showed what they were capable of, destroying Valencia 5-0 with Edinson Cavani scoring a brilliant hat-trick to help his team advance to the Quarter-Finals. Paris Saint-Germain: 6-0 CSKA Moscow vs. Bayern Munich: In a surprising result, Moscow took a 1-0 victory at home against the German giants, and it went to extra-time in Germany before a winner was finally decided. After taking a 1-0 lead, the game went into extra-time, and it was Munich who managed to find the net and avoid a potentially devastated upset against a resilient CSKA Moscow team. Bayern Munich: 2-1 Shakhtar vs. Monaco :[/b ] Last year’s surprising Semi-Finalists continued their strong form in the Champions League in the first leg of their tie with Monaco, defeating them 2-0 at home. The French squad returned the favor at home, but it was Shakhtar who ended up causing an upset, yet again, winning on penalties to advance. [b]Shakhtar: 2-2 (penalties) Quarter-Finals AC Milan vs. Bayern Munich: The hero was Robert Lewandowski in the first leg, as Bayern Munich’s Polish striker scored a brace to give the Germans a 2-0 win victory over the Italian champions. The Germans held on to a 2-2 draw against the Italian champions at the San Siro, advancing to their third straight Semi-Finals appearance.Bayern Munich: 4-2 Olympiakos vs. Shakhtar: If there was any doubt about the talent of the Ukrainian side, that was put to rest as they ran over their Greek opponents 4-0 in the first leg in Donetsk, and just to push the point of who the better team was home, they won 1-0 in Athens to advance to their second straight Semi-Finals. Shakhtar: 5-0 Juventus vs. Manchester City: The English Premier League champions took a 2-0 away win in Italy, effectively ending the tie in their favor after the first leg. The second leg in Manchester was a drab affair which was won 1-0 by the English club, as Juventus failed to show much ambition and inspiration throughout the tie. Manchester City: 3-0 Marseille vs. Paris Saint-Germain: The All-French tie was thought to be Paris Saint-Germain’s on paper, but Marseille had other plans of doing what they could not do domestically. They took the first leg in Paris 2-1 thanks to a kevin Mirallas brace, and sealed the deal at home with a 3-1 victory that saw PSG reeling and in a rarely seen defeated state by a domestic rival. Marseille: 5-2 Semi-Finals Marseille vs. Bayern Munich: The Germans were looking to make their third Finals in five years, and they got off to a good start against their French opponents with a 2-0 win at home. Marseille delivered a shock to the newly crowned German champions, however, defeating them 4-1 in France and advancing to their first Finals appearance since 1993. Marseille: 4-3 Manchester City vs. Shakhtar: Seeking revenge against the team that knocked it out of the Champions League a year before, Manchester City could only muster up a 1-0 win at home against its Ukrainian opponents, who were looking to advance to the first Champions League Finals in their history, as well. It nearly looked like another shocking upset for Man City at the hands of Shakhtar in Donetsk, but they held on to a 2-2 draw to finally advance to the Champions League Finals for the first time. Manchester City: 3-2 Finals Roberto Mancini’s side had already captured the English Premier League title before their Finals showdown with Marseille at the Camp Nou, and were now looking for the very large icing on the cake by winning their first ever Champions League title. For Marseille, led by Neil Lennon, they had been to the Finals twice before, both in the early 1990s – they lost their first one but managed to win it all in 1993, defeating AC Milan in Munich, Germany. It was to be Manchester City’s year of destiny, however, as they would take the victory 3-1, with Mario Balotelli giving the performance of his career. The Italian striker, long the center of controversy and debate as to whether he had lived up to his potential or not, came through for his club, scoring a hat-trick in one of the greatest individual Finals performances of all-time. Man City were the better team overall, but Balotelli’s genius on the day was unmatched, and surely won himself legendary status with the club’s faithful after almost singlehandedly winning Manchester City’s first ever title for them. His teammate, Sergio Aguero, was crowned the tournament’s Best Player, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani won the Top Goalscorer award with 12 goals. English Premier League Review – Team of the Season Manchester City made it two in a row, and five in six years, this season, lifting the Premier League title after a close finish that saw them five points clear of Chelsea (2nd). They were led, as they have been in recent years, by their star Sergio Aguero (34 apps, 20 goals, 10 assists, 8 PoMs, 7.65 AR), who captured the Players’ Player of the Year award after four years of Eden Hazard (38 apps, 13 goals, 12 assists, 6 PoMs, 7.69 AR) winning it – instead, the Chelsea legend was crowned the Footballer of the Year for the first time in his career. Man City’s Joe Hart captured the Golden Glove award for a record fifth time, and for the first time since the 2013/14 season. Manchester United (3rd) and Tottenham (4th) won the two remaining Champions League spots, with the latter finishing in the top four for the first time since 2016. Arsenal (5th) were led by Premier League Top Goalscorer Kevin Volland (38 apps, 21 goals, 6.93 AR), and they were joined in the Europa League by Liverpool (8th) and West Bromwich (9th). Arsenal Bought by Consortium Arsenal were bought out by a consortium led by London based businessman Ron Martin at the end of the season, after failing to make the Champions League. The former chairman, Chips Keswick, felt it was time to move on – the club was delisted from the Stock Exchange almost immediately after its acquisition. Italian Serie A Review – Team of the Season Israeli owned AC Milan, led by manager Marco Biesla, made it two years in a row this season, beating out rivals Inter Milan (2nd) by six points. They were led by German midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin (33 apps, 2 goals, 9 assists, 7.38 AR), who won the Fans’ Player of the Year award, and Goalkeeper of the Year award winner Simone Colombi. The Runners-Up were led by Serie A Player of the Year Roberto Pereyra (36 apps, 6 goals, 12 assists, 7 PoMs, 7.64 AR), while Genoa (3rd) featured Top Goalscorer Ciro Immobile (37 apps, 19 goals, 4 assists, 5 PoMs, 7.05 AR) and Juventus (4th) featured Foreign Player of the Year Paul Pogba (35 apps, 9 goals, 12 assists, 11 PoMs, 7.41 AR), who broke the Serie A record for most PoMs in a single season. Roma (5th) missed out on the top four by goal difference, with Fiorentina (6th) and Napoli (7th) finishing after the club from the capital. Spanish La Liga Review – Team of the Season In one of the most exciting finishes to the La Liga season in recent memory, Real Madrid just nipped defending champions Barcelona (2nd) to the title on the last day of the season, stopping their rivals’ title streak at two. It was fitting that Real Madrid’s Isco (37 apps, 10 goals, 17 assists, 8 PoMs, 7.75 AR) would finally win the Player of the Year award away from Lionel Messi (34 apps, 11 goals, 10 assists, 11 PoMs, 7.98 AR) after nine seasons, breaking his assists record along the way, as well. Such is Messi’s brilliance that this was the first time in seven seasons that his AR dipped below 8.00 for the season, and he still led the La Liga by a considerable margin. Barcelona’s young German striker Timo Warner (36 apps, 23 goals, 7.42 AR) led the league in goals, while Real Madrid’s Juan Mata (34 apps, 10 goals, 8 assists, 9 PoMs, 7.87 AR) was again the heart of the newly crowned champions. Atletico Madrid (3rd) and Valencia (4th) both dropped down a spot from the previous season, although both managed to clinch a Champions League spot again. Espanyol (5th), Granada (6th), and Real Sociedad (7th) all clinched spots in the Europa League. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityAndColour Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Interesting that Marcio is rated as a five star prospect - his mental attributes look very ordinary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 Interesting that Marcio is rated as a five star prospect - his mental attributes look very ordinary. Absolutely, and that is why I don't put too much faith in the stars! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abulezz Posted April 20, 2014 Author Share Posted April 20, 2014 2019/20 PREVIEW No words could console Kafra Jnoubi after the catastrophic collapse of his team in April led the team from being automatic promotion contenders to missing out on the play-offs all together. Still, if one was to remove emotions out of the equation and look at the season objectively, it was a success in every sense of the word, as the squad was meant to fight for its place in the Championship, not almost find a way to progress to the Premier League. As a result of the team’s success, Jnoubi put in an investment of £1.3m at the end of the season to expand Hayes Lane by about 1,000 seats, bringing the total up to around 6,000. At the end of the day, however, no matter how successful the season was, it still ended in the most heartbreaking of fashions, with the club just missing out on a play-off spot during the last game of the season. Team Analysis After the collapse at the end of last season, it took a while for Kafra Jnoubi to get back into the groove of things, but once he did, he went head on. He approved the expansion of Hayes Lane by 1,000 seats, putting in close to £2.5m to make that happen, and he poured in another £1m to improve the training and youth facilities at the club. The biggest drama of the summer, however, unfolded between Jnoubi and his No.1, Boy de Jong. After rejecting a bid from Blackburn for him at around half of his worth, de Jong confronted Jnoubi and, even after the manager explained the reason he had rejected the big, the Dutch GK was adamant to be given the chance to leave the club at whatever price. This, obviously, was a notion rejected by Jnoubi, who wanted a fair price for the GK, and as such, quickly brought a new GK in the form of Steve Marchal, a 19 year who was acquired from Sochaux. Instead of giving in to de Jong’s demands, Jnoubi was willing to let his contract expire while the Dutch GK sat on the bench for the rest of the season. Marchal, while not de Jong’s equal in terms of ability, had the potential to be a much better player than the man he was starting over, but the worry was that he would not be able to perform at the Championship level this season. The defensive starting lineup remained nearly intact, with only one change from the way it ended the 2018/19 season. The only change came in the form of Robin Buwalda, a 25 year old right back who was formerly playing for ADO Den Haag in the Dutch Eredivisie. He would be replacing Matty Pearson in the starting lineup, although Pearson would remain in the squad rotation as cover for by right back and central defenders. The center of the defense remains Ignacio Veloso and Anthony Williams, with Kevin Gomis and Rab Woods backing them up. Veloso broke out last season, as the 19 year old became perhaps the club’s most important defensive player, and given his age, it is widely expected that he perform at an even higher level this year. Williams also had the best season of his career, although injuries limited him to only 29 games – still, his 6.93 AR suggests the 21 year old is more than capable of starting for a team that is fighting for promotion. Left back no longer is a problem for the club, and despite the departure of Giorgos Klokidis, who only spent one year with the club before being sold for £225k, the lineup remains in solid shape thanks to the presence of Carlos Pereira. The 23 year old Portuguese is naturally a left back, but is equally as good playing at right back, as his versatility is one of his strengths. Overall, the Bromley defensive line looks quite strong, especially with the addition of Buwalda, and for the first time since taking over the club, Jnoubi will not have any problem areas in any of his defensive line positions. After Jnoubi let John Walley go late last season, Belgian central midfielder Francois Marquet became the full-time starter alongside James Horsfield in the middle of the pitch. That continues into the 2019/20 season, but Jnoubi has invested significantly in his midfield this summer, especially with the £750k acquisition of 17 year old Danish midfielder Nikolaj Andresen. With the starting lineup of Marquet and Horsfield, the team has a strong base in the middle of the park, both defensively and offensively, and behind them two youngsters with huge potential in Andresen and Jonay Diaz, acquired last year for £350k and already having been proved himself ready to contribute. On the right, Bromley’s greatest player in its history, Elliot Rudd, remains the team’s captain and first name on the team sheet. His pace has allowed him to be a nightmare down the right flank, as his passes often become goals once delivered to the strikers. The left wing position is also in good shape, with last season’s January free transfer signing of Norwegian winger Mats Daehli. The 24 year old proved himself quite a threat down the left wing, showing great pace and high technical ability – he will be relied on to be Rudd’s equal in terms of impact this season. Up front, the squad has undergone some significant changes. Although Ryan Lazarus did not perform as well as he did in his first year with the club, when he broke the single season scoring record with 27 goals, his sale for £750k sparked controversy – some felt it Jnoubi did the right thing selling him and some felt that he should not have been let go. Lazarus had publicly stated he yearned to play for a bigger club during the summer, and Jnoubi found a buyer for him, but perhaps the manager would not have let him go so easily if he did not have Laurie Jones in his ranks. The 18 year old Bromley Youth Academy product showed that he was ready to step his game up and become a fulltime starter last year, scoring 11 goals and delivering the type of complete game upfront that Jnoubi was looking for. He will be joined by Bromley record signing Marcio, who was acquired for £1m last year and ended up scoring 17 goals, and Joao Morais, who spent the year mostly on loan but has shown tremendous improvement in his abilities. All three will be part of a squad rotation that will be looked upon to provide the needed goals for a squad that has built its reputation on its offense in recent years. New Signings Nikolaj Andresen – £750k: Young midfielder who is being touted as potentially Premier League material. He will feature heavily this year as Jnoubi intends to bring him along quick thanks to his advanced abilities. Kostas Tsoukis – £350k: His lack of flair and creativity is his biggest issue, but Jnoubi is hoping his pace and attacking instinct will make up for his weaknesses. He will feature as the 4th choice striker on the squad. Diogo Morais – £75k: Very young with pace to burn, the Portuguese is also technically proficient despite his young age. He will probably not contribute much this year, but is one to watch for the future. Javier Zaballa – £11k: Only 15 years old, his ability with the ball at his feet is already fantastic. Like Morais, he is one for the future but could make an impact sooner rather than later. Robin Buwalda – Free Transfer: The new starting right back of the team, he will be looked upon to bring stability and consistency to the position for the club. Steve Marchal – Free Transfer: Given the drama surrounding Boy de Jong, Jnoubi has already stated the 19 year old Frenchman will start the season as the club’s No.1 – a risk which could backfire on the squad. He has the ability, but many question whether he is too young for such responsibility, especially as the team intends to fight for promotion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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