FM16: Leyton Orient - All aboard the derailed Orient Express!

[Elliotb888]

Leyton Orient Football Club

[video=youtube;cK5pl6W2CFE]

It was 3:50pm on the 25th May 2014, the Leyton Orient fans were buzzing. The London side were 2-0 up at half time in the League 1 playoff final, academy grown player Moses Odubajo opening the scoring before fan favourite Dean Cox doubled the lead. However, it turned to disaster when Jamie Jones, the Orient keeper, missed a free-kick and former Orient striker Alex Revell toe-poked it home. Revell then scored a ridiculous equaliser when he controlled a high ball with his thigh before hitting a half volley from 30-yards over the Jones' head. Rotherham won the game, and promotion to the Championship, after keeper Adam Collin pushed Chris Dagnall's penalty away, winning the shootout 4-3.

The next season started with optimism when Italian Billionaire Francesco Becchetti bought the club from sporting mogul Barry Hearn. The businessman promised success with Orient. However, the season didn't start as planned, Orient losing on opening day to newly-promoted side Chesterfield. The rest of the opening month was mixed, a great cup win against Aston Villa and three league draws and a win. Orient fans were shocked though when Francesco Becchetti told the much loved manager Russell Slade that he had one game to save his job, despite having only lost twice out of the opening six games. An emotional match against Notts County resulted in a 1-1 draw, many believing Slade had been sacked. He hung on to his job but when Cardiff came calling just days later, Slade decided it was a no-brainer and departed.

Kevin Nugent was appointed as Slade's replacement, the assistant manager being promoted to the managers spot. However, there was confusion about his role, the club never officially announcing him as manager despite Kevin Nugent insisting that he had been signed on a managers contract. His reign lasted a month before he was moved back to the assistant manager's role. His seven games had resulted in two wins, two draws and three defeats.

The next man in charge of Orient was former QPR player Mauro Milanese, who had been Sporting Director up to that point. He only lasted 6 weeks and eight games, of which they lost five, before he was sacked and replaced by former Italian midfielder Fabio Liverani. Liverani started well with a couple good wins but form quickly plummeted and Orient were relegated, finishing in 23rd position, a shameful fall from grace from the success of the season before. Fabio Liverani was sacked in May, having lasted for 27 games but having lost 13. His spell was marred with a series of damaging claims, such as players were left to do their own team talks in the tunnel and everything was being done in Italian and poor performances from large wage signings, such as former Liverpool full-back Andrea Dossena.

Orient then appointed Ian Hendon during the summer in a bid to create stability, having been chosen following a long appointment process. He overhauled the squad, bringing in about 10 players having gotten rid of a number of the big wage players. Will the O's be able to go back up to League 1?

[Elliotb888]

Basic Info

Founded: 1881

Location: Leyton, East London

Nicknames: The O's

President: Francesco Becchetti

Managing Director: Alessandro Angelieri

Finances: Okay

Estimated Value: 3.4 million

League: Sky Bet League Two

Captain: Mathieu Baudry

Vice-Captain: Sean Clohessy

Stadium



Name: Brisbane Road

Capacity: 9,271

Built: 1937

Tenants: Leyton Orient Football Club, Tottenham Hotspurs Reserves

History

Formation

Founded in 1881, they were originally the Glyn Cricket Club, after being founded by some of it's members. Orient have since been known as Eagle Cricket Club, Clapton Orient and just Orient Football Club. They joined the Football League in 1904, and are the second oldest team in London, after Fulham.

The name Orient is said to have come through a O's player named Jack R Dearing who worked for the Orient Shipping Company, and the name was changed to Clapton orient in 1898 to represent the area they played in.



World War One

One of the most important aspects of Orient history, they were the first team to send players to the war, and unfortunately resulted in the deaths of three players out of the 41 who made the trip. Many suffered wounds that ended their careers.

The 1914–15 season was the last football season before the League was suspended due to the outbreak of the First World War. 41 members of the Clapton Orient team and staff joined up into the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (the Footballers' Battalion), the highest of any football team in the country and the first to join up en masse.[3] At the final game of the season – Clapton Orient vs Leicester Fosse, 20,000 people came out to support the team. A farewell parade was also hosted, but not before the O's had won 2–0. The British Film Institute holds a brief recording of this historic match and parade in their archives.

During the Battle of the Somme, three players gave their lives for King and Country: Richard McFadden, George Scott and William Jonas. Though they were the only Orient staff to have died during the First World War, many others sustained wounds, some more than once and were not able to resume their football careers after the war. Prior to the First World War, O's striker Richard McFadden had saved the life of a boy who was drowning in the River Lea as well as rescuing a man from a burning building.

History was made on Saturday 30 April 1921 when the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VIII, visited Millfields Road to see the O's play Notts County. The Orient won 3 – 0 and this was the first time a member of royalty had attended a Football League match. The royal visit was to show gratitude for Clapton Orient's patriotic example during the Great War and there is now a plaque erected on the site of the Millfields Road Stadium to commemorate this historic event.[4]

The story of the club's major involvement in the First World War has been told in a 2005 book entitled They Took The Lead, by Stephen Jenkins (the deputy chairman of Leyton Orient Supporters' Club). In July 2006 Steve Jenkins, assisted by Les Bailey, took a party of 150 Leyton Orient supporters and members of the Leyton and Manor Park Royal British Legion over to the Somme region of northern France, to visit World War I war graves and in particular to pay their respects at the resting places of Richard McFadden, William Jonas and George Scott. This was the first official visit to the Orient war graves for 90 years. The trip was so successful that a second visit to the Somme took place the weekend of 12/13 July 2008, this time 183 O's supporters and members of the RBL made the historic pilgrimage. Media interest is growing concerning this amazing and proud period of the Orient's history. Chris Slegg, a BBC London reporter travelled with the party and footage of the Somme trip was shown on every local news bulletin throughout the day on the Monday following the trip.

It is hoped that a documentary or film will one day be made on Clapton Orient's proud service during the Great War. In August 2009 Steve Jenkins, along with fellow O's supporter Theresa Burns and Orient legend Peter Kitchen, launched the O's Somme Memorial Fund with the objective of erecting a permanent memorial in northern France in honour of the Clapton Orient side that answered the call of King and Country.

A third trip to the Somme took place in July 2011 and the O's Memorial was unveiled in the village of Flers on Sunday 10 July.

20th and 21st Century

Orient's golden years were in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1961/62 season Orient were promoted to the top tier of English football, the First Division (now the FA Premier League), for the only time in their history, after finishing second in Division Two under the management of Johnny Carey. The team struggled in the top flight and were relegated from the top division the following season. Nonetheless, they did defeat local rivals West Ham United at home. They spent the whole of the 1970s in Division Two. In 1972 Orient achieved one of the most famous results in their history – coming back from 2–0 down to beat Chelsea 3–2 in the FA Cup 5th round. In 1978 Orient were defeated in the semi final of the FA Cup, the furthest they have progressed in that competition.

n 1978 the club was indirectly responsible for the album Variations composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber for his brother, the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. This reached No.2 in the pop album charts. Variations came about as the result of a bet between the two brothers on the outcome of Orient's final game of the 1976/77 season against Hull City.

In the 1980s Leyton Orient fared less well, and after two relegations found themselves in the fourth tier of English football. However, they ended the decade on a high, as they were promoted in the 1988/89 season, when under manager Frank Clark they were promoted in the Division Four Play-Off Final after a 2–1 aggregate victory over Wrexham F.C..[6] The early 1990s saw steady progress in the Third Division, missing out on a play-off place in the 1992/93 season on goal difference. However, the financial crisis at the club caused by then-chairman Tony Wood losing his business in the Rwandan Civil War led to a relegation back to the fourth tier (now renamed as the Third Division following the formation of the Premier League). Under manager Tommy Taylor, Orient were defeated in the 1999 and 2001 Third Division Play-Off Finals, played at Wembley Stadium and the Millennium Stadium respectively. The latter final saw the fastest ever Play-Off Final goal scored to date at the Millennium Stadium, as Orient's Chris Tate scored after just 27 seconds. Evidently, Orient's fastest ever goal was scored after just 12 seconds by Lee Steele in a match against his former club Oxford at The Kassam Stadium on 28 March 2005.

After the 2001 play-off final defeat, Leyton Orient took several years to recover from their second play-off final defeat in three years. After Tommy Taylor left the club, Paul Brush spent two unsuccessful years in charge, and after he was sacked former player Martin Ling took over as manager in October 2003, with Orient second-bottom of the league. After several years of steady improvement, Leyton Orient gained promotion in the 2005/06 season, finishing in third place and gaining automatic promotion to the Football League One. This was the club's first automatic promotion in 36 years, and ended a period of eleven years in the English league's bottom division. This promotion season also saw an excellent FA Cup run, with Leyton Orient progressing to the fourth round after beating Premiership side Fulham F.C.. Promotion was only secured in the final minutes of the final game of the season, away at Oxford United; with the score tied at 2–2 and Orient seemingly destined to miss out yet again on promotion, news came through of a late goal scored against promotion rivals Grimsby Town F.C. that would potentially promote Orient, and the Orient fans were still celebrating this when just 14 seconds later, Lee Steele scored to confirm Orient's promotion. The result also relegated Oxford to the Football Conference. Grimsby's manager that season was Russell Slade, who would later become Orient's manager.

In 2006–07, Orient endured a difficult season in the third tier, having spent most of the season in or around the relegation zone, and were bottom of the table at times in the first half of the season. An improvement in fortunes after Christmas – including memorable wins against Millwall, Tranmere Rovers and a vital win at eventually-relegated Bradford City near the end of the season – helped them finish in 17th place, four spots above the relegation zone. Most of the promotion-winning side left at the end of the season, through a combination of players released and some rejecting new contracts, and while the club's longest-serving player Matthew Lockwood was one of those who signed a new contract, he later moved in pre-season to Nottingham Forest.

2007–08 was better, as Orient finished 14th with 60 points. The Os began the season in fine form, not dropping out of the top seven until after Christmas. However a loss of form in the second half of the season, recording only three wins from the last 12 games, meant the season ended in a respectable mid-table finish.

Leyton Orient kicked off the 2008–2009 season with a 2–1 win over Hereford United at home. Dean Beckwith put Hereford ahead before JJ Melligan and Adam Boyd gave Orient the win. Orient then continued the season with multiple poor results and performances throughout September and October and their only wins were away matches against Walsall and Southend United in the Football League Trophy first round. However Orient were knocked out of the Trophy in the following round in an away match at Brighton & Hove Albion. They were in 22nd position in the Football League One table. Orient booked a place in the second round of the FA Cup after beating Colchester United 1–0. Two Goals from Jason Demetriou and Danny Granville in a 1–2 away victory against Bradford City put Orient through to the third round of the FA Cup where they played Sheffield United at home. They lost 4–1 and, after a run of bad form in the League, Orient parted company with manager Martin Ling and assistant Dean Smith. Youth team manager Kevin Nugent was named caretaker manager overseeing three games. On 5 February 2009 Geraint Williams was announced as manager until the end of the season. He enjoyed a very positive start, winning seven of his first nine matches and moving Orient up to 15th. After Geraint Williams' positive influence on the team they secured their League One status on 13 April with a 1–0 win over Swindon Town at the County Ground, and eventually finished the season in 14th place.

Orient had a proud day when they beat former Premier league runners-up Newcastle United 6–1 in a pre season friendly match on 25 July 2009. By beating Colchester United away, in the 1st round of the Football League Cup Competition, they earned a home second round fixture against Premier League Club, Stoke City F.C.

On 3 April 2010 Geraint Williams was sacked as manager after a 3–1 home defeat to fellow relegation strugglers Hartlepool following a poor run of form. Kevin Nugent once again took control for the 2–1 defeat at Southampton on 5 April and after the match Russell Slade was named as manager until the end of the season. With even less time to save Orient from relegation than Williams before him, Slade managed to bring about a change in form that saw Orient finish in 17th place, just one point but four places clear of relegation. In the summer of 2010 Slade's contract was extended for two years. After a poor start to the 2010/11 season, Orient's league form picked up towards Christmas, culminating in an 8–2 win against non-league Droyslden in an FA Cup second round replay. In a game described as "the weirdest football match ever",Orient had trailed most of the game 2–0, but scored six goals in extra time to progress into the 3rd round. Orient then beat high-flying Championship side Norwich City 1–0 at Carrow Road to progress into the 4th round where they met another Championship side, Swansea City, at the Liberty Stadium. Orient beat Swansea 2–1 to set up a glamour 5th round tie against Premier League giants Arsenal at Brisbane Road, which finished in a 1–1 draw thanks to a late Jonathan Téhoué equaliser for the O's, to set up a replay at the Emirates Stadium. Leyton Orient lost that replay 0–5, bringing to an end their longest run in the FA Cup since 1981/82. Either side of the Arsenal games, Leyton Orient went on a club record-equalling 14 games unbeaten, putting them just outside the play-off positions. However they were unable to maintain that momentum and ultimately missed out on the play-off's by just one point. Orient went better in the 2013/14 season when they qualified for the playoffs, beating Peterborough in the playoff semi-finals over two legs but lost to Rotherham in the final on penalties, having held a 2-0 lead at half time. The summer was busy when Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti bought the club from Barry Hearn. Russell Slade departed to Cardiff in September after being given a one game to save your job ultimatum by the new owner, and short spells by Kevin Nugent and Mauro Milanese came before Fabio Liverani was appointed in December. His spell was poor and Orient were relegated from League 1 on the final day of that season.

[video=youtube;R5GuUG9mTtA]

The 'weirdest game in Football'

[Elliotb888]

First Team



Keepers







Right Backs









Left Backs









Centre Backs









Centre Midfielders









Right Midfielders









Left Midfielders









Strikers

ALEX CISAK is the natural first team keeper, the player signing from Burnley following an impressive loan spell towards the end of last season. He's a key player for us so has to be the number 1.

CHARLIE GRAINGER is the youth prospect. At only 18, he is a decent talent for the Football League and I think he is suitable backup, maybe giving him game time in cups. However, you may want to bring in a more experienced GK in although you have GARY WOODS in the reserves on loan at Ross County, so maybe just wait for him to return in January.

A strong position with two experienced and good members of the team. SEAN CLOHESSY is an attacking full back signing from Colchester during the summer. He will push forward and is a good player.

ALAN DUNNE is probably the better right back, coming from Millwall where he spent his whole career thus far. He is ageing though, at 32 years old.

Probably our weakest position in the squad. FRAZER SHAW is a young left-back who signed from Dulwich Hamlet on a free and is a decent player but I would look for players in that position. There are a number of players to look out for as options, Adam Chicksen from Brighton is a great option, as well as loanees Cole Kpekawa from QPR or my personal favourite Shane Griffin from Reading

Its a decent position with captain MATHIEU BAUDRY who is a key player. Watch out though, he is running towards the end of his contract and is likely to leave at the end of the season on a free transfer. CONNOR ESSAM is decent but you'd need at least another centre-back for backup purposes.

A strong position. Jack Payne is on loan from Peterborough and is a top class centre-midfielder. You have the option to sign him for 150k at any point in the loan and I would seriously suggest you adjust the budgets at the end of the season and use that clause. Lloyd James is also a good CM but I might loan someone in, I had Jake Forster-Caskey on an earlier save who was great.

BLAIR TURGOTT is the only right midfielder and he is a decent talent but maybe you might want another right midfielder to rotate during the season, Anthony Forde from Walsall is an option on loan.

DEAN COX is a fan-favourite and a key player so naturally your first choice left midfielder, or attacking central if playing with no wingers. JOBI MCANUFF starts transfer listed to reflect real life, he is a decent player but his wages of 5K a week are extortionate for this level.

JAY SIMPSON is the best striker in the squad and he will get goals if he stays fit. The others are decent players with decent potential, Scott Kashket having the best potential out of the three. Personally I'd bring in another loanee, I recommend Mason Bennett as he scores goals and is available from Derby.

[Elliotb888]

Why Play as Orient?

You are surrounded by the big clubs in London, the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and most importantly West Ham who will be moving right next door to the Olympic Stadium. They are in League 2 and have a lot of space to grow and build so its a good challenge.

So Enjoy.

[nick1408]

So, three pages of history on the club but nothing relating to them in FM. How is this a guide? I respect the effort gone into this but on this board I sort of expect some sort of guide on the players and/or the club finances, staff and backroom

[Abaddon879]

Hopefully this is just a starting post, and they will be adding more later.

Not a bad start, but does appear to be a lot of copy+paste going on and not much else.

This might be useful - The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Good Team Thread

[Elliotb888]

So, three pages of history on the club but nothing relating to them in FM. How is this a guide? I respect the effort gone into this but on this board I sort of expect some sort of guide on the players and/or the club finances, staff and backroom

Hopefully this is just a starting post, and they will be adding more later.

Not a bad start, but does appear to be a lot of copy+paste going on and not much else.

This might be useful - The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Good Team Thread

I had made a post with all the players and a squad run-down and when it was posted it said that it was awaiting moderators approval. I assumed it would come but it obviously hasn't yet. I'll get in touch with them or I'll add it later.

Oh and most of the copy and paste has come from the post last year which I did on my old account.

[MichaelBrown]

Hopefully this is just a starting post, and they will be adding more later.

Not a bad start, but does appear to be a lot of copy+paste going on and not much else.

This might be useful - The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Good Team Thread

I don't really see the point in rewording pages of text that are widely available on wikipedia among other sites. I would also do the same.

It would be helpful, however, to see a thread that contains information on the FM team. He's explained this though, so it's all good.

[Ty]

So, three pages of history on the club but nothing relating to them in FM. How is this a guide? I respect the effort gone into this but on this board I sort of expect some sort of guide on the players and/or the club finances, staff and backroom

Hopefully this is just a starting post, and they will be adding more later.

Not a bad start, but does appear to be a lot of copy+paste going on and not much else.

This might be useful - The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Good Team Thread

As pretty much all club threads for years now, everyone copies off Wikipedia for the club history (nobody actually reads, don't pretend that you're shocked), it's just to fill it out and makes it look better. They then do their own part on the squad, transfers etc.

I have now approved Elliot's post with the squad data, which for some reason needed approval and his other stuff didn't.

At the end of the day, this thread is here to give a roundup of Leyton Orient and a place for people playing as Leyton to post and chat about their games

[Elliotb888]

As pretty much all club threads for years now, everyone copies off Wikipedia for the club history (nobody actually reads, don't pretend that you're shocked), it's just to fill it out and makes it look better. They then do their own part on the squad, transfers etc.

I have now approved Elliot's post with the squad data, which for some reason needed approval and his other stuff didn't.

At the end of the day, this thread is here to give a roundup of Leyton Orient and a place for people playing as Leyton to post and chat about their games

Cheers Ty! Thankfully that issue is sorted, so we can start discussing Orient saves.

[Elliotb888]

So here's a small write-up of my Orient career so far:

SEASON ONE

Notable Transfers

Incoming

Mason Bennett [Loan - Derby]

Matt Palmer [Loan - Burton Albion]

Adam Chicksen [Loan - Brighton]

Duncan Watmore [Loan - Sunderland]

Outcoming

Jobi McAnuff [Loan - Eastleigh]

Ollie Palmer [Loan - Gateshead]

Blair Turgott [Loan - Kiddersminster]

League Performance

1st. Leyton Orient [P46, W30, D5, L11 - 95 POINTS]

2nd. Portsmouth [P46, W27, D12, L7 - 93 POINTS]

3rd. Oxford [P46, W26, D10, L10 - 88 POINTS]

Season Review

The season started off with a flourish, winning 6 of our opening 7 games and only conceding one goal in that whole time. Our first loss came in our eighth game of the season with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Wycombe but we continued our fine form regardless, winning the next eight games in the league. Form started dropping in January and February whilst Portsmouth pushed us at the top of the table but seven wins in eight games meant that the league title went down to the final game. We needed Portsmouth to drop points and us to win as they had a considerably larger goal-difference. We battled against Yeovil and went down to 10 men after Alan Dunne was sent off in the 52nd minute. However, our star striker Mason Bennett gave us the lead with just over ten minutes to go. News trickled through with just a couple minutes to go that Portsmouth had conceded an equaliser meaning we were winning the title. Sean Clohessy got himself sent off to make it even more nervous as we went full defence mode but we hung on and we took the league title.

Player Performance

Mason Bennett - 51 games, 29 goals, 7.34 average rating

Mathieu Baudry - 45 games, 4 goals, 7.31 average rating

Dean Cox - 26 games, 8 goals, 7.17 average rating

SEASON TWO

Notable Transfers

Incoming

Mason Bennett [Loan - Derby]

Duncan Watmore [Loan - Sunderland]

Adam Chicksen [Free - Brighton]

Danny Devine [Free Transfer]

Jack Payne [150k - Peterborough]

Outcoming

Bradley Pritchard [Free Transfer]

Gary Woods [Free Transfer]

Alan Dunne [Free Transfer]

Frazer Shaw [Free Transfer]

League Performance

6th. Coventry City [P46, W22, D12, L12 - 78 POINTS]

7th. Leyton Orient [P46, W21, D12, L13 - 75 POINTS]

8th. Doncaster [P46, W20, D14, L12 - 74 POINTS]

Season Review

It went down to the final game of the season again but this time we ended up on the wrong side of it as we failed to qualify for the playoffs after losing to Coventry in the final game of the season. Despite losing the opening two league games, we went on an incredible run of wins with 11 wins in 14 games, with two draws. We were cruising at the top of the table but our form collapsed in the second half of the season as we not only threw our gap at the top of the table but lost our automatic promotion spot, losing 13 of 16 games between December and February, and two disappointing defeats in our final two games meant we missed out on the playoffs which was incredibly frustrating.

Player Performance

Mason Bennett - 45 games, 29 goals, 7.21 average rating

Phil Devonshire [Youth Intake Player] - 41 games, 1 goal, 12 assists, 7.01 average rating

Dean Cox - 37 games, 8 goals, 11 assists, 7.21 average rating

[steelcity637]

I have also started a Orient career. Ive never posted screen shots will try to later on. Currently I have 7 games left in the year and im sitting in 4th place 1 point out of automatic promotion. I have great home form but cannot seem to win any key road games. Only real highlight is Jay Simpson is leading the league in scoring.

[wojt3k87]

Hey, i have a question. Can You show your tactic? I have big problem with Cox. I play The O's in fm2014, now i have fm2016 and still have the same problem - Cox is totally useless. No assist, no goals, lost many balls. How you use him?

[Elliotb888]

Sorry I have taken a while to respond, I got sacked in my 4th season with the O's which was a little unfair.

For the first year I played a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Cox playing as an AP behind the strikers and in front of 3 CM's. He was my player of the season, 8 goals and 5 assists having spent half the year injured but would have liked more. Moved him out wide to adjust to a 4-2-3-1 formation from second season and in the next seasons he got 8 goals and 11 assists and in his best year, 9 goals and 16 assists

[OrientTillIDie]

I found that Cox plays pretty well as a Trequartista. Allows him to float wide to either flank and cross or to dart into the box. Before I was sacked in March on the beta, he had 12 goals and 14 assists.

[Bodkin]

I switch Cox between inside forward and Trequartista depending on how hes started the game, hes an absolute superstar in l2, 32 in 38 for me so far

[Elliotb888]

I switch Cox between inside forward and Trequartista depending on how hes started the game, hes an absolute superstar in l2, 32 in 38 for me so far

Thats an incredible amount of goals. Do you mind showing me your tactic and instructions please? How's Jay Simpson doing for you?

[Bodkin]

Jay played alot better on the wing rather than central for me, 20 assists 1st season. I purposely focus on the right flank and get the ball into the box from there

Im in second season but first seaosn my midfield was packed with spurs youngsters after a parent club agreement. Also signed that Bennet (thanks Elliot) upfront who does a great job occupying the CBs

[Bodkin]

Champs first year, signed bennett again for 2nd year with buy clause this time. Got Ishmail Miller on a free and wish I hadnt! Most of the Os squad still cuts it in L1 ofcourse. Lloydy and Jack Payne are excellent!

[danm2501]

Started as Orient the other day. Been meaning to start a lower league save after thoroughly enjoying my Morecambe save on last years game. This year I went with a team that I have had a liking for for years. My Grandad is a big Orient fan so made sense as an option for this years game.

Had an excellent first season. Won the league by 7 points over Portsmouth. Mason Bennett came in on loan and led the line superbly in rotation with Jay Simpson. I used a tactic I've used for a number of teams on this years game which looks like:

-----------------------SK---------------------------

WB--------------CB---------CB------------WB---

---W-------------AP---------DLP-----------------

-----------------------SS------------------IF-----

-----------------------AF--------------------------

Been incredibly successful. Played some excellent football. The wing-backs were key to the formation and Clohessy and Shaw did an excellent job for me. I've bought in Bakayogo on a free in the summer of the 2nd season to provide back-up to Shaw, but reckon Shaw will be good enough to cut it in L1, he was superb in L2 for me. Have also re-signed Bennett for the 2nd season. He's a great signing for League 2 as Derby require nothing to take him on loan, no monthly contribution and no wage percentage, perfect. Also managed to secure Payne on a permanent deal too which seems like an excellent piece of business. Excited to get my 2nd season going.