[FM13] The Game is About Glory

[Boycott]

JUNE 1ST 2018

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PART WAYS WITH JAVIER AGUIRRE

Javier Aguirre has departed his role as manager of Tottenham Hotspur ending his 18-month stay in North London. Despite guiding the club to FA Cup victory at the end of the season, the inconsistent results in the Premier League across his tenure have raised questions about whether the Mexican was capable of taking the club further.  The decision to change has polarized opinions and once again criticism has been aimed at Chairman Daniel Levy at perceived short-sightedness in being trigger happy. The club will now look to appoint their thirteenth manager under the stewardship of Levy, and the fifth manager in the last four years with Aguirre joining Andre Villas-Boas, David Moyes and Michael Laudrup on the scrap heap.  

 

[Boycott]

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR APPOINT CARTER

THE CLUB ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF JIMMY CARTER AS OUR NEW MANAGER

Having reviewed numerous candidates, the club have decided Jimmy Carter to be the man to take us forward. Carter - a boyhood supporter - has worked at the club with the academy and has been a name the board have been keeping an eye on. His enthusiasm for the club and ideals he espouses resonated not only with the players he worked with and colleagues, it was qualities which stood him out from the other names for the top job. Having gone down the route of experienced figureheads, the board have chosen to look within and we are confident that with Jimmy Carter leading the way the coming years will be successful. 

 

 

 

[Boycott]

The background to this story

 

• I am playing Football Manager 2013 as you can tell by the title. It's a very fun game for me and I can play it at a reasonable pace.
• Instead of starting from the first season (2012-13), I have holidayed through to match the game start with in real life - so I am taking over for the 2018-19 season. I don't want to start from the beginning where I know who the wonderkids are and the best transfers from the off, and nor do I want to play when the likes of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Frank Lampard etc are still the top players in the league.

I have holidayed six seasons and allowed the game world to take its own shape. Some of the wonderkids at the start will have reached their potential, or hitting it, others have faded away. The old guard are coming to an end or retired already and this is about the time when the youngsters of 2012 become the mainstays of 2018 and of course...regens!

 

Season 2012/13

 

Season 2013/14

 

Season 2014/15

 

Season 2015/16

 

Season 2016/17

 

Season 2017/18

 

FA CUP

 

League Cup

 

Europa League

 

Champions League

 

 

 

 

[Boycott]

THE MANAGER'S NOTEBOOK 

I am the fifth manager to occupy this office in the past four years. It's a great honour and I aim to bring glory to this club. However I must acknowledge some of the work the managers before me did. My predecessor won our first silverware since 2008, and first FA Cup in over twenty-five years. When I watched the team defeat Norwich on penalties I didn't expect to be in this position just a few weeks later. While the league consistency is something I have to rectify, I do believe Javier Aguirre's league finishes weren't too damning in relation to the squad he had. I have inherited this squad and I intend to clear out a lot of it. The problem I suppose is some of the dross were his own signings.

 Andre Villas-Boas guided the club to consecutive top four positions and a cup final before things fell apart in the third season. The first season of Champions League football ended before it properly began - in the playoff in August. The following season he lost his job before the conclusion of the group stages. The club didn't qualify from their group but Villas-Boas had relative success with third being the club's highest Premier League finish. David Moyes came in to steady a sinking ship in November of 2014/15 and in the end he guided the club to fifth. A long way from Champions League qualification but the best of the rest. Unfortunately for him, he never got to have a full year in charge as a bad start to his first full season saw his contract terminated. Michael Laudrup came in, lasted a little longer but suffered the same consequence. This led to Aguirre and now it's my time. 

The club have spent a fair whack of money over these years. To go backwards you could say. The club have spent £368.5m on transfers in the last six seasons - average = £61m a season.

In sales the club have recouped £257.5m - average = £42m a season.

So in net spend things balance out a bit more. The net spend being £111m over six years which amounts to £18.5m a season....classic Levy!

We have kept hold of Gareth Bale after all these years. He is now approaching thirty and has been at the club for eleven years.

I'll go into more detail about him and the rest of the squad later. It's safe to say it'll be a busy summer. 

 

[withnail316]

Still on 13 myself, too. I don't tend to follow "big" club saves, but I shall keep my eye on this one. Good luck!

[Boycott]

13 hours ago, withnail316 said:

Still on 13 myself, too. I don't tend to follow "big" club saves, but I shall keep my eye on this one. Good luck!

 

Thank you Sir 

 

[Maw74]

Come on you Spurs!

I will be following 

[dllu]

14 hours ago, withnail316 said:

Still on 13 myself, too. I don't tend to follow "big" club saves, but I shall keep my eye on this one. Good luck!

What he said.

[Boycott]

Meet the Squad 

GOALKEEPERS

Hugo Lloris

Hugo Lloris is still at the club and after six years has notched up an impressive 257 matches for Spurs. He has kept a total of 87 clean sheets as the undisputed number one which is almost exactly one in three. Hugo is our captain and with his superb ability (19 reflexes, 19 concentration, 16 command of area, 16 handling) and his affable personality, he will remain so. At age 31 he may still have his best to come. 

 

 

Niall Beck

Niall is an 18 year old academy product who the coaches rave about. They say he has the ability to take over from Hugo and be our number one and England's number one.  He made his debut for the club two seasons ago and naturally it was a challenge but it shows just how well thought of this kid is. He's just a baby in goalkeeping terms, a long way off from the heights now, but I will keep him in my squad next season. The reason being is I want him to learn off Hugo and if we can give him the odd cup game it can make as much a positive change than sending him to the rough and tough of lower league football. I am looking for a veteran goalkeeper to join the club just so we can have bit more experience in that department in the event Hugo suffers a long term injury. Niall nevertheless is a long term project. 

Right Back

Kyle Walker

First choice right back for club and country, Kyle is now in the peak of his career. He has amassed a whopping 334 appearances for the club and with his fitness and at a good age (28) should have a fair bit more to add to that. Technically he isn't the greatest but he has decent rounded attributes which combined with his excellent physical qualities make him a potent player. Looking at our squad it's a relief he is so physically reliable as he is our only proper right back. I have players who can fill in but a proper back-up / competition is needed - especially to manage through a season with aspirations to challenge.

Left Backs

Ben Davies

Ben left Swansea after only sixteen matches over two seasons in 2014. He joined Norwich where he managed to establish himself as a solid player in a pretty solid mid-table side. For three years he ran the left flank for the Canaries before Spurs spent £17m to bring him to White Hart Lane last summer. In his debut season he was an ever-present playing in every league game (32 from the start). He will continue to occupy that flank under me. 

 

Fabio

He's decent enough looking at his attributes but on further looking he only started four games in all competitions last season. Furthermore in his four seasons at the club his number of games has reduced by each season and his average rating has never reached 6.60 in any of those seasons. Granted he has had some bad luck with injuries but that only strengthens my decision to sell Fabio. We can do better than him and he needs to get his career back on track. He's still *only* 27 and his former club Porto (who sold him to Spurs in 2014) are interested. 

Center Backs

Jonny Evans

Jonny Evans arrived to Spurs from Manchester United as one of a trio who made the move from Old Trafford to White Hart Lane in the summer of 2015. It wasn't the case that he was not getting games for United - as a matter of fact he made over thirty appearances in each of the previous three seasons - but with a few big name signings I suppose in order to trim the wage bill and squad list Evans was expendable. He arrived as a £17m signing and it's been money well spent with the Northern Ireland captain making 132 appearances and providing a cool and experienced head at the back. 

Phil Jones

This is a bit of a weird one from Utd's thinking. They sold Jones along with Evans (and one more) in 2015. Evans I could sort of get because he'd been around a while but Jones was only 23 and has a lot of potential. Even now looking at him I see a very good defender who could go onto to be even better. He's physically immense, brave, decent technical attributes for a defender - an all round gifted player. He is versatile in positional sense and has 135 appearances in three years. He can be a future captain here and age 26 I am expecting him to be a part of a successful team for years to come. £19m was a bargain - kudos to Michael Laudrup for getting him in.

Rhys Williams

This guy is bang average and one of the first I am looking to get rid. At best you could class him as one of those *decent at a lot of things without standing out in anything* but even that's generous for me. The hardest part to believe is he came to us two years ago after three seasons at AC Milan. He has played 44 times for Spurs in two seasons, 105 times for Milan in three. And Milan bought him from Middlesbrough.....in the Championship! WTF were they smoking at the San Siro? 

Tommie Hoban

Not bad but he's the type of player that would start for mid-table sides. He came to Spurs for £10.25m from Celtic in 2016 and in his first season didn't feature much. Last season however he made almost thirty appearances at an average rating of 6.58. Yeah I think I'm going to cash in on him. He's fairly young and Irish so there must be some Prem sides I can rip off. 

Central Midfielders

Sven Bender

Been at the club for five years since making the £18.25m switch from Dortmund. Sven has made 167 appearances for the club and whilst he hasn't been the imperious force he can be (highest average rating 6.92 in 2015/16 and the season just gone a poor 6.68) but when you look at his attributes - how strong he is when it comes to the intangible aspects and sound technical qualities, I believe I can coax the best out of him. He's a very smart player, incredibly fit, tall and strong build - he should be bossing games and that is what I intend to get him to do.

Orlando Nangis

Signed for £25m in 2017 from Saint-Ettiene, this player quickly became a fan favorite. A gifted and skillful midfielder who can occupy different roles, Orlando bagged eight goals and twelve assists in his debut season. He's really creative but has the presence to be a rock defensively. At 24 he's the perfect age to have youthful exuberance but to expect consistency. He can be one of the best for years to come if he continues progressing on this track. 

Lewis Holtby

When you look at Holtby's attributes you see a solid but unspectacular player. His first two seasons at the club resembled that - he played 56 times but only 16 starts. I think it's fair to say many supporters and even the club management might have had an eye to move him on. Some players are just needed to do a job for a period of time. But to his credit, ever since he has blossomed into a starting player and he has blossomed into a goalscoring midfielder. In those first two seasons he scored ten goals. In the four seasons since he has scored at least ten goals in each campaign and in total his Spurs career reads as 230 games played, 58 goals scored. £1.5m he cost six and a half years ago. A complete steal.

 

Suso

Suso arrived in 2017 as part of a player-swap deal (yeah that actually happened) with James Milner going to Liverpool. Milner had been at Spurs for five years and was a very reliable player as ever but the acquisition of Suso was thought to bring a bit more silkiness to the side. Unfortunately it wasn't exactly as things were hoped for - Suso scored a respectable seven goals in his first season but found himself out of the team more often than in. He isn't too happy with the situation but maybe my arrival will change the status. I don't think he is a classic playmaker which I like - in other words his skillset is pretty narrow. Technically really good but he's not a very flexible player to work with. He'd be extremely good in a side that builds around him but I'm not sure it will be here with the other players we have at our disposal. 

 

James Ward-Prowse

James is the player I want to take over from Holtby. A solid all-rounder who can knit the play together in the middle of the park and chip in with a few goals. I actually think he can be better than Holtby - he's certainly ahead of him at the same stage of his career and technically James has more stand-out attributes which can make him a more flexible player. I can play him on the right and utilise him as a workhorse who can deliver a ball but ultimately his future is in the middle. Strangely after shelling £12m to bring him from Southampton last season, Aguirre only used him five times. But I'm glad he's here because at 23 he still has room to grow. 

Lorenzo Tassi

A hopeful punt that hasn't worked out. Lorenzo Tassi joined the club for £5m from Inter Milan in 2013. He was 18 years old, featured for the Italian youth teams and certainly at one point carried some promise. Unfortunately now at age 23 he's only made six appearances and last season was on loan in the Championship to Ipswich Town. He's **** basically. Not  good enough for what Spurs expect and by the looks of it not good enough to play in the Premier League. 

Jorge Enriquez

This guy is a war-wagon. There is something I admire about him - he'll get himself dirty and he'll put his body on the line for the team. I think he could be a CB as he gets older but it won't be at this club as he wants to leave. I don't think he'll be a big loss at all and hopefully we can recoup the £8m that brought him from Chivas in Mexico to North London.

Wingers

Gareth Bale

Gareth ****ing Bale. PFA Player of the Year. Nominated for the Balon d'or six times. The Welsh Wizard. The best player in the ****ing team. He's now approaching 30 but that doesn't diminish that we have one of the world's top players in our hands. He's stayed loyal to his club and in 376 games has scored 109 goals. I hope with him we can lift a league title or two and that cement his legacy arguably as the club's greatest player.

 

Wilfried Zaha

Zaha was the third player along with Jones and Evans to switch Manchester for Tottenham in 2015. He cost £19.25m. Bale is the king of the wing but this lad is not too shabby either. 18 dribbling, 18 flair, 19 acceleration, 19 pace - Zaha will have defenders crying. He doesn't pull up the stats Bale or other world class players do hence he isn't in that category but what he offers is directness. There is none of this cut inside and drifting stuff from Zaha. He gets the ball and he will carry it. He goes on the outside and creates chances. His single-mindedness causes havoc and if he adds end product we could be talking of a world class player. Him and Bale on either side is going to be deadly.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem has similar attributes to Zaha. He is rather like a knock-off Zaha - same standout features but of a lower standard. Raheem's career hasn't really got going. He is 24 later this year. He's only played 100 club games since debuting in 2012. That's a really poor mark against his development and as a forward he has only scored five career goals and just ONE league goal. His last goal was two seasons ago. He didn't score in his last season for Liverpool. He moved to Spurs for £16.75m - started twice and made seven sub cameos in the whole of his debut season here and last season while he played more he still couldn't bag a single goal. His end product is pitiful and I am doubtful if he will actually be anywhere near a top player. I want to make some signings which may further block him so I think we can cash in on him in the next year and his career will be nomadic and pretty mediocre. 

Strikers

Son Heung-Min

I'm really happy he is already here. And he is developing nicely. 19 finishing, 16 composure, 17 acceleration, 17 long shots. Sonny has been our first pick striker since signing in 2014 for £18.25m from Hamburg. He has scored 35 goals in 126 games. It's not a stellar record but given he is 25 so has his best years ahead of him I have no doubt his strike rate will increase. The fact he can play across the frontline is so good too. The only downside is because of the way the Asian football confederation works, I will miss him for parts of the season. But I'd rather miss him for a month than not have him at all. 

Samy Huet

He joined last summer for £19.75m from Lille. It wasn't a great start. 36 games but just 10 starts. Only 5 goals. He's not that young but I think there is something to work with. If we can upgrade a few of his technical attributes so he becomes more potent and his raw athleticism could be a fine combo. 

Souleymane Coulibaly

Meh. He's an academy graduate which is pleasing, has good physical qualities but perhaps too reliant on them. If he's happy to play a bit-part role on reasonable wages I guess I'll renew his contract since he's homegrown (and when we eventually sell him it'll be hopefully for a decent fee) but I don't want to be in a position where he's starting for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. His only decent goal return was on loan in Serie B in 2012-13 and even then it was *just* 14 goals in 31 games - five years ago. 

 

[dllu]

I know he wasn't at Tottenham yet in 2012, but could you tell us where Christian Eriksen has ended up in your version of 2018?  

[Boycott]

3 hours ago, dllu said:

I know he wasn't at Tottenham yet in 2012, but could you tell us where Christian Eriksen has ended up in your version of 2018?  

He plays for Man City. Hitting his peak in a top class rival team 

[dllu]

5 hours ago, Boycott said:

He plays for Man City. Hitting his peak in a top class rival team 

As a Danish Arsenal man, I prefer any other team for him to Spurs...  

[Boycott]

1st September 2018

Mass Exodus at Tottenham Hotspur

Jimmy Carter hasn't wasted time in determining who is not up for the task at Tottenham Hotspur. Eight players have left the club in this summer window on permanent transfers raising a sum of about £54m. The most notable - and controversial - is the sale of defender Tommie Hoban to arch rivals Arsenal for £15m. Carter justified the sale to disgruntled supporters by stating, "We've just robbed them off 15 million people. He (Hoban) is ****". 

Elsewhere academy graduate Souleymane Coulibaly joined Norwich for £9m. The Ivorian failed to reach an agreement with the club over a new contract with a year to go and leaves the club after many years. Rhys Williams has gone to fellow Premier League side Southampton, full back Martin Kelly is welcoming a new start at Swansea after a lack of football for Spurs under former manager Javier Aguirre last season, Fabio Da Silva has made the journey from North London to West London and Lorenzo Tassi has dropped down a division to joining promotion hopefuls Wolves.

Jorge Enriquez turned down offers to stay in the Premier League from West Brom and Newcastle to sign for Olympique Marseille in France. The Baggies who are looking forward to a season in the Europa League made Enriquez their prime target for the summer and manager Gareth Southgate voiced his disappointment at not getting his man. 

 

[Boycott]

WELCOME BACK HARRY

The club are delighted to announce the return of our academy graduate Harry Kane who has rejoined the club from Celtic. 

Harry spent over a decade coming through the ranks although he couldn't quite make the step up to the first team. Having done well on loan moves in the Championship with four different clubs (40 goals in 127 games), Harry got a taste of the Premier League where he netted a decent return despite not being a regular starter for Southampton. It was these performances on loan that saw Harry leave the club and head north to Celtic - where the challenge of playing in front of a raucous support and a historic club swayed his decision rather than stay in England. Harry in all competitions scored 14 goals in his only season in Scotland and won the Scottish Premiership. His mature performances and work ethic endeared him to the supporters but a return to his boyhood club ultimately was too good to turn down.

Manager Jimmy Carter had this to say:

"Harry has had to work the long way round. I was always a fan of his in the youth ranks but for whatever reason the other managers couldn't find a way for him. But it's a sign of his ability and character that he's been sent around the block on loans and done well and then the cauldron of Celtic Park and became a fan favorite in one season. He's at a good point of his career to make his mark at Tottenham which was always his dream and I am extremely pleased we have got him back".

[Maw74]

Kane back at the lane.