danyates8

Absolutley steamrolling the league.

Appreciate the comment, will be a different structure to this one with a DoF making transfer decisions and hiring/firing staff. It's something I've not really delved in before so should add a new, exciting element to the save.

A Brief History of Lincoln City Lincoln City Football Club, affectionately known as "The Imps," was founded in 1884 and has been a cornerstone of English football for well over a century. The club has spent much of its existence in the lower tiers of the Football League, with notable periods of success and struggle. Sincil Bank, the club's iconic stadium, has been their home since 1895, witnessing countless highs and lows. The Imps have a proud history of punching above their weight, with memorable runs in the FA Cup and League Cup, where they often played the role of giant-killers. The club's most recent renaissance began in 2016, under the management of Danny Cowley, who led Lincoln to the National League title in 2017, securing a return to the Football League after a six-year absence. The Cowley era also saw Lincoln reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 2017, the first non-league side to do so in over a century, and win the EFL Trophy in 2018. Recent Developments and Key Figures The club's ownership has also evolved, with Clive Nates, a South African businessman and lifelong Lincoln City supporter, playing a pivotal role in the club's modernisation. Under his leadership, the club has embraced a data-driven approach to recruitment and player development, aligning with the broader vision of sustainable growth. Since his investment in 2016, Nates has overseen a transformation of the club, establishing it as a solid presence in League One. His vision is deeply rooted in sustainable growth, player development, and competitive ambition. Nates also highlighted the importance of patience and thoroughness in his decision-making process, particularly when selecting the right individuals to lead the team. His commitment to ensuring the club’s long-term success is evident in his careful consideration of both coaching appointments and player acquisitions Since the departure of Danny and Nicky Cowley in 2019, Lincoln City has experienced a period of transition. Michael Appleton took the reins and guided the club to the League One play-off final in the 2020-2021 season, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Championship. However, Appleton's tenure was also marked by inconsistency, and he departed the club in 2022. Mark Kennedy, appointed as head coach in 2022, has continued this philosophy, focusing on developing young talent and playing an attractive, possession-based style of football. Kennedy's tenure has seen the club stabilise in League One, but the ambition remains to push for promotion to the Championship and establish Lincoln City as a competitive force at that level. Club Philosophy and Vision for the Future Lincoln City’s current philosophy revolves around sustainability, youth development, and a commitment to playing attractive, attacking football. The club prides itself on identifying and nurturing young talent, with a strong emphasis on developing players who can contribute to the first team or be sold for a profit, ensuring the club's financial health. The vision for the future is clear: Lincoln City aims to become a stable Championship club within the next five years. This will require a blend of astute recruitment, effective player development, and tactical innovation on the pitch. Off the pitch, the club continues to invest in its infrastructure, with plans to improve the facilities at Sincil Bank and the training ground to ensure that the Imps can compete with the best. Backstory Early Years in Whitby: James "Jay" Marshall was born and raised in the picturesque coastal town of Whitby, North Yorkshire. Growing up in a football-loving household, his father, a former semi-professional player for Whitby Town, instilled in him a passion for the game from a young age. However, while most kids his age were busy kicking a ball around the park, Jay was more interested in understanding why teams played the way they did. He would watch matches with his father, asking endless questions about tactics, formations, and player roles. As a teenager, Jay’s love for football grew alongside his academic talents. At Whitby Community College, he was known as a bright student with a particular aptitude for mathematics and economics. These subjects appealed to his analytical mind, and he began to see football through a unique lens, often comparing it to a complex puzzle that required both strategic thinking and precise execution. Instead of pursuing a traditional route into the sport, Jay focused on his studies, recognising that his future lay not in playing football but in understanding and dissecting it. He spent his weekends volunteering as an assistant coach for local youth teams, using these opportunities to experiment with tactical ideas and formations. His ability to simplify complex tactical concepts made him a favourite among the young players, many of whom would later credit Jay for their early development in the game. University and Early Career: After excelling in his A-levels, Jay enrolled at the University of Leeds, choosing to study Sports Science with a specialisation in Performance Analysis. His time at university was transformative. Jay immersed himself in the world of football analytics, learning how to use data to gain insights into player performance, team dynamics, and tactical trends. He spent countless hours in the university’s sports labs, analysing footage of matches, breaking down every aspect of the game, and honing his analytical skills. His dissertation, titled "The Evolution of Tactics in the Premier League: A Data-Driven Analysis," caught the attention of several local clubs. In it, Jay argued that the future of football would be dominated by managers who could blend traditional coaching methods with modern data analytics—a philosophy that would come to define his career. Upon graduating with first-class honours, Jay secured his first role in football as a performance analyst at Harrogate Town. Although the club was operating in the lower leagues, Jay saw it as the perfect place to test his ideas. At Harrogate, he developed a reputation for his meticulous preparation and innovative use of data, helping the club gain a competitive edge. His work was instrumental in their promotion to the National League, and soon after, he was headhunted by Huddersfield Town, who were looking to bolster their analytical department. Huddersfield Town and the FA: At Huddersfield, Jay joined a club on the rise. As part of a forward-thinking backroom team, he contributed to the club’s historic promotion to the Premier League in 2017. His role involved analysing opponents, providing detailed reports for the coaching staff, and working closely with players to improve their individual performance. His analytical reports became a crucial part of Huddersfield’s tactical preparations, and his ability to identify and exploit the weaknesses of opponents earned him high praise within the club. Despite his success, Jay felt a growing desire to move beyond analysis and into coaching. Recognising this, he took the bold step of enrolling in UEFA coaching courses. Over the next few years, he balanced his role at Huddersfield with his coaching education, earning his badges and gaining hands-on experience with the club’s youth teams. In 2018, Jay’s career took a significant turn when he was offered a technical advisory role at the English Football Association (FA). This position allowed him to work with the national youth teams, where he applied his analytical skills to help shape the tactical approach of England’s next generation. Jay was part of the backroom team that supported the U-17 and U-20 England squads during their successful World Cup campaigns in 2017. His work with the FA further deepened his understanding of player development and youth coaching. Transition to Management: Jay’s experience at the FA solidified his ambition to become a head coach. With his coaching badges in hand and a wealth of experience in performance analysis, Jay was ready to step into management. His first opportunity came in 2019 when he was appointed head coach of Matlock Town in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football. Taking charge of Matlock Town was a daunting task. The club had been struggling in the lower half of the table for several seasons, and resources were limited. However, Jay relished the challenge. He quickly set about implementing his philosophy, focusing on possession-based football, high pressing, and tactical flexibility. Jay’s analytical background proved invaluable; he used data to identify undervalued players, often bringing in young talents from higher divisions who had been overlooked. In his first season, Matlock Town finished in the top half of the table, a significant improvement from previous years. The following season, Jay led the team to the play-offs, narrowly missing out on promotion. His success at Matlock earned him widespread recognition, and it wasn’t long before he was approached by clubs in higher divisions. The Lincoln City Challenge: Now, at the age of 41, Jay Marshall has taken on his most significant challenge yet: managing Lincoln City in League One. His journey from a performance analyst in non-league football to a head coach in the Football League is a testament to his dedication, intelligence, and innovative approach to the game. Jay’s vision for Lincoln City is clear. He aims to build a team that plays attractive, possession-based football, with a strong emphasis on youth development. His tactical flexibility and ability to adapt to different situations make him a formidable opponent, and his commitment to using data to inform his decisions ensures that Lincoln City will be at the cutting edge of modern football. As Jay embarks on this new chapter with the Imps, he brings with him a unique blend of analytical insight, coaching experience, and a deep passion for the game. The future looks bright for Lincoln City under his leadership, as Jay Marshall sets out to guide the club to new heights in the footballing world.

Thanks for the kind words its much appreciated

Only just caught wind of this thread and wow, the graphics are exceptional and the storytelling up to this point is really engaging. I'll be following this one for sure! What a start.

Marcus Leonardo actually became one of our most dangerous attackers from the left hand side, 16 goals and 10 assists in his 2nd season included a Champions League winner. I'd say he has been a success.

Can confirm this is a big issue and basically makes using Peterborough a non starter. 950k per month for a whole season basically sets you up for failure.

Thanks a lot for the kind words. I'm happy with our run this season and it does feel like the right time to start another save. I'm not 100% decided on what to do next just yet. I'm tempted to start a longer term save, maybe a journeyman of some sorts. I don't usually buy the new edition of the game when its released, I usually wait until the winter update before buying, I was going to change that when they first announced FM25 and the massive coming changes but I'm leaning towards the my usual way of doing things and committing to a long term save on FM24 alongside a blog but I feel I need to do a bit of prep first to commit to the long term.

Thanks ever so much for the praise, I'm delighted with the results. I'm tempted to start a new save/blog as the idea of this one was to use better players in bigger and better competitions and I was able to essentially achieve my goal, the itch is scratched and I've had a few ideas swirling around my head the last few days.

As we arrive in May, the team is in excellent form, unbeaten in seven matches and scoring freely. Marcus Leonardo and Benjamin Šeško have both been outstanding, leading our attacking line with impressive performances. I haven’t delved much into individual player performances this season, so now seems like a good time to highlight some standouts. Marcus Leonardo is having a stellar second season at the club, improving both his goal and assist tallies from last year. He’s quickly becoming a reliable match-winner for us. Kang-In Lee is another player who has made significant strides, increasing his goal contributions and proving his value to the team. Among our highest-rated players this season are Destiny Udogie, Benjamin Šeško, Ilias Akhomach, Yves Bissouma, and Radu Drăgușin, all consistently performing above a 7.10 rating. It’s particularly pleasing to see such a strong core of players delivering on a regular basis. On the other hand, Pedro Porro currently holds the lowest rating in the squad, but even then, he’s sitting at a respectable 6.95. We need to explore how to maximise Porro’s potential, as he’s one of our most technically gifted players. In contrast, Destiny Udogie continues to shine. Over the past two seasons, he has routinely been our most dependable and highest-rated player, solidifying his status as a truly elite left-back. MAY So we didn't kick off the month in a very good fashion, kicking off with two defeats against Newcastle and Atletico Madrid. I believe that it was my approach to the fixtures that led to the failure as I went with our more balanced approach and it most definitely backfired, two poor attacking performances where we created next to nothing. We had still done enough to progress to the Champions League final though, our destruction of Atleti at home enough to seal the deal. I had decided that our balanced approach wasn't the way forward and decided to stick to our aggressive, attacking style for the rest of the season and it certainly paid off for the rest of our League fixtures against West Ham, Southampton and Leicester with 11 goals scored in the next 3 games with only 2 conceded, granted the level of opposition wasn't the toughest but we can still be pleased with our efforts and it sets us up well for our massive cup finals in which the Leicester fixture sandwiched. We’ve done it! In a breath-taking display of football, we have lifted the FA Cup with a resounding victory over Manchester United, etching a new chapter in the club’s storied history. The atmosphere at Wembley was electric, and the team rose to the occasion, delivering a performance that will be remembered for years to come. On the day, we were simply unstoppable. From the first whistle, it was clear that we were the dominant force, creating chance after chance and eventually finding the back of the net twice. The star of the show was none other than Benjamin Šeško, who put in a match-winning performance with two clinical goals, forever inscribing his name into Spurs folklore. His first goal was a masterclass in positioning and poise, while his second was the nail in Manchester United’s coffin, sending the Spurs faithful into raptures. While Šeško rightly grabs the headlines, this victory was a true team effort. Every player in the squad played their part, but the attacking trio of Šeško, Marcus Leonardo, and Dejan Kulusevski were simply unplayable. Their fluid movement, incisive passing, and relentless pressure on the United defence left the opposition reeling. The Manchester United backline had no answer to their dynamic interplay, and they were terrorised from start to finish. It was a day where everything came together perfectly—tactics, execution, and desire. Spurs were the better side in every aspect, and as the final whistle blew, it was a moment of pure jubilation. The triumph at Wembley is not just a testament to the quality within this squad but also a sign of what’s to come as we continue our journey towards even greater success. We have done the unthinkable! At the start of the season, no one could have imagined that our first campaign in the Champions League would culminate in us lifting the most prestigious trophy in European football. Yet here we are, having sent Spurs fans into the stratosphere with our achievements. This time, it was our defence that earned the plaudits. Each player played an immense role in our hard-fought 1-0 victory. Marcus Leonardo, who scored the decisive goal, has now propelled his reputation to new heights. No matter what the future holds, he will forever be adored by the Spurs faithful. Dejan Kulusevski was once again our most dangerous player, relentlessly exploiting the space left by Bayern Munich’s wide centre-back and complete wing-back. His ability to find and create opportunities was unmatched, leaving Bayern’s defence in tatters. Marco Rose, Bayern Munich’s manager, must surely be disappointed with his side's approach. They seemed content to let us control the game, a bold and ultimately misguided strategy considering the quality we possess. Their reluctance to seize the initiative played right into our hands. I am honestly still in shock at what we have achieved this season. We’ve improved our league form, collecting more points and securing a higher position. We exacted sweet revenge in the FA Cup, beating Arsenal, who had left us heartbroken in last season’s final, and then overcoming Manchester United to end our trophy drought. But the crowning glory has to be our era-defining Champions League victory. In just two seasons, we have propelled Spurs to the pinnacle of European football. This is more than just a triumph; it’s the beginning of a new chapter in our history, one that will be remembered for generations.

We are now entering the most critical part of the season, where a single bad week could turn everything upside down. Up to this point, our performances have been impressive, but that could quickly change if we falter in the upcoming fixtures. March presents massive challenges, with every match posing a serious test. We’re up against top-tier opponents, starting with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League Round of 16, both home and away. There’s also a massive FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal, the very team that defeated us in last year's final. Our Premier League fixtures include tough clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal. To make matters even more challenging, we’ll be without both our first-choice and backup goalkeepers for the first few matches. I won’t deny that this leaves me seriously concerned. The pressure is on, and the margin for error is slim. MARCH Firstly ill discuss our two league fixtures of the month against Chelsea and Arsenal. We came up short away against Chelsea which was disapointing as up to this point we have always had the better of them, we beat them fairly convincingly numerous times in the league during my time in charge however since the appointment of Thomas Frank they have shown much improved form losing only once since he has arrived. We managed a massive win against Arsenal, this game came as the 2nd of a double header against Arsenal and it seemed we capitalised on their disappointment of getting knocked out of the FA cup by us to. Our FA cup quarter final against bitter rivals Arsenal was a very tense affair, with both teams creating multiple high class chances but neither able to capitalise on them and the game went into extra time, it didn't take long until one moment of quality from Tommy Doyle won us the game. He picked up the ball on the edge of the box, dribbled by two Arsenal defenders and slotted the ball in the far corner. A goal of real high quality from the Englishman which saw us gain an element of revenge for last seasons final heartbreak. Now to the Champions League round of 16 fixture against Dortmund. Firstly ill get the nonsense out of the way first, we have already established our unfortunate position heading into the month, our first choice and backup goalkeepers picked up injuries at the end of last month to leave us with only one fit option, Lukas Hradecky has been reliable up until this point so I was more than comfortable in using him for these huge games against Dortmund - during squad registration one of the rules stated 'if two goalkeepers are injured, an unregistered goalkeeper can play' and for that reason I didn't register Hradecky for the Champions League and guess what... I couldn't select him and our u21 keeper had already played a fixture on the same day. A catastrophic situation which could have huge implications on our season. Samuel Archer, an u18 keeper was selected on the basis of the regular positive training reports I had received from our staff over the last few months and he didn't disappoint us delivering an excellent performance securing an in game rating of 7.5. Despite the goalkeeping issues we delivered a measure performance culminating in a 2-0 win with our defensive unit having an excellent game. The second leg of the tie resulted in one of the best individual performances of the season, Ilias Akhomach dominating the game scoring twice and assist twice too. 7-1 on aggregate sees us comfortable to the quarter finals. APRIL We came unstuck against Man City again in the first league fixture of the month, a soft penalty being the difference overall. We blitzed Ipswich 5-1 with Šeško bagging himself a hat-trick and Marcus Leonardo snatching a brace for himself. We had plenty of chances to put Leeds away but couldn't take advantage of any of them, they took the lead with 20 mins left and it looked like it wasn't going to be our day but Porro popped up with a 90th min equalise to spare our blushes. It looked like the Sheff Utd game was following a similar path to the Leeds fixture, we went behind but this time it was our subs that changed the game, Kang-In Lee changing the game scoring 2 mins after his introduction and Marcus Leonardo sealed the deal 6 mins later. There are now only 4 games left of the season and we sit on 70 points alongside Norwich and Liverpool with Man City a massive 13 points ahead. Chelsea provided the FA cup final test and its one we passed very well. We created more chances of higher quality and the performance of Lucas Bergvall was very impressive, he provided the assists for both of our goals and that was enough to see us to our second FA final in two seasons. I thought Liverpool could be one step to far for us over two legs but I couldn't of been more wrong. We came away with a 3-0 win in the away fixture, the score line was unfair to Liverpool but we cant help if they don't take their chances whilst we were very clinical, we demolished them 4-1 at home to come away with another 7-1 aggregate score line to progress to the semi-finals where we were to face Atletico Madrid. Our semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid saw us play the first leg at home which I feel is a slight disadvantage in the first leg. We gave ourselves the best opportunity for progression to the final though with our performance winning the game 4-0. We have been absolutley devastating in the Champions League so far this season, our knockout form is absolutley outstanding scoring 18 goals in 5 games up to yet only conceding twice. May is set to be one of the biggest months in the club’s history. We’ve got a massive FA Cup final against Manchester United, and after our stunning 4-0 victory against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, we’re just one step away from reaching the final. But can we handle the immense pressure that comes with these monumental moments? Will the pain of last season’s final losses spur us on, or will it weigh us down? There are so many questions, and all will be answered in the next month.

Thank you for the kind words. I'm trying my very best to keep the transfers at a realistic level and fully develop the squad we have whilst trying to balance the clubs policies, we are doing well so far in both regards. We've certainly improved this season too although I still feel we can get more goals out of our forwards. I feel we are still haven't fully clicked as an attacking unit and I've not brought the best out of Pedro Porro yet either.

Amazing results massive congrats

Appreciate the kind words. The skin is called Rensie

Honestly I never thought that was a possibility, Guardiola still dominating. Cant wait to integrate him to the team, offers us a new dimension

Excellent results, your players certainly have an eye for goal!

That is a massive rebuild! £500M spent I bet Daniel Levy cant sleep! Looking forward to see how you get on next season, surely expectations have risen drastically?

As we step into 2026, I’ve taken some time to reflect on my journey at the club so far. It’s hard to believe that it’s only been 18 months since I took charge, but the progress we've made in that time is something I’m incredibly proud of. We’ve transformed the club, getting Spurs back to fighting for top-four places in the Premier League and reaching two cup finals. Although we came up short in both finals, they’re a testament to the rapid progress we’ve made since I arrived. When I first arrived at the club, a clear vision was laid out for us, and I’m pleased to say that we are well on our way to achieving those goals. One of the primary objectives was to bolster the club’s commercial standing, and we’ve made significant strides in that regard. Our return to the Champions League has been a major boost, not just in terms of prestige but also in driving revenue. Progressing to cup finals has further raised our profile, attracting more attention and support from fans and sponsors alike. Another key aspect of our commercial strategy has been the signing of high-reputation players. Bringing in talents like Kang-In Lee and Benjamin Šeško has not only strengthened the squad but also enhanced our global appeal. These signings have helped us tap into new markets and expand our brand, contributing to the overall financial health of the club. Similarly, the club’s reputation has grown in tandem with these commercial gains. Our ability to attract and develop top talent has only added to our stature, making Spurs an increasingly attractive destination for players. In terms of player acquisitions, we’ve also made strides in another crucial area: signing players with the potential to sell for a profit. We’ve made smart moves in the transfer market, bringing in players whose value has already risen since their arrival. Should interest in their services develop, I fully expect us to make a healthy profit, which will further reinforce the club's financial stability and allow us to reinvest in the squad. Another area where we’re excelling is in the development of young players, which has always been a key part of the club’s vision. Jamie Donley is a prime example of this success, having broken through to secure a place in the first-team squad. He’s just the beginning—other youngsters like Lucas Bergvall, Mikey Moore, and others have already featured for the first team, showcasing the depth of talent coming through our academy. Looking ahead, the next 12 months should see even more integration of youth into the senior squad. Players such as Luka Vušković, Ashley Phillips, Chris Rigg and Tyrone Dixon are on the verge of making their breakthroughs, and I’m confident they will continue our tradition of nurturing top-class talent. The emphasis on youth development isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—it’s a core part of our strategy and one that I’m committed to upholding. In addition to academy graduates, our policy of signing U23 players for the first team has been equally successful. The club is very conscious of developing young talent and sees it as a key part of our long-term vision. I’m delighted that we’re adhering so closely to this expectation and that it’s paying off on the pitch. In terms of January business, we pinpointed the potential signing of Johan Bakayoko last summer. We noticed that his contract was expiring in 12 months, and since then, we’ve been heavily scouting him. He’s exactly the type of attacking winger we’ve been lacking—devastating pace, exceptional dribbling ability, and the agility and flair to match his technical skills. As soon as January came, and he was open to speak to other clubs, we wasted no time in making contact. Bakayoko was delighted with our interest and accepted our offer of a £200k-per-week, five-year contract. It’s more than I initially wanted to pay in wages, but considering we’re signing a £50 million player on a free transfer, it’s frankly incredible business. JANUARY Back to the fixtures and we had 3 league games during January. We were able to comfortably dispatch of both Norwich and Brentford with relative ease, the Brentford performance a particular standout as we dominated from start to finish. We could only muster a draw against last seasons Champions Man Utd, I'm happy with that result, our record against the 'top' opposition this season has been much improved so far this season. Its a shame we have had a couple of poor performances against so called 'lesser' opposition this season with the Fulham and Brighton defeats springing to mind, if we can iron out those performances we're sure to be a bit closer to Man City. They are an absolute juggernaut on this particular save and I anticipate a real challenge in catching them. We had our first FA cup fixtures of the season and we came away with good results in both, well the Bristol City result was better than good it was a devastating display of attacking football which resulted in a 7-0 demolition. Preston was more comfortable than the score line suggests however our defensive lapses in concentration were pretty concerning. Most pleasingly was the use of of younger players and the performances that they put in. Lucas Bergvall was truly magnificent in both fixtures featuring from the deep playmaker role and Mikey Moore put in a very impressive performance against Bristol although the same can be said for everyone. We managed to secure our place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League too during January, which also ticks off a short term board achievement as that was a minimum requirement they expected this season. We came away with an unfortunate defeat in Paris against PSG, it was a closely fought contest with little chances for either team but a mistake from Tommy Doyle gifted an easy chance for Ousmane Dembélé to tap in. Against Benfica we scored at either end of the game to secure a comfortable 2-0 win to seal our progression with a 4th place finish during the league stage. We did have one outgoing from the squad too during the January transfer window, Josh Doig left to join Porto for £25M which represents an excellent deal for the club, £15.25M profit within 18 months I feel is sensational business and also meets expectations for the club policy regarding signing players to sell for a profit. Josh was a fantastic back up option for us, his performances absolutley sensational since his arrival, that brought the attention of many clubs and the opportunity for him to go to be a first choice somewhere was something I didn't feel would be fair to deny. He was always going to struggle to nail down a first choice spot because of Destiny Udogie. They are very comparable in terms of performances but the versatility of Udogie gives him the edge in my opinion. FEBRUARY February is a month dominated by league fixtures and we can be fairly satisfied with our performances although there is one standout, terrible result. Crystal Palace have found themselves in a relegation battle for the majority of the season however we're able to deny us and come away with a 2-0 win. We can be delighted with our performances against Aston Villa and Bournemouth, we beat both with ease 3-0. Brighton have been a bit of a bogey team for us up to yet on this save, they have beat us in a cup final and already in the league this season however the main factor behind those defeats is now resolved. Julian Nagelsmann seemingly had my number as a coach however he has now left for pastures new, taking over RB Leipzig in Germany. Olof Mellberg is the replacement and whilst I respect his position as a coach he doesn't bring the same fear factor in my opinion, that mindset however nearly came back to bite me. We held a comfortable 2-0 lead and I thought our luck against Brighton was about to turn however they were able to grab a goal just before the half time whistle blew, this gave them the momentum they needed and they found themselves level within 3 minutes of the game restarting. We had luck on our side though and we won a penalty in the 89th minute, which Šeško converted to give us all 3 points. The Liverpool performance was something of a rollercoaster of emotions, we were 1-0 down and looking to be on the road to defeat, we weren't creating any decent chances until the introduction of our subs who completely flipped the game on its head. Bergvall, Moore, Kang-In Lee and Marcus Leonardo were all introduced and they all provided a goal contribution with 20 mins to put us 2-1 up with only 8 mins left and we looked to be holding on until Arijanet Muric made a catastrophic error in the 98th minute, gifting the ball to Salah who whipped the ball in the net. Devastating to happen so late in the day but again, we cant complain with the result against a top side. We only had one cup game this month and that came against Fleetwood, again we went heavy with our youth players and again they rewarded us with a fine performance, coming away 4-1 victors sealing our progression to the quarter finals where we face our conquerors in last years final, Arsenal. One very concerning area to note is the current injuries to our goalkeepers. Guglielmo Vicario and Arijanet Muric are both out for a month with injuries, its a good job we have Hradecky to call upon for the coming fixtures however we have massive games next month such as Champions League knockout rounds and the quarter final of the FA cup, these injuries cant of come at a worse time for the club and could potentially derail our season. This is also around the 6th/7th time in my FM saves so far this year where I've had both goalkeepers injured at the same time hence me usually signing a capable 3rd choice keeper virtually every save.

Yeah I feel we are dealing with the scheduling quite well this time around, we are getting a few injuries however they aren't to our essential players and so far no one is complaining about the rotation policy. It does mean we don't really have any standout players and the goal contributions are spread out between the players.

After a good opening few months to the season, were looking to kick on during the winter months. November is a very tough month in the league as we face top teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City with 2 away fixtures to contend with in the Champions League, the league fixtures I believe will go along way into dictating our final league position - I know that may seem as an extreme thing to say but the level teams operate at in this League means we cant afford any sort of bad run of form, the teams that win the league tend to go on 18/20 game unbeaten runs and that something we just haven't done yet. During these month we've also completed the upgrade to our training facilities. They received a downgrade due to technological advancements - initially Daniel Levy didn't agree to my request to improve them however my annoyance must of had the desired effect as two weeks later Daniel came back to me offering to do what they had previously refused. The training facilities are a massive factor in the way I want to run this club, in my opinion there are 2 main ways to improve your squad and the route we have decided to go down is via player improvement. We will still make signings however they will be, as previously mentioned, well thought out. We are also now beginning to experience some interest in our players, which is to be expected. The club vision we agreed to when we joined the club included sign players to sell for a profit so this is something I plan on achieving. Obviously my preference would be that our fringe players are the one's who make us our profit and the core players are the guys who fire us to glory. It all sounds great however if thinks pan out that way is another matter, the interest in our players so far is for the guys id rather keep. Realism however is a key component to how I play FM, so because of that if we receive interest from teams that have a bigger reputation than us, I will always consider their offers. So I'll explain in more detail using the below graphic. In the case of Ilias Akhomach, he is currently 22 years of age about to undergo his 2nd season at the club after a very successful first year. In terms of teams interested in his services at the moment, there is only Juventus, because of this I'm more than happy to reject the bid. Historically I'm not denying that Juventus have a richer, more decorated history and are probably viewed as the bigger club across the world however in game their reputation is 4 stars, they haven't won the league in 5 years and most recently finished 9th in the league, more than enough reasons in my mind to reject the bid, things would begin to change when teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Man City get involved. Reputationally they are well ahead of us, have a far greater chance at trophies (our barren spell at the forefront of my mind) and can offer a more attractive, financial offer. Using that philosophy means the interest in Benjamin Šeško has me slightly worried. Liverpool are sniffing around, they have achieved far more than us recently and historically and are one of the biggest clubs in the world, undeniably. I fear that any bids could turn his head and make him push for a move due to his ambitious personality and the fact that he has admitted to being flattered by the interest being shown in him - the likelihood is, any rejected bids would disillusion Šeško and that has the potential to cause unrest. Jamie Donley provides a far more comforting situation, developed at the club since a young age and we are one of his favoured clubs, I would feel far more comfortable in rejecting these offers should they ever transpire. He is far more likely to show us loyalty and in my opinion, wouldn't have his head turn should we reject those bids. Obviously that is my gut feeling on the situation and I may of completely mis-read it. We do have a situation developing with Josh Doig. Liverpool came in with a bid at the 11th hour of the summer transfer window, they bid £25 million which I would of usually accepted however with it being so late in the window I wasn't comfortable with letting him leave in that moment, we had no time to find a replacement and his performances last season were exceptional, so we couldn't really afford to lose him. He was unhappy we rejected the bid as he felt Liverpool provided a better opportunity for trophies - which can't be argued against right now, I told him I was happy to let him leave once we had signed a replacement which he agreed to, giving us the time to scout any potential successors however he did request a transfer so his intentions are clear. NOVEMBER At a quick glance, November doesn't look that successful with 3 games without a win but on closer inspection can be considered an excellent month. A superb opening win against Chelsea where we dominated from start to finish culminating in a 3-0 win, I accidently gave Hradecky his Premier League debut after forgetting to swap him after our cup win against Oxford last month. Next up was a fairly underwhelming 0-0 against Real Sociedad, we weren't at our attacking best on the day and struggled to create any clear cut opportunities however defensively we were sound. Similar story in the next game in terms of how the game went but we were away against Arsenal so the result is much more pleasing, even more so when you consider we were down to 10 men after 50 mins. Marcus Leonardo with a quite ridiculous 2 footed challenge which, rightly so, earned him a straight red card. Now for the most frustrating result of the month, we should of beat Man City, we created by far the best chances of the game however it took a penalty to find the score sheet. Its games like these that we have to win if we have any hope of reaching their level. Man City for me are the standout team of the save so far, they did get pipped to last seasons Premier League by a resurgent Man Utd, however they won the Champions League for the 2nd time in their history and this season are setting a serious pace in the Premier League so far, losing only once up to yet, with that considered our results against them are actually very good. In the Champions League, St Gallen didn't provide much resistance, we comfortably dispatched them 3-0, Jamie Donley with a very impressive performance leading the line. I'm very happy with our return to the Champions League, unbelievably, we are yet to concede and we look to be on the way to comfortable progression to the next phase. Ipswich proved stern opposition back in the Premier League, but a fine performance from Pedro Porro was enough to secure us the win on the day. DECEMBER We have a staggering 9 games during December, a really tough period where we did find ourselves slightly stretched, we suffered a couple of injuries in the first few games and that effected our attacking output over the rest of the month. Adam Wharton is a crucial element to our play, he is the heartbeat of our midfield and our most comfortable player in possession and our game plan suffers when he isn't involved which is evident from the results immediately after his injury, we may of got through that particular period in question if we had the services of Benjamin Šeško to call upon however he suffered the exact same injury as Wharton in the same game! So not only were we without our primary playmaking hub, we were without our main goal scoring threat. Not a good combination. In terms of fixtures the month couldn't of started any better, we smashed Leeds 3-0 and honestly it could of been 6/7. Similar level of performance against Sheff Utd leading to a comfortable win too, Tommy Doyle with a man of the match performance, he is proving to be excellent value and performs really well when given the chance. Red Bull Salzburg proved a very difficult fixture for us, coming away with a draw with a 93rd minute equaliser. We were playing well in the first half and held a 1-0 leading going into the break however we conceded from a long throw to give Salzburg the momentum in the 2nd half and within 10 mins they found themselves in front. To our credit we pushed and pushed and we weren't eventually rewarded for our efforts to remain undefeated in the Champions League. Newcastle was a very frustrating experience, and one where I feel we missed our players out with injury. Wharton provides a level of composure and calmness we really lacked and we paid the price for that when seemingly holding a comfortable 2-0 lead, Pape Matar Sarr has the attribute profile which suggests he can have the same effect on the game as Wharton, however it doesn't really transpire that way, he makes nearly double the interceptions and tackles p/90 but his progressive passes, open play key passes and dribbles/90 and significantly down on Wharton's numbers, these numbers make me think they would actually make a fantastic partnership. After reaching the final of last seasons Carabao Cup, I hold my hands up to underestimating Coventry, I expected a comfortable win however in hindsight I made some obvious tactical errors, the first being using Luka Vušković in a defensive midfield role and secondly left our centre backs to exposed due to Coventry's width and not noticing that early enough, with that being said we created enough chances to win the game. Clinical finishing proved the difference against Southampton, in what largely, was an even contest, Marcus Leonardo taking advantage of a rare chance to start up front for us. Another close game against Fulham but again its another away performance which we haven't created enough chances and individual mistakes have cost us points, this is our 3rd away loss of the season already and we still have some very tough away fixtures to come. Our home form however is exceptional, we've only lost one league game at home since we arrived at Spurs, annoyingly against Arsenal and that strong home form was again on show against West Ham, an all around solid performance where we created quality chances and limited West Ham to very little. Our final fixture of the year came against Leicester, we dominated from start to finish and didn't allow Leicester a single shot on target, another positive was the first goal for the club for youngster, Peter Duff. I'm fairly surprised at our staffs opinion on young Peter, to my eye he looks to have a really well rounded attribute base for his age and looks to have some potential to work with, admittedly there are areas to work on such as his undesirable personality and low concentration but I'm willing to put some effort into turning him into a useful player for us. So a fairly solid couple of months for us, Man City are setting a serious pace in the league and if recent history is anything to go by they are going to be really difficult to catch, in terms of the Champions League the table looks rosy but it could easily go very wrong for us, we are only 3 points ahead of teams down to 12th so its imperative we see out our final two fixtures with positive results. We head into the January transfer window is a great position in terms of squad depth and wont be looking to sign anyone. Josh Doig is still unhappy about the rejected bid in the summer and he still has interest so we may look to move him on should we receive an acceptable bid, I don't think we need to bring in a replacement either, Finlay James is progressing nicely and id be more than willing to have him as deputy for Udogie should that situation arise.

Looking forward to the update

Mamardashvili looks excellent and at 24 has another 10 years ahead of him and from a value stand point is stellar business.

I've come across this myself in virtually every save that I've started this year, the recent Blackburn save I was blogging a drastic example - played the previous seasons top 5 in the first 7 games and the first 3 games were 1st, 2nd and 3rd from the season prior too. I really like the players you have brought in, Geertruida I really like as a player with his versatility. I'd be interested to see a comparison between Onana and Mamardashvili too, my gut feeling says Mamardashvili will be your #1 in due course

Similar to you I'd like to at least make the knockouts. I'm desperate to win a trophy this year after the heartbreak of 2 cup final losses last season. Time for a striker through the door?

Serious goal scoring capability in your side! Congrats on the successful season! How do you think you will fare in the Champions League?