Fulham FC

It has been a month since my last post has I was looking a for new save which would last more than 2/3 seasons. I was going to to one with Fluminense but got bored with it very quickly so I decided to look at Premier League clubs with little or no trophy history with a chance of doing something special every 2/3 seasons and the 3 clubs that relegated from the Premier League from 13/14 season. I choose Fulham has they have a nice blend young talent and experience players, the ground can expanded in the future if the club has good average attendances every season, the chairman could provide funds and the only major success was being runner up in the Europa League under Roy Hodgson. The club has potential to be a good Premier League side, winning one of the domestic cups every so often and eventually compete for a top 6 finish on a regular basis with an outside chance of Champions League every few seasons. This depends on me getting the right players in and getting the tactics right for this to happen.

I decided to stick the current squad for the 14/15 season and only add players if there is an injury crisis in one part of the squad. The central midfield is the weakest part of the squad in terms of numbers not quality so any injuries could force my hand into the loan market. I might bring in players if they young and talented also if there is no other player in the U21 and U19 in that position for example I don’t have cover for Ruiz in the AMC position.


I need the squad to gel quickly has we have a tough start to the Championship. I will be using to 2 formations over the course of the season, 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 narrow diamond, which suit the players that are currently in the senior squad.


We have only failed to score in 2 games in the first 23 games of the league season. So far only Birmingham have stopped us from taking any points. In mid September I was forced to get a central midfielder in on loan for 3 months has there was an injury crisis in that position and I players in the U21 either out on loan or injured so I got Jordan Lussey from Liverpool. He did well in the 6 games he played but there are major concerns of his physical stats which are not to the same standard as his technical and mental stats. I just need Ruiz, McCormack and Woodrow to score on a more regular basis has we to try to get back into the Premier League at the first attempt. The attendances have been great for our home games and we are near the top for number sellouts also % of capacity but midtable for average attendance.


Us and Middlesbrough are pulling away from the Playoff places while the battle for the Playoffs covers 12 teams with realistic chance of getting in there. The bottom 3 are being casted adrift from the rest of the table.

Capital One Cup

Round 2
Round 3
Round 4, Quarter Final and Semi Final

FA Cup

Round 3

New Player

Humam Tarigq, £500k from Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

I was given £25m to spend in January so I decided to buy Tariq having followed his progress on previous FM15 saves and was impressed with his progression on those saves also the scouts reports on those saves came back positive and recommended to pay whatever price. He is joining us on the 1st of January but will go out on loan to Tromso to get a work permit has he failed to get one but was allowed to sign him.

I am hoping at the end of the season to able to persuade the board to get a club affiliation to get players EU nationally if they come from outside the EU or don’t have an EU nationally. I hope in a season or 2 that Craven Cottage is expanded to above 30,000 and maybe one day a new stadium is built.

New Players (Winter 2015)

Lloyd Jones

He was signed from Liverpool for £375k. My Head of Youth Development put this transfer together before passing it to me for the contract negotiations. He has the potential to be a good defender for us if he can improve his physical stats. I am sure in a couple of years time he could have a starting place in my line up or be close to breaking into.

Thomas Delaney

He was signed from Copenhagen for £500k. He is the long replacement for Scott Parker both has a player and potentially club captain. He needs to work on his vision and strength.

I sold Fernando Amorebieta to Burnley for £4.5m with £2.5m upfront and £2m to be paid over 12months. I sold him has £4.5m was too good turn down for a player approaching his 30’s also has opened up a place for Burn and Hutchinson to stake claim for.


I had to rotate the players a lot thanks to the run in the Capital One Cup which resulted in some inconsistent form both player and overall. Woodrow certainly showed that he could replace McCormack if needed. Patrick Roberts is showing that he can be a future England winger. This time it is Wolves were the only team to stop us getting points. I thought we were going to have a difficult period after narrowly losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup 3rd Round but we managed get on track quickly.



Capital One Cup


FA Cup
3rd Round




New Players (Summer 2015)

Josh Brownhill

He was signed for an intial fee of £3.25k from Preston North End. The transfer has the potential cost £2.5m with various clauses which are £375k after 10 league games, £75k per league appearance for 10 league games, £375k for 10 league goals, £6.96k per month for 12months and £625k for promotion. He needs to improve his physicals stats before he moves into the first team squad but has the potential to be a good player for us.

Kyle Bartley

Signed on free transfer from Swansea. This is the second save game I have signed Bartley. He has Premier League experience which is missing in my defence. He needs this move to work out for the good of his career.

Tyrone Mings

I have paid £5m upfront with £3.5m over the next 48months. He has the potential to be an England International he can perform in the Premier League and Europa League.

Wellington Silva

He is going to be cover for Roberts. Hopefully he prove to be a good player for us in the cup competitions and Europa League with some Premier League games.

I will not be adding more players to the first team unless a player gets a season ending injury. I have transfer listed Mitroglou and Stekelenburg has I believe I have players that are potentially better or currently better than them.

The 2015/16 season is going to be tough has the board wants us to finish mid table, I am hoping that the current squad is good enough to achieve that while competing in the Europa League. I might have to keep my best players for the Premier League games and play my 2nd XI in Europe.

Before I update you all on my progress with Fulham in the Premier League and Europe, I decided to share my tactics with you.


This is my main formation. It can be changed to 4-2-3-1 depending on the opposition. I have a couple of pact wingers which I like use has they provide their share of assists and goals. The central midfield trio are combative but they also creative. The defence is protected by 2 ball winning central midfielders. The main thing about the formations I use is that they are balanced and the positions or roles that the players play in are also balance for example the full backs are the same, at least 2 of the 3 central midfielders are the same with a defensive minded player.


This is my 2nd formation which gets changed depending on who is available, opposition and competition, I have been using 5-3-2 against top Permier League sides while using this one in Europe and Cup games.


I set up my side to win the ball back quickly and get on the offensive quickly. This never changes regardless of the formation, mentality and match day training focus.

New Players


He adds a lot of Premier League and European experience to a young squad. I would have had to pay £1m to £2m if he was under contract with another club so getting on a free transfer is a bargain.


He is an extra body in the striker department to help ease the pressure of the others when we play twice in 4days. He will be mainly used in the Europa League and some cup games.


I tried several attempts to get him without any money being transferred. He is going to be a good back up keeper for Bettinelli. He will get games in the Europa League and some cup games. I will probably get another experienced keeper has I look for young keepers for my U21 and U18 squads.

Premier League


We recorded our first win against Liverpool at Anfield which was a shock has I sent the team up get at least point or if we did lose it would have been by a goal or two. We went on a 6 game winning streak after losing to Tottenham and now we are unbeaten in 10 games. Ross McCormack finally got going in November and December while my midfield continue to impress me in every game we play. I decided to field my best players for Premier League games and use the rest including the bench in Europa League games. This meant I was labelled the tinkerman which is not fair has the gap between Thursday night and Sunday afternoon is not enough for players to recover properly especially long trips to Eastern Europe.


I have managed to secure our place in the Premier League for next season but the club could end finishing within the top 7 due to Europa League games. To be 3rd with a striker only netting only 7 goals so far is amazing but we need to cut out conceding easy goals. The bottom 3 are being cut adrift and face an uphill struggle to bridge the points gap to 17th.


A number of managers losing their jobs due to lose in confidence from the players and 2 due to poor league position. I think Sean Dyche has taken a sideways step and not a step up same with Nigel Pearson. It is going to be interesting who takes the jobs at Burnley, Leicester and West Ham now the January Transfer Window is open has the new managers wont have enough time to assess the squad and get new players in if needed.

Captial One Cup
3rd Round
4th Round

FA Cup


Europa League

3rd Qualifying Round

Playoffs

Group Stage



There are some really good teams left in the Europa League plus the teams finishing 3rd in the Groups Stage of the Champions League. The club managed surpass the boards expectations for the Europa League by qualifying for the next round.


The players that played in the group games really impressed me with some showing signs that they could be part of the first eleven or match day squad for the Premier League.

1st Round Knockout

2nd Round Knockout
We could potentially have two trips to Ukraine or a nice little trip to Valencia. There are some tasty ties in the 1st Round with potentially even tastier ones in the 2nd Round. This could be the end our of run or a repeat of the fantastic run the club had under Roy Hodgson where they finished runners up.

I will not be adding any new bodies to the first team in January but will scout for potential summer signings.

this season. The only good thing this that the players get at least 3 extra days to rest or train thanks to being knocked out of the Capital One Cup. The transfer window will only be used if I need to bring in players to replace out going players if necessary or I have an injury crisis in one area of the squad. I suspect it will be quiet one for the bigger clubs has the players they go after will be cup tied for Europe.


Transfer Round Up

Not many teams were active in the transfer market this winter but some of the smaller clubs tried to strengthen their squads or move on unwanted players to free up funds.

Everton replaced their back up Joel Robles, who was sold to Leicester City for £450k, with Matej Dalec from Chelsea for £230k which shows that Everton are planning for a long term successor to Tim Howard. They have added experienced striker Islam Slimani fro Sporting CP for £1.8m after releasing Kone.

Hull City decided to go the route of getting in young players like Matt Evans from MK Dons for £450k. They also added some experience to their defence with Ciaran Clark from Aston Villa for £250k. They signed Alexander Kacaniklic from us for £3.3m after George Williams replaced him has first choice left winger.

Liverpool off loaded flop Iago Aspas to Valencia for £2.9m while adding experienced defenders Pepe from Real Madrid for £1.5m and Andrea Bazaglia from Juventus for £1.3m.

Southampton gave Cardiff City a bargain with Jay Rodriguez leaving for £275k, when in form he should be at least £5 to £10m.

Premier League
[mg]http://i.imgur.com/EJJzFAL.jpg[/img]
I think we got more televised games than any other club has we were the story of the season. We got some really good results even when we lost the game. George Williams was fantastic along with Patrick Roberts, Dembele and Woodrow who all surpassed my expectations while McCormack was a little under the level I was expecting from him after what he did last season. The results against Manchester City and Liverpool for me were the games of the season.


Chelsea ran away with the title and secured their 2nd consecutive title. It is fantastic that we averaged just a goal conceded a game but we need to improve the number of goals scored has we could have won mores than we did. The relegation battle went to last game with either QPR and Burnley needed the other plus Aston Villa to lose to secure their place in the Premier League for next season. All three promoted teams stayed up even though the Boro manager stated that we don’t have the players to stay up earlier in the season and look we where finished.

Capital One Cup


FA Cup
3rd Round


4th Round


5th Round - Final


Europa League
1st Knockout Round


2nd Knockout Round - FInal



We came close to repeating the amazing run in 2009/10 where we finished runners up after losing to Atletico Madrid in the Final.

New Stadium

I requested an increase in capacity which was granted and was going to make Craven Cottage capacity of around 29,000. but now we have secured Champions League football plus over 90% capacity for every home game with about 30 games in all competitions at full capacity. The new ground will easily accommodate the 17,000 season ticket holders the club has and hopefully there will an increase in that area as well has match day tickets. I hope the corporate facilities will much better than they are currently are which will vastly improve our revenues during the season and out of season. It will be a while before the chairman will agree to improving the training facilities for the senior squad but I will ask.

New Players

I royally cocked up this season has I failed to extend the contracts of 2 of my best young players in Roberts and Woodrow, Roberts joining West Ham after his contract expired even after securing Champions League football his pathetic agent would not let me negotiate a new contract while Woodrow left for Newcastle United with them paying us just under £1m in compensation which is at least ten times less than I could have sold him for.

Alvaro Morata, Juventus £7m

I felt that Morata despite his age is a better striker than McCormack and hopefully lead the attack better than McCormack in the Premier League and Europe. If he has 2 or 3 good seasons with us and I a big offer of at least £20m I might consider selling him.

Arkadiusz Milik, Leverkusen £2.9m

I hope he can form a deadly partnership with Dembele. I have now a strike force full of youth, potential, talent and pace.

Federico Bernardeschi, Atalanta £5.75m

I hope he can be a good replacement for Roberts has his stats look impressive for a young player.

Luca Lezzerini, Fiorentina Free (pre-contract)

I need young goalkeepers for my U21 squad and be a long term cover for Bettinelli. he has potential to be a decent keeper and challenge Bettinelli for the No.1 jersey.

Nicolas Douchez, PSG Free (pre-contract)

He will be give me at least 3 seasons to build up a stable of young goalkeepers. He could easily replace Bettinelli if Bettinelli’s form dips or gets injured.

Victor Fischer, Ajax, £5m (increases to £6.75m)

I cannot believe Ajax were ready to sell this young player who is high rated by everyone. A couple of improvements in some of his stats will make a decent winger. George Williams has now some serious competition for the left wing position.

The transfer window is still open and I am looking to add some players in certain areas of the U21 squad which are lacking in the senior squad. I have a decent transfer budget to secure the players I need.

Hervin Ongenda was signed from PSG for £1m. I am short of young strikers in my U21 squad after Taggart was released has he wont be granted a work permit. He has the potential to be a good striker and I’m surprised that PSG allowed him to leave at a low price.


John Hou Sæter was signed fromk Viking for £1m. He has been loaned back to the club has part of the deal. He has the potential to be a good all round central midfielder in a few seasons. He could prove to a bargain of my Fulham save if he does fulfil his potential.


Laurentiu Branescu was signed from Juventus for £185k. I needed young keepers for the U21’s and has the potential to be a good keeper but game time will be very limited so loan spells will have to do and hopefully help his development.


Ludvig Begby was signed from Fredikstad for £400k. His versatility is his main strength has he can play in both full back positions and well as on the left wing. He has the potential to be a good player for us and I hope he can get some game with the seniors which will greatly aid his development.

Premier League


The game against Manchester United turned out to be Dembele’s last game for us has he was sold to Marsielle but what a way to leave the club with a man of the match performance. Morata has been in fine form since returning from injury which has kept him out for 3/4months. Bernardeschi has been fantastic since he has arrived and we are not missing Roberts or Woodrow. We could do with Scott Parker’s experience in the squad but they showing that no matter their age that they can do the job. Dan Burn is on the verge of being call up to the England squad after yet another fine game. He has really stepped up this season after being made captain which has been a positive influence on him. He is also becoming the foundation stone of the defence has he has been partnered with the other 3 central defenders throughout the first half of the season but it his partnership with Bartley that has been successful for the club. Only Liverpool have stopped us in getting points so far this season. to pick up 5 points from playing Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in a row is pretty good going however Arsenal have been poor so this season. Bernardeschi and Milik have taken to the Premier League like ducks to water while Morata is now starting to his class and skills after 3/4months out with injury which was picked up during the Aston Villa game, I have a difficult decision, but a good one, to make regarding who starts on the left wing out of Williams and Fischer has they are both just as good as each other.


I think the title race will be a lot closer this season than last season. Arsenal are face the possibility of of playing in the Championship next season if they don’t improve soon has they could be cut off from Crystal Palace quite quickly and get dragged back into the bottom 3. So far only 2 managers have lost their jobs, Martin Jol sacked by Arsenal in December for poor league position with Rafa Benetiz taking over and Eddie Howe sacked by Swansea for losing the confidence of the players with Gary Megson taking over. It wont surprise me that if there are more sackings.

Captial One Cup

3rd Round Results


4th Round to Semi Final

We stand a really chance of of winning the Capital One Cup again which would be great has I aim to win at least one Cup a season or at least have a good run in of the one Cup competitions.

Match Highlights of the Quarter Final game against Chelsea.

We may have had less possession of the ball but we out played Chelsea and showed more desire to win. The players did not give up and kept going until the every end with only Fischer having an average game.

FA Cup

3rd Round Draw


Champions League



Groups F and H were the closet ones where 2nd and 3rd placed teams were only separated by a point.


I can’t believe how good we were considering that Dortmund and Napoli on paper have better squads and pedigree at Champions League. We smashed out match day revenues twice when we played APOEL and Dortmund despite not selling the stadium out for both games.

First Knockout Round

Liverpool v Real Madrid, Celtic v Juventus and PSG v Chelsea are the eye catching games which could see up to 3 of the big favourites being knockout which would leave the competition wide open for anyone to win it. We have already surpassed the board’s expectations so every round we get through is a bonus.

In January I will be looking for a second AMC has I only have Tariq for that position. The board have topped up the transfer kitty to £40m which I will not be using all of it has I tend to get players at a low price and create a squad that is greater than the individual parts. I do upgrade various parts but the outcome is still the same.

I was going to do an update but having started preseason which I have now found out that I would have to rebuild my squad after selling several of my key players after building a squad that was capable of winning the Champions League. I have decided to start another save this time with Everton again but I wont be making the same mistakes with players for example I bought Morata and he starting to complain about getting regular football within a few weeks of the season or letting Mirallas join another club on a precontract.