The Rise of Valencia

As the title says, I am undecided on where to start here. I am stuck between 3 clubs; Roma, Valencia and Everton. My goal is to take a team that is no favourites to win the league and over the course of a few seasons turn them into Champions. Heres the reasons for my selections.



Roma: Juventus have dominated Serie A for a number of years now, and before them the Milan sides. It has been 13 years since the Giallorossi last lifted the Scudetto. The squad is ageing and I don't see much in terms of quality for Totti etc. to pass the torch on to. Also I haven't managed in Italy since the good ol' days of Champ Man; mainly due to co-ownerships - never liked the idea of it. So it seems a good time to give it a try since they outlawed it.

Vaencia: Atlécio showed that season that La Liga can still be won out with Barca and Madrid. Why not Valencia? They last won it in the 03/04 season and have a young talented squad. Again it has been some time since I managed anyone other than Barca in La Liga. The strike partnership of Negredo and Alcácer is tempting.

Everton: They are a club I really like, and have managed on most versions of the game. However I find with the money and reputation of the BPL it becomes quite easy to build up a squad. They have come strength-to- strength over the past couple season and with some work could be a top 4 conteder within a season or two.

Any comments/advice will be taken on board. I feel Roma are in the lead at the moment, however I will give it a few days to have a look through each squad and listen to any comments.

Thanks for the replies lads, you helped speed up my decision.

What was drawing me to Roma was when I chose my starting XI the average age was 29, it looked like an opportunity to totally rebuild the squad. However they are the only real challengers for the title in Serie A. So it wouldn't be much of a challenge.

I have decided to go with Valencia, what sealed the deal for me was my 28 year old Scottish assistant manager - Ian Cathro - that gave me an idea that I will come to later. Another point I liked is they are due to move to a new 75000 seater stadium - the Nou Mestella.

Time to mix things up in La Liga..

Current Honours
- Nada...

Thanks George and Rick, going to kick on with this over the next few days.

As you already know my long term goal is to split Barca and Madrid regularly, and then hopefully make a dent in the Champions League. I see this as a huge task and 5 year project. The club has a healthy bank balance but massive debts, meaning I will have to take a sustainable approach when building the squad.

So here is what I have to work with until January at the latest. First thing I noticed is that my holding midfield player are both on loan, this is the first area I will look to strengthen in the future. There is also a lack of forwards, if I want to play with 2 up top (which I do).

Transfer budgets are disabled in the first window so I have a rather small squad to work with the coming season, I can't even dip my toes into the free transfer market as we are £2.5k p/w over budget. I did however managed to bring in my own backroom staff, all English speaking, including two former managers.



Goals for the season
- Rock the 4-4-2
- Maintain a strong Spanish presence in the squad
- Finish higher than last season - 8th
- Reach the Copa del Rey semi final

July - September 2015
A pretty strange looking league table, if we could emulate our home form on the road we have a real chance of challenging. Paco Alcácer has been the stand out so far along with, surprisingly, fullback José Luis Gayá. Had quite a few injuries, nothing too serious but with such a small squad it really its hard.

Cheers DP91, hopefully can pick up some points from then and make a top 4 spot mine! I'm enjoying it so far Johno, yeah they're on a good run at the moment, still got to play them at home.

Just loaded up and received this message, fantastic. Will need to spend it wisely in January, however I have my first signing already, unfortunately he can't play until January as I forgot about squad registration. Pablo Aimar returns to the club, for a second spell, on a short term deal.

October - December 2014
The league table looks even more strange this time round. Now Levante sit top, closely followed by Athletico. Both Barca and Real Madrid out the top 4 however if Madrid win their games on hand they move top. We drop a spot to 8th as Barca leap frog us. Incredibly we went 6 games without a win and just dropped one place.

Now time to use that transfer budget wisely and bring in some players.

Aye it was a strange run. Still running the beta cos I'm working at sea and not been in port since the final beta was released, internet isn't fast enough to download the full update. However home next week.

I may have just done my best bit of FM business to date. With Victor Valdes available on a free I took advantage of interest in Diego Alves, to the tune of £12 million. The money was used to bring in Virgil van Dijk from Celtic.

Juve activated Pablo Alcacer’s release clause - £15.25 million – he was a tough player to replace. Can Bojan live up to his early expectations or will he flop again? I also brought in Mikel Arteta and Guillermo Burdisso on loan to beef up the squad.

Perhaps a tactical re-think is in order?

Finally got a 4-4-2 working, never thought I would be saying that considering pervious results. If we can carry through the form for a few month and climb up the table towards the end of the season. The league table is beginning to look normal again, Madrid top and Barca joint, however Madrid have 3 games on hand. Early signs show my transfers went pretty well; Bojan has really impressed netting 3 goals so far, Victor Valdes is playing well - despite not keeping a single clean sheet - and Virgil van Dijk looks solid at the back.