Fola's Career [FM15]

Superb work getting to the Premier League mate! Great season that was!

Thanks Dan. I have quite a lot of Uni work to do over the next few days but there will be updates over the weekend most likely.

Budget wisely for the Premier season. I like the fact you are rewarding the boys that got you there.

Smashing stuff, Fola! Hope we get a budget like that with FGR...

Great stuff Fola!

MORE

Started reading this today, amazing career!

Thanks for all the comments lads.

I have got into this a bit tonight and I am just about to start the new season. I will give you a quick rundown on a few stats from last season now then go on to show you what players I have brought in for my Torquay's and my first season in the Premier League.




Above are the players stats from last season. As you can see, Luke Young was my star performer excelling once again brilliantly from centre midfield and I can't wait to see how he fares in the Premier League. In goal, Hubert was brilliant for me and he will be my starting keeper for the new season. In fact, I will actually keep much of the same side from last season, just add a few new faces to add a bit of competition to the squad.

There's a few players who I will look to send out on loan again as I don't feel they are ready for the Premier League. I don't currently have the game open but off the top of my head the players who have left the club are: Hourihane, Carayol, Harvey and Jackson. Mulder and Sorensen have both been loaned out to Sheffield United who are in the Championship and Brentford who are in the Premier League with us. I will confirm my outgoings tomorrow.

Clifford Slthole has also had his work permit accepted so he will be part of my plans for the new season. A screenshot of him is on the previous page if anybody is interested.

Once again, Luke Young was top of the shirt sales which really is no surprise. He has been top of this every season and for anyone who has read this the whole way though, then you'll understand why. Jackson has left the club but the other three are in my plans for next season, especially Barmby who had a great season for me last season. His value has actually rocketed up to £4.8 million which is pretty good for a player who was playing League One football the season before last.



I also got this message which is a bit strange as they'd already agreed to upgrade these before but it's good to see the club are moving up now we've made the Premier League.

It's a shame because I would of loved to of started the Premier League in my new stadium. Plainmoor only holds around 6,000 or so meaning it is the smallest stadium in the league by an absolute mile. Can't wait to move into the new stadium and expand ourselves as a club.

What a season for Luke Young, AGAIN!



Luke Young was announced as the FPOTY for the SIXTH consecutive season. He has been with us since our days in the Conference but this season was his best my a very long way. He played every match for us in all competitions and managed to bag an unbelievable 24 goals from centre midfield which is an amazing feat. He was also named the Championship Player of the Year which is a fantastic achievement with the amount of quality players in this league.

I can't wait to see how he fares in the Premier League and I can assure you, he will still be one of the first names on the teamsheet alongside Levi Ives and K. Pearce who have all been with us since our days in the Conference. Young is a top, top player and I'm so surprised no clubs have come in for him. I'm hoping he can stay at Torquay for his whole career and then once he retires, he will become my assistant manager.



What a season for the lad and I hope he can keep it up for next season. Every season so far he has impressed me. I was worried he wouldn't be able to make the step up after every promotion but every season he has been brilliant for me.





Click HERE to see Luke Young's stats when I first took over at the club, six seasons ago.

Great to see Clifford Slthole got his WP \o/ Shame new stadium is delayed

Both of these were players from my days in the Conference. It's a brilliant feat that they've managed to compete at this level, I just can't wait to see how they fare in the Premier League. There is a screenshot of Levi Ives on the very first page of this career and it's wonderful to see how much he has improved in six seasons. He is only going to get better and I would be delighted if he can continue his development here.

Everton have been sniffing around him and he came to me stating that he would like to talk to them if an offer is made. Of course I would love for him to stay here but reluctantly I agreed to his demands so if Everton make an offer, he will be leaving the club. His contract is up at the end of next season and for the time being, he isn't interested in a new deal so I'm hoping Everton will not pursue their interest and then he will listen to me regarding a new deal.



Click HERE to see Levi Ives stats from his first season at the club, six seasons ago.

So, here are my transfers into the club this Summer and there are some players here I am very happy with. I don't want to disrupt the squad too much so a lot of these will be either ones for the future or rotation players. My strikers for the past few seasons have been nowhere near good enough so bringing in some proven strikers was definitely my top priority and I think I have done that.



Below are the players I have brought in and a little lowdown on them.



Joins from Everton for a fee of £625k. He was on loan at MK Dons season and was the top goalscorer in the Championship so I'm delighted to have been able to bring him into the club, especially for such a small price. Click HERE to see his recent seasons and as you can see, he's done really well in the lower leagues and is still young so I think I may have found a gem here.



Experienced defender signed on loan for the season. He probably won't be a starter for us as I don't want to drop Pearce or Bennett but I felt we needed a player with experience of playing at a high level. He has been a regular starter in the Belgium league for a good few seasons now so I'm very happy with this one.



Moller Daehli becomes Torquay's record transfer and the highest paid player at the club by a long way. He has been at Cardiff for about eight seasons now and to be honest, I'm surprised they'd managed to keep hold of him for so long. He even played in League One for them for a few seasons which is a massive shock for somebody with stats as good as this guys. I'm delighted to have got him and I'm hoping he can be a key player for us.



One for the future. I'll look at loaning him out, he was on a free too so if he doesn't progress as well as I would like, it's no big loss. He's English too so I will hopefully get a good re-sale value for him in the future.



Signed on a permanent from Sevilla after being on loan here for the past two seasons. He's still young and has done a brilliant job for us in the holding role so I jumped at the chance to bring him into the club on a permanent deal.



Another one for the future. Manchester United weren't interested in offering him a new deal so I moved in and made him a deal. I don't expect him to be near my first team squad this season so I'm looking to send him out on loan. No clubs are interested at the moment which is strange so he'll just have to make do with under 21's football until a club comes in for him.



Delighted to of got this striker. Young Englishman with brilliant stats and knows where the back of the net is. Surprisingly, I got him on loan from Fulham who have just been relegated to the Championship but I can also purchase him for £8 million at any time. I will look at taking up this option as even if he doesn't perform for me, he's definitely a player who I can re-sell for a lot in the future. He scored 7 goals for Huddersfield on loan in the Championship last season, I'm hoping he can make the step up. With stats like his, it shouldn't be problem.



Annoyed with this one. I thought he would be better so I'll be looking to get rid ASAP.



Good young midfielder but he's unfortunately another one who won't get anywhere near the first team set up for the time being. He spent last season on loan at Rochdale in League One and I'll be looking to loan him out or like Bruniho, it'll be a season in the under 21's for him.



One for the future. I'm looking at sending him out on loan as well.



One of the signings I'm most excited for. He started off at Inter Milan before moving to Manchester United five seasons ago for £5 million. He has spent the past five seasons out on loan to a number of clubs in the English Championship and back in Italy before being released by United in the Summer. With this guy, Green, Dillon and Slthole I definitely have my striking options sorted. Unfortunately the likes of Jaadi, Hogan, Sorensen, Sims and Mulder who have done okay for me in previous seasons, won't have a look in this season and will all either be loaned out or sold which is unfortunate but I guess it has to be done.



One for the future, will be loaned out.



Work permit rejected but I'm hoping it will be accepted once he plays a few more games for Nigeria. I managed to bring him in on a free transfer but he insisted on a minimum fee release clause of £3.8 million so if his work permit does ever get accepted and he performs well he'll be gone in now time, especially with those sort of stats.

Sorry for the long post. What do you all think of my signings? I won't look at bringing in any new players now in this transfer window and I will give a full rundown on my outgoings tomorrow morning when I have the game open. Green, Moller Daehli, Bonazzoli, Dillon and Nuytinck are the only players who will be anywhere near my first team, the rest are all players for the future and will either be loaned out or play in my under 21's. Like I said previously, I want to show faith in the players who got me here ahead of the newbies, it's only fair and it's done me no harm previously.

We are clear favourites to get relegated and the bookmakers have put us as 2000-1 to win the Premier League. As you can see, we have the lowest budget in this League by a very long way. Even the second lowest side have more than double our budget so it's going to be very tough but I'm so excited to see how it goes.

It's interesting to see that Blackburn came up winning the play offs. That means that our former winger Demarai Gray also makes the step up to the Premier League after begrudgingly leaving at the start of last season due to financial worries. I'll be keeping tabs on his progress to see how he gets on. He did well at Blackburn last season and grabbed 13 goals from the left wing, he's a player that I would of loved to of kept at the club. In the future, one day, I will hopefully get him back here.

I will update you all after ten league matches and it anybody wants any specific screenshots of anything, wants to know any information or has any questions then please fire away. For now, goodnight, I'm absolutely knackered.

Yeah mate, it will be interesting to see how he fares in the Premier League. It's a shame about the new stadium but saying that, we have been doing really well at Plainmoor so hopefully we can continue that into the new season.

I'm thinking about re-training this guy as a left back, what do you all think? I think he would be good as a wing back and would provide good back up to Levi Ives. If Ives does unfortunately leave the club, I'm hoping this guy could be become my starting left back. He is a good player in CM but we have so much quality in that area, I doubt he will even get a look in you know.

I play with left back set as 'complete wing backs' and I feel he has good attacking qualities and defensively, he looks like he could be alright.



Let me know what you all think

Some great signings this summer man! Bonazzoll looks insane! Robson could definitely work as a left bcak

I just copy what Dan said, my thoughts exactly.

Needs to improve his stamina to play as a complete left back IMO but otherwise looks good!

Before I start the new season I'd like to give you all a rundown of my current squad. Throughout this career, I haven't really focused on showing you lot my squad and now before the Premier League season, I decided now would be a good time. I understand many of you won't read this full post but for those who are interested then have a look below.

Goalkeepers

Guillaume Hubert - My starting goalkeeper and now in his fourth season at the club. I signed him for £64k from Standard Leige and he's turned out to be an absolute rock for him in goal. He has had some clubs abroad looking at him but hopefully I can keep hold of him.

Jeremy Gavanon - Been with me since our days in the Conference. He is now a player/goalkeeping coach and to be honest, its mostly nostalgic reasons why I've kept him for so long. He'll probably retire at the end of this season but I'm hoping he will then become a full time member of my backroom staff.

Defenders

Levi Ives - Another player who has been a prominent feature in this career and one who has been with me since our days in the Conference. Capped for Northern Ireland and a player with great potential. I've actually managed to sign him up to a new deal as well which is great news.

Bram Nuytinck - Former Dutch under 21 international signed in the Summer on loan from Anderlecht.

Krystian Pearce - An absolute rock of a defender and another one who has been with me since our Conference days. He's a regular starter for me even now and has been for the past six seasons. He is another one who is one of the first names on the teamsheet and I hope when he retires that he'll join my coaching staff, hopefully that will be in a good 5/6 seasons though.

Rhys Bennett - A player who is entering his fifth season at the club after joining us after our promotion to League One. He is a strong versatile defender who can play either right back or centre half and has had a great partnership with KP for the past few seasons. I'm hoping he can make the step up the Premier League.

Lloyd Palun - He initially joined us as a holding midfielder but throughout the seasons he can been converted to a centre back. Due to the form of KP and Bennett he only managed nine appearances last season but I'm going to keep him purely due to his versatility. He's been with us six seasons now after joining the club after our promotion from the Conference, joining from French side Nice.

Ulrik Hoffman - Talented defender who joined us in the Summer on a free transfer. Previously of Danish side FC Copenhagen, I will probably look at loaning him out this season.

Kgosi Nthle - A player who initially joined us as back up for Levi Ives at the left back but has firmly made himself into our starting right back. He has been with us two seasons now and is a full South African international however unfortunately, he hasn't had a cap for a good few years now.

Midfielders

John Bostock - The former Crystal Palace and Spurs youngsters is currently entering his fifth season at the club. He was brilliant in his first season at the club but a terrible knee injury has seen him lose his place in the side over the past few seasons. He is currently on the transfer list which is unfortunate as I'm quite sure if he didn't have his injuries, he'd be a top player for us.

Jack Barmby - Former Manchester United winger who joined us at the start of last season from League One side Oldham Athletic. He had a great season for us last term and I'm sure he can make the step up to the Premier League. He's English and still young and a key player in my side.

Tafari Zuill - Probably the most talented player ever to come from our academy. At 18 years old he is one of the first names on the teamsheet and has been a regular feature in the side since he was 16. He has potential to be a top, top player, it will be interesting to see where this guy is in five years. I hope he will still be here but I have a feeling he will eventually end up out growing the club.

Kevin Perret - Another 18 year old midfielder who I'm very excited about. He has been a regular for the past few seasons for Belgium side Lierse and I'm currently looking at loaning him out. Like Zuill, he's another player who I can't wait to see in five years.

Soloman Asuquo - Nigerian international but currently doesn't have a work permit to play in England. I am looking at loaning him out abroad so he can gain a work permit. Really good stats for a player so young.

Mats Moller Daehli - Former Manchester United youngster but most previously of Cardiff City. He is currently the clubs record signing and highest paid player, I can't wait to see how he performs this season because he's a player I have very high hopes for.

Bruninho - Former Manchester United youngster who joined the side in the Summer. He is currently on the loan list to try and gain some first team football.

Luke Young - Captain fantastic, club legend and my top ever goalscorer throughout my career. This guy doesn't need much explaining for those who have been reading from the start. What a man.

Patricio - Talented defensive midfielder who signed on a free transfer in the Summer from Spanish side Sevilla. He was previously on loan for us the past two seasons. I initially didn't plan on playing him but he's come on leaps and bounds over the past few seasons and now he's one of my key players.

Louis Thompson - Former Yeovil and Swindon midfielder who joined us last season. He is a good player but has been more of a bit part player for us so far. I will probably look at letting him go if he starts to moan about a lack of football.

Tendayi Darikwa- A player who joined us after our promotion to League One. A very talented footballer who can play either right back or right midfield. This would be his first season in the Premier League so it will be interesting to see how he fares. He gets his fair share of goals so I hope that can continue.

Ethan Robson - Joined us in the Summer after his release from Championship side Sunderland. I am currently retraining him as a left back as I don't feel he has anything to offer us in the centre of midfield.

Ben Pearson - Another former Manchester United youngster currently entering his sixth season at the club. He's an OK player but I don't think he'll be anywhere near the first team picture this season so I'll look at moving him on as soon as possible.

Strikers

Federico Bonazzoli - Arrived in the Summer after his release from Manchester United. He was signed by them five seasons ago from Inter Milan but failed to make a competitive appearance for United.

Ryan Dillon - Signed on a season long loan at the start of the season from Championship side Fulham. He has also been capped by England under 21's and scored on his debut. He has spent the past two seasons on loan in the Championship at Huddersfield and Wolves respectively so I'm hoping he can make the step up.

Martin Sorensen - The young Danish forward joined us as a sixteen year old when we were in the Conference. He is capped regularly for the Danish under 21 side and spent last season out on loan at FC Copenhagen scoring 2 goals. I did intend on loaning him out this season but I recalled him from his loan at Brentford as I want to give him a chance this season.

Clifford Slthole - Joined us last season for a fee of £120k from South African side Orlando Pirates. At only 19 years old he has great potential and he's a player who I feel will be brilliant in the next few seasons. He scored his first goal for the South African national side recently too which is pleasing.

Scott Hogan - Has done OK for us since joining from Brentford three seasons ago. He scored a good amount of goals the season before last and was poor last season. He is currently on the transfer list and will listen to any offers for him. He is also a relatively high earner so the quicker he's out the club, the better.

George Green - Joined us in the Summer from Everton. He was the Championship top goalscorer last season whilst on loan at MK Dons so I'm hoping he can continue that kind of form in the Premier League.

Nabil Jaadi - A player who intially joined us as a centre midfielder. He will be entering his fifth season at the club since joining us in League One from Udinese. He is currently on the loan list as I can't see a space for him at the moment but I don't want to lose him permanently.

Out on Loan

David Verstraeten - Young Belguim forward who has been in our youth side the past three seasons. He is currently on loan at League Two side Mansfield after being on loan in the Conference with Aldershot and Cheltenham last season. Definitely one for the future.

Bart Mulder - Another player who has been with us a few seasons now. He is currently on loan at Championship side Sheffield United after spending a small part of last season on loan at their rivals Sheffield Wednesday. He has also been a bit part kind of player for us but seems to do well whenever he goes out on loan. He has also spent time on loan at Bolton Wanderers, Wycombe and Accrington Stanley.

Jared Sims - A player who joined me from our time in the Conference and a good solid lower league player. He was great for me a few seasons back but he now just doesn't have the quality to get into my side. He is now on loan at League Two side Hartlepool and hasn't scored a goal for two seasons. He has previously had loan spells at Leyton Orient, Peterborough and Preston.

Tyler Harvey - He was never really good enough for our squad. He has spent the past two seasons on loan at Wrexham and Gateshead in League Two and is now currently on a season long loan to Coventry who are also in League Two.

Dan Crowley - Joined in the Summer from Arsenal but was immediately loan out to League One side Charlton. I don't really see a future for him at the club.

Cathal Connor - Quick winger who joined us two seasons ago from Irish side Shamrock Rovers. He played a bit for us last season after a loan spell in League Two with Wycombe. He is currently on loan at Championship side Oxford for the season.

Ryan Fitzpatrick - A player who joined us when we gained promotion to League Two from Northern Irish side Linfield. He is a regular under 21 international but is yet to make his debut for the full squad. He is currently on loan at League One side Crewe after loan spells in League Two and the Conference with Burton Albion and Bristol Rovers.

Liam O'Donoghue - 17 year old midfield who came through our youth side. Currently on loan at Conference side Harrogate.

Pal Marius Nesset - Someone I had very high hopes for but he's really let me down. He has spent the last three seasons on loan in the Conference with no improvement and will be let go next Summer when he contract runs out.

Brian Thornhill - Joined in the Summer on a free transfer from Sheffield Wednesday before being loaned out to League One side Portsmouth. He made 40 appearances in the Championship last season so he must have something about him.

David O'Brien - Talented Irish centre back who joined us three seasons ago from Shamrock. He spent last season on loan at Conference side Blackpool however is now on a season long loan at Championship side MK Dons.

Dodo - Another young centre back who I believe will be quality in a few seasons. He has only featured marginally for us the past few seasons and is now out on loan at League One side Ipswich.

Steven Raun - A player who I am very excited about. He played a few games for us last season and has been capped by Denmark under 21's. He is currently on loan at Championship side Burnley so it'll be interesting to see how he progresses.

Got good youngsters in the team

Bonazzoli

Season 20/21 - Ten games gone

Ten matches in the league gone and we sit 5th in the league which was very unexpected come the start of the season predictions. We are still only 8 points off the relegation zone in which looks to be a very tight league this season and once again, my priority is to survive.



In our first ever Premier League match we defied the odds to beat Arsenal at home thanks to two late goals from our Summer signing Federico Bonazzoli. Bonazzoli has been my stand out player so far and we really now have seemed to have found a striker who can bag in the goals for us. Apart from Bonazzoli, the squad itself hasn't changed much from previous seasons with Levi Ives, Luke Young and Jack Barmby impressing greatly.

Jack Barmby has been brilliant for us on the left hand side of the midfield and is currently keeping Summer signing Moller-Daehli out of the side which is very pleasing. It's mad to think that this lad only two seasons ago was released by Oldham in League One and it's now looking like he could be a key player for me in the Premier League. We're doing well so far and have had quite a tough start having to play United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs but we seem to have adapted well.

The main man Luke Young seems to adapted well to the Premier League and despite only scoring once so far from midfield for me, he is still the first player on the team sheet if he is fit. I have signed a new Danish goalkeeper who was released from Liverpool in the Summer as back up for Hubert and I will post him up when I open the game. John Bostock has also been loaned out to League One side Northampton, it's such a shame because it does look like his knee injury he suffered a few seasons back really has wrecked his career. I hope he can get a few games in that league and then maybe push for a starting place in our squad- unlikely though, as it says a lot that not even Championship sides were interested in taking him on loan.

Overall, good start to the season I just hope we can keep it up.

Started well in the league mate keep it going

Cheers Dan, hopefully we can keep it up now and stay in the league. Our move to our new stadium has been delayed again so we aren't moving there until January which means we're still at Plainmoor which only holds 6,200. It will be nice to move into our new stadium which holds about 16,000 if I remember correctly so that will help our finances. To be honest though, I will be a bit gutted to leave Plainmoor as we've had so much success there.

This was the goalkeeper that I brought in as back up for Hubert. He has spent the past few seasons out on loan in League One and was released by Liverpool without making an appearance for them. He recently made his debut for Denmark so there should be a good re-sale value on him in the future.

This guy has also had his work permit accepted so can now play matches for us. I'm currently in talks with him regarding a new deal as his current contract has a release clause of around £3 million. He won't budge from a release clause of £10.5 million in his new deal but I guess that will have to do.

That young keeper looks promising and if he doesnt break into your first team like you said he'll have a good resale value for sure!

January transfer window has just opened and I've managed to sign this guy for a fee of £500k which will rise up to £550k with instalments. Unfortunately, he won't be able to join us for two years due to some rule in Morocco but overall he looks like he could be a good player. The board have given me £15 million to spend in this transfer window but I'm going to look mainly at bringing in young players as I don't want to disrupt the harmony on my first team squad.



He's a bit small for a centre back so I'm thinking of retraining him as a holding midfielder but I'm not entirely sure yet. I have played my next ten games and will update you on those shortly. I will give a full lowdown of my January transfer window dealings when the window shuts at the end of the month.