Take Two

We do concede a lot of goals but we also out score the opposition which cannot last. I need other players to chip in with goals has Lukaku cannot lead Everton to success on his own. Got some big points from the top 5 teams which will help us to get Champions League football next season. I have a small squad that is lackiing in depth and quality in certain areas this can hinder my team selections therefore we don’t get the result we should be getting. Aston Villa were the only side in the league to beat us but it is draws that teams like Southampton, West Brom etc will dent our chances of getting Champions League football next season. Thanks to 10 live TV games plus prize money from competitions has allowed the board to make £8m available for the January Transfer Window. I have already spent around £1m on getting a young decent central defender for next season. The board has reduced the % of transfer fees received that is put back into the transfer budget due to the debt levels.


I think the title will go to Manchester United but Chelsea will be a close 2nd while we secure a top 4 place. The race for 3rd and 4th will be close has 3rd to 5th are separated by only 3points which is nothing. The relegation battle at the moment consists of 7 teams. Tottenham are once again underachieving in the league despite having a squad that is capable of finishing in the top 4.


The Capital One Cup was a competition we should be aiming to win most seasons. The Burnley game was a cracker for the neutral fan has we did not turn up until the 2nd half and extra time.





Even though we lost to Dynamo Kiev in the last game we still managed to qualify for the next round. There are some big and tricky teams in the next round plus the 3rd place Champions League teams, there is a big surprise in the draw for the knockout rounds.


Sevilla will be our biggest challenge in this competition so far. Ajax v Real Madrid and Monaco v Sporting are the games for the neutral.


We potentially got an easier draw in this round. A potential Athletic v Inter is the one for the neutral.

Ajax, Monaco and Real Madrid are the surprise entrants to the Europa League. This could be a very difficult competition to win now.

Lucas, Bahia £1m plus £2m over 48months.

He is under 18 therefore will be joining us on 18/6/15 after his 189th birthday. He looks like he could become a top quality central defender in a few years. He could be John Stones long term partner in the back four.

I will look at getting a young players for the following positions; keeper, central defender, right back, left/right winger. I might get in an experience central defender for next season. I will only sell a player if I have to but most of the selling will happen in the summer.

I needed a strong 2nd half of the season in order to secure some of best player’s short term futures with Champions League football next season. It would also help if we do not concede so many goals has we do not score the goals we should be scoring. The likes of McGeady, Mirallas and Barkley are important has they provide chances for the strikers as well as scoring goals themselves plus Besic and McCarthy offer defensive cover which allows the front 4 to do their thing while protecting the defence.


I was about QPR’s transfer activity being not enough for the Premier League and desperate has they slipped from 17th to 20th where as West Brom’s transfer activity was the catalyst for their turnaround by finishing 16th. The relegation battle went to the final game with four clubs fighting for the 17th spot with each clubs needing the others to lose and lose badly. It is good to see the Mersyside in the Champions League. I would need to have a good summer in getting players into the club in order to challenge for the title and and be able to compete in Europe.

Capital One Cup

Derby caused two of the biggest Cup shocks by beating both Manchester clubs to win the Capital One Cup. They are in Europe for the first time since Cloughie led them to the title in the 70’s.

FA Cup
3rd Round

Huddersfield and Blackburn providing the upsets while Rotherham took Liverpool to a replay which I failed to avoid against Southampton.

4th Round


5th Round to Final

What an FA Cup cracker. 36minutes to destroy Liverpool then we just added more to keep our lead. Every player had a good game but I was excepting more Coleman and Jagielka.


The final was a repeat of the 1995 Final and first FA Cup final appearance in 7years. This capped a great season for the club.

Europa League
1st Knockout Round

Dynamo Kyiv, Ajax and Sporting causing upsets also making the Europa League wide open where anyone can win it.

2nd Knockout Round to Final

We absolutely went for it and ended up giving Sporting a spanking. I can understand Kone’s under par performance since he was playing out of position but everyone else who started had good to excellent games. Brendan Galloway has great potential after showing that he can play in big games without phased by it at a young age.


Not a great season in Europa League for Spanish and German clubs. Us and Spurs have shown that Premier League clubs can compete in Europe. It nice to win trophies after a long tough season especially when we had many injury problems.

Player Stats

Over the next couple of season I will be looking for a decent keeper to replace Howard and Robles has we cannot keep on conceding 70 odd goals in all competitions and except to win silverware. Our main threat came from the wings where Lukaku and Immobile to should getting 20+ goals. I just need Barkley to have both goals and assists in double figures for us to be challenging for silverware every season.

Transfer Net Spend and Wages

Arsenal and Chelsea spent money to push for Champions League and the title respectively but have now players that should be adjusted to live in the league and country plus any new players could see them back in the title race. Some clubs were desperate and failed while some clubs got lucky with their new players. In the summer there could see bigger deals being done due to the TV money.

In our case the players wages is a third of our expenditure which is a large chunk. I am hoping to reign it in over the next couple season has I get rid the stupid clause allowing players to receive an annual % increase but I don’t mind having young players with a clause where their wages go up after a number games.

Finance

The wages were made up of £44.5m basic player pay, bonuses (competitions) of £11.6m, staff pay £4.97m, Loyalty payments (what a joke) £272k and non-football costs of £17m (signing on bonuses, image rights, unused sub appearance, appearance bonus etc). Transfer spend was the 3rd highest expense after wages and tax but we needed to add players to the squad in January plus paying contract clauses for those that are no longer at the club. TV was our highest source of revenue which breaks down to £57.9m for 15/16 season, £16.63 for live TV games (£895k per game) and £4m from the Europa League. The TV money from the Europa League was twice a much than the prize money for winning the FA Cup.

New Player

Bernardo Silva arrived from Monaco for £2.4m after his agent sent out messages to the availability of his client and the asking price for him. I am surprised that Monaco let him go cheaply after they spent £11.75m on him last summer. I am hope he can be excellent cover for Barkley and maybe work as a pair behind the striker. I have now 3 different types of No.10 players which is great and they are all young so can develop a good understanding of each other.

I am looking to add 1 or 2 more players, central defender, striker or goalkeeper. I have promoted Garbutt and Green to join Galloway in the first team squad also Ledson going from U18 to U21 with him going on loan at a lower league club to get first team experience. I am looking to offload Pienaar due to the high number injuries he picked up this season and Oviedo has Garbutt is equally as good also got potential to replace Baines.

Last season has set the bar really high for expectations set by everyone from the board to the supporters. This has been made a little more difficult has I have received a small transfer budget for the summer despite getting £60m from the Premier League TV rights deal. I am hoping that the extra revenue from the Champions League matches will help the club to be in a better place financially.

New Players (Summer 2015)

I sold Pienaar to Aston Villa for £1.7m because the most part of last season in the doctors and physios room. Bryan Oviedo was sold has I think Garbutt is more suited for the left back position when Baines leaves.

Jesus Vallejo, £5m from Zaragoza

I have now got 4 good young central defenders to build a defence for the next decade or so. For an 18 year old player with limited first team experience the £5m transfer fee is pretty steep but hopefully prove he was worth every penny.

Kristoffer Ajer, £825k from Start

He went to back to Start on loan has part of the transfer deal. I think I can build a decent midfield with him, Galloway and Ledson. If given a few seasons then we could see the next Everton captain.

Patric, Free Transfer from Barcelona

I needed a right back to cover and replace Coleman has I think Jonjoe Kenny is not going to be good enough to meet the standard required to take Everton to the level where we are competing for the Champions League.


This is season so far I have managed to get point of the top teams and remain unbeaten in the league. The players have improved this season and the results are the result of the improvement. Our defence has improved but I do need a keeper to replace Howard and Robles is a good understudy also I need the players to score more goals.


We are the only side not to lose to a game so far this season. The title race is going to be close this season and if we do win the Premier League title the hopefully the transfer budget is bigger next season. This season will see Aston Villa finally get relegated and they will find it hard to get out of the Championship has they have been in decline since Martin O’Neil left the club. If West Ham, Norwich and Burnley are not careful they could find themselves being dragged into the relegation battle.

Capital One Cup



FA Cup

We have been given a fairly easy draw against Plymouth and I am considering fielding a mixed XI. Liverpool v Chelsea, Chesterfield v Tottenham, Oldham v Manchester City , Newport v Arsenal and Doncaster v Manchester United are some of the eye catching ties. There are plenty of Premier League v Lower League teams in this draw which means there could be a few upsets and dream runs for the Lower League teams.

Champions League


Groups C, E, F, G and H were competing to be the Group of Death this season. Barcelona were the only side to beat us and making it to the Last 16 is a real achievement considering the teams in our group.


We have gone from bad to worse having been drawn against Bayern Munich in the Last 16. This could be the end of our Champions League adventure for this season.

New Player (January 2016)
Felipe Anderson, £4.5m from Lazio

I have been looking a decent left wing for the past season and a half. Felipe Anderson is still young enough to improve and will be my first choice on the AML position.

I am looking for a goalkeeper during the January transfer window to arrive in the summer but might consider getting him into the squad now. I might be close to landing a player I have tried to sign during the summer but his club wanted more than I what I was prepared to pay for him.

It has been a while since my last post due to various reasons one being not playing FM15 for a few weeks but now back.

Supporters and managers are hoping that their new signings have a positive affect on their season. We have the opportunity to do an unprecedented quadruple which will require a lot of luck has we face Bayern Munich in the 1st Knockout Round stage of the Champions League.

Premier League

I was relying on Immobile and Kone (occasionally) to lead the attack in the absence of Lukaku who was injured for 3 to 4 months. Bernardo Silva and Green showing that they can make an impact on games in the starting line up. The results suggest that the squad is capable of performing consistently week in week out and get points against the top teams has we start to becoming a top team again like back in the 1980’s.


Game repeating life with Aston Villa getting relegated however unlike the real Aston Villa this version fought until the final game. West Ham and Leicester secured their place in next seasons Premier League however West Ham must do better since they are moving to the Olympic Stadium next season. Southampton, Liverpool and Manchester City also underperformed while Stoke were 2nd for a while then they fell away before Christmas. Next season could see a different clubs in the top 6 with the new TV deal coming into affect and Euro16 taking place.

League Cup


FA Cup
3rd Round


4th Round


5th Round to Final


Champions Leauge

Not sure what was worse the frying pan or the fire after facing Barcelona in the group then having to face Bayern Munich in the 1st Knockout Round. I think we did well to be in a chance of getting to the Quarter Finals after drawing the first leg 1-1. Barcelona mashed their way to the final where they came across Chelsea who can plan to stop Barcelona from scoring. I would like to make it to the Semi Finals of the Champions League next season and have an easier group next time around.

Finances

Wages went up thanks to the evil of annual % increase clauses in some player’s contracts, renewals and new players. The player’s wages make up 50% of the wage with bonuses and non-football costs making up 45% while the staff wages are the other 5% of the wage bill. The only expenses that went down were loan repayment, match day costs and scouting costs. Match day costs went down due to being knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 where has we won the Europa League which incurred more costs. There wasn’t the £100kpm loan repayment this season and I had less scouts as well as scouting fewer players this season.There decreases in gate receipts, TV revenue and match day income this was for the same reason for the drop in match day costs.There were increases in season tickets due to Champions League football as well as merchandising, prize money , corporate facilities income for the same reason.

The projection for this season that I could have a transfer budget of £70m for next summer thanks to us for making a £26m profit however we are projected to make severe losses for 17/18 and 18/19 season this why the club needs a new and bigger stadium.

Net Spend and Wages

Only 2 clubs made any profit from their transfer dealings this season. I don’t think that the Premier League can sustain a huge negative net spend every season even with the new TV deal in place giving clubs £90m each.

New Players

Patrick Bamford, Aston Villa £2.9m

I needed a striker after Kone left the club after his contract expired and I wanted a young striker. He has now got to prove himself by taking the opportunities he is given in cup games or when both Lukaku and Immobile are either injured or suspended.

Paulo, Botafogo £1.5m

Paulo has got what it takes to be a decent player but he needs to show it on and off the pitch. He is currently in the U21’s has he adjusts to the climate of the country and the style of English football, I might even consider loaning him out in January if there are no injuries to the wingers at the club.

Ricardo Kishner, Ajax £5m

I bought him just in case next summer Felipe Anderson leaves next summer or Anderson moves to the right wing. I am hoping he comes back an even better player and person from Ajax where he can get regular game time.

Ruben Garcia, Real Madrid £4m

He has the potential to be a decent winger and may be challenge Kishna for the left wing spot if Felipe Anderson is sold next summer. He needs to improve his strength if he is have an impact in the Premier League.

Virgil van Dijk, Celtic £6.75m

He is what I was looking for to replace Jagielka and Ginter. I hope him and Stones can form a partnership quickly has we look to defend our Premier League title and make progress in the Champions League.

I am hoping that these new players settle in very quickly and are able to help calm thins down after this summer. I want to be in position where I am not having to rebuild the squad every season for one reason or another.

I am looking to retain the Premier League title, challenge for the FA Cup or League Cup and to get the semi final of the Champions League or win the Europa League.