FM17 - Newcastle United - We are a big club!

Episode 88: A Quick Look Outside The Club



As I was really struggling to find time to record a full episode while in Paris, I thought I'd do a general overview of where other clubs in the game are and who the best players in the world are eight years later.

It's nice to see a few current and past Newcastle players among the most valuable players in the game, but it's unfortunate that all of the big English clubs are stocking up on the best regens to stop us winning the title!

Episode 89: A New Tactic!



We ended our last run of games with a couple of victories and we start today's episode in exactly the same way. Some great performances in the league are backed up by good wins in the EFL Cup and Champions League.

We changed our away tactic to try and fix that poor run of four games without a win away from home, but I'd still like to keep our old tactic for the home matches given it's won us every home match this season so far!

Episode 90: Heading To The Top Of The League!



The upturn in form continues today with some good wins against teams we have to be beating. We also take on Liverpool and United away from home in the first real test of our new away tactic.

Despite going out of the EFL Cup, we're in a good position to go top of the table soon and win our Champions League group. The FA Cup and transfer window are just around the corner!

Episode 91: Three Massive League Games!



Our excellent form put us right back into title contention but today we have big games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City as we look to keep pace at the top of the table.

After winning the Champions League group, we weren't able to keep that momentum going and squandered a good lead at Man City that could have a big bearing on the title race. The main thing is that we're beating the little teams - something we haven't done in the past.

Episode 92: We Signed Lionel Messi!



This episode is an absolute banger! The January Transfer Window is open and we smash our club transfer record by bringing in Gareth Breen from West Ham. We also pick up an aging Lionel Messi to make sure both Messi and Ronaldo have played for our club!

On top of all that, we get revenge on Sunderland in the FA Cup by crushing them 10-1! An absolutely phenomenal performance!

Episode 93: Barcelona and Man Utd!



It was always going to be impossible to follow up yesterdays episode after crushing Sunderland by 10 - 1. But fortunately for us, we had an amazing chance at home to United and away at Barcelona!

Both games resulted in victories for the team and have help close the league gap to six points. The win over Barcelona away is easily one of the best wins in the club's history, but we need to follow it up in the home leg to make the quarter finals!

Episode 94: We are top of the league!



Not that long ago we were at risk of falling 12 points behind the league leaders... By the end of this episode, we're sitting at the top of the league! There's still a long way to go, but we're in a very good position.

Some excellent league form has propelled us into being a contender, but it came at the price of an FA Cup defeat to West Ham. We did however totally crush Barcelona 3-0 to qualify for the Champions League quarter finals with ease.

Episode 95: Title Decider with Man City - AGAIN!



Just like we did last season, we face Manchester City away right at the end of the season with the Premier League Title on the line. Last season that fixture alone cost us the title and this time around it's just as dramatic!

We also have to take on Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League Quarter Final. Fortunately for us we continue the trend we start against Barcelona and make it to our first Champions League Semi Final!

Episode 96: DID WE WIN THE LEAGUE?!



WE DID IT! By the absolute skin of our teeth we did it! An 83rd minute strike from Gareth Breen hands us the title by one, single, goal! Absolutely incredible stuff!

We've also somehow had an amazing comeback in the Champions League to set up a Final appearance with Benfica!

Episode 97: The Champions League Final!



I'm still not completely recovered from that incredible and dramatic league win last episode, but we go again with a Champions League Final against Benfica!

We're two clubs with no experience of success at the highest level of European football, but it looks like we might not be the club celebrating the double this season...

Episode 98: Starting Our Final Season With Silverware!



After winning our first title for decades, we turned our attention to the transfer market in a bid to improve our team ready to go again. We managed to hold onto all of our best players and bring in one additional big signing to strengthen our midfield.

We also take on Manchester City in the Community Shield for an early test of our new strength. Luckily, our final season kicks off with some morale boosting silverware!

Episode 99: A Near Perfect Start!



It's important that we make the most of an easy start to the league season by picking up maximum points - and for the first three games we do just that!

Unfortunately Stoke give us a sharp reminder of how difficulty things can be if we don't take every opponent seriously. Wins over Sunderland and Inter Milan do lift our spirits and overall the start leaves us in a pretty good place.

Episode 100: Starting Strong!



It's another episode with five wins and one defeat, although I'm not too sad about the defeat as it fees up our mid-week fixtures from the burden of the EFL Cup.

Our Champions League campaign has started off strong as we look to end our final season at the club with European glory. The heartbreak of last season is still in our minds and we want to prove everyone wrong!

Episode 101: Annihilating Arsenal!



This starts out pretty rough as we go two games without a victory and setting up the possibility for a rough run of form. Instead, the team digs in and pulls out four consecutive victories!

Top of the class is a stunning demolition of Arsenal - winning 5 - 1 at home!

Episode 102: Chelsea and Spurs Away!



Our team is really starting to gel together very well now as some of the younger players get more used to being in the first team. We take out a lot of the lower teams in the league before finishing up with big games away against Spurs and Chelsea.

Both of those matches are absolute belters and they leave us in an incredible position as we approach the half way stage of the season.

Episode 103: Ten Points Clear!



The hard league struggles of a few years ago seem a million miles away now! Another fantastic episode has left us ten points clear at the top of the league in January!

The focus now is definitely on making sure we maintain and extend the lead ahead of the crunch Champions League games.

Episode 104: Manchester United and the Transfer Window!



It's another solid episode today but we are starting to slip up some very easy points against the teams we were beating very easily earlier in the season. Sunderland and Crystal Palace are both in the relegation zone and should have been giving us maximum points.

On the plus side, we have beaten Manchester United very comfortably in the league, removing our biggest competitor from last season from the title race already!

Episode 105: The Greatest Comeback of All Time!



Well, there's a lot to say about this episode but it begins with two incredible disappointing defeats that leave our season in the balance! Having been hopeful of winning the treble, we go and get thrashed by Bayern and then dumped out of the FA Cup by Watford!

Fortunately the FM series is saved when, while 2-0 down to West Ham, our players turn on the gas and romp back 3-0! But that isn't the great comeback... That happens against Bayern...

Episode 106: Real Madrid in the Champions League!



Certainly an eventful episode today as our league title prospects swing wildly up and down! After a couple of disappointing results we're still on track to retain our title, even with that very poor draw against Southampton.

The Champions League is a different story however and going out to Real Madrid means we won't achieve our goal of European glory, instead settling for a runners up medal.

Episode 107: 1 Point Decides the Title!



The Champions League dream may be over but we're still firmly in control of this title race with just four massive games to go! Having to take on Spurs, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool in the final title run in is absolute madness!

Fortunately for us, we do the job and win the first two games, setting up a tense match with Man City to decide the fate of the title. The game was on a knife edge but City got the vital win and took it right down to the final game of the season...

Episode 108: End of Series Review!



After ten incredible years I've decided to call time on my Newcastle United career. It's been an incredible rise after nearly getting sacked twice in my first season! We've since gone on to finish in the top four consistently and also win the Premier League twice in a row!

The Champions League final was an unforgettable experience and we've signed some incredible players along the way. I can't wait for our next journey and I'm sure you guys will show it all the same support!