Saving Sunderland (Youth Project)

Besiktas (H) (Friendly) - 11/8/2018

Annoyingly, I can't find a Spanish club willing to take Alerrandro on loan. The only teams willing to take him and offer him first team football are in Denmark and Poland, so I accept those offers and let him decide.
Maja completes his loan move to Walsall. Hopefully it will do him good.
Bordeaux make an offer for Djilibodji, but only a guaranteed £4.2m, possibly reaching £6.5m. It's not enough for me to agree to, even if he does want to leave.
Buckley completes his move to Forest.
I've also accepted a loan offer from Forest Green for Tom Proctor. He agrees to it and will join them until January.

In the Premier League previews, I don't have anyone with a chance of winning best player or young player apparently. Over to Sessegnon and Dozzell to prove them wrong!

Buffonge had a choice of Cambridge or AFC Wimbledon, both in League 1. He chose to spend 5 months at Wimbledon.

For the game against Besiktas, which is being televised, I've gone with the strongest team of players that are fit.

On the bench are; Mannone, Wijndal, Thandi, Love, Kone, McNair, Rzepecki, Gibson, Watmore, Kluivert, Felix and Asoro.
All our players are match fit now, with the exception of those currently injured. So let's win our last friendly and hit the season running.

We take the lead after 11 minutes, a cross from Torres is turned in by Youan at the near post.
A couple of minutes later, Khazri scores a free kick and we're cruising.
Pickford makes a couple of saves as we go through the rest of the first half, but we go in at 2-0 up.
I don't make any changes until 55 mins, after a quiet start to the half. Rodwell and Khazri are replaced by Gibson and Kluivert.
Driussi pulls a goal back just as the subs are being made, scoring with a cheeky chip.
It's not long until we regain our 2 goal lead. Jones and Torres link well down the right before Jones squares the ball for Youan to score his second.
A couple more changes after 75 mins. Djilibodi and Torres for Kone and Watmore. I'm tempted to take of Youan, but I don't want to spoil his chance of a hat-trick.
He doesn't get it, despite having a few late chances, and we end with a 3-1 win. A solid end to pre-season.




Time now for a week of rest and training ready to kick the season off at Watford.

Watford (A) - 19/8/2018

Before the season starts, it's time to name the captain. As Cattermole wants to leave, I feel that it's sensible to take it off him. Lamine Kone is named our new captain, while Didier Ndong is named as vice captain.

Cole Dasilva completes a loan move to Accrington.

The draw for the second round of the EFL cup sees us travel to Millwall on 28th August.

Just before the Watford match, Love picks up a knee injury that will keep him out for a couple of weeks. On the plus side, our training facilities upgrade has been completed.

For the match, I have to make a decision about formation, as 4-2-3-1 has been doing ok pre-season. However, I don't feel happy playing such an open formation in an away game, so revert back to 4-3-1-2.

On the bench are; Mannone, Wijndal, Alvaro, Dozzell, Watmore, Thill and Kluivert.
Ndong has just returned from injury, but should last 60 mins.

It's a mixed start as Youan pulls a hamstring in the build up to the opening goal. Asoro getting on to a cross from Jones. Kluivert comes on just after to replace Youan.
Kluivert and Asoro link up well. Kluivert being caught offside when he had a good chance, while Asoro blasts a one on one chance over the bar.
Just after half an hour, and Khazri hits the post after a good ball from Ndong. We just can't get that second and go in at 1-0.
The second half starts with another injury, as Rodwell is stretchered off less than 5 mins in. Dozzell comes on.
We eventually get a second after 55 mins. Khazri finding Kluivert who lifts it over the oncoming keeper.
Although Ndong was only cleared for 60 mins, I'm wary of taking him off as we only have one sub left. I'll try and get him through to 75 I think...
After 65, Asoro misses another great chance with only the keeper to beat. We get to 75 and Ndong is replaced by Watmore, and we switch to 4-2-3-1.
Less than a minute later tho, Dozzell sees red as he gets sent off for a two footed tackle. Then from the resulting free kick, Kone gives away a penalty for a push. Deeney scores, to make for a nervy end.
We can't hold on though and it's another free kick that undoes us. Janmaat getting on the end of it.
We don't give up. With 5 minutes to go, Kluivert plays a ball through to Asoro and this time he takes his chance and we go 3-2 up.
Somehow, thanks to a late, great save from Pickford, we hang on.




Rodwell's injury is bad. It's cruciate ligaments and he'll be lucky to play again this season. Youan seems to be ok though.

Leicester (H) - 25/8/2018

I finally receive an offer worth considering for Jordan. It's from Huddersfield, in the Championship, but he still wants to discuss terms.
I managed to get them up to £3.4m plus £500k after 10 games. It's a profit on the £2m I paid, and it doesn't look like he's ever going to be happy. So I accept it.

Kone picks up an abdominal strain that will keep him out for a couple of weeks.

A few of my players are starting to complain that I haven't strengthened the squad as I said I would. Personally, I think we have, but they clearly want bigger names. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to find an 18 yr old that will satisfy them. I've got a week to find someone.

For the match against Leicester, I've stuck with the same formation, as it seems to counter the 4-2-3-1 they are expected to play quite well.
Kone and Rodwell are injured, Dozzell is suspended, so we line up like this.

On the bench are; Mannone, Thandi, McNair, Rzepecki, Torres, Kluivert and Borini who's returning from injury.

There's a lot of action early on, but no goals. Youan and Khazri both missing good chances.
Khazri finally comes good though, latching on to a through ball from Ndong and smashing it past the keeper. 28 mins gone, 1-0.
Schmeichel's in fine form in the Leicester goal, as Ndong and Youan test him out. We go in at half time 1-0 up.
The second half starts much quieter than the first and we reach 60 mins without much action. Youan has been disappointing, so I replace him with Kluivert.
Kluivert has a good chance just after coming on, but Schmeichel is still holding firm.
Ndong is getting tired, and he's on a yellow. So with 15 mins to go, I replace him with Rzepecki.
In the 85th minute, Asoro finds some space and has a chance to seal the win, but sees his shot hit the post.
Right at the death, just as it looks like we're safe, Djilibodji manages to give away a penalty...
Mahrez steps up (no idea how he's still at Leicester!) and Pickford makes the save! Sessegnon even manages to prevent the corner.
We rode our luck a little, but we see out a 1-0 win.

Millwall (A) EFL Cup - 28/8/2018

Dozzell's ban for his sending off has been increased by 2 games. He would have been rested for the Millwall game anyway, so I don't bother appealing it.
Meanwhile, the board are happy with my control of the wage budget, so increase retained transfer revenue to 75%. That will be nice if Jordan, Djilibodji and Cattermole do leave.

I'm still trying to find an 18 yr old that will cheer up the team members that are disappointed about new signings. A scout in South America comes back with a potential candidate, but I doubt he'll get a work permit, and I'd need to beat off PSG and Barcelona to his signature. I'm guessing he must be good!

We move on to the match, and trying to learn from last seasons mistakes, I make some rotation without going over the top!

On the bench are; Pickford, Djilibodji, Sessegnon, Gibson, Khazri, Torres and Youan.

We don't get off to a great start. After failing to clear a corner, the ball is played back into the box and turned home by Hutchinson. Just over 3 mins gone, and we already trail...
We get better after that, and after 10 mins, Asoro hits the bar. Kluivert really should score the rebound after getting to it first, but the keeper managers to block it.
We finally level the game just before the half hour mark. A corner is swung in by Felix and headed home by his fellow Portuguese loanee Alvaro. 1-1.
At half time, we've had 71% of the possession without really threatening again. Asoro has had a few chances, but rushed them or simply fluffed them. I switch him with Kluivert at the break. My HoYD does keep telling me he'll make a good winger... lets see.
Chances are few and far between in the second half, so after 65 mins, I make a change. A tired Ndong, replaced by Gibson, and Asoro, who's still been poor, replaced by Torres.
As we get to 70 mins, I'm forced to make our final change. Thill picks up a knee injury, so Khazri comes on.
With 10 mins to go, it's looking like extra time. Until we work a throw in from the left, and Wijndal gets a cross in. Kluivert has so much space, and converts easily to put us 2-1 up.
Kluivert scores again just minutes later. This time the ball goes down the right, Thandi plays it inside to Torres, who squares it for Kluivert who timed his run perfectly.
After a nervy start, we eventually see the game out 3-1. Asoro probably isn't good enough to lead the line on his own, but maybe Kluivert is.




On the post match loading screen, I see that Arsenal have made an offer for Lacazette... Only a month or so later than real life!
Thill's injury isn't serious and he'll only be out for a week

Transfer Deadline Day - 31/8/2018

With deadline day fast approaching, I'm frantically looking around for players that will improve the first team squad as well as cheer up some of the unhappy players.

Just before the madness happens, the draw is made for the next round of the EFL Cup. We will travel to Bristol City on 25th September.

I don't get anybody in before the big day, but manage to set the wheels in motion on a number of deals that could end up costing us a fortune...
The first deal of the day sees Thill leaving on loan. He joins Hamilton in the Scottish Prem for the season, where he should be a first team regular.
Corey Jordan also leaves, joining Huddersfield for an initial £3.4m. I didn't want him to go, but there's no point keeping unhappy players, and we make a decent profit.

As far as ins go, it's time to break our transfer record. Alexander Isak arrives from Dortmund in a £30m deal, quickly followed by Moise Kean for £19.5m from Juventus.



It's possible that I've overpaid for them. But Isak looks amazing and will be a first team regular, while Kean will certainly be challenging for a place.
Also arriving is Tahith Chong, on loan from Manchester United.

He's very versatile, and will be a useful option from the bench.

The biggest problem I have is that I can't shift Romero out on loan. He still doesn't have a work permit, and there are 50 clubs showing an interest. However, nobody comes forward when I offer him out for loan.

I agree a few deals for players that can't get work permits, including that Zenit striker Kozlov.

Matsumura cost us £3.5m

Cordova cost us £2.6m

Pappalardo cost £3m, and will join us on 1st January 2020, after he turns 18.

Kozlov cost us £1.3m.
Now I just need to loan them out in the next 6 hours...

I'm not the only one that's busy. My HoYD is too, as he agrees a deal to sign Owusu-Ansah.

He joins for an initial £250k, which could prove a bargain. Nowhere near first team ready though.

We receive a number of offers for Matsumura. I accept all the ones that offer him first team football. He chooses to join Guingamp in Ligue 1.
Cordova also gets a loan move, and will play in La Liga for Alaves.

Unfortunately, we don't shift Kozlov before the window closes, hopefully he can go somewhere that has a later window to us...

Here's a summary of the Premier League window.

Manchester City (A) - 1/9/2018

We have a pleasant start to the month as Asoro scoops the young player of the month award, with Kluivert coming 3rd. I only manage a 3rd place in the manager award though.
Submitting the final squad list is easy, as we don't have 25 first team players over 21, so everyone that might play can be registered.

Isak is injured for the game against City. He'll need to wait a couple of weeks to make his debut.

On the bench are; Mannone, Wijndal, Thandi, McNair, Watmore, Kean and Borini.

City have a very attacking line up, and we do well not to go behind early on. Pickford and Alvaro combining well to keep them out.
We see more of the ball in the first half, but it's mainly in our own half. The best chances all fell to Aguero, but thankfully, we manage to see half time at 0-0.
The second half starts much the same, with our front 3 seeing very little of the ball. After 65 mins, I switch to 4-3-3, bringing on Kean and Borini to replace Asoro and Khazri.
The decision backfires, and Aguero finally gets on the scoresheet. Poking in from close range after a driven cross by Alexis Sanchez.
With 10 minutes to go, a tired Felix is replaced by Watmore.
We look like we're getting back into the game, but then Ndong picks up a second yellow and we're down to 10 men.
We fight hard, but they are just too strong for us. Iniesta pulling all the strings in midfield, we do well to only lose by 1.

Tottenham (H) - 15/9/2018

Galatasaray make a random loan offer for Djilibodji. No future fee, just a regular loan offer. Obviously, he's not going.
The Tottenham game coming up actually gets moved to Sunday 16th for television coverage.

Alerrandro's loan move to Horsens falls through as he doesn't earn enough to get a Danish work permit. So I'm stuck with a few non -EU players now that don't have permits and haven't been loaned out.
Cattermole still wants to leave, but understands that his injury has hampered his sale. He expects to leave in January though.
Djilibodji on the other hand is now happy to stay, as interest in him has cooled.

Finally, I do manage to find a loan move for Alerrandro. He's moving to Slavia Prague for the season.

Kone resumes full training. So we're almost back to full strength. At least that's what I thought until Pickford twisted his ankle the next day. He'll be out for up to 2 weeks, meaning he should only miss the Spurs game.

With Pickford injured and Ndong suspended, we line up like this.

On the bench; Woud, Wijndal, Alvaro, McNair, Kean, Watmore, Asoro.

Borini hits the post inside the 1st minute as we make a strong start. Khazri puts a shot over the bar a few minutes later.
We take the lead just before 10 mins. A cross from Sessegnon is turned in by Borini. It's good to have him scoring again!
We go 2-0 up after 17 mins. A Dozzell corner is nodded down by Kone, pulled back by Kluivert and driven home by Gibson.
Spurs pull a goal back with a wonder strike from Lamela. He put it in the top corner from nearly 30 yards out. We do manage to take a 2-1 lead into half time though.
We should score early in the second half, but Lloris makes a good save and Spurs hit us on the break. It ends with Zaza cutting a ball back from the byline for Belotti to equalise.
I make the first change after 65 mins. A tired Dozzell, replaced by McNair. I give Kean 20 mins too, as an AMC instead of Khazri.
Spurs take the lead on 78 mins. Simone Zaza gets away from Kone and powers one home from just inside the box.
Asoro replaces Kluivert as we look for an equaliser. We almost get one late on as Asoro clips the outside of the post, but it's not to be and we end 2-3. Disappointing considering we had a 2 goal lead.

Manchester United (A) - 22/9/2018

Lynden Gooch picked up a groin strain in training that will keep him out for a couple of weeks. He's only a fringe player, so won't be missed too much.
Pickford is back in full training though and should be ok for the United match.
Just before the match, Torres bruises a rib. He should only miss the one game.

Away from injury news, the work on our youth facilities has been completed. This means we now have superb facilities which should help going forward.

I don't want to make too many changes for the sake of it, so it's just Pickford coming in.

On the bench are; Mannone, Wijndal, McNair, Ndong, Watmore, Youan and Isak.

We fall behind after 15 mins as Herrera scores from 25 yards. It looks like Pickford should probably have got to it, but I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.
United are completely dominating us and we struggle to get out of our own half. It's no real surprise that Kane adds a second just before half time when he heads home a Martial cross.
I'm disappointed and frustrated that it's actually 3-0 by half time. Poor defending as it's another cross that isn't dealt with. This time Martial tucks it away.
After shouting at the team, I switch things up at half time. Switching to 4-2-3-1 and bringing on Ndong for Gibson and Isak for his debut in place of Borini.
We start the second half much better. Even creating a few chances. Nothing of any real note though and most of the time, the ball is stuck in midfield.
Watmore replaces Khazri late on, but there's no goals and few chances. We end at 3-0.




It's good to see we had plenty of possession but we did very little with it. May need to change things up against the bigger teams going forward.

Bristol City (A) (EFL Cup) - 25/9/2018

Nothing of interest between games here.
As we are playing a lower division side, I'm still happy to give some fringe players a run out. This is how we line up.

On the bench are; Woud, Love, Badal, Felix, Watmore, Kluivert and Borini.

We start well and create chance after chance, without really testing the keeper.
The first real test for for Haugaard doesn't come until just before half time, when he tips a Youan strike wide. Up until then, the shots we had managed to get on target were straight at him.
We go in at halftime the better team, but goalless.
The second half begins much the same. Youan wasting chance after chance. I pull him off after an hour and replace him with Borini.
Not long after that, we fall behind. Kone of all people takes far too long on the ball and is dispossessed by Tomlin, who runs through and beats Mannone...
I replace Asoro with Felix, for the last 12 minutes as we push for an equaliser.
Kluivert for Ndong is a late change, but we end defeated. The mistake by Kone and Youan's missed chances costing us dearly.




The stats show that we should have done better. I was only expected to reach the 3rd round, so the board won't be too unhappy. I, on the other hand, made my feelings very clear to the team and I expect a much better performance next time out.

Crystal Palace (H) - 30/9/2018

In the pre-match press conference for this match, Sam Allardyce states that he can't see how we can possibly stay up. Hopefully those words will spur the team on to prove him wrong.

As far as the match goes, Isak needs match fitness but I'm prepared to give him a start and see how long he lasts. Kone is rested after his mistake in the last game.

On the bench are; Mannone, Wijndal, Kone, Gibson, Khazri, Chong and Borini.

We force a few early saves from Mandanda. We seem to be able to find space, despite Palace playing a flat back 5, which is promising.
Some of the best chances fall to Ndong, but he puts 2 shots over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
Despite all the pressure and efforts that we have, it's 0-0 at half time.
We manage to score straight from kick off. A long ball over the top from Dozzell finds Kluivert and he rounds the last defender before putting it past the keeper. 1-0.
Just as I'm getting ready to pull Isak off, he has his best chance of the game, forcing a fingertip save from Mandanda. He still comes off on the hour mark though, with Chong coming on and Kluivert moving up front.
Kluivert takes 8 minutes in his new position to score again, getting on the end of a cross from Kean. This came on a counter attack after Benteke had hit the bar, so settled some nerves.
The nerves soon come back though. Just a minute later, Ndong plays a short backpass to Pickford and Benteke nips in to take it away from him and score.
Gibson comes on with 13 minutes to go instead of Felix to try and sure things up.
Kluivert almost turns provider inside the final 10 minutes as he sets Dozzell through one on one. He hits it straight at the keeper though when he should have done better.
A late final change sees Kone replace Alvaro and he makes a couple of good clearances.
Right at the end, Kluivert bags his hattrick. He beats the offside trap from an Ndong through ball and rounds the keeper as if he's not there. 3-1 final score!