The Fallen Giant Challenge - Leeds United

As you may remember, Leeds United FC used to be a big team in the Premier League. Unfortunately, after a disastrous gamble on massive loans to be guaranteed by Champions League football for the next x amount of seasons, the clulb were relegated from the Premier League and even ended up down in League 1. The challenge here is, in 5 seasons take Leeds from Championship to Premier League and qualify for either Champions League or Europa League by the end of 5 seasons.

This will be run on points, like the SUSIE on tour challenges were. Points system below:

CHAMPIONSHIP:

Relegated: -10
21st - 9th: 0
8th - 7th: 5
Losing Playoff: 10
Winning Playoff: 15
Second: 20
Champions: 25

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Relegated: -10
17th - 10th: 0
9th - 7th: 10
6th - 5th: 15
4th - 2nd: 20
Champions: 25

CAPITAL ONE CUP & FA CUP:

Winners: 25
Semi Finals: 20
Quarters: 15
Earlier Rounds: 5

EUROPA LEAGUE & CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

Winners: 50
Semi Finals: 25
Quarters: 20
KO Round 1: 15
Group: 10

RIVALS (must win a competitive match against them, so friendly and friendly tournaments/leagues don't count):

Manchester United, Galatasaray and Chelsea: 5 points per win, 2 per draw
Millwall, Sheffield United, Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff: 3 points per win, 1 per draw

If sacked, then a penalty of -25 will be applied. Start with no licence, no experience.

I accept the challenge. As a Leeds fan I've had a few saves with this club so I've got a bit of experience with this task.



I'll post an update at the end of each season.

Just as an afterthought, it goes without saying that using FMRTE to edit points is not allowed.

1st season completed - Championship Champions.

I've won the Championship 1st season before so I was expecting a promotion push at the start of the year (despite media prediction of 14th). I started the season strongly and other than one or two spells where my form dipped we were top of the table most of the season. In the end I finished on 95 points (10 points ahead of Norwich in 2nd)



League Cup - JFH and his Burton(lona) took me out 1st round. I wasnt happy about it but I did rotate heavily in both Cups.

FA Cup - Again poor performance knocked out in 3rd round by Brighton.

Rivals - Home & Away wins against Millwall and Sheff Weds and a home win against Cardiff




Key men - Billy Sharp did himself proud scoring 23 goals but my main men were Mowatt who bossed the midfield and Antenucci who finished up with 18 goals and 13 assists (primarily playing as an Inside Forward on the right wing).

Let down - Adyran. Didnt fit into my formation and struggled when played as a CM

Assuming I get 5 points for each cup game then I make that 50 points?

25 - Championship
5 - League Cup
5 - FA Cup
15 - Rivals

Yes, 50 points. Well done. Still trying to get a game playing for more than 5 days at a time before it crashes on me.

I did it in the first season because i went to the FA cup final (also won the Sky Championship).




In the second season i won the Europa League:

Well done, how did you do in the other cup and did you get any wins over the rivals?

2nd season complete...good league form. Not great in the cups again.

We finished 6th in the league. Level points with Chelsea and one point ahead of Arsenal. After a slow start (losing the 1st two games of the season) we soon settled and were in the top half of the league most of the season. (15 points)


League Cup - A 5-1 drubbing in the Quarter Finals by the Scum. (15 points)


FA Cup - A tough loss 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the 5th round (5 points)


Rivals - We played Man Utd 3 times during the season. W1 L2. We also had W1 D1 against Chelsea. (12 points)



Key men - Two stand out above the rest. Luke Garbutt who we picked up off Everton for a steal of £1.5m bringing him back home. Avg rating for the season of 7.8. But top marks go to Bernando Silva. Brought in from Monaco for £3.4m he was initially going to be a utility midfielder. However he made the right wing position his own. 13 goals and 16 assists. PSG are now sniffing after him and have met his £30m buy out clause

Let down - No one had a really bad season although I probably expected more from Celso Borges who has been a favourite of mine in previous versions.

97 points after two seasons