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#246711 This is Anfield
willz121
March 2015
Results
We started the month with a double header against Southampton; firstly the Capital One Cup Final and then a home time in the league. We won 2-0 in the final, with goals from Joe Allen and Callum McGregor. Delighted to raise the cup, and hopefully it'll give the club a boost financially.
We followed that with a win in the league, this time 4-2, and our form continued with wins over West Brom and Galatasaray. I gave a couple of younger players a game against Gala, and we came away with wins in both games. We've been drawn against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter final, and as you'll see from the fixtures we're going to have quite the love in with the Gooners next month.
Two big derbies to end the month, both ending 3-1. We were on the wrong end of the result against Manchester United, before beating Everton 3-1 at our place. Very disappointed to lose to United, but hopefully it won't cost us too much in the league. The Everton result removed any ill feeling from the fans, but it was another decent month.
League Table
Five points clear of Chelsea, and we've near enough tied up our place in the top four which will achieve our board's expectation.
A good month all in all, the Capital One Cup is hopefully the first of many trophies at Anfield under my reign.
#246160 This is Anfield
willz121
February 2015
Results
Our first game of the month at home to West Bromw as the first time I have been able to name a fully British starting eleven:
Ruddy; Trippier, Johnson, Batth, Flanagan; Henderson, Ward-Prowse; Sterling, Lallana, Murphy; Sturridge.
Sturridge scored twice to win the tie for us, and it was very pleasing that we've made so much ground already. The quality needs to improve, but it's a positive start. We continued our good form, beating Spurs 2-1, before drawing at Stamford Bridge 1-1. I'll happily take that at Chelsea, as they are off the pace, and they've got some amazing players despite not really challenging.
We overcame Ipswich 3-0 in the FA Cup, before travelling to Galatasaray in the first leg and winning 4-0. It was the perfect performance, and it should see us into the next round and tick off one of the board's expectations.
Danny Ings returned to match fitness at the end of the month, and scored twice at home to Swansea on his debut, before we got another win, at Burnley, to round the month off. Lallana netting twice as we completed another good month.
League Table
Still top, and still four clear of Manchester United but no games in hand anymore, so we're really on target to get the top four achievement the board require, and hopefully more!
We're 21 points clear of Spurs in fifth, and eight clear of Chelsea in third. Very happy with how we are performing so far!
#246149 This is Anfield
willz121
January 2015
Results
Aside from transfer excitement, January was a fantastic month for me and Liverpool FC. We started off with an outstanding win over Leicester in the league, before easing past Blackburn in the FA Cup. Next up was a big game against Manchester City, and I was delighted that we came away with a 3-1 win.
We followed that up with a random run of fixtures, facing Stoke and Newcastle twice in the league and cups. A 2-0 win at Stoke in the lead took us to St James' Park for the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi final, where we had a great 4-1 win. Really pleased to get such a commanding lead in the first leg, and we hit four again as we faced Stoke in the FA Cup with Daniel Sturridge scoring a hat trick.
The second leg of the League Cup semi final was a formality, so I rested a lot of key players, and it was another 4-3 thriller, and sees us to Wembley 8-4 on aggregate. January closed with a strong win at Sunderland, with Balotelli scoring a nice double.
League Table
Top of the league after 23 games, and a four point gap over Manchester United who have a game in hand. Man City seem to have given up all hope, as have Arsenal, whilst Southampton and Everton push for top four.
In other news...
Manager of the Month award for me, very happy with that, and delighted that our four games this month have all been wins. Massive result against Manchester City is very pleasing.
Josh Murphy comes in second in his first month in the Premier League, hopefully a sign of things to come!
So close again, as Lallana and Murphy finished second and third in Player of the Month. Delighted with January all round!
#245899 This is Anfield
willz121
January 2015
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!! The first transfer window I've had to start making changes to the squad, and it went really well in my opinion... I would appreciate any comments on changes made to see if you agree on what I've done:
Goalkeepers
IN: John Ruddy - Norwich City - £7.5m
OUT: Simon Mignolet - Roma - £11.0m
Starting in goal, I decided to try and get this sorted as quickly as possible. I considered offers for the usual suspects, and after a lot of scouting and negotiating, Ruddy came back as the best value, and the best rated. I signed him for £7.5m and his wages of £35k per week fit very well.
Simon Mignolet was then allowed to leave for £11m to Roma. Mignolet was on much higher wages that Ruddy is, so all round I believe this is a good transfer for the club.
Defenders
IN: Kieron Trippier - Burnley - £7.75m
IN: Grant Hanley - Blackburn Rovers - £8.25m
IN: Danny Batth - Wolverhampton Wanderers - £7.0m
OUT: Alberto Moreno - Athletico - £8.25m
OUT: Mamadou Sakho - Real Madrid £25.5m
Firstly, I wanted to add Trippier after he became highly rated on my previous save, and the fact I believe him to be a very good player in real life. He will come in to right back, with Glen Johnson moving to the left to cover for the departure of Moreno.
I brought Danny Batth into the club as more of a backup for now, but the scouts were impressed with him, and he is a good age and price to cover for any impending injuries or suspensions we will have. Minimal wages, and just the delight of playing for Liverpool were enough to win him and me over, but whether he is good enough remains to be seen.
Only after signing him did I notice the section on the bottom right of the screen - banned for four matches! Ouch, so we've got an aggressive defender here, but again I believe he will be good enough to step up next season and be a competitive player for the club. Scouts rated his potential as quite high, so I hope he will prove that and become part of a strong, young, British back four.
I let Moreno go because he wasn't going to play enough once I'd signed my targets, and he was also due for an appearance pay out to his previous club. We probably could've got more money for him, but it's a deal done. Sakho was subject to a lot of bids, and on another save, I wouldn't have sold him. £25.5m + 40% of future profit is a good enough deal for me for now, and he went.
Midfielders
IN: Josh Murphy - Norwich - £7.5m
IN: James Ward-Prowse - Southampton - £26.5m
IN: Jack Cork - Swansea City - £4.1m
OUT: Emre Can - Fulham - £9.0m
OUT: Lazar Markovic - Inter - £11.0m
OUT: Lucas Leiva - Milan - £11.75m
Murphy is a bit of an unknown player to me, but after much scouting, it was apparent I needed to sign him. He's impressive on the left wing, and will form a strong trio behind Sturridge with Lallana and Sterling.
He's got the potential to be a world class player, and I hope he will realise that here. He'll struggle to break into the team immediately as Henderson and Allen are playing well, but he will become the centre piece of my team for years to come. An expensive transfer, but I hope it pays off!
Brought in as backup, although I think he will do a job when needed, I like Cork in real life and he had a great loan spell at Coventry. I hope he will kick on and give me a choice to include him as his stats are decent, and a bargain at £4.1m.
There was a lot of concern when I sold Emre Can, but I am happy with the money I got for him. Likewise Markovic and Leiva, as they financed the JWP deal and also allowed me to bolster my side.
Forwards
IN: Danny Ings - Burnley - £1.3m
IN: Connor Wickham - Sunderland - £7.5m
OUT: Rickie Lambert - Swansea - £1.0m
OUT: Fabio Borini - Leicester - £8.5m
Unlike real life, Burnley did decide to cash in on Ings, and at that price I was delighted to add him to my squad. He will be a backup player this season as Balotelli and Sturridge continue to score goals, but he will be given his chance as games stack up.
Wickham was a deadline day signing as we had loads of money to spare, and wages too, so I thought we'd take a punt on him. He's been loaned back to Sunderland for the remainder of the season as part of the deal, but I am keen to see how he develops, and if he can disrupt the current crop when he returns.
I spent £8.3m on new strikers, and recouped £9.5m for the two I sold, so I am pleased with the changes made here.
Transfer Overview
So that's how January went for me, spent £77.5m, and recouped £85.5m. The wage bill is massively lower than it was before hand, and I've got a good core of British players in the squad to use in the second half of the season.
So that's my transfers for the month, any comments? January results to follow...
#245513 This is Anfield
willz121
Results
In true 1990's fashion, our game with Newcastle was a goal fest, with the Magpies edging the seven goal thriller. Sturridge scored twice before Markovic netted late on, but it wasn't enough. We made amends with our next fixture though, destroying Arsenal at home 4-1. Lallana, Ibe and Sakho scored our goals, with Lallana grabbing a brace. He's been great since his return from injury, and I hope he will be a key player for us.
We travelled to Basel, knowing a win would seal the group, and we proceeded to lose 1-0. It was a terrible result, but we still managed to finish top. Thankfully we then went on a five game winning rule until the end of the month. A 3-1 win at QPR was followed by a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup. We then got back to back 2-1 wins over Hull and Palace before hitting seven past West Ham.
League Table
Top of the league at the turn of the year, a point clear of United and five clear of Chelsea in third. Midway through the season, and so far everything is on track.
Other News
I was offered a new contract by the board, and I've signed it. The deal extends my contract until 2017, so gives me another two years. Delighted to get this tied up, and even more so that the board want me to stay!
We have been drawn with Galatasaray in the Champions League 1st Knockout Round, and hopefully that will give us progress to the Quarter Finals and tick another expectation off.
#245444 This is Anfield
willz121
November 2014
Results
We started November with a thrilling draw at St Mary's, with Sterling scoring twice and Moreno securing the draw. We followed that up though with a 2-1 win over Benfica. We were behind for much of the game, before Markovic and Sakho scored for us in the last 10 minutes. That win should see us through to the next stage, and we now need to focus on securing top spot!
Two derbies followed, as a Balotelli double gave us a great win over Manchester United, before scoring another double against Everton. We kept a clean sheet against United, but weren't strong enough to keep Everton at bay. Four points from two big games though is a good showing.
We went into the game with Salzburg, and were distinctly average, but managed a 1-0 win, before tonking Villa 5-2 back in the league.
League Table
Still behind United in the league, and a win against Everton would've put us top, but again we're in the top four and in line with our season objective.
Other News
Fantastic month from Sterling, and I hope he can continue with this form for a long time to come.
#245435 This is Anfield
willz121
Results
A busy October saw us start at home to Basel in the Champions League, and we finished with a great 3-0 win. Markovic, Sterling and Balotelli scored the goals in the first half and it was a resounding win for us. We followed that up with a draw at home to Chelsea, with Jordon Ibe scoring the only goal for us.
We then travelled to Swansea, where we came away with another strong performance, with goals from Lallana, Balotelli (2) and Sterling, before we lost in Benfica 3-2. Disappointed to lose the game, but we need to ensure we beat them in the return game at Anfield.
We finished up the month with two big wins, 2-1 at home to Burnley and 2-1 again over Manchester City in the League Cup. The games against Swansea and Burnley gave me a chance to scout first hand Danny Ings, Ben Mee and Kieron Trippier, before the game in Wales allowed us to watch Jack Cork.
League Table
We've dropped behind Manchester United in the league on goal difference, but we're in the top four and that's my main aim.
Other News
I signed Callum McGregor on loan from Celtic as a bit of a backup to the side, but also to test how he progresses as a potential transfer into the club. He's the right age for us to be targetting, and he looks like he's been good value so far with two goals in five games.
#245176 This is Anfield
willz121
Johno - Thanks again for the comment, appreciate you following my stories! It is an easy group, and if we don't finish top, then I will be disappointed. We need to avoid the bigger teams if we are to get through to the Quarter Finals as the board demand, and hopefully this should pave the way for that!
September 2014
Results
After a great start to the season, we went into September with confidence and recorded four wins out of our five games. We started away at West Brom where two Brits scored to give us a 2-1 win. Sterling opened the scoring before Sturridge scored just before half time. We followed that up with a trip to Austria to play Salzburg, and came back comfortable 3-0 winners. Jordon Ibe, Mario Balotelli and Alberto Moreno scored, and Ibe popped up with another goal in the next game, as we won 4-2 at home to Sunderland. Loan signing Callum McGregor (more about him in next month's review) scored twice, before Sturridge again scored the final goal.
We got an easy draw in the League Cup, and overcame York 5-1 at Bootham Crescent. We rotated the whole squad, and Jerome Sinclair banged in a hat-trick as we overcame our opponents and moved into the next round. Unfortunately, our month ended with our first defeat, losing at White Hart Lane.
League Table
After six games, we're still top, but the defeat to Spurs still hurts. We're looking to finish in the top four this season, and this start should give us a boost towards that goal.
Other News
I am delighted that Raheem Sterling has signed a new deal at the club, as it guarantees us security going forward, and to be honest, I don't think £78k is a massive amount for someone who will become a huge part of our future.
#245142 This is Anfield
willz121
Manchester United lead the way with 34 players, and I really want to see us much higher up this table than we are. We've only got 13 players in circulation in comparison, so we've got a long way to go from here.
I hope through transfers and investment in the youth facilities that we will make moves up this table, and really give us a chance to create some awesome talent.
#245140 This is Anfield
willz121
Results
League Table
Champions League Draw
Basel, Benfica and Red Bull Salzburg in our group, and I am delighted with how that has turned out. We should win the group, and I hope we can qualify strongly.
Manager of the Month
Perfect start for us, and I am delighted to have picked up the award. I hope it will help my reputation improve!
Player of the Month
Delighted for Mario here, hopefully this will make him easier to sell when the time comes. Sturridge will start getting more game time as the season progresses, but Balotelli has been awesome in the first three games.
#244508 This is Anfield
willz121
Especially when I am a former semi-pro player with National B licence... they'll be waiting for an excuse to kick me out I feel! Should add to the challenge though.
#244473 This is Anfield
willz121
Champions League
The minimum expectation is that the team reach the Quarter Final of the Champions Cup
So we need to qualify from the group stage to keep the board happy here. It adds pressure, and the draw will be upon us soon, so we have to hope we can avoid too many of the bigger European sides. Looking at the real life draw, Liverpool were drawn with Ludogrets, Basel and Real Madrid; a similar draw for me would be nice as I think we'd finish second out of that lot.
Premier League
The minimum expecation is that the team qualify for the European Champions Cup through participation in the Premier Division this season.
This could be difficult depending on what changes we make this season. I think we should be in and around the top six, but breaking the top four could be a very interesting test.
FA Cup
The minimum expectation is that the team reach the Semi Final of the FA Cup.
Again, I think this is quite a high expectation, but hopefully we can make a good job of it. I take the FA Cup fairly seriously with smaller sides, as it's a good earner, but hopefully we can match the board's ambition.
League Cup
The board do not regard the Capital One Cup as important and so will evaluate your performance based on results in other competitions.
This is good news, as it will mean we can use the younger players in this tournament where possible without any ramifications from the board. I'd still like for us to progress in the tournament as far as possible, but the reduced pressure is a brilliant chance to give fringe players a run out.
Our wage budget is £1.89m per week, and transfer budget is £0 due to me disabling transfers in the August window.
Next thing to do is to start the season!
#244292 This is Anfield
willz121
I'm looking forward to what choices I have to make. For example, until January I'm stuck with the non British players. Do I use them or try to focus on the younger ones? I need to balance development against meeting the boards expectations, so that in itself will be testing at times.
#244260 Stadium Capacity
willz121
Had never realised there was a minimum capacity for the PL though!
#244232 This is Anfield
willz121
Thanks dude, thought I'd better get back into a story quickly, else it might be a while until I got back writing again!
It's an unusual start for me, so hopefully we will have a good few seasons at Anfield!
Going to be very tough; firstly surviving any struggles will be difficult as the chairman will probably be quick to fire me, but secondly bringing in British players who are good enough!
I've tried it once in the past, and it was very difficult, so hopefully it makes this game a bit tougher to compete on!
Thanks for comments already guys, really appreciate it!
#244155 This is Anfield
willz121
Looking through the depth we have available at Liverpool, there will be some areas where we will need to shop in January - I have disabled transfer budgets at the start of the season - so let's have a quick look through the squad.
Goalkeepers
Most will know that the first two keepers at Liverpool are Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones, neither of whom are British, so this is an area we will need to address.
Mignolet is contracted to the club until 2018, but Jones will leave this summer (2015). Liverpool have a young Welsh goalkeeper called Daniel Ward who may have a chance to stake a claim.
John Ruddy and David Marshall immediately spring to mind, but whether they are good enough remains to be seen. Fraser Forster is another obvious choice, but I don't think we'll be able to afford him!
Defenders
Starting at right back, we've got Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan, with a youngster Ryan McLaughlin also waiting in the wings.
Left back however, we have the exact opposite, with nothing really to show. Flanagan can play there, but we will need to target a left back. Aaron Cresswell and Ben Mee are both solid options based on experience.
At centre back, we've got a massive job ahead of us. Liverpool only have Andre Wisdom of note who is British, and whilst I believe he will do a job for us, we need to add at least two more players in that position. A lot of work will go in before January, as we may be able to do a deal early on for at least one. Steven Caulker and John Stones would be ideal, but I cannot see anyone moving across Liverpool!
Midfield
Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson will be a good partnership to build on, and with Jordan Rossiter coming through as well, we could be in a strong position to focus our spending elsewhere in the immediate future. We will need to move on some expensive talent in Coutinho, Leiva and Can so we might be able to invest a little in the replacements coming in. A midfielder I have always admired is Jack Cork, so we will scout him.
Attacking midfielders
Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and the aforementioned Jordon Ibe will all be key parts of this side, and I will probably look to field all three this season as much as possible. Centrally, we also have two youngsters that shine out in Adam Phillips and Callum Nicholas:
Both of these will be watched as they develop, and hopefully we can squeeze them some game time. Will Hughes is also an obvious target, along with Jesse Lingard and Ryan Mason.
Strikers
Up top we have a lot of deadwood to trim, with Balotelli, Aspas and Borini all out the door. Origi will be another to follow, which is a shame as he might do a job for us going forward.
Daniel Sturridge will lead the line when fit, with Lambert and Sinclair in and around the squad. Sinclair will more than likely leave on loan this season.
James Wilson, Connor Wickham, Harry Kane and Jordon Rhodes are all options, along with my record signing at Coventry Britt Assombalonga, so there is plenty to think about up front!
Board backing
Thankfully, at our first meeting, the board agreed to improve the training facilities and the youth facilities, so at least we are all pushing in the same direction!
These are two things I am going to keep pushing the board for, and hopefully we can keep players improving during their time here!
Thanks for reading so far.
#244152 This is Anfield
willz121
Instead, I have decided to jump to the Premier League and straight into Anfield. The move was also inspired by the enjoyment I had of managing Jerome Sinclair and Jordon Ibe at Coventry.
Not much need for an introduction of the club, but a bit about me. I have set myself to semi-professional footballer and National B licence (which I have the equivalent of in real life as I am a Level 2 FA qualified football coach).
Being such a low reputation, it could be a risky move, but I hope it'll pay off. The board have indicated the following philosophies:
#244151 This is Anfield
willz121
#243406 Sky Blue Army
willz121
#243394 Sky Blue Army
willz121
Tried going back to past autosaves, but it dies each time at the same point.
Looks like a new career for me somewhere else... thanks for the comments and follows, but this one is over!
#243214 Sky Blue Army
willz121
August 2017
Transfers In
A season long loan was agreed with Chelsea to bring Gary Cahill in, and he adds a lot of experience to the squad. Not sure why he is constantly available at Chelsea, as he still looks to have the ability to compete in the Premier League, but their loss is hopefully our gain.
Eli Mangala is another player who I was surprised was available for loan, but again I am delighted to bring him in. Can cover at left back if needed, but I hope he and Cahill will push Danny Wilson for starting places at centre back.
Oumar Diakhite was signed on free transfer after being spotted by one of my scouts. He looks a decent acquisition and fills the requirements of a free transfer defender on less than 30k per week.
Luca Marrone arrives on loan from Juventus and will play a big role as backup in a number of positions. He's versatile, and that's exactly what was required of any additions to ensure we don't lose our way when injuries start piling up.
Transfers Out
Chris Eagles, Gary Mackay-Steven and Ryan Mendes both left the club on mutual terminations, whilst Gary Madine departed to League Two for a small cash deal. Other than that, there were no major departures during the window. Ryan Mason and Jesse Lingard both still want to leave, but no bids were received for either.
We rejected a £7.5m bid from Newcastle for Charlison Benschop, with his £10m minimum fee release clause now not feeling so high. We've got no room to re-negotiate his contract, so we might have to grin and bear it for now.
Results
Just two games in August, as we crushed Norwich City 4-0 in the opening game of the season. Was great to see Assombalonga open his account on his debut, but Demarai Gray was the stand out player in the game.
We followed up with a 2-0 win away at Reading, with Benschop and Lingard both scoring. As the transfer window closed, Lingard stated he was happy to remain at the club which is great news.
League Table
Top of the league after two games, amazing! Although like every season Coventry had in the Premiership, we started well and always petered out. We play Chelsea and Manchester United in September, so we'll have a bit more of a realistic picture by then.
Young Player of the Month
Demarai Gray has been outstanding in the first two games this season, and he's realising his potential and making the AML role his own. Hopefully he can continue this throughout the season!
New Contract
With my contract expiring at the end of the 2017/18 season, the board have offered me a new contract and I have accepted it. I am now contracted until the end of the 2019/20 season.
Coming next... September, the Europa League group stages draw and the Confederations Cup with Holland!
#242668 Sky Blue Army
willz121
Johno - thanks for continuing to follow! I was surprised to see it offered it to be honest, probably as surprised as they were to me turning it down!
Dan - Looking forward to our visit to the Europa League, will be amazing to see how we get on!
Thanks for reading and following guys!
July 2017
Transfers
Quick update on my transfers so far. My target was to strengthen our attacking line, and add a defender or two to the squad.
Federico Bonazzoli signs on loan from Inter, and I think he'll be a good addition to our squad. He was loaned to the Championship next season (I think) and did really well there, so it will be interesting to see if he can step it up to the Premiership.
Kieran Braithwaite joins us from Fulham for £3m, and was originally looking likely to arrive in January but we missed the deadline. At 18 years old, he looks a fantastic prospect, and I will be trying to loan him out this season to see if he can get some game time.
Harrison Reed has been signed from Southampton after he was transfer listed, and we picked him up for £400k. Again, not sure if he will make an immediate push for the first team, but I think he is a good talent, and certainly one for the future.
Signed on a Bosman from Roma, Giunti will become our first choice goalkeeper this season. Foderingham's contract expires at the end of the season, so this was a move I wanted to try and resolve, and it's worked out really well for us as I believe he will become an excellent key player for us.
Probably the biggest move of the transfer window for us, and one we managed to get on a free transfer after he left Barcelona. Gerard Deulofeu is a wonderful talent, and I am shocked he decided to sign for us. We nearly had him on loan last season but he rejected the offer, but I hope he will earn his massive wages well for us. If not, I am sure we will be able to make a healthy profit on him!
We broke our transfer record for Britt Assombalonga, paying £14m for his services. I hope that this will be repaid, but at just 24 years old he should be a good acquisition for us. It should allow Henan to move out on loan, and hopefully he can take us to the next level.
We let a few players go during the month, but nobody of note. Three younger players left on free transfers as they hadn't progressed as I'd have hoped, and Ryan Mason or Jesse Lingard could leave as both are complaining about lack of first team football/too much competition.
We've got a couple of deals lined up for defenders, but we can only afford one, so it will be a tough decision to make. I've also approached Manchester City and Chelsea about loaning Mangala and Cahill.
#242444 Sky Blue Army
willz121
Results
Three games to push for the Champions League, and we realistically needed three wins. In the end, we fell at the first hurdle, losing 5-3 at home to Liverpool. It was a disappointing result, with the Scousers below us in the table, but we bounced back with a 1-0 win over Chelsea. Our final game of the season, away at local rivals Leicester City, and we struggled to a draw.
In the end, a very disappointing end to the season, but a successful one none the less.
League Table
So wins against Liverpool and Leicester would've still seen us short of the Champions League in the end, but we've secured a Europa League place for the new season... a great success and I hope that we can build on this.
Benschop wins top goalscorer award
For £2.2m, we signed the player who would outscore Sergio Aguero and Carlos Fierro to win the golden boot in the Premiership. Delighted with this, and for him!
Breaking News
After finishing seventh this season, Chelsea sacked Jurgen Klopp as manager, and I applied to see how my career was developing. I wasn't even listed as one of the top three for the job, but was offered it.
After much deliberation, I rejected the job, and continued with Coventry City. I am contracted at the club until the end of the forthcoming season, so let's see where the next 12 months takes me.
#242438 Sky Blue Army
willz121
Results
Bit of a busier month, and we basically blew two big games, losing at Manchester City and Tottenham 3-0. A win in either would've really given us belief for a top four finish, but it wasn't to be.
Wins against Reading, Palace and Newcastle were all vital in a different way, as the league table shows...
League Table
Five points ahead of Chelsea now with three games to go, and three points back on Arsenal and Tottenham. City are too far away now realistically, but we face Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester in our final three games so this could be tough. Fifth looks secure though!
#242434 Sky Blue Army
willz121
Results
After our disappointing result against City in the League Cup, we played just two games in March, and won both 2-1 against sides below us in the table. Six vital points, anything less would've been disappointing.
League Table
Opened some breathing room over Chelsea and Liverpool, and keeping tabs on Arsenal, City and Tottenham above us... could the unthinkable happen and we get into the top four?
#242431 Sky Blue Army
willz121
Results
So our epic League Cup journey continued, for the second season in a row we'd made it to the semi finals, and this time gone a step further. Manchester City stood in our way, and they were too strong for us.
A single goal from the Citizens condemned us to defeat, and whilst we never thought we'd win it, it was a massive disappointment.
League Table
Fifth in the table, but it's all getting very cosy for the European places. Losing out in the League Cup and being out of the FA Cup, all we can do is hope for a top six finish to guarantee us a big windfall for next year.
#242218 Sky Blue Army
willz121
Transfers
Signed for £2.7m from Birmingham City, Gray looks like a great prospect for us. He'll predominantly play on the left side, but he is versatile enough if we need him to play in different positions. Really pleased with the low transfer fee, and hope he progresses with us!
A player with Premiership experience to play in our midfield, I am delighted with this signing and at £1.6m he is really going to be a good addition to the squad this season.
Signed from Lille for £2.5m, Ryan gives us a bit of an option on the right hand side. His physical stats look useful, and hopefully he will feature well for us as we look to play from the wings again this season.
Signed on loan for the remainder of the season from Real Madrid, Prieto looks like a youngster with a lot of potential. I can't see us every affording him permanently, but it will be interesting to see how he develops at the club during his loan spell.
Signed from Athletic Club for £2m, Benat is another experienced midfielder who I hope will help the younger players in the side grow and give them confidence. A mix of youth and experience in the centre of the field will certainly give us a strong spine.
Results
A very busy January schedule saw us play eight games at the start of the new year. We started well winning our first five games. It all started at Swansea where David Henen scored all four goals in a 4-2 win. Mendes scored his first goal for the club at home to Newcastle in the FA Cup with Joao Teixeira scoring the second in a 2-1 win. Charlison Benschop returned from a slight knock to score the opener against Blackburn before Jesse Lingard secured the win with two goals late on.
Lingard scored again as we beat Southampton 2-1 before running away with the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi final, beating Everton 4-0. This however came before a very humbling moment of a 2-0 defeat at Millwall in the FA Cup 4th Round. Wwe were back on form to beat Everton 4-2 in the second leg (8-2 on aggregate) before losing 3-1 at home to Arsenal.
Table
Thought I'd change the view slightly for this one, to show just how good Benschop has been this season. 6th is still a great achievement with 15 games left to play, and we're into the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City.
#241143 Johno's Career
willz121
Good luck this season mate, shame about the other jobs, but I am sure you are on the right path.
#241141 Sky Blue Army
willz121
Thanks again for the comments and follows guys, need a bit of time now to write up January, few bits going on but hope it will be up soon!
#240855 Sky Blue Army
willz121
December 2016
Results
After a short November, we ended up playing seven games in December! We started at home to Manchester City, where we just weren't good enough to see out the game against the Citizens. They took a 1-0 win away with them, and I was quite disappointed. We followed that up with a very disappointing 0-0 draw at St James' Park against Newcastle. We dominated the game, but couldn't seem to find the net.
Next up was our trip to Swansea in the quarter final of the League Cup where we rotated the squad, and our 'second string' took a convincing 3-0 win and moved us into the semi finals for the second year running, where we will meet Everton. Chelsea face Manchester City in the other game.
Back to league proceedings, and back to back defeats for us as we slumped 3-0 at home to Tottenham before losing 2-1 at Anfield; Chris Eagles scored a late penalty to make the scoreline a little more respectable. A Boxing Day derby against Leicester saw Charlison Benschop scoring his first goals of the month as he score a hat-trick, with the winner in the 91st minute.
Finally, we travelled to Chelsea and got destroyed. Taking the lead twice, we just weren't good enough against a side who have themselves fallen away from the top of the table in recent weeks. We've finally faced the bigger sides in close proximity, and we've struggled as I would expect. Pressure is on us now to strengthen in January and also to beat the sides below us in the table! 7 points to go to get the 40...
League Table
Massive fall in the standings this month, but a more realistic position for us at this stage of the season. Half way through, eighth position is higher than we would've expected, and I am happy with how we've played so far this season.