Let's go!

I will be putting the franchise on hold for now. I will start a new one on this site, but I won't type out the big updates. Link below.

I also won the Cup of Nations with Nigeria, so that's cool.

Link here

Thanks to the one other person who voted, but I will be done with the updates here. No one reads them. For those who do care, I will still input seasons, but I'm done putting in the hard work for nothing.

I will, however, be going to 

I'll probably stop the updates (but continue putting seasons in) if we get less than 20 votes (I might not if it's close). If you're a fan of this, PLEASE VOTE!

I'll probably stop the updates (but continue putting seasons in) if we get less than 20 votes (I might not if it's close). If you're a fan of this, PLEASE VOTE!

I'll probably stop the updates (but continue putting seasons in) if we get less than 20 votes (I might not if it's close). If you're a fan of this, PLEASE VOTE!

Thanks to the 2 voters, but voting will be open until 5:30 PM EST/2:30 PM PST/10:30 PM GMT. PLEASE VOTE! PLEASE VOTE! PLEASE VOTE!

Third and final reminder to vote for my next team. RESULTS ANNOUNCED IN 7 HOURS!

Second reminder to vote in the poll above. VOTING RESULTS AT 2:30 PM EST/11:30 AM PST/7:30 PM GMT!

For any of you who didn't see it, this is the first of three reminders to VOTE FOR THE ABOVE POLL TO CHOOSE MY NEXT TEAM!

Can y'all do me a favor and fill out this poll for where I go next? Assume 2 years into the future.

https://take.quiz-maker.com/poll5078468xA3e34116-154

Crystal Palace became cash-strapped so I intend to leave ASAP (no love lost btw). Keep you posted on where I go next!

We are $37,000,000 short on our salaries. Wish me luck!

Random assorted information BEFORE we start:

• I got into scouting and built the 4th/5th scouting network in the PL.
• I got an extension until 2029.
• The USA World Cup post is insecure, so I declared my interest in it (Me and “Sebastian Brooks” are American)
• I'll be facing Newcastle in the third round of the Carabao Cup, so wish me luck!

Anyway…

Welcome Back!

Considering we had a net loss of $90,000,000 in the previous transfer window, you might think we just went broke. But we've still got $34,600,000 in the transfer budget, for extensions and transfers for January and beyond.

NEW GOALS:

Actionable Objectives:

Required - Work withing payroll budget: I'm definitely going to do this.

Favored - Grow the club's reputation: I think I already did this? If not, I will.

5-Year Plan (Year 3):

Required - Finish in mid-table in the Premier League: I'll be mad if we don't do this.

Desired - Be competitive in the FA Cup: Considering I won't get far in the EFL Cup, I'm going to hope for the best.

Preferred - Be competitive in the EFL Cup: Assuming we can't beat Newcastle, we end in the fourth round.

Board Culture:

Desired - Develop players using the club's youth system: I've done it before and can do it again

Favored - Make the most of set pieces: Isn't that up to the players mostly? This is one of our strengths (we led the league in set piece goals in the first year, and maybe the second, I didn't check)

Favored - Play high-tempo pressure soccer: DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO STEVE PARISH!

Supporter Culture:

Preferred - Develop players using the club's youth system: Same answer

Favored - Make the most of set pieces: Same answer

Favored - Play high-tempo pressure soccer: Same answer

Supporter Expectations

Required - Finish in mid-table: Same answer

Required - Get the better of our rivals Brighton if we happen to face them: We only played them once and won. Success!

Preferred - Get the better of our rivals Millwall if we happen to face them: Odds are we won't for a while.

Tactical update

I won't be going through the whole squad, but here's my tactic that I spoke of last time.

Transfers!

Going out

I saw a not-so-fun stat about Dean Henderson. We would pay him $1,100,000 for every match he played for us if that's when his wage was payed. We lost $15,000,000 through him, but his wage is gone now. Don't pay any attention to Bartosz.

Tyrick Mitchell wanted to leave. At first, I wasn't a fan, but I then figured I could probably find a replacement for him eventually. I sold him to West Ham and found a replacement in…

Coming in

Vanderlan (3/3): The 22-year-old Brazilian has what it takes to outplay Mitchell.

Festy Ebosele (3/3.5, is stil learning right back as opposed to RWB): The Irish 23-year old should take the long-term RB job, letting Chris Richards spend more time at CB.

Keane Lewis-Potter (2.5/3): Fills a need for winger depth and can play striker.

Marco Carnesecchi (2.5/3): Henderson replacement who currently has no work permit 😢

Update after the January transfer window, thanks for reading!

Luton Town, Bournemouth, and Brighton (our rivals) were relegated, and Everton, West Brom, and Norwich were promoted. We finished in 9th! Check the update and thanks for reading.

Welcome Back!

Things got bad, but we thankfully recovered. We're currently in 12th place in the Premier League (8-8-8, I'm not making this stuff up).

• Dia is KILLING IT!
• Our team could be bought.
• We almost ran out of money again.
• Guéhi is happy here and signed a 4-year extension.
• We got eliminated in the Quarter-Final of the EFL Cup, this time by Manchester City.
• We moved on to the fifth round of the FA Cup, and will face Brighton later this month.
• I almost went to Sporting CP.

Transfers?

Yes.

Going out

Tom Cairney dropped to 2/2 and just had to leave. Lerma regressed to a 2.5/2.5 and I sold him for $21,000,000.

Coming in

Svetoslav Vutsov (2/2.5): Reserve keeper, needs luck to succeed.

Tobias Gulliksen (3.5/4-5): We've purchased fantastic players from the lesser European leagues. The Norwegian's only flaw is that he knows no English, but Andersen is also fluent in Norwegian. (Fun fact: He was arrested in the fall of 2022 for speeding in a 70 km/h (44 mph) zone. He was going at 148 km/h (92 mph)).

Expectations

Actionable Objectives:

Required - Work withing payroll budget: On course (almost wasn't, still could use some more for extensions).

Favored - Grow the club's reputation: Reserving judgement

5-Year Plan (Year 2):

Required - Finish in mid-table in the Premier League: Pleased (they're not pleased if I drop to 13th)

Required - Be competitive in the FA Cup: Pleased

Preferred - Be competitive in the EFL Cup: Passed

My contract expires after this season!

Board Culture:

Required - Develop players using the club's youth system: Delighted

Supporter Culture:

Required - Finish in mid-table in the Premier League: Pleased (they're not pleased if I drop to 13th)

Preferred - Develop players using the club's youth system: Delighted

Preferred - Get the better of our rivals Millwall if we happen to face them: Reserving judgement

Preferred - Be competitive against Brighton: Disappointed

Tactics & The Squad

Goalies:

Sam Johnstone (3/3): 1½ in-game years ago, I said Henderson would take the job soon. Alas, here we are now, and he'll probably remain the starter until his contract is up. He won the Fans Player of the Year award last year but has regressed.

Dean Henderson (2.5/3): Hopefully, he can take the starting job this year or next.

Svetoslav Vutsov (2/2.5): Hopefully he won't need to play.

Center-Backs:

Marc Guéhi (4/4): Thankfully, my (tied for) top player and captain is happy here now.

Joachim Andersen (3.5/3.5): Andersen contributes and also gets headers quite often.

Chris Richards (3/3.5): Hopefully the future at right back, he starts there and moonlights as a center back.

Ko Itakura (3/3): Primary CB backup and secondary CM backup.

Fullbacks:

Chris Richards (3/3.5): Hopefully the future at right back, he starts there and moonlights as a center back.

Tyrick Mitchell (3/3): Mitchell regressed but still is a key player.

Ben Johnson (2.5/3): Johnson is a super-sub at the full-back position.

Matthew Targett (2.5/2.5): A slightly worse version of Johnson who gets slightly less playing time (at only the left-back position).

Giovanni González (2/2): He should also stay a reserve.

Central Midfielders:

Tobias Gulliksen (3.5/4-5): Him and Doucouré should provide a killer combo. Tobias also plays winger.

Cheick Doucouré (3.5/3.5): Doucouré has the highest average match rating this year.

Matheus França (3/3.5-4.5): He backs up winger, midfielder, and sometimes even striker.

Ko Itakura (3/3): Primary CB backup and secondary CM backup.

Mateus Fernandes (2.5/3.5-4.5): I wasn't expecting him to even play this year, but he's even started games.

Will Hughes (2.5/2.5): Hughes is slowing down, but he's still a crucial CM backup.

Naoiurou Ahamada (2/3): Hopefully Ahamada can regain his previous form.

Wingers:

Michael Olise (3.5/4): Olise leads the team in assists.

Martin Baturina (3.5/3.5-4.5): The Croatian plays quite well. I have high hopes for him.

Matheus França (3/3.5-4.5): He backs up winger, midfielder, and sometimes even striker.

Tobias Gulliksen (3.5/4-5): Him and Doucouré should provide a killer combo. Tobias also plays winger.

Naoiurou Ahamada (2/3): Hopefully Ahamada can regain his previous form.

Dany Mota (2/2.5): Hopefully Mota can regain his previous form.

Odsonne Edouard (3/3.5): Just because he's the second option doesn't mean he still doesn't contribute. He occasionally plays left winger too.

Striker:

Boulaye Dia (3.5/3.5): He leads the team in goals and has achieved all expectations of him.

Odsonne Edouard (3/3.5): Just because he's the second option doesn't mean he still doesn't contribute. He occasionally plays left winger too.

Jean-Phillipe Mateta (2.5/2.5): He plays okay off the bench.

Dany Mota (2/2.5): Hopefully Mota can regain his previous form.

Update will be here

at season's end. Thanks for reading!

During the offseason, Guéhi (our new captain) made it clear that we had to get better players (which may or may not have created a rift where he now wants to leave).

$90,000,000 out the window, new record for Palace transfer window spending in.

Welcome back!

After deciding NOT to leave Crystal Palace, I decided to beef up the team.

New year, new…

Goals. New goals.

Actionable Objectives:

Required - Work withing payroll budget: I'll do this. Funny story, after I bought Itakura but before Holding was sold and Johnson was bought, I had dipped below my team's budget, not being able to afford the payroll. Thankfully, Holding left.

Favored - Increase the club's reputation: Basically just play better, in a sense. Palace hasn't finished higher than 10th in the Premier League since the 1990/91 season, and never before that.

5-Year Plan (Year 2):

Required - Finish in mid-table in the Premier League: Yeah, I'll do this (as long as they don't get mad if I finish higher!)

Required - Be competitive in the FA Cup: As long as I don't get matched with Brighton again, I should do this. I set the goal of winning once.

Preferred - Be competitive in the EFL Cup: This is actually more likely? My dream would be to win.

My contract expires after this season!

Board Culture:

Required - Develop players using the club's youth system: Hopefully?

Supporter Culture:

Required - Finish in mid-table: Same answer

Preferred - Develop players using the club's youth system: Same answer

Preferred - Get the better of our rivals Millwall if we happen to face them: I still think we can definitely do this.

Quick tactical update

I won't be going through the whole squad, but here's my tactic that I spoke of last time.

Are you ever going to talk about transfers?

Yes, but before I do, some players were released. James Tomkins retired, and Joel Ward, Nathaniel Clyne, Remi Matthews, and Jordan Ayew, among others, left. Tom Cairney will probably leave next year.

Rob Holding

Eventually, Rob came up to me and decided to complain about his playing time, and requested a loan, but I was able to convince/anger Holding into being open for transfers too. I sold him to Southampton.

The new guys

Boulaye Dia (3/3 at the moment, is usually at 3.5): Dia will slot in at the one place we could've used a starter. We got two full-time guys now and a Mateta super-sub on the bench (which might allow Edouard to play some winger).

Ben Johnson (3/3): I only paid $10,000,000 up front for the full back backup (full backup?), but will pay that amount again the next two years. He should cushion/occasionally dethrone Chris Richards.

Ko Itakura (3/3): Rob Holdings replacement who also plays midfielder (?) and is from Japan.

Mateus Fernandes (2.5/3-4): Portugese wonderkid and potential midfield backup who almost wore #82 for us.

Matthew Targett (3/3): X marks the Targett for the other FB backup.

Update after the January transfer window, thanks for reading!

Playing as Crystal Palace, and we've just entered the summer transfer window after finishing 12th in the Premier League. My captain says he needs us to improve the team or he'll leave (Guéhi, $95,000,000 value), so what should I upgrade? I'm already looking for a right back backup.

Thanks for any help!

P.S. Here's a link to my franchise story on this website

Just added a new season. Here's how the Premier League did:

Leeds Utd, Southampton, and Leicester got promoted. I'm also considering a job offer from AS Monaco and Fiorentina.

Check out the season here

and thanks for reading!

Welcome Back!

It's been 7 in-game months since I started this franchise, so I thought instead of just recapping what happened since August, I would recap everything that hed happened since July 3rd.

So what DID happen?

I don't want to get too much into the details which will be discussed, but we've been hit with injuries and misfortune, and we've had to change tactics thrice. Last night, I even considered quitting this franchise. Alas, here we are.

(Edit: Forgot to mention that at one point, Nottingham Forest was at the top of the Premier League.)

Transfers?

Going out

Eventually, I decided that Riedewald just wouldn't fit on this team, so I sold him to Leeds United. But eventually, Eze said he needed to leave. I decided I wouldn't let him until he said he would leave for free at the end of this contract. There was no making him stay, so I invited offers and he left to join Everton (who had hired Roy Hodgson as their coach).

Coming in

Martin Baturina (3/3.5-4.5): After the summer transfer window, I decided to start scouting some wonderkids. Once Eze had left, I went for the Croatian who is the 10th most purchased FM24 player. He'll play winger (wait, I have wingers? more later) for us.

Dany Mota (3/3): At some point, I realized I needed a striker backup as well. He went for surprisingly cheap.

Prospects

Prince Aning (2/3.5-4.5): I actually went for him in the summer transfer window, but the deal fell apart. After buying him, I actually got some loan offers for him, but given the club's state of available players, I figured I might need him as a substitute.

Sidney Raebiger (2/3-4): Another wonderkid, he's already made 2 appearances (and 1 assist) on the senior team.

Rafael Lubach (1.5/3-3.5): Another wonderkid who will arrive in the summer transfer window.

Thomi Montefiori (1.5/1.5-2.5): Not that good, but he came for free.

Expectations

Actionable Objectives:

Required - Work withing payroll budget: Reserving judgement

Preferred - Sign players to sell for a profit: On course (huh?)

Favored - Break even in the transfer market: On course (because of Eze)

5-Year Plan (First year only)

Required - Record a Premier League top-half finish: Satisfied (we're 8th, 9-9-5)

Required - Be competitive in the FA Cup: Passed (we lost in a third round rematch against Brighton)

Preferred - Be competitive in the Carabao Cup: Passed (we made it to the quarter-finals before losing to Manchester United)

Board Culture

Desired - Develop players using the youth system: Reserving judgement

Preferred - Sign players under the age of 23 for the first team: Pleased

Favored - Sign players under the age of 20 for the future: Delighted

Favored - Sign players from the lower level of the domestic game: Very dissapointed (THERE'S LITERALLY NO POINT)

Supporter Culture/Expectations

Culture:

Preferred - Develop players using the youth system: Reserving judgement

Expectations:

Required - Record a Premier League top-half finish: Satisfied (we're still 8th)

Preferred - Be competitive against Brighton: Pleased (we're 1-1-1 against them)

Preferred - Get the better of our rivals Millwall if we happen to face them: Reserving judgement (yeah, we've never faced them)

Tactics and the Squad

I finally settled on a 4-2-4 DM Wide as my formation until Mateta became injured for 2 months, so we pivoted to a 4-2-3-1 wide formation.

Goalies:

Sam Johnstone (3.5/3.5): Instead of Henderson getting better, Johnstone got better. He's been very reliable and has only let up 13 goals in 17 appearances.

Dean Henderson (3/3): Henderson must wait his turn now. He's played 4 times and let up 5 goals.

Remi Matthews (2/2): Emergency goalkeeper now worth $14,000 who got demoted to the U21s (despite starting twice, where he let up 6 goals).

Center-Backs:

Marc Guéhi (4/4.5): Marc is probably still the best player on the team. He's done well.

Joachim Andersen (3.5/3.5): Another top defender, him and Guéhi give us a great defense.

Rob Holding (3/3): A backup since we switched to a 4-2-4, he gets playing time as a backup

Chris Richards (3/4): The American splits the right back job with Ward. When Ward starts, he backs up right and center back.

James Tomkins (2.5/2.5): He backs up center back and occasionally full back.

Fullbacks:

Tyrick Mitchell (3.5/3.5): Tyrick doesn't dissapoint. He earned a 3-year extension

Joel Ward (2.5/2.5): Our captain starts at right back half the time. He's given up center back.

Chris Richards (3/4): The American splits the right back job with Ward. When Ward starts, he backs up right and center back.

Central Midfielders:

Cheick Doucouré (3.5/4): Despite international duties, Doucouré has been a midfield force.

Jefferson Lerma (3.5/3.5): Lerma has outperformed expectations, but he also racks up penalties more than any other player.

Matheus França (2.5, 4-5): The Brazillian has a big future, but will be a winger and midfield backup for now.

Naoiurou Ahamada (2.5/3.5-4.5): The Frenchman also has big potential, but is a midfield backup for now as well.

Will Hughes (2.5/2.5): Hughes, despite having started some games, will be a backup. He did get a 2-year extension.

Tom Cairney (2.5/2.5): Cairney will start at CAM for now, as well as back up right wing and midfielder.

Central Attacking Midfielders:

Tom Cairney (2.5/2.5): Cairney will start at CAM for now, as well as back up right wing and midfielder.

Dany Mota (3/3): My new backup striker has only played twice. He'll also spend time at winger and CAM.

Matheus França (2.5, 4-5): The Brazillian has a big future, but will be a winger and midfield backup for now.

Naoiurou Ahamada (2.5/3.5-4.5): The Frenchman also has big potential, but is a midfield backup for now as well.

Wingers:

Michael Olise (3.5/4): He's only played 8 games and already has 2 goals and 2 assists. He's good.

Martin Baturina (3/3.5-4.5): Maybe selling Eze was worth it. This guy will be a contributor.

Dany Mota (3/3): My new backup striker has only played twice. He'll also spend time at winger and CAM.

Matheus França (2.5/4-5): The Brazillian has a big future, but will be a winger and midfield backup for now.

Jordan Ayew (2.5/2.5): Like Hughes, he's lost the striker role and will back up winger and striker.

Striker:

Odsonne Edouard (3.5/3.5): Edouard achieved his potential and now has 10 goals on the year.

Jean-Phillipe Mateta (3/3): He played well until he got injured in late December. He hasn't quite recovered, but should be back in mid-February.

Dany Mota (3/3): My new backup striker has only played twice. He'll also spend time at winger and CAM.

I'm not quite sure when I'll give an update, maybe at season's end? Anyways, thanks for reading!

Welcome Back!

The current game time is 11:00 pm on September 1st. It's been 2 months.

Things that DON'T involve transfers

We're currently at 13th place in the Premier League, but that's due to the fact that the three teams we faced included Arsenal (BOOOO!) and Man City. We also advanced the the third round over Gillingham in the Carabao Cup and beat Shetland 11-0 in the first friendly of the year.

Going out

The one player I wanted to get rid of was Schlupp, so we eventually got an offer to Real Sociedad which I was satisfied with. But at some point in July, Riedewald made it clear he wasn't happy here and wanted a loan. It took me a month or so to decide to start looking for a player to loan in. Once I had him, I accepted three offers from EFL teams, and he chose Coventry.

Coming in

Darlin Yongwa (2.5/3, LB): Although Yongwa was signed to be just a one-year replacement, I might try to sign him permanently. He's an upgrade from Riedewald.

Tom Cairney (3/3, CAM): After going through the roster on the 1st, I realized we needed a CAM backup, even if only for 2 years.

I'll give another update at either the start or end of the January transfer window. Thanks for reading!

Before I start, I would liekt o mention that this is my FIRST EVER FOOTBALL MANAGER SAVE (as long as we're not counting the Tottenham demo I did which ended in 1 win in the last 10 or so games), so don't expect perfection.

After considering Union Berlin, Ajax, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Fiorentina, I decided Crystal Palace would be the first team I would do. I felt they were a really young squad with skill that I could achieve big things with.

Background Knowledge

Despite Crystal Palace's long history, they've never played in the Champions League and have never really won any important cups. Mediocre for a century, so I'm here to change that. Our largest rivalry (in the Premier League) is Brighton & Hove Albion (games between the teams are called the A23 Derby by the media). We also have $14,964,958 in our tranfer budget.

Expectations

Actionable Objectives:

Required - Work withing payroll budget: I'm going to do this. No problem (unless something bad happens financially).

Preferred - Sign players to sell for a profit: I don't want to do this. It goes against my coaching philosophy.

Favored - Break even in the transfer market: Given the fact that this club has spent $40,000,000 (I'm sorry to y'all out of the U.S.) more on incoming players than outgoing, I also don't want to do this.

5-Year Plan (First year only)

Required - Record a Premier League top-half finish & Be competitive in the FA Cup

Preferred - Be competitive in the Carabao Cup

I'm going to try!

Board Culture

Desired - Develop players using the youth system: After checking the youth squad, it seems possible to do this, but we'll need some luck.

Preferred - Sign players under the age of 23 for the first team: I can probably do this.

Favored - Sign players under the age of 20 for the future: I'm counting on my scouts for this one.

Favored - Sign players from the lower level of the domestic game: This one honestly depends on what players I find, so probably not.

Supporter Culture/Expectations

Culture:

Preferred - Develop players using the youth system: After checking the youth squad, it seems possible to do this, but we'll need some luck.

Expectations:

Required - Record a Premier League top-half finish: Given the fact that the board and supporters require me to do this, I guess I'd better get this done!

Preferred - Be competitive against Brighton: This one will take a little luck too, but I'll try.

Preferred - Get the better of our rivals Millwall if we happen to face them: I think we can definitely do this.

Tactics & The Squad

We will be running a 5-2-1-2 with three center-backs, two fullbacks, two CDMs, one CAM, and two strikers (and a goalkeeper, of course).

Position Overview
Goalies:

Sam Johnstone (3/3): He is four years older than Dean Henderson, and they are at the same overall. But after comparing their stats, Johnstone seems to have more physical ability. So until Henderson can unlock his potential, Johnstone will start,

Dean Henderson (3/3.5): The mentally-stronger goalkeeper of the future, Dean will be sitting on the bench until he can dethrone Johnstone.

Remi Matthews (2/2): Emergency goalkeeper worth $70,000.

Center-Backs:

Marc Guéhi (4/4.5): Also 22 years old, this guy is probably the best player on the team. Excited to see what he can do,

Joachim Andersen (3.5/3.5): Another top defender, him and Guéhi should give us a great defense.

Rob Holding (3/3.5): As long as Chris Richards doesn't take the job from him, he should close out this line of great center-backs.

Chris Richards (3/3.5): This 23-year-old American will likely split time between right-back and center-back. He's best at center-back, but he'll probably be converted to right-back by season's end to replace Joel Ward.

Joel Ward (3/3): The 33-year-old will be the current starter at right-back until Richards replaces him. It is worthy of note that he can play center-back too.

James Tomkins (2.5/2.5): The 34-year old should hopefully stay a backup.

Fullbacks:

Tyrick Mitchell (3.5/4): We'll be counting on the 23-year old to take the ball to the midfield and provide some defense, and I don't think he'll dissapoint.

Joel Ward (3/3): The 33-year-old will be the current starter at right-back until Richards replaces him. It is worthy of note that he can play center-back too.

Chris Richards (3/3.5): This 23-year-old American will likely split time between right-back and center-back. He's best at center-back, but he'll probably be converted to right-back by season's end to replace Joel Ward.

Nathaniel Clyne (2.5/2.5): Clyne should hopefully be the backup for both sides.

Jaïro Riedewald (2.5/2.5): He should back up the CDMs as well as left-back.

Central Defensive Midfielders:

Cheick Doucouré (3.5/3.5): Along with Eze, Doucouré should hold down the midfield portion of the squad.

Jefferson Lerma (3/3): The Colombian has first crack at the other CDM position.

Will Hughes (3/3): Hughes should also get a chance to start at CDM.

Naoiurou Ahamada (2.5/4): The 21-year-old Frenchman should split time at CAM and CDM, and should start in a year or so.

Jaïro Riedewald (2.5/2.5): He should back up the CDMs as well as left-back.

Central Attacking Midfielders:

Ebere Eze (3.5/4): Eze should secure the midfield with Doucouré and provide an attacking force.

Naoiurou Ahamada (2.5/4): The 21-year-old Frenchman should split time at CAM and CDM, and should start in a year or so.

Odsonne Edouard (3/3.5): The future and potential present at striker, he might have to be pulled sometimes to play a CAM.

Striker:

Jean-Phillipe Mateta (3/3): Nothing's for certain at striker, but Mateta has the best chance of starting any given day.

Odsonne Edouard (3/3.5): The future and potential present at striker, he might have to be pulled sometimes to play a CAM.

Jordan Ayew (3/3): The oldest option at striker, Ayew will take on a super-sub role.

Jeffrey Schlupp (3/3):

When I was looking around the team, I saw this guy who only plays wide and central midfielder, so I talked to his agent about interest and transfer listed him. He's happy here, but he won't be happy with zero playing time.

Injuries:

Michael Olise (3.5/3.5, 4-5 months, CAM): I'll be missing him, as he could definitely contribute this year. Best of luck for his rehab.

Matheus França (2.5/4, 3 months, CAM): The CAM position is injury-ridden! He would definitely help as a backup if he were healthy. Best of luck too.

Nathan Ferguson (2.5/3, 2-3 months, RB/CB): A solid player who I'll miss, even if not as crucial as the others.

What I'm NOT controlling:

• Hiring and firing staff
• Most media conferences
• Training (95% to the assistant)
• Set pieces

I will give you an update at the end of the transfer window. Thanks for reading!