The excitement is er, well, sort of waning off a little due to the longevity of the patch issue, but regardless of this setback it will not be long now before the EPL Challenge managers are donning their sheepskin coats once again and nervously treading a path to the one place that will make or break their fragile reputations. Yep it's back to the managerial trench known as The Dugout.
The place where on a good day the 90 minutes will fly by as you take your opponent to the cleaners unless your name is DaCosta. :p
The place where dreams can be realised or cruelly smashed to smithereens.
The place where tactical instructions will be barked out, inspired substitutions made and where time will stand as Pagi modifies his 5-3-2 system for the sixth time.
The place from which Murphy intends to plot a European Cup success much to the annoyance of Liggins of Middlesborough.
And this season, it is also the place where newcomers such as Oestrich, Hardy, Tully and Morris will attempt to build a Premiership reputation for the first time. :thup:
So what exactly is the purpose of this posting? Have I just got far too much time on my hands just avoiding any work that is on his plate?
No, the purpose is to stir up a bit of controversy as the host of EPL Challenge turns football manager pundit and gives his best guess on exactly who might do what in season one, 2004/05 in the English Premier League.
Club: Aston Villa
Manager: Mark Smallwood
League: 4th
FA Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: Semi-Final
First up under the microscope is Smallwood’s Aston Villa, the club which was cursed with either rank poor or uncomitted managers in the previous game.
Smallwood’s EPL Challenge claim to fame is his successful tenure at Newcastle United in CM03/04 where he delivered the Championship and the European Cup to the ‘Toon. Critics however grumble that Smallwood was in the right place at the right time and took advantage of Andy Nilsen’s move from Manchester City and Murphy’s lusting after the Arsenal job as a crucial part of this success.
:p
Therefore, Smallwood has a job on at Villa to convince his doubters that he can lead from the start. He inherits a good, balanced squad and if Ellis unleashes the cash, should be the leading human manager in season 1.
Club: Birmingham
Manager: Chris Oestrich
League: 10th
FA Cup: 5th Round
League Cup: QF
Next it is EPL Challenge newcomer Chris Oestrich who inherits an expensively assembled Birmingham. Chris is the clans honorary Welshman and has a hard task on his hands as the last famous Welsh manager in football was? Answers on a postcard please.
Not knowing Chris’ FM ability I’m basing my prediction on the Brum currently having a decent defence and, well, one decent attacker in the squad, plus the pacy Gronjkaer. One to watch.
Club: Blackburn Rovers
Manager: Rick Boult
League: 12th
FA Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: QF
Rick’s audible groan when he heard the remaining teams available says it all. That he said he was "given" Blackburn and had not selected them, just gives the further impression that all may not be happy in the Blackburn camp – and in Rick’s case I think camp is definitely the right word.
Rick who joined EPL Challenge late on in CM03/04 does carry one major string to his bow though, in that he did lead a very poor Wolves side to the FA Cup Final in his first season. Albeit he got relegated the next, but Boult is the first to admit he has something to prove in EPL Challenge. With Rick, the potential is there but can he harness it at what admittedly is a tough task at Ewood Park? Only Emerton and Jansen stand out immediately as players of quality so I reckon Boult has a tough job on his hands here.
Club: Bolton
Manager: David Pagi
League: 13th
FA Cup: 3rd Round
League Cup: 3rd Round
Well Pagi is another manager who’ll be looking to prove himself in the top flight this season. Pagi, an EPL Challenge veteran from as long ago as CM4, initially looked the hottest kid on the block as he took Charlton into the top 5 in his first season. So with CM03/04, Pagi was ranked amongst the hot favourites for success which to my amazement just didn’t quite happen.
The highlights for Pagi were one European Cup Campaign after a 3rd placed finish for the Addicks and a League Cup Final, where he lost courtesy of the managerial decision not to put a reserve keeper on the bench. Apart from that, it was mid table mediocrity all the way, with a relegation in the first season setting the tone.
In FM Pagi has selected a tough job in succeeding Allardyce, who as Pagi has already pointed out, leaves him with an impoverished looking strikeforce. I predict a struggling first season for Pagi, with all eyes on the summer transfer season wheeling and dealings to put him in contention for a top 10 finish. I predict narrow failure.
Club: Everton
Manager: Niall Murphy
League: 9th
FA Cup: QF
League Cup: 3rd Round
Hard to be impartial when making predictions about yourself, so I’ll leave it to others to comment.
I start the season with a squad which is average at best and at a club where finances will be limited. It’s a tough challenge and if I can get a top 10 finish in an online environment in season one, I’ll be happy with that.
Club: Manchester City
Manager: Leo Hardy
League: 8th
FA Cup: 5th Rnd
League Cup: SF
Another new manager to EPL Challenge is young Leo Hardy who pestered me on MSN daily to get into the Clan. So early signs are of a persistent, confident young manager who could achieve success at City.
The pressure is immediately on Hardy, as Man City are renowned as a leading club in EPL Challenge after Nilsen’s exploits there last season. If Hardy can repeat that success without GPG’ing, he’ll be doing well. The big question as always at the start for Man City will be, will Hardy accommodate or dispatch Nicolas Anelka in building a team?
Club: Middlesborough
Manager: Richard Liggins
League: 5th
FA Cup: SF
League Cup: 4th Round
Yes, regular readers of EPL Challenge news will welcome the return of the Liggins at his old stomping ground down by the Riverside. Liggins is another CM4 participant where he dabbled with the club he supports, Aston Villa before becoming synonymous with Middlesborough in CM03/04.
In the previous game Liggins was renowned for his boring football and his seven man defence, but before our resident student left for the summer, he was approaching top 5 status in the EPL.
For Liggins CM03/04 was largely a tale of undoing the damage done by the previous incumbent who took the club in a downward direction. Liggins’ good job up in the north east was emphasised by the fact that Andy Nilsen almost took them down to Division One when he took on the challenge.
I’m predicting a top 6 finish for Liggins in season one, because on paper the Middlesborough squad is much more dangerous than in previous campaigns. McLaren leaves a good strike force in Hasselbaink and Viduka, a midfield with quality and depth and of course the strong defensive partnership of Ehiogu and Southgate. I’m anticipating Liggins to be battling Smallwood for top EPL human club in season one.
Club: Newcastle United
Manager: Jay Da Costa
League: 7th
FA Cup: SF
League Cup: SF
Jay DaCosta, the veteran of EPL Challenge in the sense he is our oldest manager at the age of 34 has undoubtedly managed to take control of the best club available from the start of the game. Newcastle have a great squad and unlike most of his competitors, DaCosta should see his judgement in the transfer market backed by hard cash from the board.
DaCosta will also join Liggins as the only two members who inherit a club competing in Europe. Therefore the pressure is very much on DaCosta to be top dog this season. However, DaCosta is another with a reputation currently teetering around (some may venture below) unproven in CM03/04.
Previous efforts at Blackburn and Liverpool (although not much time was had here) will require improvement if the Geordies are to keep faith with the old man. We know what they did to Sir Bobby.
Club: Portsmouth
Manager: Andy Nilsen
League: 14th
FA Cup: 5th Rnd
League Cup: 2nd Round
Well Andy Nilsen is back and in his own words, Pompey fans should be thankful and the rest terrified. In typical arrogant style, the Mourinho of EPL Challenge has already predicted Europe in a few seasons.
Andy, another CM4 vet is famous for building a terrific side at Manchester City in CM0304, although they only ever won the European Cup on one occasion which may be considered an underachievement.
Nilsen is the EPL “victim” of the GPG taunts – a tag he denies against what looks indisputable evidence. How will Nilsen cope with the proposed rule change on youths under 17 is currently a very interesting question. In Nilsen’s favour is an impressive record in the transfer market, although tactical ineptitude is a criticism he’ll be looking to put to bed in the coming campaign.
Currently got a lot to prove after a miserable time in the North East, I expect mid table for Pompey in season 1 with gradual improvement to follow. Nilsen is a manager to watch once again.
Club: Southampton
Manager: Matt Tully
League: 15th
FA Cup: 3rd Rnd
League Cup: 4th Round
Matt Tully returns to EPL Challenge after a very brief double stint in CM03/04 so the first ambition will be to see him complete a full season.
Matt is well known around the GPG forum on SIGAMES so it’s going to be a challenge for him to convert to a pure onliner as well. Or at least, not be as noticeable on the forum as he was before.
Anyway, again hard to call so based on the fact he takes on a relatively reasonable Southampton squad, I predict around mid table, with the future of James Beattie the question on everybody’s lips.
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Manager: Sam Bouchard
League: 11th
FA Cup: SF
League Cup: QF
Like Hardy at Manchester City, Sam Bouchard takes control of a traditional powerhouse club in EPL Challenge, which brings with it immediate pressure. Bouchard also joined EPL Challenge in 0304 managing both Aston Villa and Manchester United in his time there with reasonable success. He also carries very heavy baggage in that he is a Man Utd fan at heart, which immediately brings into question his opinions on football.
Having experience of Spurs in CM4 and CM0304 when they began a good side lacking in a few positions, it is hard to know exactly what they will be like in FM05. A lot of new players of little reputation have been added and this may hamper Bouchard’s early ambitions. However, quality is at the managers disposal in Robinson and Defoe so Bouchard may surprise us with cup ssuccess.
Club: WBA
Manager: Chris Morris
League: 17th
FA Cup: 3rd Round
League Cup: 2nd Round
Well what can you say, but I’m going with Mark Smallwood’s opinion that WBA have cr*p players and no money.
However, what we don’t know is anything about newcomer Morris’ managerial talents which will be the key to what should be a very tough campaign. As Morris specifically asked for this job, he immediately is to be applauded as a manager who thrives on a challenge.
On this basis, I’ll tip relegation to be narrowly avoided but Morris could prove to be the jewel in EPL Challenge’s crown this season. Or possibly not.
So there you go..no work done for an hour so purpose fulfilled. Hopefully it will be a cracking season. I’m going to tip Chelsea for the title, based on seeing them buy Ronaldinho for £47m in a single game.
Roll on the patch.
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