retired_hollieo

Ok lads, I reckon its about time we got kicking off, I'm dying to see what all the fuss is about. I've sent you all an email regarding a start date, so if you could get back to me on that asap I'd appreciate it.

At the moment I'm setting a start date of Sunday 9th January 7:00pm which I'll change by a day or two if it means all players will be present at the opening session.

With that in mind, I'll set the game up this week and you can enter to search, tactic set etc. Just drop me a line if you want access and we'll arrange a suitable time.

To beat the lag all players will need to untick the following preferences:

show player pics,
show badges/logos
show background pics,
show unique ids.

Lets get the show on the road. :thup:

retired_hollieo

Not at the minute mate, but if you want to register your details, you can use our forum at www.eplchallenge.co.uk.

retired_cycleman8

STEEL APPOINTED BY LOWE

In a shock appointment on the sunny south coast, Rupert Lowe has appointed Rob Steel as successor to Steve "hes a nice man really" Wigley.

It is thought Steve Wigley was not the right person to keep the Saints in the top flight after numerous players were worried by the antics of Mr Wigley, which would include hanging around the showers after the game, throwing the soap on the floor and whipping the players with his towel. Only one player was dissapointed with the decision and that was Graeme Le Saux.

So in steps Rob Steel, untried, untested and is Rupert Lowes 54th manager in just 9 months.

In his first interview, Rob Steel has said he expects this club to easily finish in the top half, with a 5 year plan to get in the Champions League. On being asked on how he is going to do that he replied "Hopefully by then the top 10 clubs from each country will qualify for that competition"

This brought a puzzled response from the media and only time will tell if Rob Steel is the right man for the job! He has the resources, ground and the best youth academy in the premiership, but can he handle the pressure?

On being asked whether he would be strengthening the squad he replied "Of course I will, I havent got much money but I will wheel and deal and bring in some top name players, hopefully"

retired_hollieo

Right lads, tomorrow night 7pm in the Mirc room, we are back!! See you then.

retired_hollieo

Murphy gets the blues at cris club Everton

Well after what seemed like an age after I was first offered the job at Everton, I finally got my feet under the desk at Goodison Park, only to discover a club deep in the mire, lurching rapidly towards a financial crisis. A wage bill way above the level of quality at my disposal and at the time of writing a £10m debt which is growing rapidly. The threat of administration is very real and I've had to cut my cloth accordingly.

Players who didn't feature in my plans such as "Pacy" Duncan Disorderly and "Big" Kevin Campbell were taking home a massive (for Everton) £35K a week each. Therefore the first goal was to try and rid myself of both these players. Unfortunately, no one is interested in Campbell but I was hopeful of my first con of the new season, when I received a £100K offer for Ferguson from the new manager at Birmingham, Chris Oestrich. Quickly accepting the offer, I was disappointed to see Oestrich come to his senses when it came to the negotiating table over contracts. Ferguson refused the switch and Murphy quickly agreed a mutual termination which cost the club a much needed £600K.

With many of the squad's contracts expiring in 2005, we moved quickly to secure the futures of the key players. Gravesen, Yobo, Zinidine Kilbane and young Leon Osman signed themselves up for Murphy's new era, despite the attentions of Southampton manager Rob Steel in "The Rock", Joesph Yobo. Clearly Yobo knows where he has to be to win trophies.

Despite the poor financial position, I was surprisingly given a healthy transfer budget to spend on incoming players. Unfortunately, I am not really in the position to spend it and had to watch as targets Guarin and Bierofka snubbed me in favour of Morris' new regime at West Brom. However, I was delighted with my first signing after a scouting trip to Poland saw Everton capture a striker I consider to be very promising in Maciej Zurawski for £2.5m. If all goes to plan, I expect my new Pole to be amongst the top scorers in the EPL this season and to form a decent attacking partnership with Marcus Bent. The only other addition to the squad at the minute is Kasper Schmeichel, who was surprisingly sold by new City manager Leo Hardy for £250k.

At this stage I'm hoping to offload James McFadden after Bouchard of Spurs did the dirty and withdrew after I agreed to sell and to bring in a few cost effective targets, to help achieve my ambition this season of a top eight finish.

retired_hollieo

Leo Hardy rides to Murphy's rescue on the eve of the new season 2004/2005

In an amazing late twist to the pre-season, new Manchester City manager Leo Hardy has just become an instant hero on, ahem, the blue half of Merseyside and has staved off the imminent threat of administration for the once mighty Everton. With one swoop that resulted in great delight for Murphy (and the ambitions and reputation of the young Manchester City manager questioned by his own fans and other managers :p) 34 year old Kevin Campbell took his £35K a week wages of the tab at Everton, completing a free transfer to the Manchester club.

The Campbell development was significant for another much more sinister reason. My sources in the press were increasingly briefing me off the record that the likes of Smallwood of Aston Villa, Liggins of Middlesborough and Steel of Southampton were hovering like a pack of vultures over certain players in the Everton squad such as Gravesen and Yobo, preparing to revel in Murphy's financial misfortune and sink the Merseyside club deeper into a predicted relegation scrap if given the opportunity. Their disappointment at the Campbell deal was very satisfying indeed. In fact, not to be undone, Liggins even had the temerity to offer a pathetic £1m for right back Tony Hibbert, a player who looks very solid and potentially could be one of the best right backs in the Premiership this coming season. I'm afraid that Liggins will have to continue to look elsewhere or stick with the distinctly average Michael Reizeger.

Surprisingly, I also had one other offer for the much derided Campbell. What other manager could be needing their head examined? None other than the Don Corleone of the North East, who has been flashing his cash around this pre-season like an over zealous pimp and using his great financial advantage over the rest of the Premiership in an attempt to dominate the EPL before it has even begun, Jay DaCosta. :p

Using the Godfather's favourite tactic, DaCosta tried to put the squeeze on and bribe me into selling Alessandro Pistone for a paltry £1m pounds, by offering to take Campbell off my wage bill. However I have a message for DaCosta. Everton may be in dire straights but we aren't desperate (yet ) and Newcastle will have to continue to look elsewhere for a full back of Pistone's quality....Psst: He's still yours for £2m.

In other news, the wage bill continues to sit at 80K over budget, guaranteeing a loss of a quarter of a million a month. Sam Bouchard finally stumped up some cash for James McFadden, who sealed a £1.5m switch to Spurs with a 20% sell to go to Everton. Marcus Bent was offloaded to Crystal Palace for £1.1m. As a result, Everton are currently very lightweight up front with Murphy pulling out of a deal to buy Argentinean U21 international Maxi Lopez at the 11th hour after a scout report finally arrived on the desk.

Currently we're relying on the promising, but unproven Maciej Zurawski, young Nick Chadwick and Leon Osman to provide a goal threat. Hardly the stuff to even terrify Pagi down at Bolton. Moves will have to be made in this department before the end of the transfer window.

Further defensive depth was added to the squad though as Aaron Hughes was signed for £975k from Newcastle United. I'm delighted with the signing of the Northern Ireland international who can play all across the back four and at 24 has plenty of years ahead of him to improve. The experienced Swedish international Teddy Lucic was also snapped up for £200k from Bayer Leverkusen and young Manchester United RB Rincon is awaiting a work permit.

With wage restrictions currently very much in place and the squad size reduced to a very small number I'm expecting a season of struggle ahead as the first game of the season against Blackburn at Ewood Park approaches. I'm just hoping Boult returns in time for this game to guarantee me a winning start to the campaign.

retired_teresa assis

***UPDATE***

After a ****-up at the FA this weekend (no, nothing to do with Faria Alam), all Saturday's games are having to be replayed, which is a bit of an arse, after a fine, comfortable 1-0 away victory at St Andrews on the opening day.

On a totally unrelated topic, you sorted your computer out yet Niall?

(Full update to come at the end of the transfer window, there's still plenty of deals out there to be had)

retired_teresa assis

You can't type the word co*k, as in a mistake or a cockerel?

retired_hollieo

Obviously not Ligs.

The game may be delayed slightly tomorrow as I'm going to buy this memory upgrade anyway and will have to install it, which means obviously opening the machine etc. Also may have to pick up the missus around 7ish. I'll post on the EPL Forum tomorrow.

Any game updates being provided this week? :p

BLiND

I was waiting for a game to be played before updating