If you register for free, you will be able to post threads, vote on polls and lots more. If you have problems with the registration or logging in, please contact the administrator.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RabMohr:
Which one ain't a bug m8 ?? The score change or the unable to loan an EPL Player while in the EPL in our SECOND season ie next year !!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
It was added to EP4 or EP5 and when you tried loaning the players, we played with EP3. So that's why you couldn't loan then, we didn't have the EP that made it possible...
well it's clear now, Millwall is a EPL team! the lads has just played wonderfully all season with the occasional hickups but nothing major at any point of the season.
as some games are still to be played, good time to experiment with some upcoming players, moses ashikodi in particular, looks really promising, has still a lot to learn though thats for sure.
the main objective next season is to stay clear of relegation. for second is to strengthen the squad. looks like ivan bosnjak is going to ipswich with the bosman rule so that needs to be looked into. Steven Reid is also leaving for €5M (euro's rab, or funny money as you call it)
gonna wait to see how the wage budget/transfer funds are gonna look like and only then start to make some real desicions for my tranfer strategy.
Things are looking fairly good for Ipswich, currently occupying the 10th place and we've managed to put together a very good cup run, which has seen the Tractor boys go all the way to the Semi finals of the FA cup, where we will face the 6th placed Blackburn. It's going to be a tough match, no doubt but I'm confident we will win it cause we've already been able to beat teams like Chelsea in the cup. And also last year when we were both in the Nationwide, we beat Blackburn easily and since that their team hasn't notably gotten stronger, whereas we have been able to strengten our team.
On the transfer front I have been able to secure the services of a few class players for next season through Bosman transfers, Julio Arca from Sunderland and an African striker from Turkey, who will be quite a big hit in the EPL next season, I predict... And a few other players to give some depth to my team and also, like Elite said, Bosnjak from Millwall. Though there's still a 50% chance I won't sign him, as he wanted very high wages and I haven't decided yet if I want to pay that much for a player who wouldn't be going in to the first eleven. So it might be that I cancel that transfer, as well as another one, Eric Carriere's transfer from Man Utd. Cancelling those two transfers would give me more room with the wages if I got the money to make some purchases in the summer. So we'll see...
OJ, the soon to be crowned as the FA Cup winners Ipswich's manager.
Well fúck me pink and ride me sideways, what a season ending me and my Ipswich lads just had!!! :eek:
At the start of tonight's session, we were at 10th place in the league and in the semis of the FA Cup but after having a little pep-talk with the boys we were on fire and it seemed like nobody would stop us! Well, only one team could stop us tonight and that was Middlesbrough on the final day of the EPL. After winning all the matches in the league we played tonight, something like 6 in a row, we had climbed all the way to 4th place and if only we had won that damn away game too we would have gotten ourselves to the Champions League! Well, we lost that game 2-1 and Aton VIlla won their last game and claimed a spot in the CL, and Liverpool also came ahead of us, so we finished the season on the 6th place. And excellent position for a promotion club but I was absolutely gutted, as I could already smell the athmosphere of the CL and feel all the money weighting in my pockets. But it wasn't meant to be...
Well, I got my act together and had a word with the team cause we had one important game left, the FA Cup final versus the newly-crowned league champions, Southampton. Needless to say that winning this game would be an excellent archievement for the Ipswich Town football club and I had no intention of losing another crucial game. We started the game with confidence and during the first half, my excellent midfield maestro Alex scored a stunning free kick from 35 yards! I was up 1-0 and never looked back. With a solid performance we beat the champions and for the first time since 1978 we had lifted the FA Cup!!!
So, all in all I had an excellent season, I was able to strenghten my teamconsiderably and really establish my position in the top competition, not to mention the fact that at the moment I have something like 25 million pounds in the bank! And the TV-money and co are still coming in the summer. So things are looking really excellent and if I can reinforce the team a bit more, I should also have a good next season.
I'll get back later and write little something about my players and how they performed for me this season...
OJ, the best ever Ipswich Town manager, who should soon get a statue infront of the stadium!!! :cool:
[This message was edited by OJ on 16 September 2003 at 0:56.]
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RabMohr:
NIce post Monc's....I suggest that we all do the same at the end of every season m8. I know I will.....soon.
No need for the non regulars to do it though as I figure that as they can't update here on a weekly basis we have no chance of a summary, but hey they could always prove me wrong !!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Andreas Isaksson
Well, what can I say about the young Swedish international. He was the wall in my goal and on more occasions that I can remember, saved precious points for us and he was very consistent and he playerd every single game we had this season, a total of 47 games, where he got 22 clean sheets. Atthe young age of 23 he has already been capped 16 times for his nation and he will be a very important player for us also next season.
Andy Marshall
He was our second goalie and he's a fairly adequate replacement, though he didn't get any games for us this season.
Defenders
Jay McEveley
My excellent young and skillful left back. This really was his breaktrough season for us. He was brought to Ipswich in the famous trade that saw Marcus Bent move to Blackburn in exchange for 2M pounds and young 17-year-old McEveley. Needless to say that was one of my best trades as the manager of Ipswich. Now, two years later as a 19-year-old he played an excellent season for us in his first Premier League season, getting 41 starts and scoring 1 beatiful goal and getting 3 assists and 5 man of the match -awards. He got an average rating of 7.41 and when looking at his excellent stats, I'm confident he will soon rise to the English National team. He has developed in to a very skillful left back who is starting to remind me a little bit of Roberto Carlos. Excellent at going forward and yet, tough tackling defender who will stop most of the players in the EPL with ease. A future world class player. Enough said.
Jolean Lescott
This was his third season for us after buying him from Wolves for a cut price fee and he just keeps improving his game. In his first season in the EPL he put so good performances that he was called to the English NT for the first time. He didn't get capped yet but that will surely happen next year, as we are looking to improve our position in the league. He scored 1 goal and gave 4 assists and was MOM 3 times and got an average rating of 7.56 in 37 starts. I know he is the one sale Wolves manager Moncrieff wishes he never had made. He is only 22 and will lead our defense for years to come.
Darren Purse
My team captain. The 28-year-old was bought last summer from the relegated Birmingham for 2.5M pounds and with his undeniable leader skills and excellent defensing abilities he was made the club captain and he led his team all the way to 6th place and at the final game in Wembley he got to lift the FA Cup in front of 85 000 people. He made a total of 44 appearances and scored 2 goals and got 3MOM awards and got an average rating of 7.36. With Lescott he has formed an excellent partnership in the defense and these 2 will give hard time even to the best attackers in the world.
Karl Corneliusson
My reliable Swedish international right back, who worked hard for the team and was part of my realiable back four. 46 apps with 1 assist and average rating of 7.02. Though it could be that the current summer sees me buying a replacememnt for him but he is a versatile team player as he can play both right or left side of the field.
Midfielders
Carlos Arturo Marinelli
A skillful winger who was brought on loan from Middlesbrough, as I was lacking width in the team and he was an important part of the team with an average rating of 7.38 in 43 apps, where he got 1 goal and 7 assists and 3 MOM awards. Though a bit selfish and lazy at times, Marinelli was a crucial part of the team as he can play on both wings and provided the wing play I was lacking.
Alexander Farnerud
My right winger, who can play in any attacking positions in the field really had his breakthrough season on the third season with us. He was capped 6 times for Sweden and scored an amazing 5 goals in them and I watched his value sky-rocket to 12M pounds with his good displays on the field. he was played at the right wing for us due to the lack of wing playes and he suffered from that position a bit but nevertheless was an important player with 10 assists in 37 apps and with an average rating of 7.23. One worry for me is, though that the 21-year-old Swedish might have to be sold this season, as his value is sky-high and his contract only has a year before it runs oit. And so far my attempts to re-sign him have been unsuccesful. So, if he doesn't sign a new contract this summer, I will be forced to sell him but the 10-15M I expect to collect from his sale will surely be enough to find a great replacement for him.
Aliou Cissé
Bought at the same time as Purse from Birmingham for 1.8M, the Senegalese NT captain was my main anchorman, vice captain and a back up for Lescott and Purse in central defense. The 29-year-old is a tought tacking midfield anchorman who kept my midfield in shape and with his very good passing ability, opened my attacks. an Important player with 30 apps, 2 goals and 2 assists and a 7.36 average rating.
Alex
Well, I could praise my 27-year-old number 10 for hours and still it wouldn't be enough. Bought in January he gave us the creative spark we so desperately needed. Equipped with sublime passing and dribbling skills, it takes more than 1 player to stop this Brazilian football God. 39 caps and 16 goals in the Brazilian NT says all about the class of this player. After his January transfer, he got 25 apps and 9 goals plus 10 assists with 4 MOM awards and a stunning 7.96 average rating. Among his 9 goals was the stunning 35 yard free kick goal against Southampton in the FA Cup final. A Slight concern for me is that he isn't adapting well to life in England but he is professional and will do his job on the field. I'm bringing in some fellow Brazilians during the summer, who will hopefully help Alex adapt to England.
Ardian Gashi
The 23-year-old Norwegian central midfielder won 6 caps for his NT during this season and he is certainly dveloping as a strong defensive midfielder, who deputized for Cissé, when this was injured. 16 starts and 11 subs appearances, where he scored 2 goals and got an av. rating of 6.85. I might loan him out for next season in order to give him more playing time.
Curtis Woodhouse
Woodhouse was the thrid man I bought last summer from Birmingham and together with Gashi he was a back up for Cissé. A true fighter with excellent defending abilities and a real hardworking team player. His lack of technical abilities, though, will keep him out of the first team but his value is his attitude and defending. 10 starts and 10 subs appearances with 2 assists with a 6.80 av. rating. Will continue to add cover to Cissé next season.
Nourdin Boukhari
A forward (left/centre), who was loaned from Ajax to add depth to the team in attack and in the left wing. Equipped with very good attacking abilities, he was a small disappointment, as he only got 4 goals and 3 assists in 19 starts and 18 subs appearances and with a 6.86 av. rating. Going back to Ajax after his loan is over. Though I think he has a bright future ahead of him. Would be better as a forward but I had to use him more on the left wing, which affected his playing.
Attack
Milan Baros
I was surprised to see last summer that Liverpool had made Baros available for loan, as he was an absolute class player. I moved quickly to loan him and he didn't let me down! He was my top scorer and top assist man with 28 goals and 12 assists in 45 appearances. Why he only got 2 MOM awards, I will never know. In the FA Cup he played 7 matches and scored 7 goals and gave 2 assists and played with a stunning 8.42 av. rating. In the EPL he played in all my 38 games and scored an excellent 21 goals and made 10 assists with a 7.60 av. rating. His combined av. rating for the season was 7.73. His contract was expiring but after giving it my best shot, I couldn't lure him to Ipswich permanently and he finally agreed a contract extension with bloody Liverpool. Would have been excellent to have him for more years but his contribute was huge and he will be highly respected amongst the Ipswich fans.
Wesley Sonck
Bought at the same day as Alex in January when the transfer deadline was lifted, immediately became the fans favourite as he started banging in the goals and also assisted quite a few. He made a total of 25 appearances and scored an incredible 18 goals and made 10 assists and got stunning 12 MOM awards! And his av. rating was a decent 8.11... He will get a new partner in the attack for next season but if he remains healthy I expect him to archieve the 30-goal mark.
Portillo
The young Spanish striker was loaned from Real Madrid last summer and I expected him to be a hit in the EPL but I don't know what happened but he wasn't. In 12 starts and 24 subs appearances he only made 2 goals and gave 1 assist and played with a 6.97 av. rating. Going back to Real Madrid and won't be sorely missed.
So, those were my first team players and of course I had more players in my team but the rest were fringe players, so there isn't much to say about them.
GK:
Luke Steele
Many many crucial saves during the season, hes gonna be a NT player, pure steel between the posts already, still young and is gonna improve a lot. indespensible member of the squad.
Kawaguchi
Brought him in with a free transfer as backup and is good enough to be in the starting eleven, cant complain about my gk situation.
Defence:
David Livermore
i play him as a full-back on the left side even if hes a def mid, played a solid game throughout the season.
Joe Dolan
A fans favorite and solid as a rock in the defense, his tackling ability is marvellous, indespensible member of the squad.
Michael Dawson
A huge prospect of the future, really good at passing the ball and will propably become a NT player, can play on the right side in defense if i need to. indespensible memebr of the squad.
Matt Lawrence
plays on the right side in my back four and he also had a good season, played a solid game and had a few assists.
Midfield:
Mark Kerr
My first choise as captain as he always gives 110% on the pitch and is a example to follow. hes mental abilites are really his strong point. he also has a remarkably good technique(20) and he sprays the ball very accuratly around the pitch. and as if that wouldn't be enough he has a relly wicked shot, wich he doesnt use enough though. But clearly the player i miss the most if injured. need i say this, indespensible member of the squad.
Morten Gamst Pedersen
plays as my left winger and had most assists in my squad. really goot at taking set pieces, especially corners and long throws. really good in the air also.
Steven Reid
played as my right winger and had a lot of assists also, leaving the club at the end of the season for €5M. never has had a good avr.rat but somehow always gets the assists. but its time for him to move one as i dont think hes good enough for the EPL to have an real impact, could be wrong but the €5M will be needed.
Tommy Wirtanen
played as a backup for reid and got some assists, gonna need someone better if im gonna stay up in the epl.
Steve Hunt
played as backup for pedersen and the same goes for him as for wirtanen.
Andy Roberts
backup player for kerr, plays a solid game but doesnt have the passing capability of kerr.
Dragan Navsecki
playes as my creative passer behind the strikers. a bit dissaponted with his season, not sure if hes gonna make it in the EPL, a fans favourite though.
Strikers:
Ivan Bosnjak
good with the ball, a clinical finisher, can play behind the strikers but is most effective a striker. had a especially good first half of the season. also gets assists. leaving for ipswich but im hopin that they wont take him or if they did maybe i could loan him. we'll see how this story developes.
richard sadlier
massive in the air and mostly scores with his head, always dangerous in corners. important player of the squad.
Sebastien Abreau
had a good first half of the season, but then had a mediocre second half. can be that i will offload him during the summer. but had a succesful season all in all.
Cherno Samba
wont sell, never, if its up to me. wants to move to a bigger club but i will fight it to the end. still needs to improve his abilities but has already shown on several occasion what hes capable of. will be a huge player in the future. indespensible.
well those are the most important players i have(or who i remember). my tactic is a 4-4-2 diamond formation wich has worked in my every cm game since i have created it. hope it will be enough to keep us in the epl next seasion.
the lads has just played wonderfully all season with the occasional hickups but nothing major at any point of the season.
Linear Mode
