2011-12, Standard Liége, Belgian First Division
Wow, a 30,000 capacity stadium. A youth academy. A decent squad. Money.
Welcome to the world of bigger clubs, or what?
The squad I inherited is quite all right, but I badly need a DC, a striker and a right back, so that's where I spend some of the transfer budget. The other (bigger) part goes for future transfers, I'm focusing on scouted U-23 players.
Media prediction: 11th, board: rebuild the squad, fans: mid-table
The season kicks off with a thriller against GBA, and we lose 3-2 at home. A string of better results come, and after 6 games we're in the top 5, which we won't leave any more during the season. My young Dutch striker (signed free) is carrying the team, with his Belgian international striker partner struggling. We're in 2nd position behind Anderlecht after the first round, but the new year starts with disastrous matches against them (0-3 cup, 0-2 league). The Belgian striker finds his goal-scoring boot, and after scoring 6 in the first he nets home a further 16 in 17 matches!
The team really finds rhythm, and several 3+ goal wins make me think that we might be in the championship race. No such luck, as we suffer some really annoying 0-1 defeats at home, but with 4 matches to go we are certain to fight for European qualification.
Unfortunately the Champions' League postion gets out of sight, as Gent (who have a much easier run-in) gets the second spot behind runaway leaders Anderlecht (they won the league with 3 games to go). A hard-fought win over relegation battlers Dessels combined with both Bruges and La Louviére losing means that we secure the bronze medal and the UEFA Cup spot with one game to go. We lose the last match to Anderlecht, but I'm absolutely satisfied. So are the fans and the board.
Although I thought that we might be podium contenders (if Westerlo was able to win the league last year, everything is possible), I never thought that we'll play this spectacularly - scoring 65 goals in the league, which is 12 more than any other team's.
So UEFA quali next year, a lot of new talent comes in. I'm curious how will we do with a very young squad (ave. age 21) in the domestic and European front.
Position: 3rd (UEFA Cup)
P: 34 W: 20 D: 3 L: 11 65-31, 63 pts
Cup: 7th round (Anderlecht 0-3)
Best Goalscorer: Belgian international striker, 22 goals. Also top goalscorer of the league
Best Signing: awarded to me for getting the young Dutch striker. 16 G + 9 A, came for free, sold to Betis for 4,8M. He was impossible to be held, more than twenty clubs bombarded me with offers.
Fans' player: Belgian striker
Season high: some beautiful wins away from home, maybe 4-1 against title holders Westerlo was the nicest
Season low: losing 0-1 to Kortrijk in a match, where my left back scored an own goal in the 1st minute, and that was their only "shot"
Needs to be sorted: 5 home defeats, each by a goal. GBA won deservedly, Anderlecht was OK, but the other three 0-1 matches were just plain unlucky. Just an illustration. Shots on goal in those five defeats: 68(25) - 24 (19), goals scored: 2-7.
All in all, a very enjoyable season.
Linear Mode
