Mighty Red

So – after 3+ successful seasons at Liverpool and also freshly appointed USA national team manager I jump ship. I resign from the Reds after losing my desire to drive them to the title and European glory. After a couple of months of rest and 2 international matches I’m approach to take over from John Gregory at Reading, who are placed 17th in League 1 with 21 points from 18 games. Madejski promises £1.3M to spend, but wants the wage bill reduced from £65k per week to £50k. Instantly free transfer some wasters from the reserves and the U-18s. After some quick scouting I find some old timers that are on a free transfer and I bag myself a new central midfielder and a new striker. Both are ex-internationals from big clubs, they should offer some influence on the pitch – their coaching skills should also provide useful. At 36 though, I don’t imagine them staying on the playing staff beyond the end of the season.

In overview, my squad is OK – in need of a right sided midfielder and defender, a striker and a left back. A new central defender wouldn’t go amiss, but is not a priority. I approach two players that are on loan from Premiership clubs but are on loan to Championship sides for a total of £550k. That should sort my DR and DL out. I also send a cheeky bid of £40k for a ex-Premiership striker that’s been languishing in the reserves for 2 years. A loan approach for a 19 year old AMC should conclude my immediate transfer activity providing that they all come through.

Looking at the next 3 fixtures and it seems a mixed bag – the first match is at home to Chester who are 23rd, an away game to Peterborough follows and a tough home game against Stockport who are 2nd. I’ve set myself a target of 6 points from the 3 games – the sooner I can raise morale in the squad the better. If we can achieve this target then we should be looking at 17th position or so. We then launch into the crazy Christmas fixture list – hence my need to raise morale quickly, if I can’t get off to a good start then we could have a torrid time and face a real struggle. Oh, I forgot to mention that Madejski wants a respectable league position. I’m hoping that 10th will satisfy him as that’s my target.

If we can get 10th and I’ve still got a job, then summer will be a hectic time. Many players will come and go – as will staff. I will also reinforce the rigid training system that served me so well at Liverpool, I’m hoping to go for an adventurous formation in the end but for now I’m sticking with my tried and trusted solid tactics to hopefully get on a decent run of results.

Next instalment – probably of those 3 fixtures will follow later this week…

Cosmo-poof

I am speechless, in fact.

Hugo_Cienfuegos

Should be an absolute piece of ****. Reading are a big club in a lower division. Should be aiming for playoffs or top 10.

Mighty Red

What about?

@Hugo: Hopefully should be OK - but with only 17 first team players and most of them utter cack then it won't be straightforward...

Hugo_Cienfuegos

You started it. With a club like that, big named experienced ex internationals should do the trick.

Hugo_Cienfuegos

By you started it i ment by buying them sort of players, not something else.

BoroPhil

What team did you start the game with Mighty Red?

Church

I may be missing the point here, but starting as manager of Liverpool and then moving to Reading is not what I understand to be an LLM game.

Mighty Red

Sorry - but I did look for coaches, which is how I found them. As they are 36 I didn't think that it was that heinous to use them a playing staff for 6 months.

I'm not going to get into slagging people off, mainly because no-ones particularly started on me (yet ), but:

1) I did hang around for 2 months getting bored before taking the lowest team that was available (I am also not running conference leagues).
2) I wasn't trying to start an LLM game from scratch
3) My personal opinion is that LLM should reflect real life as much as possible - some managers wouldn't take a gamble on 36 year old players, some would - I'm one that would.
4) I appreciate that I have not, absolutely, strictly adhered to LLM rules.
6) But as people on this board cannot, still, have any tolerance at all then I'm not going to bother posting here any more.
7) I used to post here on regular occasions, and also lurked to a large degree - but got bored with every poster being flamed. I returned as I thought it'd be a good read and adhere to LLM rules to a reasonable degree.

Mighty Red

What? So there's a difference between selecting a LL team at the beginning of the game and selecting one halfway through? Providing that I don't use my shortlists and knowledge of my ex-players - I can't see a problem myself.