retired_mateo4531

2007/2008 Season Update.

Just got to the end of Sept so this is how im getting on.

EPL

Started off badly with a 1-0 loss to Wigan. However then went on a 4 match winning streak against Chelsea(2-1), Man Utd(2-0), Reading(3-1) and Southampton(4-3) with Arsenal, Sunderland, Boro and Charlton to come.

Champions League

Got through a tricky 3rd Qualifier against Celtic on away goals. Then got drawn in a group with R.Madrid, Roma and Steaua which kinda worried me, thought i would be heading for the UEFA Cup. However I beat Real 3-2 in Madrid and then followed that up with a 2-1 win in Rome! Delighted aint the word.

League Cup

Got drawn against Middlesborough in the 3rd Round. Gonna play the 2nd squad in that game.

Players In(since above update)

Nicklas Bendter, Arsenal, Season Loan(Got him in to replace Kamburov who is out for 6-8 months with knee injury)

Top Players

Reid - 9 games, 4 goals and 5 assists from right wing and avrg rating of 7.56 with 2 MOM.
Legendary Player.

Basturk - 10 games, 2 goals and 4 assists from CM and avrg rating of 7.50 with 3 MOM.

Woodgate - 10 games, 1 goals and avrg rating of 7.30.

Gamst Pedersen - 10 games, 3 goals and 3 assists from left wing and avrg rating of 7.20 with 3 MOM.

Yaya Toure - 10 games, 1 assist from DMC and avrg rating of 7.20.

Nicklas Bendtner - 4 starts & 4 sub apps, 3 goals, 2 assists with avrg rating of 7.00 and 1 MOM.

McCarthy and Derbyshire with 2 goals each from 9 and 7 starts respectivly.

General Info

Just became Affiliated with Giurare Yokohama which is a blinding result (watch that merchandise rocket) to go with existing links with Brugge, Dunfermaline, Huddersfield and Rosenborg.
Ewood Park is currently undergoing a stadium expansion to take capacity up to about 45k, due to be finished for the home game against the mighty mighty Crystal Palace, was hoping for the home game v Madrid or Roma but hey!

Another update to come at the end of the January 2008 transfer window. Til then keep the blue flag flying high!

retired_mateo4531

Knew i should've waited until the awards for September were announced before posting

I got Manager of the Month, Basturk got Player of the month with Reid in 2nd and Bendtner got Young Player. September was a good month

retired_dlevien

Just started a Blackburn game. I fondly remember the 94/95 season with Rovers pipping Man U, and any team that wins the title over Man U is alright in my book!

Got rid of Robbie Savage, Dominic Matteo and Andy Taylor so far. Signed Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson from Hibs, and promoted James McEveley to the full squad. Currently in contract negotiations with Steven Naismith from Kilmarnock as well.

Liverpool want to sign Reid, so I slapped a £6,000,000 price tag on him. A few days later I rejected a £3.6 mil bid for him from the Kop. The biggest worry I have so far is that my wage budget won't allow for the sort of contract Lucas Neill wants. With one year on his contract should I sell him?

retired_oldfierce

Team minus Nonda

retired_oldfierce

sorry for the double post but...

Overview

League Table

tazmania83sg

Just completed my first season as Rovers. My season details as follows..

retired_helder07

if u get a bid of 6mill sell away, but otherwise i reckon keep him cos youv sold savage (who was brilliant for me for many seasons)

retired_helder07

i gotta say u made done some good deals! did u get wps for all of em

retired_mateo4531

2007/2008 End of Jan Update

EPL

Currently 1st after 25 games, am 3 points ahead of Arsenal who have a game in hand in second but Chelsea are 8pts behind me in 3rd with 5 games in hand.
Notable results include 1-0 wins against Liverpool, LeArse and Bolton. Beating Chelsea 2-1, Spurs 3-2 and 5-1 thumpings of Southampton and MAN UTD!!!

Champions League

Went through 2nd in my group after 1 win and 1 loss against both Roma & Madrid and 2-0 and 7-1 wins against Steaua. Have been drawn against Inter in the first knockout stage.

FA Cup

After scraping past Halifax in a replay in the third round and beating Swindon 2-0 ive decided enough is enough and im gonna play the first team from now on. Got either Tottenham or Charlton in the 5th.

League Cup

My youngsters managed to beat Middlesborough in the 3rd round but lost out 1-0 to Charlton in the 4th. I should've had a penalty and i also had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside in the Charlton game though!

Transfers In

1st team

Huddlestone, Spurs, £4.6m
Bendtner, Arsenal, £2.5m upfront & £2m in apps/goals etc
& got Adrian Mutu and Benjamin Lauth coming on frees in the summer.
Reserves/under 18s

A total of 18 players in, all good prospects but the best include
Sultan Cem, Galatasary, 1m
Jack Hobbs, Liverpool, 1.2m
Wang Delei, Liancheng, £350k
Riccardo Massano, Atalanta, 1.3M

Players Out

Managed to fob Martin Kamburov out to HSV for £3.9m.

Top Players
all games inc sub apps

Nelsen. 32 games, 1 goal, 1 assist & 3 MOM. Avrg 7.49
Basturk. 30 games, 6 goals, 15 assists & 7 MOM.
Avrg 7.36
Gamst. 31 games, 8 goals, 13 assists & 3 MOM.
Avrg 7.30
Reid. 33 games, 7 goals, 7 assists & 3 MOM.
Avrg 7.23
Bendtner. 27 games, 16 goals, 8 assists & 2 MOM.
Avrg 7.20 Great target man.
Derbyshire. 36 games, 15 goals,6 asists & 1 MOM.
Avrg 7.17
Woodgate. 27 games, 2 goals, 1 assist.
Avrg 7.17
McCarthy. 30 games, 10 goals, 6 assists.
Avrg 7.05

Ive been lucky so far with injuries, only Kamburov out for longer than a couple of weeks sp hope that continues.
Stadium capacity now at 45k, had 44982 at home to see the 1-0 win v LeArse.
Dont think im gonna get past Inter over 2 legs but can see another good FA Cup run going and aiming for top 3 in EPL.

retired_bhaskar

I'm not a Rovers fan but decided to give them a go. I'm only 12 games into the season, but thought I'd post to let you all know that there's more people out there playing as Rovers. I'm surprised how well they are doing too.

Transfers In: (all pounds stirling)

1. Lebohang Mokoena (Orlando Pirates) 500k
Shows that I read the Wonderkids thread ;-)
In another game (as Man Utd), i bought him and sent him on loan due to no work permit, and his value increased x 5 in just a season. At Rovers though, he refuses to go on loan to Cercle Brugge, and is getting paid 15k per week just to train!

2. Dave Nugent (Preston) 4.5M
Easier bought than in real life. 5 goals from 5(7)

3. James McCarthey (Hamilton) free
Youngster who Man Utd are keeping tabs on IRL. I'm interested to see how he develops on FM07.

4. Alistair Brown (Hibernian) 40k
Young keeper who is in the Scotland U21 squad. Did well coming on against Bestiktas when Enckelman was injured.

5. Steve Sidwell (Reading) 3.5M
Backup midfielder who I hope develops well.

6. Denilson (Arsenal) season-long loan
Gives the squad a bit of depth. Has performed well in Europe and as backup.

I haven't signed any big name players, but after 12 games we are in first place, 25 pts = 7-4-1. I take a Rafa Benitez approach of rotating players often. I also manage the reserves side in order to keep players fresh and prepared in case they need to step up to cover a first team player. Actually, the squad is quite good, in that the backup/rotation players perform well when called upon.

BTW, Nelson started the season with 4 straight MoM, and Emerton was great until injured (5 goals, 2 assists from 9(3) games.

I'll post again at season's end to report how we went.