Hi everyone, welcome back to my Bury FC story. Last season, we finished in 7th place and won the League Cup, reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and were knocked out in the first stage of the Euro Cup. You could say it was a successful season as Bury won their first major siverware. However the drop of two positions from the season before wasn’t satisfying. One of the main reasons for this was less goals, which I didn’t expect, after Emmanuel Adebayor’s 40 goals in the previous season. Another reason was a terrible start to the season, regarding injuries. The whole spine of my team was injured. Therefore we didn’t have a good start at all. So my goals for this season are:
— Minimum 5th position
— Win a domestic cup again or at least reach semi-finals of a cup.
— Do better than last season in Euro Cup.
The reason for my ‘weak’ expectations are I didn’t have a great window, regarding signing players. You will see below.
Also please bare in mind, my squad are quiet young, so they will be one year maturer, and older this year :D (I know I’m speaking like Wenger here, lol)
Anyway, onto the real business.
Start of season expectations:
My board are really kind to me, always offering me a good budget. And it is the same this season also. 33m should be more than enough
Transfers Out
A further 24.5m was made on transfers out. Everton recently have been taken over by a tycoon and they spent 100m this season! 6.5m of which was spent on Javi Garcia. Nicklas Pedersen and Kevin Long left the club for nice sums. Both were entering their last year of their contract, so it was the perfect time to sell them :D
Transfers In
So, two signings cost me a total of 21.5m. Lets go through them:
Luis Guilherme — New goalkeeper
My goalkeeper for the next 6-8 years definately. At least this position, i will not have to have a headace about anymore. Cost me 12m but he has shown me in Pre season he is worth it.
Holger Badstuber — CB
New Centre-back joins from Bayern. Now I can rotate my centre backs without the thought in my head that it may back fire.
Sergio Araujo — CF
My new striker, looks pretty good to! Young, good dribbler, finisher, composure, decisions, pace, strength. Should be good, hopefully.
Now, you maybe looking at your monitor saying, is that the only striker I signed. Well look at my shortlist.
I had all these strikers lined up as possible future Bury strikers. I was very close to signing Babacar untill I was hijacked by someone else (can’t remember who). They paid 40m! I had a 20m offer accepted :( Anyway, my point of the above strikers are, they are all good/very good strikers at weak clubs, but none wanted to join. This only explains, that Bury’s reputation isn’t big enough yet. So hopefully that will change in the season coming up :D
Pre Season:
Pretty good pre-season, Bury also qualified through to the next round of Euro Qualification, very comfortably. Araujo was on fire!
Squad List
This season will be the last for Pedro and Antonio Quimbamba at my club. If they don’t perform, I will sell them. I promise! Same applies for Lucas Carrera, which I still can’t believe I spent 12.5m on. It is definately Emmanuel Adebayor’s last season as his contract will run out. No one bothered offering anything over 3m.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Timmy
29 апреля, 2011 at 18:05
With that squad you can reach at least 4th places,even runner up,don’t worry
btw,i think you have to sell Adebayor now,because he still had some value.
ps:Araujo is Monster(use poacher role and he will make chaos)and Badstuber stats is worser than before?
Goodluck
nb:look like Everton is always overtaken by Tycoon :P
Sayam Khan
29 апреля, 2011 at 18:08
Thanks Timmy, Good to know the first comment is a nice one. I think I’m going to get critisized with this transfer window. And thanks for the Araujo tip :) Badstuber didn’t play much for Bayern unfortunately which could be the reason for his weak stats.
Nigel
29 апреля, 2011 at 18:28
Well I believe you can reach your minimum goals. Funny thing is in my save, Sergio Araujo is a talented center back instead of forward, guess anyone called Sergio Araujo is good. Anyway, decent pre-season from the results, my pre-season always ends up with at least 3 losses for some reason. Looking forward to your next post.
Sayam Khan
30 апреля, 2011 at 11:39
haha Nigel. Thanks for you comment.
Kevin
29 апреля, 2011 at 18:32
Hi Sayam
Why do think you will get critisized? You’ve set our realistic goals for yourself have brought in 3 solid looking palyers and have sold players nearing the end of their contracts. I say great job!
Sayam Khan
30 апреля, 2011 at 11:39
Thanks Kevin!
Johnny Karp
29 апреля, 2011 at 18:45
I think that you have found a great striker for a very good price, Araujo should score plenty and also create quite a few goals for his teammates. Luis Guilherme is a great investment too, he is a great talent and I can reveal that he’s on my shortlist as well :) I think that you did good business this summer and the team should fulfill your expectations. Some silverware might be on the cards again, I hope that you’ll have a better Europa League run. I wish you an injury-free season! :)
Sayam Khan
30 апреля, 2011 at 11:40
Thanks Johnny, I suggest you sign Luis Guilherme!
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 19:14
Some good transfer action Sayam, no one out of this world…but you can’t expect that just yet. As mentioned, Bury lack reputation and when that comes you’ll have more freedom. Araujo is a good striker and scored 25 goals in his second season for me. He has become an icon to Newcastle fans despite been my third choice striker, so your fans should love him. :)
Cruickshanks
29 апреля, 2011 at 20:35
Hey sayam!
By the looks of it those are great signings. I can’t wait to see your season and I’m sure top five will be easily achieved
Laxeyman
29 апреля, 2011 at 20:41
That’s not a bad pre season at all Sayam, Araujo is a good player, as is Guilherme, and Badstuber is solid enough, so overall you’ve strengthened your squad. I reckon you can get at least 5th, good luck!
Alex
30 апреля, 2011 at 02:44
Hi Sayam,
I expected more action in the market by you, because I always bring in at least 10 players unless I win the league! Guilherme and Araujo are both great players, Badstuber worries me with his poor heading as that is very important for a CB. He looks pretty good though, especially as a free so good business. Good luck, I think your goals are very realistic.
CsAtlantis
30 апреля, 2011 at 04:22
Your three signings are looking very nice Sayam, though I think your squad needs another player on the wings to provide cover, especially on the left
Good luck with your targets, with Araujo leading the line you should be able to score more, and Guilherme should help tighten up your mean defense
Lye
30 апреля, 2011 at 04:59
Hi Sayam,
Few signings but very thoughtful one. Luis Gullherme will be a good goalkeeper. Hopefully he will keep a few clean sheet for you. Serjio Araujo is a good striker and will definitely get you some goals. Good luck for the new season ahead.
hils
30 апреля, 2011 at 07:47
Hi Sayam,good signings there!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will do good in the europa league!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!
vaibhavc
30 апреля, 2011 at 08:08
Hey Sayam
Hopefully with your signings you can achieve your goals. Araujo seems to be a good striker, I think he will score a lot for you.
Sayam Khan
30 апреля, 2011 at 11:46
Thanks Everyone!
Ana Garcia
30 апреля, 2011 at 12:30
Some good signings Sayam,
Araujo might just be the player to take your team to the next level, bad luck about Babacar having had him at Senegal he would have brilliant for your team!
Good luck!!