Hi everyone, I am going to bring you the pre-season report before the start of the Premier League.
We recieved a massive 40,000,000 pounds for tv rights! I was starting to get excited about my budget ;-)
This lead to the board decided to expand the stadium by 750 seats. Firstly I though, what is the point? If they are going to expand it, then they should expand it properly! By this I mean by 3000 seats +. Anyone agree?
However, the board didn’t want to upgrade training and youth facilities which are much more importantant than expanding the stadium. They didn’t even relay the pitch! Which has still been ‘VERY POOR’ since the day I joined the club. I’m starting to hate my board grr!
Transfers Out & In
We recieved 1,000,000 pound for players departing. I must say thank you to Dennis Cagara, Michael Doyle and Daniel De Ridder who served us very well, however there time at the club came to an end :-( We recieved 825k for Caleb Folan, which I regard as good business. He signed as a free transfer for us a season before and was a complete flop! There wasn’t any space for Johnathan Page in the squad so the best option was to loan him out.
I didn’t want to risk anything so I told the board that I can avoid relegation. They gave me a budget of 24m and my wage budget was set at 90k which I later increased to 155k.
A lot of players joined the club! 4 for long term prospects (Jese, Markov, Neal, Roberts), whom will be sent to reserve squad straight away. The other 12 will be part of the first team squad of course. The biggest fees were both spent on strikers. 3.6m was spent on Deniran Ortega and 6m (!) was spent on Nicklas Pedersen. I hope they repay the fee with goals. You will be able to recognise Kevin Long (Played for me in L1) SWP, Frank Lampard, Jamie O’hara and Paul Robinson. I signed different type of players in this window, some that are young, some that are very experienced in the PL, a few players with English Nationalities. Hopefully all this will blend together and hopefully it will save us from relegation.
Our new keeper is 33 year old England international Paul Robinson. He is a very experienced keeper and had long spells at Tottenham and Blackburn. He is just the keeper we needed, a commanding English experienced keeper that should keep the defence on their toes! He does lack pace, however I don’t think this attribute isn’t that important for goalkeepers.
The right back position will either be taken up by Matthew Bates so we didn’t have to worry about that position so much, but I did bring in three center backs in this window and if the Bates does fail, Kevin Long can easily fill the RB position. However i plan to use him as a first choice defender. Kevin Long played under me in the League 1 and he has made massive improvement since them days and he is still improving! He cost me a small fee of 1.2m which is quiet suprising.
The other two new center backs are Christopher Mfuiy and Victor Laguardia. Mfuiy was bought for 950k and is 24 years old. He plays for the same nation as Yves Makabu Ma Kalambay, DR Congo so he already has a good freind at the club. :-) The other Center Back, Victor Laguardia was bought for 1.8m from Zaragoza. He is spanish and only 23 years old.
Christopher Mfuiy
Victor Laguardia
I also bought in two new LB’s. The main left back is Guilherme who joined us on loan. A future fee of 4m has been agreed.
Hector Alvarez is the other LB. He is spanish and one for the future. Spanish youngsters usually turn out good so i’m hoping he does the same! My scout thinks he will be a ‘leading star’ for Premier League sides in the future. I certainly hope so! He cost us 1.9m
Now moving onto the midfield, Amine Linganzi was one of our first signings. He came from Blackburn on a free transfer and he will play the DM role.
We signed two other central midfielders also. These names should be familiar to you. Frank Lampard joined us on a free transfer after being released by Chelsea. Just look at his attributes! He lacks pace and yeah he probably is 35, but what a player to have in your squad!
The other central midfielder is Jamie O’hara. He was realeased by Tottenham and I am very pleased to have signed this person!
Moving onto the attackers now, Shaun Wright Phillips joined us on a free transfer from Manchester City. He will also bring experience to our side and he is English.
My new LW is a new signing that Man UTD bough recently and they loaned him out to us for 6 months. He has huge potential and is only 18! However will miss the first two months of the season through injury :-(
Finally we spent most of our transfer budget on the our strikers. I just hope they will perform.
Nicklas Pedersen
Derni Ortega
And now I bring you the full squad of Bury FC:
I tried to organise as much friendlies as I could so the team could blend. I would say pre season was alright.
Now you have seen this update, where do you think we will finish this season?
Anyway, thanks for reading, take care, Sayam.
Johnny Karp
11 марта, 2011 at 22:57
The two strikers seem very good Sayam and you didn’t pay too much for them either. Paul Robinson should do a good job between the sticks and I guess that Lampard might do a decent job at least for a few months because I’m afraid that his physical attributes will decline quite fast. It’s hard to predict where you’ll end up but I would bet on a top half finish. Good luck!
P.S.: I think that the board wanted to expand the stadium just enough to meet the league requirements but I don’t know why they didn’t relay the pitch, that doesn’t cost too much anyway and even my Vauxhall board does it every season now!
Sayam Khan
12 марта, 2011 at 13:17
Thanks Johnny, I bought Lampard for the short term anyway, I just don’t want to be relegated!
Oh right, if that is the case regarding the stadium, then I understand now. I don’t know why they don’t want to relay the pitch, they say » We simply can’t afford the funding» When they can!!! Grrr.
Sears
12 марта, 2011 at 00:04
You made some wise signings Sayam, and I think you can finish around mid table. Hopefully your new strike force can score the goals needed to ensure your survival. Jamie O’Hara is a great signing, and Hector Alvarez has potential. Can’t wait to see how you fair in the Premier league as this story is phenomenal.
Sayam Khan
12 марта, 2011 at 13:20
Thanks Sears, I hope O’hara plays like his attributes show he can and Alvarez fulfills his potential. Thanks a lot for your sweet comment at the end, it means a lot to me.
Josh Allen
12 марта, 2011 at 00:07
Wow Sayam, some very big names there. Overall, a great summer spending. Unfortunate that your board is such a tight-wad because with a large stadium, you could capitalize on the Premier League’s potential. Hopefully next year, you’ll make it even larger.
Josh
everythinghthatisfm.blogspot.com
Sayam Khan
12 марта, 2011 at 13:25
Thanks Josh, I think the board are being cautious incase we get relegated that they may need that money. Hopefully next year they better do what I want!
Lye
12 марта, 2011 at 00:41
Hi Sayam,
It’s surprising to expand 750 seats if your board has money to spend. You have bought pretty well and i believe your new signings should serve you well. I am expecting your team to finish in mid-table. Good luck.
Sayam Khan
13 марта, 2011 at 12:53
Hi Lye,
Yeah it is suprising they only expanded it by 750 seats but like I said to Josh, I think the board are being cautious incase we get relegated that they may need that money. Hopefully next year they better do what I want! Thanks for your confident prediction, however I think we will be in more of a relegation battle this year… Thanks for your comment.
hils
12 марта, 2011 at 07:13
Hi Sayam,amazing signings there!!!!!!!!!!! Lampard is a great signing!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sayam Khan
13 марта, 2011 at 12:54
Thanks Hils! I’m glad you like Lampard.
Kevin
12 марта, 2011 at 08:58
Hi Sayam
What some terrifc players you have acquired even though some of them are getting old they will certainly add some quality to your squad. I think you have a great chance of pushing for a place in a European competition next season. Meanwhile good luck for this season, it’s going to be interesting!
Sayam Khan
13 марта, 2011 at 12:57
Hi Kevin,
I’m glad you like the signings, Lampard is the only one that is ‘very’ old. WOW! thats a very confident prediction by you Kevin, thanks.
Laxeyman
12 марта, 2011 at 12:59
Good signings Sayam, you’ve got a good blend of youngsters and experienced heads, and they should combine well for you. I reckon you can finish around mid table, good luck!
Sayam Khan
13 марта, 2011 at 13:01
Thank Laxeyman, that was the main idea of the signings. Its up to the players now to blend and perform!
Darren Smith
12 марта, 2011 at 13:52
Hey Sayam. Great signings there. Robinson will be amazing and Lampard can still make an impact. I reckon you’ll see some good form from O’Hara and Pederson. With your wheeling and dealing I’m predicting a top 13 finish. :)
Sayam Khan
13 марта, 2011 at 13:02
Hi Darren, thanks for the comment. Yeah, I think Lampard can still make an impace, well i’m hoping at least. And O’hara and Pederson are one of the main players of this time. Hopefully we get off to a good start.
Excessive
14 марта, 2011 at 10:41
Looking forward to reading this, glad to see you making progress so quickly through the leagues and to get right to the top is astounding considering your resources.
Facilities need to improve, you have to be confident and prove that you can manage and sustain the club at this level. The option ‘but after all I have done for this club’ when they decline usually works. And after all you have done I don’t see why they shouldn’t trust your judgement!
Players are solid, Robinson is my pick. Great keeper and although he is getting on, will be a massive influence. I know Lampard is getting on and will only really be able to act as an impact sub but he is an asset in his own right. Get him to tutor and recommend him for a future staff role. A potentially great coach for the future.
Good luck Sayam!
Ana Garcia
14 марта, 2011 at 14:27
Spaniards! :)
And they both look pretty good! You have spent really well buying in both youth and experience and hopefully they should serve you well!
Good luck Sayam!!