Hey guys and welcome back to my FM 2011 Brighton story. During the last post you saw me spend more than £30 million in pre-season. This money was spread over many positions but mainly focused on youth and securing Brighton’s future. Players such as Charlie Adam, Galeano, Bakambu and Erick Torres joined my team. Thirteen new faces joined the club and despite the obvious problem of blending them into the first team, I feel like these guys are the future. But today we’ll concentrate on the present as I reveal how the Seasiders started their first season in the Premier League. Before that, let me say a quick thank you to everyone who participated in the FMS Live chat yesterday. I think the event was a success and hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. :)
League cup results
I have made it clear from day one that this competition isn’t a priority. Until my side have more strength in depth I can’t afford injuries or fatigue in any of my EPL games. We enjoyed a reasonable cup run, but after beating Southampton and Bolton we lost to Burnley. That was a bad match, but I had to rest my entire first team due to fixture congestion. I didn’t see this as been eliminated from a competition but looked at it as more time to prepare for my big EPL matches.
Premier League results — August to September
And it’s finally here, my first venture into top flight Football with Brighton. The dream start almost became a reality as Aissati scored our first goal against Chelsea, but a wonderful performance from Fernando Torres ruined our day and resulted in a 2-1 loss. That first match hardly saw my boys get the ball and this left me contemplating tactics. Was my old cautious 4-5-1 really going to work again, or should I go for broke and reinstate the Manchelona? While the results improved with a draw to Everton, 2-0 win against Newcastle, loss to Aston Villa and 2-0 win against West Ham, the performances got worse. My side couldn’t keep the ball and I found myself expecting defeat against most opponents.
The final straw came against Manchester United at Old Trafford. I decided that changing back to the ‘Manchelona’ wasn’t a good idea against such strong opposition. However, due to the current tactics direct passing and cautious style of play we didn’t get a single shot off on target and were ripped to shreds. The game finished 4-0 and I was extremely worried, this was the game that brought about change in the Brighton camp.
Premier League results — October to November
The time had come, I slowly scrolled through my archived tactics and selected…the ‘Manchelona’. No more defensive thoughts, sitting back or quick break away’s. From here on out Brighton would be all about attacking football and playing the passing possession game. For any newbies you can read all about and download my Manchelona tactic here.
While my Manchelona suffered a defeat at White Heart Lane to the Spurs, things started to pick up from there. We beat Blackburn 3-0, drew 0-0 to Liverpool and slaughtered Wolves 4-0. Fulham then robbed me of a point as Brighton lost 2-1 away, before Burnley held us to a 0-0 away draw. Stoke took the full force of my frustration when we won away at the Britannia 7-0!! Then Nottm Forest were next to fall after John Fleck secured the 1-0 win late on.
It took a few games to be sure, but after watching the 4-0 victory over Wolves I was convinced I had changed tactic at the right time. You can see why below, I have provided the highlights and all four goals. There is so much variety in our play and the Manchelona really harnesses that.
Premier League results — December
Due to an extended International break October was filled with just three matches, meaning December became a very clustered month. We started well beating Blackpool away 3-0, before a valiant performance against Man City finished in a 3-2 defeat. Next up my boys thrashed West Brom at the Hawthorns 5-2 and then beat Bolton at the Reebok 2-0. We finished December with two very narrow losses to both Arsenal and Chelsea. In my eyes this was a brilliant month, we dropped points to three of the best four teams in the league and also managed three away victories.
Premier League table
OK, I know there’s a lot of white and yellow circles this post, but remember Brighton have just entered the Premier League after two consecutive promotions and need to settle thirteen new arrivals into the team. I personally feel like our start has been incredible and just look at the league table below. Brighton lye in 8th place and need just 10 more points to secure survival. This will be done with ease and the main aim has to be mid-table.
None of this would be possible without some amazing new arrivals. It took the new boys 5-6 games to settle in but we’re now playing some very attractive football and offering every opponent a fight. Galeano has an average rating of 7.47 and scored 6 goals alongside been solid in defence. Charlie Adam has chipped in 8 assists and 3 goals while Wright-Phillips has scored 6 and assisted 4. The same amount as Erick Torres who looks to be full of potential.
Player of the post: Leonel Galeano
Where the goals came from: Erick Torres
With everything going so well on the pitch, we are just left to see how the finances look. The current bank balance is £14.3 million in the red. The initial figure doesn’t look good but if you look closer, you’ll notice we are starting to gain money back and that upwards spiral is increasing with every month. By the seasons end I reckon the club will be out of debt and may even have around £5-10 million in the bank. I would be happy to keep experiencing these ups and downs until Brighton attain Champions League football…because then I know the club can start to make some nice profits.
Well that concludes today’s update, thank you all for dropping by and I hope you enjoyed the post. I’m not sure what the end of season will bring but join me next time to find out. Until then please feel free to ask any questions and I look forward to reading your comments.
Laxeyman
11 сентября, 2011 at 14:35
That’s a very good start Darren, a few defeats, but thats to be expected, and 8th is a fantastic position at the halfway stage. Hopefully you can stay there, that would be an excellent finish, good luck!
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 18:23
Thanks Laxeyman, I hope to maintain our league position and we’ll see what happens in the seasons second half.
riggsy
11 сентября, 2011 at 14:37
Great work Darren your new players have certainly settled in now and you are looking good for a top 10 finish if you can repeat this form in the second half of the season! It looks like you just changed tactics at the right time, and at least you are winning the games you are expecting to win and only losing to the «big» teams! Good luck for the rest of the season mate and I’m still confident that you can secure a Europa League spot! :)
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 18:23
Thanks Riggsy, one or two of the players need time but the majority of my signings have settled well. We have achieved some great results but certainly need another season before we can think about Europe I reckon.
Johnny Karp
11 сентября, 2011 at 17:13
Excellent results Darren, the team did extremely well considering all the new faces. You had a couple of harsh defeats but every newly-promoted team has those, there’s nothing to worry about. On the contrary, I think that the second half of the season will see you climbing somewhere around 6th to 4th place ;)
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 18:21
Thanks Johnny, I agree that every newly promoted club should expect defeat to the top teams. I can certainly see Brighton maintaining the current position but can’t see us climbing above 6th if I’m honest…there are just too many brilliant teams within the EPL.
Martin - F.M.J.S
11 сентября, 2011 at 17:14
Good work Darren, That is a great start for your first season in the Premier League. The results against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City was a bit unlucky but with 18 games to go i hope you can keep it going.
Also sorry couldn’t make the live chat yesterday.
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 17:57
Thanks Martin, I expected those bad defeats to top four clubs to be honest…we just don’t have enough composure or experience to challenge them yet. Don’t worry about missing the live chat mate.
Kevin
11 сентября, 2011 at 17:36
Great first half of the season and you are far away from the relegation zone which must be a comfort. Stunning results over Stoke and Wolves which has certainly helped out. Your +15 goal difference is better than some teams above you!
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 17:56
Thanks Kevin, it feels great to have such a cushion from the drop zone. Every newly promoted side fears the dreaded drop and despite my signings I was desperate to get a good start.
vaibhavc
11 сентября, 2011 at 18:59
Hey Darren
You have done a great job so far. Brighton being eighth place is really good so far for a newly promoted side. Just make sure you don’t slip up!
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 20:34
Thanks Vaibhav, I am hopeful of holding onto a top ten finish but can’t see us breaking the top six this year.
George Dobson
11 сентября, 2011 at 19:41
Great start darren the manchelona was a defiant success so was the live chat yesterday as well
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 20:34
Thanks George, we have enjoyed a good start and I’m glad you liked the Live chat.
Dan
11 сентября, 2011 at 21:05
Hi Darren,
Great start and the manchelona really turned your team in a scoring machine. Hopefully I can be 8th with Hull after 6 months in the Premier League!
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 21:18
Thanks mate, while the manchelona is probably a little too risky for my team its better than watching us defend for ninety minutes and still lose :) Hopefully the form can continue and you’ll join me with Hull.
Birdy
11 сентября, 2011 at 21:38
well done Darren, Torres and Bakambu are starting to come of age and you have taken the league by storm by getting into the top half which is very hard to do. I hope you guys can keep it up and stay in that great position
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2011 at 21:50
Thanks Birdy, I am realistically hoping to finish in the top ten but that’s about it for this season.
Aaron
12 сентября, 2011 at 00:36
Well done Darren, keep this up and you’ll have Gus Poyet phoning you for advice! Speaking of adivce, I’ve decieded to sell Petr Cech at the age of 31 in my Chelsea save for 35 million, do you think this is too soon or am I right at cashing in now?
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 18:43
lol, thanks Aaron but I couldn’t give my secrets away to Poyet, that privilege is reserved for you guys only. :) I reckon you should snap the clubs hand off who offers £35 mill for Cech…you could replace him for half that amount and would get nowhere near that fee in a year or so.
Aaron
12 сентября, 2011 at 21:22
I have Delac who is 21 and 3 star rating (with 3.5 PA) and I bought an 18 year old for £10 mil who also has 3.5 PA. By getting rid of my older players I managed to rake in 90 million :)
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 21:41
Thats my style mate, offload players that are 27 and over as long as you have prepared the youth in advance…thats the money making machine.
Lye
12 сентября, 2011 at 01:55
Hi Darren,
First of all, sorry i missed the live chat. When i got back from my mother in-law house, the chat was over.
That’s very good start for a newly promoted club. Guess you need to strengthen more before you can give those strong teams a run for their money but you are getting close on top. My prediction of a top six finish is well in line. Good luck for the rest of the games ahead.
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 18:39
No problem Lye, don’t worry about missing the chat.
I agree with you that we have enjoyed a good start to our first EPL season, and as you say the squad needs more strength before moving to the next level. I don’t think we have enough for the top six but would be disappointed to finish below 8th.
Vineeth
12 сентября, 2011 at 06:39
Hey Darren,
Its odd seeing you lose so many games…but it was to be expected I guess…
Good thing you changed to Manchelona (Hurray! :D ) again…seems to be working well for you…better to lose attacking than while defending!! ;)
I also wanted to let you know that I am using a formation very similar to your Manchelona in BSN with Redditch Utd. Currently 1st in league with 23 matches played.. :)
Still hoping to see you finish 6th.. good luck!
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 18:35
It’s weird losing those games to be honest Vineeth. I’m so used to winning that this season feels like we should be relegation candidates…although I know that isn’t the case :)
As you say, it’s better to losing when playing nice football as opposed to hoofing the ball long. Glad to hear you found some success in the lower leagues, lets just hope we both finish the season well.
CsAtlantis
12 сентября, 2011 at 07:54
Could Galeano be top scorer for your team? :D, he is quite a beast! Good to see the Manchelona in play again, your team should be able to get top half table at this rate
McDermott, Wright Philips, Erick and Charlie Adam are all doing the business for you, poor soukouna hasn’t scored yet though :(
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 18:33
That wouldn’t surprise me mate, Galeano seems to find more goal scoring chances than my strikers. :) That’s what happens when you have Adam taking set pieces though ;)
Rob Yeats
12 сентября, 2011 at 08:54
My prediction that you will be in Europe looks well founded, keep it going Darren!
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 18:32
You are going to be close with the prediction Rob, at least I hope so anyway. We probably lack the quality this year but it will be close.
tom
12 сентября, 2011 at 15:18
Ah Galeano…defensive rock and goalscoring predator lol…great read again…enjoy seeing you construct a well rounded squad that seems capable of covering all circumstances…
Cant help but notice Newcastle just above u in the league table lol ;) …finish above newcastle as a season target???
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 18:30
Thanks Tom, Galeano is certainly one player I look for no matter where I go. :) I reckon finishing above Newcastle is a very good aim, but for now a top 9 finish would please me.
Jayzinho
12 сентября, 2011 at 15:50
Amazing start mate, hope you can keep it up!
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 18:29
Thanks mate.
onecapwonder
12 сентября, 2011 at 20:01
Looking good so far, I’m sure the fans will enjoy this «boring mid-table» finish immensely. Home wins against all bar the top teams and points form difficuly away trips suggest that within a few years you’ll be challenging for the CL. Also all the teams above you really should be there which says even more about how well Brighton have been so far.
Great to see the new players are fitting in well, though Bakambu seems to be struggling a bit I guess hes coming on from the bench a lot so harder to make an impact. Donal McDermott seems to be having an incredible season so far. The Manchelona coming back is great just the thought of a «direct 4-5-1» brings me out in a cold sweat. Best of luck with the rest of the season,
Darren Smith
12 сентября, 2011 at 21:03
Thanks mate, as you say mid-table sounds boring but will be a dream come true to the fans. I reckon we’ll remain around 8th this season and should hopefully push on next year. Bakambu has been given the odd chance but failed to threaten, so until Torres makes a mistake I’ll be relying on the Frenchman from the bench. Hopefully the Manchelona won’t be regretted but its started well.
Martin
13 сентября, 2011 at 10:11
Congratulations on a terrific start to your premier league season…8th is a brilliant position to be in after 20 games. Your definitely on traget for a mid table finish and if things go your way a european place. Good Luck pal and looking forward to your next post :)
Darren Smith
13 сентября, 2011 at 11:51
Thanks Martin, I agree that 8th is a great position but don’t think we’ll break the top six just yet. Lets hope I’m wrong :)
MRDNRA
13 сентября, 2011 at 17:10
Finally able to read some more, missed a few posts lately due to having no internet at home. Good to see you’re doing so well, and I reckon you probably only need 5 more points to survive at most (my leicester game 1st prem season I finished 16th with just 28 points, and 17th the next season with 34! I’ve yet to see anyone get relegated with 40 points).
Anyway, I would be highly surprised if you don’t stay up, a mid table finish is definitely possible given your current form.
Darren Smith
13 сентября, 2011 at 18:26
Thanks mate, you have missed a little but got your internet back in time for the best bits :) I would be very annoyed to finish below mid-table now and can hopefully build from there next season.
MRDNRA
13 сентября, 2011 at 20:57
Not got internet back til 22nd at the very earliest. Just on at my nanna’s at the minute. Still useful, she’s only 0.5 mile from us (same as before we moved house about 3 weeks ago!). Our ISP already sent out a few engineers to fix the problems but no luck so far, but once it’s back up I’ll be able to follow everything properly again.
Darren Smith
13 сентября, 2011 at 21:25
I understand mate, well you must be eager to get the Internet back online and I look forward to seeing you around again.