Darren: FM 2011 Newcastle’s Aug-Dec, Injuries can’t stop me now. 2019/20

Hey guys and welcome back to another update from the North East. Last time you read on as I enjoyed an active transfer window, following our great success of 2018/19 I wanted to build and secure the next generation of players. I also brought in one or two older players with the view to selling them for a nice profit. With so much movement and change at Saint James Park, how would the squad adjust and react? Well today we find out as I have all the results from August to December.

Euro Super Cup vs Arsenal

OK this may not be the very first game of our competitive season, but I feel its the best way to start the post. After thrashing Barcelona in Europe’s elite, I earned the right to challenge for the Euro. Super Cup and after Arsenal waltzed to the Europa League they will be my opponents. Arsenal played their best eleven, while I decided to experiment using new keeper Delac, my new winger Da Silva and also a few new central midfielders. Below are the match highlights, no full match I’m afraid as these are saved for special occasions. :)

Despite fielding a weaker than usual squad by boys did well. Anconetani and Santos were up to their usual tricks while new signing Da Silva looked dangerous from set pieces (and so he should we a 20 attribute!) The perfect start to my new campaign.

Premier League results — August to October 2019

With the fixture list looking cruel, I was determined to continue my unbeaten run (which is etching nearer 100 games by the way.) The new season opened at home to Manchester Utd, a repeat of our FA Cup triumph would have been nice but it wasn’t meant to be. Just two goals and a narrow 2-1 victory this time followed by a 2-0 win against Everton away from home. Then Hernandez shone at Stamford Bridge as we beat Chelsea 2-1, followed by a sound 2-0 victory at home to Spurs. September was capped off with an unlikely result though, Wolves diminished our lead twice to hold Newcastle 2-2.

Whether that was complacency of a super human effort from the Midlands side I’m not sure, but it was behind us quickly. Sanogo started to fight for his place and did so with three goals in three games. The first against West Ham as we won 2-1, the second during a 4-1 thrashing of Aston Villa and the third against Blackpool as we won 3-0, a great start to the season even if we are without the ruthlessness from last year.

Premier League results — November to December 2019

After a decent start, I needed to be wary of my squad rotation. While it was required to keep players fit, it can also hinder in form and morale. We started November with a trip to the Eastlands and a very exciting match against Man City which finished 5-3. After such a great result I was eager to maintain our form and fielded a similar XI against Liverpool, that match finished 6-0! My only issue though was a torn groin muscle that would keep RW, Ziegler out for 5 weeks. I only had Anconetani left for that role and had to risk him every match.

All seemed fine and dandy until my next problem, during a 3-0 victory over Bolton Anconetani was sent off and somehow suspended for four domestic matches. This left me with no right winger and having to risk Marcelo Santos every game on the wing as opposed to up front. The Spaniard went on to score four goals in four games from his new role as the toon beat QPR and Arsenal, before drawing to Portsmouth and then beating Bristol City. That was problem ‘A’ of many not to mention my left winger, Goetz, missing for three weeks leaving me with just one LW. The same happened at right back, and in my central midfield playmaker role. All these issues but we still kept the form up and finished the first half of the season unbeaten in the EPL.

Premier League table

Despite my poor run of injuries, the toon army held their nerve and showed strength in depth and versatility. We lead the EPL table by three points and hold two games in hand over Manchester City in second.

League Cup results

The one trophy that never eludes me and showed a kind hand in the draw. We opened up with a tough away tie to Spurs, but my weaker XI still thrashed the London club 4-1. Then Bristol City fought well at Saint James Park but our possession play came through 2-0. One step away from the semi-finals and Bolton stood in my way…they’ll regret that as the toon faithful were treated to an 8-0 demolition! My semi opponents are the same as last year, Nottm’ Forest and I fully expect to make the final cut.

Champions League results and table

My group stage opponents are Sevilla, Fenerbahce and Heerenveen. All very beatable and I used the opportunity to field some players that may not get much game time domestically. The first match, against Sevilla was a bore draw and largely frustrating. But after that the players found their feet and won the remaining five fixtures. The highlight coming away from home in the return match to Sevilla as we won 5-0.

We finished top of our group and qualified with ease. The first knockout round opponents will be Dinamo Moscow, a young side will be used as I expect nothing but victory. While a lot of big name clubs are still in the competition, I can’t help but notice no Chelsea, Inter Milan nor Barcelona.

Club World Championship results

We’ll finish the results part of this post with my CWC tournament. A novelty really, but my competitive edge wanted the trophy. My semi-final opponents were Beijing, they’d done well to get so far but would receive a wake up call against Newcastle. With both my right wingers out, Santos had to start and scored two goals…my other ten starters were all youngsters and fringe players but the game finished 5-0.

Moving into the final and Argentine club Lanus awaited. Despite conceding early on we dominated possession and finished our opponents off with four goals. Another easy trophy and the perfect end to December.

Now for some really big news, do you remember me falling short of 100 games unbeaten by just one match? That was a few years ago, but the record has been put right. After beating West Brom 3-0 in the league, we notched up an incredible record of 101 game unbeaten in all competitions. Lets see how far I can push it. :)

Talking of records, I’ve never completed the clean sweep for world and European player awards…until now that is. Anconetani claimed World best player and best midfielder, Santos got the World golden boot and best striker, while Varrialle won best defender and Mainetti won best goalkeeper. I thought you might like to see their profiles, so just click on the names above.

Squad stats and finances

A very good start to the season has seen everybody pitch in. Sanogo seems to be getting even better if that’s physically possible, the striker has scored 17 goals and assisted 8 times from 11 starts. While Varrialle continues to impress at centre back with 6 goals and an average rating of 7.84. The list drags on but my favourite is new signing Da Silva who has scored 7 and assisted 12 times from 16 starts.

With the squad looking fantastic how are my finances? Well the end of pre-season resulted in my bank balance soaring to £280 million. At the end of December we are down to £266 million, meaning a loss of £14 million over six months. Not a  major disaster and I may look to offload some bodies sometime soon anyway.

Just realised between first teamers, future prospects and players out on loan, my central midfield list has risen to 14. Guess I saw talent and didn’t want anyone else to have it. The prospects are on low wages but I need to take some time to consider which ones will definitely make it and offload the ones that won’t. I’ve been playing a waiting game for their attributes to develop so I can see if they hold as much potential as first seemed…but I am worried some may be late bloomers. Anyway, that’s for another day.

That about covers it for today, so thanks for dropping by and please come back for the end of my domestic season. I hope you enjoyed the post and please feel free to comment below. I look forward to hearing from you as always.

P.S. As requested, below is my academy star, Fairclough’s coach report. Hope this is what you were after Dave. :)