Darren: FM 2011 Newcastle’s extravagant run from Jan-May 2018/19

Hey guys and welcome back to a newly reformed Newcastle United. I have introduced my new tactic, ‘The Manchelona’ and also shown off the results we’ve achieved since installing the more potent system. By the end of December, Newcastle were six points clear at the top of the Premier League, through to the League Cup semi’s and also the Champions League knock out stages. Not to mention the FA Cup was yet to be drawn and the toon had secured a new striker on the cheap from Manchester Utd. That is where we left off and today will take us until the last EPL game. A lot to catch up with, so let’s get cracking and see if the toon army can maintain some beautiful Football. I think its best to start the post with our League Cup form.

League Cup results

After bouncing through the early rounds and avoiding one or two scares, I found myself against Nottm Forest of all teams. My main issue was fixture congestion and this led to a weak starting XI for the first leg. The Championship side held us to a draw despite my 71% possession. However, the second leg proved too much as a stronger side dispatched Forest 2-0. Our opponents went away after just having 32% possession and not one single shot all match…other than their own goal of course lol :)

Through to the final and my opponents were a decent Wolves side, but one I’d expect to beat. Seen as this is my first final since switching tactics, I recorded the entire match with my commentary. This explains my thought process and feeling through out. Click the link below and see if Newcastle could win in style.

League Cup final vs Wolves (click here to watch full match with commentary.)

Talk about winning in style, we dominated possession, shots and the scoreline. Not to mention my left back scoring a top class half volley with his weaker foot. I couldn’t have asked for much more and hope this is a sign of things to come. Below are the match stats, after which we’ll continue with my Premier League form.

League Cup final match stats

Do you remember me saying ‘I want to break records with Newcastle and win more trophies than anyone else’. Well we have achieved that within the League Cup beating Liverpool’s previous record of 7 trophies.

Premier League results — January to February

After my recent success in the league, we had to step it up for bigger opponents and boy did we. The first was a visit to Old Trafford as United couldn’t cope with my new tactic, Santos scored to help the toon win 2-0. Then an extravagant match at home to Manchester City finished 5-1 to Newcastle, before Burnley were thrashed in possession and on the scoreboard 4-0. Santos was on form again as we travelled to White Heart Lane and thrashed Spurs 3-0, then Blackburn were powerless at Saint James Park and watched on as Gilson led the toon to another 4-0 victory. Arsenal took the full brunt of our attacking prowess while visiting the North East, Marcelo Santos scored six goals to see us win 8-1. The lads hit some complacency next though as Everton almost held us bar another great winner from Santos. Our final match in February was at home to Liverpool and another shocking 5-0 win rounded off a perfect two month period.

Premier League results — March to May

After firing on all cylinders during Winter, I was desperate to continue the form through Spring. We started well thrashing Aston Villa 3-1, Bolton 3-0 and Birmingham 4-1. Then the scoring dulled as I rested my star players with victories over Bristol City and Wigan. I forgot to mention Sanogo’s injury, the striker was out for five weeks in case you missed that. Well he returned to form in April against Middlesbrough, we won 5-0 and Sanogo announced his return with a hat trick. We finished the season with four more convincing victories and all with rested stars.

Final Premier League table

Yet again no drum roll is required, Newcastle won 36 games and drew just two this season meaning an unbeaten campaign. Manchester City were my closest rivals and they still lagged 25 points off the pace, this is testament to Newcastle’s domestic domination. We broke the goals scored record with an impressive 122 and only conceded 14.

FA Cup results

The Premier League title is under wraps alongside the League Cup, so how did my third domestic competition pan out? Well we breezed through the early rounds beating Shrewsbury, Millwall and Sheffield United. Then the sixth round draw pitted me away to Chelsea, a very tough draw indeed. Not that my players showed it, Santos and Goetz grabbed a brace as we won 6-2. Then the semi-final offered up an even tougher draw in Manchester City. The big match lived up to expectations and my attacking tactic showed a little weakness next to a lot of strength. City came back from 3-1 down to level the score before super sub Garcia sent me into ecstasy with a last minute winner. That was one for the scrap book and left me feeling invincible. Then the FA Cup final draw came out….we were against Manchester United :) I smell revenge, but you’ll have to wait until my next post for that match. :)

Champions League results

With a double in the bag and the FA Cup final to plan for, I just need to progress through the tournament that caused me so much heartache last season, the Champions League. Just like last year, I started the knock out rounds against Marseille. We may have thrashed them last season, but settled for a more reserved scoreline this time around. The first leg finished 3-0, before a weakened starting XI drew 1-1 at home.

The quarter-final draw was as easy as they come, poor Galatasaray must have cursed their luck. Santos grabbed a brace as we won the home leg 3-0, then Sanogo hit a hat trick as we won the away leg 4-0. An easy passage to the semi-final and we also missed out on Inter Milan and Barcelona to draw Palermo. Not the easy draw it would appear though as Palermo hold a key weapon in Abel Hernandez who has ripped Europe apart this season, not to mention one Pastore! My pre-match jitters proved unfounded during the first leg though as we went home 2-1 victors, then the home leg was even better as we dominated and completed a 5-2 aggregate win. Through to the final, but who are my opponents? Well it was close but Barcelona beat Inter Milan on penalties, so you get the final we all wanted…Barcelona vs Newcastle.

Squad stats and finances

After an incredible season (that isn’t over yet,) you’d expect one or two outstanding performers. Well I have a squad full of em’ and couldn’t be happier. My centre back, Varriale, has scored 16 and assisted 8 from set pieces, he’s also managed an incredible average rating of 7.83…Danny Wilson? More like Danny who? :) Marcelo Santos has enjoyed his best year yet and become THE best striker around with 31 goals and 16 assist from 25 starts, not to mention an average rating of 7.72. My worries about Sanogo proved daft and Laxeyman was right to back the Frenchman :) He scored 24 goals from 22 starts and looks set to start upfront in my FA Cup final tie against United. I could go on all day but want to make some special praise for a kid I signed when he was 17 and looked like nothing special…His name is Goetz and my faith in his ability has paid off this season, the Frenchman has scored 18 goals and assisted 18 from the left wing.

I finished December with £240 million in the bank, we are now in May and have just received some cash for winning the Premier League title. After all the losses and profits my bank balance reads £224 million, not great but we’ll see how the money from Europe changes that figure.

Well that is all for today guys, thank you so much for reading and please feel free to comment below, I look forward to hearing from you. My next post is very exciting, I will bring you two match videos from start to finish. The first will be against Manchester United in the FA Cup final and the second against Barcelona in the Champions League final. I based my new tactic around both these sides, so its fitting to face them as my first major test!