Hey guys and welcome back to my Ultimate European Challenge. During the last post you saw me paddy like a little girl. Despite notching up 98 points, we still lost the title to Lyon. My only consolation was a marvelous French Cup victory, with that wrapped up I just need the Ligue 1 title to finish my challenge. Today we will be looking at my transfers and a nice little surprise during the seasons build up. This post will be fairly short as not to bore you with too many details, so lets see how Bordeaux’s pre-season unfolded.
Expectations and title odds
The board expected Europa League qualification, but I adjusted this to title challenge. This offered an extra £8 million to total £35.5m in transfers which would come in handy for my revamp. I fully expect to stretch my budget and forget about finances this season…after last years disappointing end, I MUST win Ligue 1. The media still prefer Lyon and Marseille, but I know we can prove them wrong. Here’s to gaining 100 points lol :)
Transfers out
A lot of overpaid veterans left Bordeaux during pre-season. This racked up an impressive £200K extra for wages. I adjusted my transfer budget using this new found freedom and the result was great. You’ll see just how much I managed to spend below.
Transfers in
An extra £15 million was transferred from wages to spending money. I also signed two players with monthly payments to stretch this to £59 million. Very bad accounting, but I plan on this been my last year at Bordeaux fingers crossed. :) We’ll go over the best signings in more detail, but first lets look at the more fringe signings. Hajek is a Goalkeeper and could replace Sampaio straight away. Marques is a lightening quick right back, this position troubled me last year so the £8.75 million was warranted. Reinaldo is in his early 20’s and provides cover in the defensive midfield role. Kalenga is a pacey, strong striker who is well worth the £6.75m and still fairly young at 23. Now we get to the real stars.
Martin Aguirre (left back) signed for £7.0m
He may not look like much to you, but this Argentine is my dream LB. Good crossing and dribbling means he’ll suit the support duty perfectly. Add some good pace and good defensive attributes then I’m happy. :) I often find getting full back with good physical attributes is half the battle.
Luis Asin (centre back) signed for £11.5m
Asin has attributes in all the right places. The only thing that may concern me is his low acceleration. But everything else is perfect. Only 23 years old and now my best CB at Bordeaux. The defence is really shaping up well, my weakest point could soon become my strongest.
Hector Cavallo (central midfield) signed for £11.25m
Or maybe not, Cavallo is simply amazing. I actually raved about him three years ago while managing Argentina. Now I finally have him and at a reasonable price too. I’m hoping he can add that extra bit of quality needed to secure the title.
Nicholas Simeoni (striker/AMC) signed for £11.75m
The hottest talent to come out of France since I began this save. This was confirmed by my scouts 5 star potential rating, and that is comparing Simeoni to Vidal and Testa in two separate reports. A wonderful talent, but one that will start the season from the bench. I’ll wait till he’s settled in a bit before resting this well oil machine.
The squad of 2021/22
Five Argentines within my squad, I still have a soft spot for them after winning the World Cup. :) Every position is well covered except left back. I ran out of funds before filling this position and will have to play someone out of position should Aguirre pick up an injury. Not much quantity but certainly full of quality, this is my year and coincidentally…
Your not singing any more, your not singing any more! Haha, revenge is so sweet!!! After outplaying Lyon for the Champions Trophy, we even managed to beat Marseille away from home on the first day of the season. Smiles all around!
I’m going to stop writing on a high, so thanks for reading. I hope to see you soon and please feel free to comment below. The next post should take us up to January. Until next time, bye for now. :)
vikingmarius
28 апреля, 2011 at 20:25
Great signings a ton of talented and young players you should take the league with a much stronger defense and more attacking options, good luck in the league and in Europe and great job getting revenge on OL
Darren Smith
28 апреля, 2011 at 20:44
Thanks mate, I over spent but saw some talent and couldn’t help but feel motivated by last season. Lets hope it pays off. :)
Cruickshanks
28 апреля, 2011 at 20:44
Hey Darren,
Some good signings there and I’m sure you’ll win the league this time! Simeoni looks like a good striker. I’d like to see him progress but I doubt that will happen.
Good luck mate and hopefully you can win th cl as a little parting gift.
Ps. Great to see you got revenge on Lyon so quickly
Darren Smith
28 апреля, 2011 at 20:51
Thanks buddy, Simeoni looks talented and I would mould him into the CM role eventually but may not have the time. Hoping to build on my revenge and win the league to complete my UEC. The Champions League is in the back of my mind, but if we scrape to the latter rounds then maybe it will move forward in my wanted list. :)
Jon Crosby
28 апреля, 2011 at 20:45
Once again, a quality read and enjoyable again. Some great signings have been made there and look strong enough to win the league this year.
I do love how you have rinsed all the budget in your final push for the league and leave at the end of year with a massive debt!
So well done Darren and what happens after this?
Darren Smith
28 апреля, 2011 at 20:56
Thanks Jon, finances were in the back of my mind. Revenge is my goal and to finish this challenge. The club will be in debt by the end of the season, thats for sure…but seen as my next story is all about financial control and patient building towards the future I thought I’d treat myself. :)
After this I return to my Newcastle save. We’re in season 5 and after great success need to try implementing my financial guide and youth to gold system. Should be an interesting ride and very different story based more on the clubs finances and structure as opposed to trophies. :)
Sears
28 апреля, 2011 at 21:48
I really hope you win the title Darren, I presume you’ve gotten bored of this challenge and really want to return managing your Newcastle team :-p?
Good luck anyhow pal, I’m sure you’ll be delighted to see Lyon’s title challenge falter early on.
Darren Smith
28 апреля, 2011 at 21:52
Thanks Sears, I do really want to get back to Newcastle. :) Hopefully Lyon will give me an easy ride.
Ana Garcia
28 апреля, 2011 at 22:07
Final leg Darren!
Hopefully your new spend everything we have strategy will pay off!
I understand you are just doing that to complete your challenege as soon as you could, and interesting too see you go the other way with you Newcastle game trying to make as money as possible.
I look forward to reading that, and really good luck this season!!
:)
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:16
I really hope so Ana! You got it in one, I want to win the league and will do everything nessesary whereas my Newcastle game will be resumed with the opposite attitude. Titles won’t be as important as finances and making money. :)
Stromson
28 апреля, 2011 at 22:20
Nice, well done Darren! With a bit of luck and all those signings, the title should be yours this year (unless Lyon mirrors you again). Looking forward to you being able to get back to Newcastle, it should be good times!
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:14
Thanks Jon, here’s to hoping Lyon crash and burn. They actually sold £50m’s worth of players, but none of them were first teamers. Then they even invested £40m on better signings. :( So frustrating
Laxeyman
29 апреля, 2011 at 00:15
Very good signings Darren, you’ve got a very talented young squad and I’m sure you will beat Lyon to the title this season. Hopefully you can end by winning them all, that would be a fitting end to your challenge. Good luck!
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:13
Thanks Laxeyman, I do believe we have the talent but maybe lack in quantity. Either way I have to beat Lyon or face another depressing pre-season. :)
Liam101
29 апреля, 2011 at 00:44
Hey Darren. some good signings there that should help you gain your objective. Quick question when you win this league title what happens. will you continue or go back to newcastle
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:12
If I win the title this season, my Ultimate European Challenge will end and so will this save. Then its back to Newcastle for some restructuring and plenty of financial planning. :)
Kevin
29 апреля, 2011 at 00:50
Hi Darren
Very smart use of your finances and being a «numbers man» hope that you add some more financial insights as this story continues….or maybe your saving that for Newcastle?
Anyway, love your new left back Aguirre and you’ve picked up a lot of other decent talent as well. I think you’ll make a really strong challenge this season with the Lyon haters coming out on top :)
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:11
Thanks Kevin, I am hoping this is my last season with the UEC. I am basing my Newcastle save around finances and the ‘youth to gold’ system so this save is just about winning :) I promise you’ll have plenty of numbers to crunch when the Newcastle save resumes. :)
Lye
29 апреля, 2011 at 01:36
Hi Darren,
This will be your year. Plenty of young and quality signings no doubt will put you straight forward to leapfrog OM and Lyon. A good start to the new season too beating both your closest rivals.I will be looking forward to you managing Newcastle again. Good luck.
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:09
Thanks Lye, beating OM and OL felt really good. Hopefully there’s more to follow and I can just get back to my beloved Newcastle ;)
Alex
29 апреля, 2011 at 02:55
Hey Darren,
I thought you would go crazy with spending ;). You’ve got to win the league, hopefully you do it in style to end your challenge. Simeoni looks good and you have bought some really good players in, good luck!
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:08
Thanks Alex, I just want to win the league. Not bothered how or about other competitions…finishing the challenge is my top priority, anything else is a bonus. :)
CsAtlantis
29 апреля, 2011 at 04:55
Hello Darren,
You’re going to give the club accountant nightmares :P, why not loan a left back from somewhere? Your assistant manager could always use the extra workload (after all if you don’t keep him busy he might read your balance sheet and installment plans :D)
Very nice wins against L’OL and OM to start off the season, but surely you must also win the Champions League now, you won’t want to leave your last club in financial mire after writing those nice financial guides ;)
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:06
Hi mate, I would loan a left back but all the available ones suck. I’m having someone from the youth team as cover. As you can tell, finances are at the back of my mind…I want to get this season done as the Newcastle save is when I am using the financial guide. There is no point in building a stable club if you’re not around to see the benefits.
Johnny Karp
29 апреля, 2011 at 05:57
That’s a great start and very good signings as well, that central midfielder makes the title almost guaranteed :)
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:02
Haha, finally someone mentions my new midfielder. I thinks he’s amazing but started to question myself when no one pointed him out :) Thanks Johnny.
hils
29 апреля, 2011 at 07:22
Hi Darren,great signings there!!!!!!!!! Good start as well!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:01
Thanks Hils!
Sayam Khan
29 апреля, 2011 at 15:21
Good signings there Darren, I like your new striker. Good Luck!
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:00
Thanks Sayam, hopefully we can win the league and finish this challenge. :)
vaibhavc
29 апреля, 2011 at 17:43
Hey Darren
I think your signings will bring you through the the French league! Your revenge must be pretty sweet against Marsielle and Lyon! I think everyone hates Lyon.
P.S. Are you playing your Newcastle save?
Darren Smith
29 апреля, 2011 at 18:08
Thanks Vaibhavc, I really hope the league is attainable this year. I have already re-started my Newcastle save. Just got through pre-season and finished preparing my long term plan. Now I have the itch to play my first match vs Chelsea. But will wait until this story is finished and my first Newcastle post is done. :)
Timmy
30 апреля, 2011 at 06:29
Im remember Cavallo,i think you bring him at WC?
Simeoni is similiar to Dzeko,tall,good heading,but slow
when he settled he will be amazing striker
and don’t worry about Asin speed,just see Per Mertesacker :)
goodluck
Darren Smith
30 апреля, 2011 at 13:13
That’s right Timmy, I included Cavallo in my last ever squad with Argentina, the World Cup. I think you’re spot on with Simeoni. I’ve been stubborn so far and failed with him as a poacher. But seen better performances as a target man. Asin has also done well, his heading and jumping ability makes all the difference. :)
Daniel
1 мая, 2011 at 00:04
hey darren i was just thinking about you saying the size of of ur UEC save was to big for download . have you tried making it a zip file
Darren Smith
1 мая, 2011 at 00:14
Yeh I’ve tried a few different options but it seems to be my laptop. It’ll upload small stuff like tactics, but not long games. Like I said I’ll keep trying. :)
Excessive
1 мая, 2011 at 00:52
Some great signings their Darren, especially Simeoni. He would be a class talent when he is around 26-28. Its a bit of a shame that you wont be able to see him grown into one of the best players in the game!
Oh well, wrapping the save up is all the more important. Great to see you get revenge on Lyon and a solid win against OM too. Hope that continues mate, we want to see that Ligue 1 trophy in its rightful place this season :)
Darren Smith
1 мая, 2011 at 10:19
Thanks Jake, Simeoni is a real talent and reminds me of Dzeko like Timmy says. I have recently dabbled in my Newcastle save, forget how much team spirit they have. Can’t wait to get back to it, and introduce my Y2G system. :)