Hey guys, I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing Easter weekend. I found ample time to play FM and have the most ridiculous season to share. During my last post you saw Bordeaux start strong in Ligue 1. But anything I can do Marseille and Lyon can do better. The title was bound to go to the wire as Bordeaux were six points off top with half a season to go and one game in hand. We pick up the story in January, so lets see if I can complete the Ultimate European Challenge…or if I am bound to play in France for another season.
Ligue 1 results — January and February
I had a tall task and it all began during January. My target was to go the rest of the season unbeaten and draw no more than three matches. This must surely secure the title. Well, all went to plan in these two months. We are still conceding sloppy goals, but my more attacking players are balancing the books. After winning all seven fixtures, I started to feel good about my title challenge. San Roman and Vidal still dominated the scoring charts, these two will be vital to any success.
Ligue 1 results — March and April
Mid March and the start of April are my title deciders. Losing to Lyon and Marseille will certainly end any title aspirations, while the other six matches must be won. We started well against Stade Rennais, a poor performance at home but three points all the same. Then the match I have been waiting for, Lyon away. Sane scored early on from a corner, we played well and saw some end to end football. But Lyon equalized with 8 minutes to go and that cost us dearly. I’d have taken a draw before kick-off but not after seeing the way we played. :( The lads pulled together and managed two victories over GF38 and Aries-Avignon, then another dreaded tie. We were to play Marseille at home. This was an amazing match full of goals and action, but it was Bordeaux who came away victorious. The legend Vidal scored a winner and finished the match 3-2, a priceless win and the title challenge is alive and kicking. Vidal seemed to gain confidence from then on and scored against Lens, PSG and Nice. All three matches were won with ease and this made it 7 wins and one draw from 8 games.
Ligue 1 table with four games remaining
OK, how is this possible!! I have won 14 games and drawn one from 15 fixtures. Certainly title winning form and yet Lyon are still one point ahead in first. I just can’t shake them off! I have checked the leagues past winners, and 86 points would have been enough to win the league during 8 seasons of the 10 simulated in game. We still have four games to go too. How are Lyon doing this???
Ligue 1 results — four to go in the final frontier
OK focus Darren, just win all four matches and hope Lyon screw up. They have a tough run in with matches away to Toulouse, at home to Lille and away to Auxerre. They MUST drop at least two points! Well, we did everything we could. Beating Valenciennes, FC Lorient, Havre AC and Stade Caen by some small margins. Picking up the maximum of 12 points must secure the title, Lyon have too tougher a run in.
Ligue 1 table — did we do it??
After winning 18 and drawing just one from 19 games, I fully expect to win the title. That is crazy form and led to an amazing 98 points!! So, did we actually finish top……………………….
Have you ever seen a grown man paddy like a little girl??? Well you’re about to! I HATE LYON, I HATE LYON, I HATE LYON!!!! I was so close to the title and had enough points to win it any other season. I honestly started questioning whether the game is fixed and just screwing with me. lol :) Anyway, now that’s out of my system lets look at the French Cup.
French Cup results — screwed by Lyon again?
Well the French Cup went a little better than Ligue 1. The early rounds offered up an easy draw and it wasn’t until the quarter-final that I met a worthy opponent. The most hated club in Bordeaux managed the home draw and I feared the worst. However, my boys fought bravely against a weak Lyon side and we came away 1-0 victors. A wonderful performance and Usia was starting to show some promise in central midfield too. My semi-final opponents were from the lower leagues, Evian were no match for Vidal’s pace and dribbling ability. I watched on as we won 2-0 and even avoided Marseille. Lille had beaten the rock solid side and made it to the final.
French Cup final vs Lille
Finally, a chance to win silverware without Lyon or Marseille hanging over my shoulders. This match was made for us, Lille use four strikers which works well, but my more attacking players have great pace and counter fast. This was demonstrated well as a fast flowing move led to a goal mouth scramble which Bergkamp finished. The rest of the game was dominated by Bordeaux and we ran out deserved 1-0 winners.
Finally something to be happy about. So close to completing the Ultimate European Challenge, but we’ll have to wait another year. With the French Cup secured, I am just left with the Ligue 1 title outstanding, then my cabinet will be complete.
Squad stats
It has been an eventful season, and all my new signings have excelled. Most of all Vidal who scored 41 goals from 39 starts. Then San Roman managed 16 goals and 8 assists, followed closely by Testa’s 5 goals and 15 assists. My biggest surprise came from Bergkamp who had an awful start to the season. A much improved second half saw the Dutch wizard score 10 goals and get 17 assists.
Well that is it for today’s update guys. I should be waving farewell to this challenge, but Lyon crashed my party! Guess 2022 will be my year, until then thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments.
Jon Crosby
25 апреля, 2011 at 13:36
Absolutely love your posts i can’t wait for each update!
Next year is your year without a doubt, if Vidal can do another season the same you’ve got every chance of winning it!
Could you check in the past two seasons what the champions point total was?
Keep it up Darren
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:22
Thanks Jon, its always nice to know readers look forward to a post. I really hope your right about next year…Lyon need to stop taking whatever sports enhancing drug their on. :)
84 and 90 points have won the league during previous two seasons. But every year before that was less than 85 points. Very frustrating but thats what makes FM addictive lol ;)
Alex
25 апреля, 2011 at 13:41
Unbelievable! Winning every game bar one yet Lyon still win the league! I laughed at your whining, sorry :P. You must win it next year, spend as much as you can since it’s your last season :D. I wasn’t expecting that when you said it was going to be weird! And to think, without conceding that goal 8 minutes from time against Lyon, you would be managing Newcastle and doing the Y2G system now. This sucks, but at least you won the cup so only the league matters.
My post should be up soon, I’m doing the reporter thing and it takes ages! Good luck :)
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:25
Tell me about it mate, the only thing I could have done is avoid conceding against Lyon…nothing else would have made a difference and thats crazy. This season was the most bizarre I’ve ever experienced :) Its a bit sucky, but I feel screwed by Lyon, so will buy buy buy regardless of my finances. The only thing holding me back will be the budget and then I’ll stretch that to the limit. :) Looking forward to your post…I’m sensing some success. ;)
Sibo
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:01
Hahaha! Nah, just kiiding! That is soooooooooooo unlucky Darren, that would probably have won you the league in any other nation, any season! Oh well! At least next season you can focus all your energy into the league and hopefully win it! I want to see you back at Newcastle! :D
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:28
lol :) Yep FM received a lot of cursing that night, my wife knew not to bother me coz I was in a foul mood lol ;) I really want to get back to the Newcastle game too, so lets hope for a bit more luck next season.
Timmy
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:24
Ouch,thats really unlucky,and actually i have a problem with Lyon too,when they beat me on CL semifinal(with Roma),i whining worser than you,so don’t worry :)
Vidal is monster,just hope have player like Vidal in my Midlesbrough,and Missilou is actually good enough for your team.
1 plus le titre et vous etes le champion :)
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:32
Cheers Timmy, Vidal is a real monster and if I can strengthen well in the summer it has to be my year!!
Johnny Karp
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:30
That is sooo frustrating! You pulled off an amazing season, 98 points should be enough to win the title anywhere in the world! You should be proud of your effort despite missing out on the title, it will surely come next season.
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:33
Extremely frustrated but like you say, that points tally is brilliant. Hoping this was a one off for Lyon…if they repeat it next year I’ll pull my hair out lol :)
Hazza
25 апреля, 2011 at 14:52
Wow! How can any team win 18 out of 19 games and finish with 98 points (!) and still finish 2nd ?! That is insane. Even 3rd placed Marseille with 89 would be 1st in any other league. Well Done for having such amazing form, but how did Lyon manage to do it? You were so unlucky. You must be infuriated. Next season, make sure you get 100, just in case, lol. Good Luck Darren! :D
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 15:04
Tell me about it, every game I thought Lyon must lose now…and of course they didn’t. Interesting point about OM, to finish third on 89 points sums the whole thing up. Ow well, I want to see Lyon fail miserably next season. :)
Laxeyman
25 апреля, 2011 at 15:20
Well Darren, I hate to say it but if Lyon can beat a team as good as yours then they deserve the title. However, you were very unlucky and if you can match that points tally next season then I reckon you’ll win it, and I’m confident that you can get a similair points tally. Maybe you should just buy Lyon’s best player so that he can’t play for them, thus weakening their team? Anyway, looking forward to your pre season :)
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 15:48
You are right Laxeyman, Lyon were deserved winners but I still hate them ;) I just wish I could afford their players…the fees in France have sky rocketed during the last three years. Hopefully I can strengthen enough in pre-season.
Sayam Khan
25 апреля, 2011 at 15:46
How did you not win the title! I thought the title was yours with such great run of form. Anyway, well done on the cup win, and I think you will need to concentrate on the defence in the summer. Good Luck!
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 15:49
Already on it mate, a completely new defence for the next campaign and I’m hoping that is enough!!!
vikingmarius
25 апреля, 2011 at 15:52
Terrible luck but you already knew that, congratulations on the cup and next year the league is yours and if you have gotten a new defense that can’t hurt can it? ;)
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 16:06
Yeh it goes that way sometimes. Ow well, I have done a revamp in defence, they were just too slow.
vaibhavc
25 апреля, 2011 at 16:19
Hey Darren
France eh? If you didn’t completely hate it before, this confirms it. 98 points should be able to win a title anywhere, you just don’t have the luck. You deserved the cup victory and that is one less thing you have to worry about.
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 16:27
Yeh France is certainly my worst experience. But still an exciting story for you guys I guess ;)
Sears
25 апреля, 2011 at 16:57
I share your hatred of France to Darren, particularly a Mr. Henry…
Anyhow, superb season, like everyone else, I’m amazed you failed to win the title. Looking forward to you reassembling your defense, good luck :-)
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 17:05
Thanks Sears, I have much more pace so lets hope that does the trick :)
daniel
25 апреля, 2011 at 18:06
Hey darren great post and i know how you feel with lyon winning the league as i managed ot recover my west ham save that i blogged on for abit and my 3rd season saw me challenging in the closest title race ever and once i got champions league qualification my players stopped trying and lost and drew against the two bottom clubs making me 3rd and not 1st by 2 points!!!.
Darren d oyou think you could put ur UEC and your newcastle game up for download as i woukd really like to see if i played them if i could make teams even better and im sure other people would love to the same if you could do this it would be great
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 19:14
Yeh its tough to lose out like that. But it was so much worse for me because we did everything we could…I mean 98 points should win any title hands down! As for the download I’ve already experimented with uploading the UEC save, but a mixture of the file size and my laptop is preventing me from doing so. I’ll keep testing but I’ve had similar problems in the past.
daniel
25 апреля, 2011 at 21:42
your deifnitley rite there ive heard of losing a tight title race but yours was ridciulous to lose out by one point and your points being 98 is very unlucky but at least you know your an awesome manager mind taking over at west ham :)
do you think you will be able to send me your FM saves via email?
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 21:51
Yep, I’ve never seen FM do that before and must admit I was shocked to lose the title. As for the download, it won’t send through email. But I’ll see what I can do.
daniel
26 апреля, 2011 at 02:12
kk heres to the new west ham manager darren smith
Matt Clark
25 апреля, 2011 at 19:14
Hi Darren, bad luck with the league. I’m an FM player who tends to play in the lower leagues and only once have I ever known a team achieve more points than you, it was only 3 more having played 46 games. Bad luck mate, next season Ligue 1 is yours.
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 20:05
Thanks for the stat Matt…that really sums it up. Tbh I have just started the new season and Lyon started well so I’m a bit depressed! To show how good they are, Lyon sold £48 millions worth of players. None of them were in the first team…I’m mean come on, how can a French team be that good :(
Kevin
26 апреля, 2011 at 00:20
Darn I wish Easter Monday was a vacation day in Canada then I could have played more FM!
Well what bummer coming in second place after such a terrific run of form to end the season. I’m gald you got the French Cup though you really deserved more from that leadership! I like the «Hate Lyon» comment
Whhops, I think «bummer» means something else in the UK? :)
Darren Smith
26 апреля, 2011 at 11:49
lol ;) You gotta love bank holidays :)
Glad you liked the humour, but I really did have a little hissy fit when the season finished :) Bummer can be used as you meant it, but be very careful what sentence you use it in. ;) Or rumours may start flying around lol.
Lye
26 апреля, 2011 at 01:54
Hi Darren,
That was unbelievable. You have lost the title by just one win. It seems Lyon is determined to keep hold of that top spot. It’s just down to luck. You should be coming stronger next season. Probably you need a unbeaten campaign to claim that title. Good luck.
Darren Smith
26 апреля, 2011 at 11:47
Very annoying too Lye, I was in a state of shock come the seasons end. :) I really need Lyon to play worse next season, I just don’t know how to match their form.
Liam101
26 апреля, 2011 at 01:56
Hard luck on hte title darren. thats great that you won the cup and i am sure you will sign some great players to propel you to the title next season
Darren Smith
26 апреля, 2011 at 11:46
Thanks Liam, I just hope this is our season. :)
CsAtlantis
26 апреля, 2011 at 05:07
Guess you just need to break the 100 point barrier then Darren, I have this odd feeling that I am supposed to know who Felipe Caicedo is but I can’t recall right now
Good job in winning the cup though, leaves the league (though I do think you should give winning the Champions League with Bordeaux a try ;) )
Your team did well, Vidal, San Roman, Testa and Koch have been playing very well and I am sure you will improve by a lot with a great young left back to replace the veteran Vermaelen, oh yeah can you show Vermaelen’s profile? Dying to know how (bad) he looks like 10 years later :P
Might need more defensive replacements, Lyon only conceded 18 goals in the entire season and scored only 1 less goal compared to you, is Lloris still their goalkeeper?)
Darren Smith
26 апреля, 2011 at 11:45
lol thats right mate…100 points seems the way forward although Lyon will probably get 101 ;) Caicedo is a striker who starts the game with Man City, fairly talented but never world class.
Vermaelen isn’t too bad actually but his physical attributes are likes 7’s!!! That is why he’s useless for me. Unfortunately he retired from Football as soon as the season ended and I can’t get his attributes. Sorry mate. Lloris is still playing and still fairly good too.
Ana Garcia
26 апреля, 2011 at 13:13
Wow, what a great end to the season!
So unlucky as others have said to lose by a point, and to get 98 points and still not be champions is amazing really.
I guess it just wasnt meant to be this season!
But you will be stronger for next season and am sure you will have wrapped up your challenge very soon!
Darren Smith
26 апреля, 2011 at 18:37
Thanks Ana, it certainly was an exciting season. I hope you’re right about wrapping up the challenge…my Newcastle save is starting to collect dust. :)
hils
26 апреля, 2011 at 15:32
Hi Darren,unlucky on not winning the title!!!!!!!! Your team should get even stronger by next season!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!
Darren Smith
26 апреля, 2011 at 18:42
Thanks Hils, I just hope next season isn’t a repeat :)
junior
26 апреля, 2011 at 16:56
hey darren jst finished a season on my game and wow i was so tired and so eager to continue playing that i couldnt imagine me making a post like u do man!!jst wanna say congratz and thanx for all the effort u put into making these posts man!we really apreciate it
Darren Smith
26 апреля, 2011 at 18:43
Thats no problem Junior. I actually enjoy writing and sharing my games with everyone. We all get something out of it ;)