Hello folks and welcome back to the Dorchester Town Football Manager 2010 story! It’s time for the pre-season report, I had lots of work to do to improve the squad and prepare it for another Premier League season but also for the Europa League. We were a bit lucky to finish 6th last season but it was a great achievement for the club and that gave us the honor of playing European football in my seventh season in charge at Avenue Stadium. Let’s see how our summer went.
The board was quite generous, I set my expectations to continental qualification and they gave me a good 35 million pounds budget to spend and also an increased wage budget, I was quite happy with their contribution this time.
I felt that the squad needed some dramatic improvements, I’ve seen the players on the pitch last season and many of them proved that they are not up to the challenge. So I decided to keep a nucleus of 11 players and sell another eleven, mostly on a «buy one, sell one» basis. That brought another 23.5 million into the club’s coffers but not much of that returned into the transfer budget.
I brought in 15 new players to give the squad more quality and better depth as well. The total was nearly 40 million pounds and I can’t say that I’m entirely satisfied but I tried to do my best with the funds that were available.
Now let’s see how we stand in each department. I was quite satisfied with my goalkeeper last season, Davide La Rocca was supposed to be my number one for another year but things changed when I had the opportunity to get David De Gea on a free transfer. He is a world class goalkeeper so I offered him a hefty sign on fee and a good wage so he agreed to join the club! La Rocca will remain with us but I’m afraid he will be just a backup since De Gea really seems to be in a whole different league. Overall I think he is our best deal of the summer.
We had serious problems with the full backs area last season so I brought in three new right/left backs that should improve our defense. First there is Ronan Dunne who came for 1 million pounds from relegated Newcastle. He seems to be a reliable full back with some room for improvement and he can also serve as a backup for the right midfielder position. Francesco Tosto remained at the club and he will provide good cover for Dunne.
On the left flank I brought in Tunisian youngster Imed Bejaoui, a pacey left back that should be my first choice next season. Ryan Carolan is still at the club as I promised not to sell him unless he wants to, he will provide cover if needed.
I couldn’t rely solely on Carolan for backup though so I brought in another left back on loan from Galatasaray, Turkish under 21 international Can Kahveci. Unfortunately he picked up a rather bad injury during the last friendly match of the summer and he will be out between two and three months.
The middle of my defense also needed serious improvements and I managed to bring in a new pair of centre backs that should do well for us both in the Premier League and in Europe. First there is experienced defender John Heitinga, he came for 4 million pounds from Everton. He is a versatile player that could also provide cover in midfield and on the right flank but I expect him to be the leader of the defense in the new season. Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Darren Smith
11 октября, 2010 at 20:50
Hey Johnny, you have invested really well! Lots of pace and young talent…hopefully these players will help Dorchester push on. I think you should be aiming for the top seven again. Who knows, maybe some luck will see you in the top four!!
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2010 at 22:25
Thanks Darren. My goal is to finish at least 5th, one step higher than last season :)
Jean Paul Borg
11 октября, 2010 at 21:25
Here are my comments on the new players:
De Gea: He is one of my favourite young keepers in the world. Great deal, I can’t believe his previous team let him go, how dumb, at 19 years of age in real life he already is in the 1st team. This guy is great!
Dunne: I think he is still young, I would make him available for the reserves to see how he does, and you should attend them to see how he performs.
Bejaoui: I would honestly change his training and make it more intensive as he has room for improvement, especially in strength and jumping just to mention a couple.
Kavheci: Lot of room for improvement. I honestly can’t understand why you loaned him.
Heitinga: No complaints at all… super defender!
Nilsson: I have a feeling he’ll do quite well, at the age of 21 he is quite good, I think he is similar to Alberto Botia. Poor at set pieces though, pretty sure nothing to worry about.
McArthur: I think he’s a bargain considering his stamina, team work and Work rate, great buy Johnny.
McGugan: McArthur is cheaper and better. He is quite pricey. Not sure about this lad, but he is very physical! With that average tackling attribute, I’d say watch out for red cards mate ;)
Grinchenko: Speedy Gonzalez. Looks great @ 2.4 million!
Coelho: Use him wisely, terrific target man.
Kakuta: Great Flair and Composure. Would do great on the wing with that amount of creativity!
Varela: Surprisingly good @ 30 years of age, good natural fitness but not sure if he should play a full game, he is like Del Piero, you know what I mean?
Anderson: Bargain… He is still young and will inprove over time this season, looks good. Very determining as well.
Stuani: Should start along side Coelho. Very good, use his experience well and he’ll provide assists. Attacking mentality type of player.
Carlisle: Pricey but worth it! Can’t wait for him to do a 360 against AIK, great dribbling and technique, hahaha :)
Assistant Manager report: Do agree with the attacking pair! I’d use Heitinga on both the side and in the middle when necessary. You have a great and should do better than last season!!
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2010 at 22:34
Thanks a lot for the detailed analysis Jean Paul! I agree with most of your considerations. I think that Dunne will have a place in the first team sooner rather than later, his place is not with the reserves in my view. Kahveci was intended to be a backup but unfortunately the two to three months that he will spend on the sidelines will probably harm his development. He has potential but we’ll probably see the best of him in the second part of the season. Bejaoui will be my first choice left back and I agree that there is room for improvement. I might not push him too hard in training though because I don’t want to risk an injury or having him tired all the time. I chose McGugan because I lacked strength in midfield, he is strong but not only that. About Varela, my wingers usually don’t play 90 minutes even if they are 19 years old, they have lots of running to do. So I don’t expect him to play for 90 minutes but he should do well when needed. Anyway, the pitch will tell us the truth about this bunch, we’ll have to wait and see…
Kevin
12 октября, 2010 at 09:24
Hello Johnny
Well, John Paul has covered everything off quite nicely though for my 10 cents worth you’ve built what seems to be a solid defence in De Gea, Heitinga and Nilsson and I like Stuani up front. McArthur should serve you well also in the middle. Not too many Romanians left now in the team :)
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2010 at 18:40
Thanks for the comment Kevin. You are right, some of the Romanians had to go, I don’t treat them differently because of their nationality :)
Lye
12 октября, 2010 at 11:10
Hi Johnny,
The young Finnish and Heitinger should serve you pretty well in defence and there is David De Gea to guard the last defence. Overall you have bought really well and i am keeping my fingers cross for a Champion League place. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2010 at 18:40
Thanks Lye, I hope that these new lads will be up to the standards.
Mariano
12 октября, 2010 at 11:43
Nilsson best Finish player since Jari Litmanen!
Godd luck Johnny!
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2010 at 18:41
Thanks Mariano. Well, Litmanen was an attacking midfielder/winger/striker so it’s difficult to compare him with Nilsson but overall I think that my boy can become even more famous.
Sayam Khan
12 октября, 2010 at 18:14
Hi johnny, De Gea is definately your best transfer and Heitinga & Nilsson are right behind him. All in all a good window. Good Luck.
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2010 at 18:42
Thanks Sayam, I would have been happy to get a couple of better full backs but I’m satisfied with the transfer activity overall.
hils
12 октября, 2010 at 19:05
Good signings there Johnny!!!!!! David de Gea is a great signing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2010 at 20:21
Thanks Hils. I agree about De Gea, he should do very well.
Laxeyman
12 октября, 2010 at 20:02
Hi Johnny,
Good signings, the centre of your defence and your strikers look strong, but I think you’re right to be worried about the flanks, as your full backs and wingers don’t look great. Hopefully they can play above themselves though, as always, good luck!
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2010 at 20:25
Thanks mate. The wingers are decent I think, they should do well. We still have some problems with the full backs but we’re better off than last year even in that department. So I hope we’ll do well but we’ll see how the matches will turn out.
Sears
12 октября, 2010 at 23:56
Hey Johnny,
long time no talk :-(
You certainly improved your squad during pre season. Your new keeper and central defence pairing are all wonderful players, so so as long as your forwards can score, you’ll have a successful season I think! Looking forward to your next post allready!
Johnny Karp
13 октября, 2010 at 03:28
Thanks Sears, good to see you back :) There might be a few days before the next post, I will hardly have any time for FM until the weekend.
Johnny Karp
13 октября, 2010 at 03:29
Hi Radu, nice to see you back. How’s the new hockey season going for your favorite team?
Kevin
13 октября, 2010 at 10:20
Hey Radu
Greetings from Toronto and welcome back to the FM scene!
Kevin
14 октября, 2010 at 00:12
No kidding! :)
Ana Garcia
13 октября, 2010 at 13:47
Wow!!
De Gea on a free transfer!! Which team released him Johnny?
He will easily be your best signing because you have got a young worldclass goalkeeper and spent not a penny! Fantastic and he is Spanish too! :)
Best of luck next season hopefully you can finish top 6 again.
Johnny Karp
13 октября, 2010 at 17:21
Thanks for the good wishes Ana. De Gea’s contract with Atletico Madrid expired, they didn’t reach an agreement to renew it so he left the club.
coolmcool
13 октября, 2010 at 20:31
im not sure if anyone has already asked but what has happend to the person doing the la galaxy game?
Johnny Karp
13 октября, 2010 at 20:52
That’s a good question Colmcool, I wish I had a better answer. I sent him an email a few weeks ago asking just about the same thing but I’m still waiting for a reply. I’ll let you know if I’ll ever get one.
rab carr
13 октября, 2010 at 21:01
great buys johnny i see your team performing veryy well in the upcomming season,, i look forward to reading the next chapter 4 dorchester and good luck in your european campaign
Jack
14 октября, 2010 at 03:34
Johnny great signings as per usual! Thanks for the facebook ad :P Get the new post up soon as you haven’t got long left to get another season in, and also I’ve gotta see these new signings in action. And remember guys vote Universitatea Craiova! Scottish league is borrrrrrring…
Johnny Karp
14 октября, 2010 at 14:20
Thanks Jack. The next post will be published during the weekend, I have no time to do it until then unfortunately :(
rab carr
14 октября, 2010 at 19:12
excuse me jack friend :-) but maybe the scottish league is boring for you but not for many others soo please respect that if the poll decides johnny manages a scottish league team then thats the way it is thanks
Kevin
14 октября, 2010 at 21:31
Rab Carr
Maybe I’ll do a Scottish story if Johnnny doesn’t. :)