September started with a long break due to international games and our first game was towards the middle of the month, at home with Bolton. They were on a dismal run, five straight defeats, so we absolutely had to make it six. We started pushing forward right away and the breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Liam Parker was stopped inside the box, we had a penalty kick and a red card for the professional foul! Unfortunately Craig Carlisle‘s penalty shot was saved and it could have gone even worse as Bolton missed a good counter attack immediately after. We kept their defense under constant pressure throughout the game but we just hadn’t enough strength to break them… I was already preparing to explain the goalless draw when Gael Kakuta made a fine run down the left flank and bent in a pinpoint cross that Carlisle headed in and handed us the three points.
Next up, the tough opening game of the Europa League group stage, we had to travel to Portugal to meet group favorites FC Porto. They showed their strength right away when David De Gea denied them an early chance but then we took the lead on 15 minutes when Craig Carlisle skipped past his marker and powered it into the roof of the net. We could have doubled the lead a few minutes later but then Porto came close to making it all square when they hit the crossbar. We were under more and more pressure after half time but we were holding on well. Porto finally leveled it with a rather lucky goal, a corner kick hit the crossbar and then went in off Kakuta‘s back. The Portuguese side kept on pushing forward but we defended well and also got some help from the woodwork again as Porto hit the post during injury time. It was a hard-earned draw against a better opponent, I was pleased with the determination that my lads showed in there.
We had another cup game coming up, the Carling Cup third round match against Arsenal. We were quite unlucky to be drawn against them and it looked more like a curse after the first half hour of the game. Arsenal‘s new striker Hulk was unstoppable, my defenders watched them bang in a hat-trick and we were 3-0 down in the 28th minute! Things took a better turn when Carlisle was brought down inside the box by Vermaelen, the Belgian defender got sent off and Craig Carlisle converted the penalty to get us back into the game. Our hopes went straight up just after the break when a great pass from Iulian Marin found Gael Kakuta inside the box and he placed it past the keeper. We continued to push forward but the closest we came was on 77 minutes when Carlisle hit the post from inside the area. We were handed our first defeat of the season and I couldn’t help to think we could have won the game if we would have shown better determination during the first half hour…
Back to the Premier League, our next game was away at Middlesbrough. The game was fairly even and quiet until the 32nd minute when Fran Merida worked a ball inside the area for Craig Carlisle who powered it in. Boro had the perfect chance to level the game a minute before half time, they were awarded a penalty kick but David De Gea saved it! The home side continued to push forward after the interval and after hitting the crossbar from a corner kick they were handed yet another penalty. This time De Gea was unable to stop it as the ball went in off the post but the referee pointed to the spot again nine minutes later when he spotted a handball inside Boro‘s box. Gael Kakuta stepped up and slotted it home and he could have added another one to his tally a few minutes later on the breakaway but his powerful shot rattled the crossbar. We defended well during the last minutes and clinched the three points, not a flamboyant performance but I was pleased with the effort.
The last game of September was the home match against Hoffenheim in the Europa League group. The Germans beat Brno 5-0 in the opening game so I was sure that we were going to have a tough one ahead of us. After an even first half Liam Parker managed to make the difference on the hour mark when he rifled in a superb shot from 20 yards out straight into the top corner. Our opponents took control of the game after the goal but we did well to hold on to that one goal lead, we clinched the important three points but there surely was a lot more work to do in order to qualify for the knockout round. Go to the next page to see what we did in October.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
ravenie
17 октября, 2010 at 15:58
That striker isn’t half bad. Great start to the season Johnny. Unlucky against Arsenal though! Keep up the good job.
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 16:55
Thanks Ravenie. By the way, I noticed that your comment is the 8,000th comment ever posted on this website! :)
rab carr
17 октября, 2010 at 16:33
great start to the season johnny good luck next month with those tough opponents first signing for my celtic team in FM11 is liam parker lol the guy seems amazingg :-)
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 16:57
Thanks mate. I’m afraid you won’t be able to sign Parker though, he is not a «real» player but a computer generated player, a so-called «regen».
rab carr
17 октября, 2010 at 18:09
awwww really,, what about fran merida? and see this romanian team that you may be managing in FM 11 does it not scare you a little that you may be managing a team just sooooo unheard of? a mean am not saying a scottish league team may be amazing for you but surely gotta be better than universtitea croivoa or somethin lol
Jean Paul Borg
17 октября, 2010 at 18:20
Fran Merida is a real-life player currently playing for Atletico Madrid, I wouldn’t sign him if you won’t have top training staff.
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 21:15
It’s easy to spot regens just by looking at the profile pictures: real players have real pictures, regens have computer generated faces. About Craiova, I guess they should be more famous than Cowdenbeath for example but that’s not the point. The point is that it’s the team that I loved since I was a child and secondly I can’t really be afraid of something that happens inside a computer ;) By the way, you can check out a brief history of the club here, the team did reach the semi finals of the UEFA Cup at some point…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Universitatea_Craiova
Jean Paul Borg
17 октября, 2010 at 18:22
Great start Johnny, you have Mutu in the Romanian squad, can’t believe he takes drugs, what a fag. You have done great so far, I am excited for you on the prospect of Liam Parker! Did he regen in your academy or did you scout him out?
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 21:08
Thanks Jean Paul. Parker was bought from Manchester United, the youth lads that came into my squad were all worthless during the six seasons so far. Mutu is still banned for another month due to use of illegal substances, a drug to lose weight to be precise. I’m quite curious to see him in action again but I admit that I never liked him too much.
Darren Smith
17 октября, 2010 at 18:49
Wow that Romanian regan is amazing!! Though you do have a gem of your own in Parker, hopefully he will play a big part in your season. I wouldn’t worry too much about the draws and losses as you played some tough opposition. Hopefully the next few months will see you catch up with the top four. Goodluck mate
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 21:05
Thanks Darren, I hope that Parker won’t be sold by the board during the winter though…
hils
17 октября, 2010 at 19:17
Wow that Romanian regan is immense!!!!!!!!!!! You have a good chance in the Europa league and premier league!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In my Newcastle save i came 9th in the premier league!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (How good is Marco Borriello and Eyal Golasa in your game because in mine they are beasts)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 21:05
Thanks Hils. Golasa and Borriello are good players in my game too. Well done on finishing 9th, that’s a good foundation to build upon next season.
Sears
17 октября, 2010 at 19:20
Hi Johnny,
that’s a good start to the season. I think you can chaallenge for a champions league spot, if not the title. The Romanian regen is a good player, really good. Liam Parker is a wonderful player, pity this will be your last season on FM10 :-(
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 21:03
Thanks a lot Sears. Who knows, maybe I’ll manage to sneak in another quick season just before FM 2011 ;)
Jack
17 октября, 2010 at 19:53
I can’t believe Parker hasn’t been called up to the England squad yet. Thats a good start to the season there Johnny, I think it will take some very good form to get top 4 though, however the A.I teams don’t normally carry on their form. Johnny would it be possible in your next post to show some pictures of the coaches page? Just so we can see the standard of your 1st team and youth staff? Oh and at my friend ‘rab carr’, the whole point in managing Universitatea Craiova is to improve the standard and reputation of the Romanian league, in order to test out the dynamic league reputation feature, which is new to FM11. The Scottish league already attracts fairly big names and produces some good talents, especially in comparison to the Romanian league (no offence Johnny :P), therefore the challenge would be easier.
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 21:02
Thanks Jack, I will post those screen shots in the next update. I have no youth staff though as I always released all the players from the youth intake since they were totally worthless. I have 20 coaches, all of them working with the first team players. The Scottish league should have higher reputation than the Romanian one but not nearly as good as Spain, England or Italy so it would be a tough challenge too, maybe even tougher than the Romanian league since I will have to face strong sides like Celtic and Rangers who are a class above the rest.
Kevin
17 октября, 2010 at 20:13
Hi Johnny
Not a whole lot I can add as I’m way down the list of respondee’s :)
Very decent start in the EPL and showing some fine form too in the Europa League. Parker for England!!
Hope you’re enjoying the Bucuresti derby!
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 20:59
Thanks Kevin, Parker is a star in the Under 21s but he has not been called up for the big team yet. By the way, Stuart Pearce is managing England in 2015, that could well happen in real life as well. About the Bucharest derby, it has been a fairly good match but I care more about Craiova’s game tomorrow ;)
Johnny Karp
18 октября, 2010 at 05:43
We do need that win but I’d be happy with a draw too, not too many teams can win away at Brasov.
Kevin
18 октября, 2010 at 10:08
Pearce or Redknapp would suit me fine in real life.
Johnny Karp
17 октября, 2010 at 21:06
Thanks Radu. That regen could well be the best Romanian player ever, even better than Hagi!
Lye
19 октября, 2010 at 01:21
Hi Johnny,
What a great start. I am already way down the comments. Just two words from me well done. I believe there is something to cheer about for your team this season but too bad it’s the last. Good luck mate.
Johnny Karp
19 октября, 2010 at 10:11
Thanks Lye, I guess we should make it a memorable season then :)