Hey guys and welcome to my FM 2012 Charlton AFC story 2029-30. Last season saw me leave the riches of Scarborough to delve back into the Blue Square Premier. Charlton are my new project and despite the previous coaches terrible start, I managed to reach the play-offs and get promotion to League Two. Starting a new campaign I hope to gain another quick promotion, so lets see what happened during season 2029/30.
The clubs financial issues were apparent from day one, and the initial budget certainly reflected that.
When the seasons expectations came about I was left with very little option other than to consolidate. The board weren’t interested in offering any sort of incentive to tease higher expectations. Not only do we have zero for transfers, but they expect me to drop the wage budget by more than £4K/w. That certainly won’t happen, I’ll just offload a bunch of players to free up funds, then buy all the ones I want straight away to stretch that figure to the max.
On the upside we are favored by the media. They have us at 5-1 for promotion, fourth favorites is a good start.
I’ll begin the transfers section with some players leaving Charlton, nothing major to note though. I just offloaded the money wasters, of which there were many…I mean the previous manager had three players on over £1K/w that weren’t even going to make the subs bench.
With a little breathing space I went about my business and signed some fantastic talent. The best of which are right back Thomas McGrath, central defender Cassidy who is way beyond League Two standard and Owen Moore who will be my advanced playmaker and could make EPL level one day.
Results — August to October
The season started with one almighty bang as Charlton won all their league matches. Some of the scorelines were outrageous, like the 7-0 hammering of East Manchester and 9-1 demolition of Accrington. We also progressed to the 4th round of the Carling Cup beating Portsmouth, EPL’s West Brom and Newcastle before finally losing to Ipswich Town. The JPT went well also as we passed the second round.
Results — November to December
The wonderful form continued into Christmas despite an early defeat to Millwall. My boys put that behind them to win 8 and draw 2 from the next ten games. We also progressed to the FA Cup 3rd round after beating Wimbledon and Southampton not to mention the JPT South semi-final is teed up in our favor.
Come the end of Christmas our stance in the league screamed domination. After 26 games I found myself top of the pile by 11 points after scoring 94 goals. But there was still room for improvement, so onto transfers we go.
A few more players left The Valley in January, two shouldn’t have been there in the first place but Agustin was a decent sub. He was just pushed out by better quality signings.
This moves us nicely onto my one and only signing of the winter, but I think he’s a pretty good one. Davydenko popped up during one of my six month International searches…I was so impressed to see an 18 year old in the Ukrainian national side that I had to take a look. Even more surprising, he was not under proper contract at his club, I offered him a daft wage but felt like I couldn’t miss such a talented winger.
Results — January to March
So with my new signing on the bench, I pushed on through the wind and rain. Our league form didn’t let up though as Charlton won every game bar one which was drawn to Millwall. We even managed to thrash Premier League side Newcastle 3-0 in the FA Cup before losing to Colchester in the 4th round. Not to mention the JPT was sizing up well, our next match will be the final against Ryhope CW (I know what you’re thinking, who?)
JPT final vs Ryhope CW
So my first chance of silverware after we failed to win the league last season. And while you may never have heard of Ryhope, they sit top of League One in the build up to this game. However, it was Charlton who looked the better side taking the lead on 25 minutes. Ryhope enjoyed an equalizer on the 49th minute before my boys hit top gear scoring twice. The game finished 3-1 and Charlton bossed every stat bar possession.
Results — March to May
With all the cup competitions out of the way, I was left to concentrate on League Two and wrapping up promotion. We made the final months look easy winning 7 and drawing just two.
I think its obvious where we finished, top of the table in style. 125 points on the board, just one loss and 152 goals…this was probably my easiest season yet. However, ex-Premiership side Blackburn didn’t have such a great season getting relegated from the football league.
Squad stats and finances
After an incredible season there are many players to mention, but I’ll try and limit the list. The most impressive performer was Styles who managed 18 goals and 35 assists from the right wing. My new signing, Cassidy did the business in defense scoring 20 goals with an average rating of 7.73. Then there’s my star striker, Ramsay who scored an incredible 46 goals and added 13 assists.
Financially things aren’t so positive, the bank balance now reads £663K in the red…a worrying sign and one that won’t improve next season. Hopefully we can stat to expect bigger crowds soon enough and that should help counter the wages and debt.
Many of you declared an interest in how Scarborough are doing, so I promised to keep you updated every season. During 2029/30 my old team finished 4th in the league, a long way behind the leaders too. The Seadogs also lost in the Champions League final to AC Milan on penalties. The only silverware Scarborough actually won was the FA Cup, so not a great season but they still seem to be doing OK I guess.
Well that is all for today, I hope you enjoyed the update and thanks for reading. If you have any questions just place them in the comments box below and I hope to see you next time.
Dan
30 июня, 2012 at 15:34
Hey Darren,
Impressive doesn’t even express how good a season that was! You got some great results (against teams I’ve never heard of…London Lions, East Manchester?) and a few good players too. Looks like Scarborough could soon have a rival at the top of the EPL!
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 16:02
Thanks Dan, must admit its weird coming up against unknown teams constantly. :)
karl deighton
30 июня, 2012 at 15:36
Well done Darren, absolutely smashed the league and I reckon you can get another promotion next season.
Another thing, really happy to see Telford in League Two, although it’s only a division up but it’s still progress :D
Good luck next season!
karl deighton
30 июня, 2012 at 15:39
Oh forgot to say something, really suprised that Blackburn are no longer in the football league, they must have a terrible squad
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 16:02
Thanks Karl, it was a very successful season. Blackburn do have an awful squad, it may be 19 or so years on but they still shouldn’t have declined so far.
Michael Meijueiro
3 июля, 2012 at 20:25
Hey mate i hope you read this are you a telford fan or support them, because i go watch there games sometimes :D
Darren Smith
4 июля, 2012 at 08:44
I’m not a Telford fan no, just Newcastle, Scarborough and have a soft spot for Charlton :)
Sonny Edgeler
30 июня, 2012 at 17:10
Wow really amazing and weird to see teams like seven acre in league one!
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 17:12
Yeah I still haven’t adjusted to seeing such teams in the football league, there’s even more in League 1 :)
Jack Gfc Kelly
30 июня, 2012 at 17:17
Hi Darren great season , when you said there was weird teams to come you wasn’t kidding good luck in league 1 look forward to reading about it and seeing more weird teams
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 17:26
Yeah the leagues certainly look foreign in 2030, crazy really.
Kevin
30 июня, 2012 at 17:27
Hi Darren
Terrific first season back in the Football League — you really blew away your opponents agter tthat fantastic start. Try and keep hold of Cassidy as he looks like he can take you to the EPL. Great update!
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 17:32
Hey Kevin,
It was an excellent season and In think we have signed some wonderful youth…fingers crossed they’ll stick around.
Malhar Bhadbhade
30 июня, 2012 at 17:36
Hey Darren,
fantastic job to get promoted with such utter ease! I actually have no doubt you’re going to go all the way to the EPL without spending more than a season in the leagues below it. Successive promotions definitely seem to be on the cards :D Would be fun when you finally make it to the EPL, I guess that’s when the real competition will begin, so can’t wait for that to happen! Pity about Scarborough, but I guess without your managerial skills, they were a bit lost. good luck for next season :) Cheers!
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 18:25
Thanks mate, I think next season should see us promoted again but after that it will come down to budgets, but yeah, hopefully we can keep the promotion coming.
Martin F.M.J.S
30 июня, 2012 at 17:38
Just Brilliant Darren, Winning the league with such dominance like you did is just great to see. Also congrats on winning the JPT too. Good luck next season :D
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 18:26
Thanks Martin, I think was one of my best lower league seasons.
Johnny Karp
30 июня, 2012 at 18:29
Congrats on the double Darren, this was a spectacular season indeed and one of the best I’ve seen.
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 18:52
Thanks Johnny.
Conor Donovan
30 июня, 2012 at 19:31
Another successful season for you! Good to get rid of some of that dead wood and replace it with some top, top players. I really liked the look of that Ukrainian 18 year old and a couple of really good Irish guys.
Your team really blitzed the opposition this season (to say the least), and I feel that they should really be too good for all League 1 opposition next season too (hope I haven’t jinxed it!).
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 20:00
Thanks Conor, my best players are from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. :) I think the Ukranian winger can do well but he does need to develop in some areas. Hopefully we’ll blitz through League 1 too.
Eoin Cowen
30 июня, 2012 at 19:51
Sheffield United must have got a good manager!
Well done, good season and good luck in league 1, shouldn’t be too long till Charlton are back in the Prem
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 20:02
Thanks Eoin, I hope you’re right.
saltwater
30 июня, 2012 at 19:56
Brilliant season, pretty much close to unstoppable and the most impressive stat must be the 125 goal stat one which was just incredible.
Nice piece of silverware in the JPT, and what about that 18 year old kid from Ukraine. How did he do in the second half of the season??
Good luck for League 1!!
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 20:03
Yeah I was really delighted with the goals we scored, that just summed up our domination. As for the Ukrainian, he did OK in the second half of the season but nothing spectacular, he needs to settle yet.
Nick
30 июня, 2012 at 20:17
Hey, Rhyope are from the north-east, the Sunderland area. I’ve played against their youth team and they’re very dirty
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 20:27
Well they’ve certainly made massive strides in my save, its great to see how the game can adapt.
TheZiggy
30 июня, 2012 at 20:53
That is one of the most impressive seasons so far. I’ve never seen that many points or goals scored in a season.
With your previous record, I am expecting next season to be good too. Hopefully the attendance will increase next season enough to help put some kind of a dent into the poor financial position.
Darren Smith
30 июня, 2012 at 21:07
Thanks Ziggy, this season was a really good one and probably the best I’ve had. As for the finances I think it will take a really special cup run to sort that area out…unless I offload players of coarse.
Ana Garcia
1 июля, 2012 at 00:04
Never doubted that you would get promotion!
So you have won league 2 so you are three leagues away from the premier league or two?
Sorry I always forget how many leagues there are in England below the premier league.
Defiantly improving the team already so good luck for next season. :)
Conor Donovan
1 июля, 2012 at 01:52
It’s Premier League, then Championship, League 1, League 2. So Darren’s now 2 promotions away from the Premier League, Ana
Darren Smith
1 июля, 2012 at 08:59
Thanks Ana, Conor has answered your question on the league already so I won’t repeat…but only a few promotion away now.
Ana Garcia
3 июля, 2012 at 00:13
Thanks Conor. :)
No matter how many times I am told I always forget, its the numbers as league 2 is the third league which always confuses me!! :)
Lye
1 июля, 2012 at 04:02
How easy you have made that Darren! 152 goals, guess that happens once in a lifetime. With all the quality signings you have made this season, next season will be another promotion waiting in the bag with a few more additions.
Darren Smith
1 июля, 2012 at 09:01
Thanks Lye, it was just one of those seasons where promotion seems guaranteed from day one, lets hope the same happens again next season :)
Tegar Triemanudigdo
1 июля, 2012 at 09:41
What the hell!? Blackburn in League Two!? Damn, the whole things has change there, but I’m glad your team managed to gain promotion once again. I’m just curious if there’s unknown team in Championship that I haven’t heard of it, like Galleywood for example.
Anyway, can’t wait for the next chapter.
Darren Smith
1 июля, 2012 at 17:51
Yeah and they are relegated to the Blue Square next season, I will never adapt to these changes :)
vaibhavc
3 июля, 2012 at 06:57
What a season Darren! Almost invincible! You have some great players in your squad. Owen Moore can definitely make the Prem one day!
Darren Smith
3 июля, 2012 at 09:21
Thanks Vaibhavc
CsAtlantis
4 июля, 2012 at 05:14
Over the years it seems like some teams have made the jump from the lower leagues too, some unrecognizable club names in League 2, what are Blackburn doing finishing last though? Quite a fall from grace….
Congratulations Darren, despite the restrictive budget your team absolutely crushed League 2 and secured promotion, with the signings you have made this season I think you will be a serious contender to get promoted from League 1 next season, good luck!
Darren Smith
4 июля, 2012 at 08:46
Yeah its all change in this save :) But hopefully I can take Charlton back to where they belong fairly soon.
Sears
5 июля, 2012 at 20:28
Can’t believe Blackburn got relegated :D Well done on another promotion buddy , you’ll be in the PL in no time ! :)
Darren Smith
6 июля, 2012 at 08:45
Thanks Sears, I was shocked by the demise of Blackburn too…similar to what happened too Charlton but on a bigger scale.
Bhargav
6 июля, 2012 at 19:22
Congrats Darren! Quite a spectacular season, although I am quite worried by the failing finances. At least Owen Moore represents possible money in the bank . . .
Darren Smith
6 июля, 2012 at 20:30
Thanks Bhargav, we had a really good season and I’m hoping to carry this forward into next season, fingers crossed. The cash flow may well be a problem, I am just hoping we can hang on until the windfall of the EPL revenue, but the coming seasons may turn into somewhat of a battle.
Ryan Daly
8 июля, 2012 at 16:01
Great work Darren it seems that everything you touch turns to gold at the minute. You will have this team back in its natural position in no time.
P.S this story is the reason for my new story on the forum — i will be managing Blackburn having seen them deteriorate into obscurity in your save i am going to arrest this slide at the championship and turn Blackburn into European contenders again
Darren Smith
8 июля, 2012 at 20:25
Coll, that sounds like a good game Ryan, I always say you should manage a team that means something too you or act on inspiration, those are the saves that seem to last.
Jojo
12 июля, 2012 at 21:09
Hey man, how do you do this. It is quite impressive and then when i try and do it, i lose every game. Got any tips?
Darren Smith
12 июля, 2012 at 21:20
Its tough to offer advice when I don’t know where you are going wrong. But maybe start by spending more time searching for players and use this tactic which requires fast wingers and striker. http://www.mediafire.com/?pqu0aera2ipb9zi