Hello, fellow football manager lovers. It’s Calum again, and after my break from blogging for a short while I am back and am going to begin a new story to share with you!
I shall be Arsenal! They are a great team with magnificent history and a wonderful youth setup. Although, in the last few years they have been struggling to win trophies and my aim with ‘The Gunners’ is to start putting some silverware back in the trophy cabinet. A squad analysis is always a good way to start a new career and I shall do the same here:
Squad Analysis
GK: Manuel Almunia
Manuel Almunia is a solid goalkeeper apart from his poor communication. Also, he is 33 so will be nearing retirement so I will look for a young goalkeeper to bring through the ranks to succeed Almunia.
RB: Bakary Sagna
Sagna is a great right back with good defensive attributes and also has great pace. He should be a solid starter for me in the upcoming years.
CBs: Sebastien Squillaci and Thomas Vermaelen
The experienced Frenchman is a good defender but is not world-class. He could do a job maybe for a season or two but I certainly will look into buying a young CB to replace him.
Thomas Vermaelen, on the other hand, is a great CB with great defensive attributes and also a firm grasp of the mental side of the game even though he is only 24. This man will certainly feature in my plans for the seasons coming up.
LB: Gael Clichy
Gael is a solid left back with good defensive attributes and again great pace. I hope the pace of Sagna ans Clichy can help the attackers further up the pitch using overlapping runs. Clichy has one weakness though, his heading ability. However, hopefully we can train him and improve that side to his game.
DM: Alex Song
Alex Song is a great defensive midfielder. He has great strength and tackling ability and should be like a brick, protecting our back four. I am very happy with this position.
CMs: Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri
Well… what can I say about this player. I suppose the word you could use is ‘class’. Fabregas is a phenomenal talent and at the age of 23 is one of the best players in the world. Fabregas should be a very fine player for us for many years.
Samir Nasri is a clever little player in the middle of the park and should cause a threat to opposing defenders. I also have Wilshere coming through in this position so I won’t need to buy anyone else here.
RW: Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott may not be the most technically skilled player but he sure does have some pace. Theo should cause havoc in defences and I have belief that he could improve his technical play and become a great player.
LW: Andrey Arshavin
Andrey is a great winger that I shall use as a ‘Inside Forward’ because of his good finishing and dribbling abilities. However, we are a bit short of players in the wing positions so I may look to buy a player to cover for Walcott and Arshavin.
ST: Robin Van Persie
Van Persie is an amazing striker, with great technical, mental and physical ratings. He will lead the frontline and I’m sure he shall be up for the task. We have decent back-up for Van Persie so we will not look to buy another striker.
Here is my first team squad:
Transfer Targets
After my squad analysis I know the positions I need to strengthen:
- GK
- CB
- Wings
Also, I would like to buy some coaches to improve our training star ratings so that our group of youngsters can develop into stars!
Thank you for reading my post and the next post shall be about pre-season and my transfers!
Thanks,
Calum
SteveS
2 декабря, 2010 at 15:25
Welcome back Calum! You did an excellent analysis of Arsenal’s squad there. What type of formation and tactics are you planning on using?
Calum
2 декабря, 2010 at 17:10
Thanks Steve :D I am planning on using a 4-5-1 with a DM, 2 CMs and two wingers and a striker.
James
2 декабря, 2010 at 16:04
Hey Callum, im a Man Utd supporter but ill admit in real life the Gunners play some magic football and im hoping to see that on here :) good luck mate :)
p.s on the players morale how did you get the faces?
Calum
2 декабря, 2010 at 17:13
Yeah I’m a United supporter too but love watching Arsenal on the TV :D I got the morale coming up as faces by using a skin called «Liga Mundial FM Site 2.0»
Laxeyman
2 декабря, 2010 at 16:32
Hi Calum, nice to see you back, and Arsenal should be a good challenge, hopefully you can get them back up to the level they once were. I think you certainly need another centre back and goalkeeper though, as they are easily the weakest part of the team. Good luck for the season.
Calum
2 декабря, 2010 at 17:14
Thanks
hils
2 декабря, 2010 at 16:51
Hi Calum,welcome back!!!!!!!!!!! Arsenal is always a good team to manage!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!
Calum
2 декабря, 2010 at 17:19
Thanks Hils :D
Johnny Karp
2 декабря, 2010 at 17:01
Welcome back Calum! Some people might say it’s an easy job but I think that it’s quite tough because the pressure will be on right away, the board and fans will not be too patient if you fail to bring in the results. Best of luck!
Calum
2 декабря, 2010 at 17:20
Thanks Johnny :D I hope I can win a trophy soon enough to give the fans and the boards something to cheer about!
Kevin
2 декабря, 2010 at 17:33
Hello Callum
Greetings from Toronto and welcome back to Football Manager Stories!!
Calum
2 декабря, 2010 at 18:57
Thanks Kevin :)
Sayam Khan
2 декабря, 2010 at 18:22
YESS!! an arsenal story!
How do you intend to use Chamakh? will he be back-up?
Calum
2 декабря, 2010 at 18:58
Yes Chamakh will mainly be used as back-up but might get in the team if he performs well when we comes off the bench
Darren Smith
2 декабря, 2010 at 19:50
Hey Calum, you certainly have a solid side that don’t need too much fine tuning. Im looking forward to seeing your transfers mate.
Calum
3 декабря, 2010 at 08:44
Yeah I should have my next post up in the next few days :)
Sears
2 декабря, 2010 at 19:53
Welcome back Calum. You’ve a solid team, but you REALLY need a new keeper. No offence, compared to Arsenal’s rivals, they have by far the weakest keeper. Goodluck!
Calum
3 декабря, 2010 at 08:45
Yes I have been looking for a goalkeeper and I have bought one :D
Alejandro García
3 декабря, 2010 at 09:48
How can i write my own story? Is this for normal users or only for admins?
Thanks
Johnny Karp
3 декабря, 2010 at 10:11
You will have to get my approval first, that’s how it works. You can send me an email at johnny[at]footballmanagerstory[dot]com and we’ll see if you have what it takes to write on this website :)
Alejandro García
3 декабря, 2010 at 10:35
I’ve just sent you an email ;)
Ana Garcia
3 декабря, 2010 at 14:41
Arsenal are my favourite English team, and they have Fabregas who looks so much better without a beard!
Good luck on your season, and with your transfer targets!
Oh, and welcome back too! :)
Calum
4 декабря, 2010 at 09:42
Thank you Ana :D I hope you enjoy reading my story!
paine
4 декабря, 2010 at 07:55
I’m going to follow this, Arsenal have some amazing young players and hopefully you’ll be able to let them play some free flowing football.
By the way, in my actual Wigan career I’m playing a wide 4-5-1 and it seems to work well, good luck and enjoy your save.
Calum
4 декабря, 2010 at 09:44
Yes, Arsenal do have some great youngsters and in the formation I use they should be able to play attractive and as Johann Cruyff would say, «Total Football!»