Hello friends and readers.
As you may remember about a week ago my NEW computer crashed leaving me well fed up though I did manage to get everything working again without goingback to the store but my Cambridge game had gone. The thought of starting yet another new game was not that appealing as my Wrexham save had also ended the same way. I was on the verge of giving up altogether until on a USB stick I found a back up file of my Cambridge save, game time February 2011.
I put the game in «holiday mode» and let it run until the end of the season and Cambridgecame out champions again. Unfortunately we lost the FA Trophy final this time around to Luton Town. So, if it’s okay with everyone I’ve decided to start my League 2 campaign again as I wasn’t that far into the season when the crash happened.
Here’s the final table (second time around)
I’ll resume this story with the pre-season build up and then for the next little while my posts will be more consolidated rather than match reports as it’s nearly May already and I have to make some progress in this game before FM 2012 comes out!! So, back to the story….
After taking a few weeks off following our title winning season it was back to the business of running a football club and preparing for a new campaign in League 2. The biggest issue to deal with was in the finance arena as the salary budget was way above what we could realistically afford.
We did secure a new sponsorship deal which will greatly improve the overall financial situation and was much improved on our current kit deal.
During the month of June Assistant Manager Warren Neill and I reviewed our shortlist of potential targets for the upcoming transfer window but then had to sit back and watch other clubs make offers and slowly that list shrank. Finally the TV package came through and that bolstered our ability to do some wheeling and dealing.
As the board wasn’t that flexible with the money I set the season as expectations as consolidate which netted £35k in transfer money and £26k in salaries which was almost a 30% increase. Not bad.
We had a very busy transfer window with most of the players arriving before our first friendly game giving them some time to settle in at The Abbey Road Stadium. I also offloaded many youngsters and some reserve players but picked up a very nice £40,000 for central defender Mustaphe Traore who went to Rochdale. I was expecting a fan back-lash but nothing happened.
Here’s the transfer activity and most of you will be more than familiar with many of these players so I’ll only highlight a few of them for you.
I’ll start off in midfield with American Will Packwood and Spaniard Joan Angel Roman both of whom will be good rotation players supporting Shane Williams and Harry Pell who I brought in from Bristol Rovers.
With N’Goma, who was prolific last season, Fofana and Danny Wright up front I felt Ionly need one more player and came across this young Turkish striker Nadir Ciftci who looks to be quite talented for a 19 year old.
A last minute signing was Will Keane from Man United who as you will see further down made an immediate impact in the two pre season games he played in and could end up forcing out Danny Wright.
My last player to highlight is a Spanish defender from Ana’s old team Real Union. My assistant highly recommended him and at a salary of only £375.00 a week he is well worth it and may even start ahead of Darren Lough.
We had a very productive pre-season and I chose teams that would bring in gate receipts of around £10,000 each time with the exception of Morecambe.
The bookies have us at 6-1 to gain promtion this season though to be honest I’d rather be more of a long shot then surprise everyone!
Lastly our season begins at home to Tranmere before taking on Swindon in the League Cup.
Thanks for taking the time to read this special update and I have now saved everything to a 4GB flash card…just in case. :)
Sears
24 апреля, 2011 at 21:23
Great to see you back Kevin :-) Superb signings, hopefully you can battle for a play off spot, good luck!
Kevin
24 апреля, 2011 at 21:57
Thanks Sears
I was happy to find that file and by sheer luck too!
Johnny Karp
24 апреля, 2011 at 21:52
Hurray! I’m so happy to see you back in charge of Cambridge United, they deserve a good manager! :) I believe that N’Goma will lead you to another promotion, I’m ready to bet on that!
Kevin
24 апреля, 2011 at 21:59
I’m happy to have «found» Cambridge again and I’m lookinfg forward to seeing if N’Goma can be just as destructive on defence’s this season as well!
MRDNRA
24 апреля, 2011 at 21:55
Just seen the table of the rerun…..poor Luton, 100 points and still failed to get promoted….OUCH! And Wimbledon 94 points too! Normally 94 points would be enough to fairly comfortably win the league!
Anyway, looks like you’ve made some good signings, hopefully you’ll have a good season in the league. It’s good to have you back.
Kevin
24 апреля, 2011 at 22:01
Hi MRDNRA
Glad you like my signings and I did feel sorry for Luton as they even lost the play off final to Mansfield!
CsAtlantis
25 апреля, 2011 at 00:07
Some good signings there Kevin, guess Packwood got released by Birmingham, Will Keane and Nadif Ciftci look good
So, the bookies say you have to adjust to the better class of opposition in the league, though those are good odds for a newly promoted side
Good luck in the league
Kevin
25 апреля, 2011 at 09:10
Yes, Packwood was released by Birmingham and I thought he looked useful enough for League 2
CsAtlantis
25 апреля, 2011 at 09:32
Stick with Packwood for a bit, he still has some potential, I think he’s has good potential to grow
Good to see that you have taken measures to protect your save game :D
Darren Smith
25 апреля, 2011 at 00:09
Great to see you back with Cambridge mate…I know it was crappy to see another game go but your back and I can’t wait to see this game resumed. Looking forward to a long and successful career with no more glitches. ;)
Kevin
25 апреля, 2011 at 09:11
Crappy Doesn’t begin to describe how annoyed I was :) Anyway, was really happy to find that file and get back into the swing of things.
vaibhavc
25 апреля, 2011 at 04:33
Thank god you got it back, now you have to save the game every day just in case.
Kevin
25 апреля, 2011 at 09:12
I am saving it and not on my hard drive either!
Alex
25 апреля, 2011 at 05:59
You were due some good luck :D
Those odds are brilliant for a newly promoted team, I’m sure you can live up to them with your new signings. Good luck Kevin :)
Kevin
25 апреля, 2011 at 09:13
Thanks Alex. What with a double family illness as well I needed something good to happen for a change.
Lye
25 апреля, 2011 at 06:47
Hi Kevin,
Even it’s a bit different from what you have achieved, i am glad to see you are able to continue the journey. The route may be different but the destination is the same as you are still the manager. Cambridge will definitely be up at the top level soon. Good luck.
Kevin
25 апреля, 2011 at 09:14
Hi Lye
Thanks for the encouragement, that really means something to me.
hils
25 апреля, 2011 at 07:42
Hi Kevin,great signings there!!!!!!! The odds are against you in league but i think you can do it!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!
Kevin
25 апреля, 2011 at 09:15
Thanks hils!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Green Army
25 апреля, 2011 at 10:21
Hi Kevin, those are brilliant odds for a newly promoted team! Also some great signings especially joan angel roman. I bought him on my sevilla game and he is supposed to be a leading star for Liga BBVA sides.
MRDNRA
25 апреля, 2011 at 11:58
I’ve also seen players who start out at low levels who can turn into leading stars of the future. In my case I have a regen with Leicester who is currently very good for Blue Square North (I’ve loaned him out to Hinckley, my feeder club, who are in said division, and he’s started every game) and he has the potential to be a leading premiership midfielder. What’s more, I didn’t even have to sign him, he just started with us! I think next season I’m going to have to find him a new club to loan him to.
Anyway, Kevin, hopefully if Roman has such good potential as suggested, he can be one of your leading premiership players, just hope you’re able to develop him well enough.
Kevin
26 апреля, 2011 at 00:10
Hey Green Army
Thans for given the scoop on Roman!!
Sayam Khan
25 апреля, 2011 at 12:27
Great news Kevin! Good Luck!
Kevin
26 апреля, 2011 at 00:11
Cheers Sayam!!
Laxeyman
25 апреля, 2011 at 15:24
Can’t believe your computer crashed again Kevin, but you’ve found a good solution, so that’s the main thing. Anyway, you’ve brought in some good players, and I particluarly like the look of the new left back. I reckon you can get into the play offs this season, good luck!
Kevin
26 апреля, 2011 at 00:12
Hi Laxeyman
I dont seem to get any luck even with a brand new one!! Yeah, the left back looks very useful and I’m anxiously awaiting to see Ana’s comment :)
Ana Garcia
26 апреля, 2011 at 13:08
Am glad to see you back again,
Your signings look very good but obviously I like your Spanish pair the best!
Good luck on your story and hopefully your computer wont break!
:)
Sam
13 ноября, 2012 at 22:47
Glad you got my team Cambridge United promoted to the league. Just wish they would do it in real life. By the way, the stadium isnt called the abbey road stadium, it’s just the abbey stadium.