Here we go folks, it’s time to get the Motormen prepared to win the Premier League title for the third time in a row and maybe get another shot at the Champions League and the Carling Cup, the only trophies that we had not won yet. There also is the Club World Cup too but we won’t have a chance to try that competition for now. Last season was nice, we won the Premier League and the FA Cup but we came really close to the Champions League but unfortunately Man City beat us in the final. I know you’re curious to see the new players so I’ll stop the introduction here, let’s see those new faces!
Not so fast though, first let’s see how much money I had to spend. Well, I had the biggest amount yet, no less than 69 million pounds for a title promise!
The club is doing pretty well these days, we’re in the «richest clubs» top 20 and I guess that is quite remarkable for what used to be a semi-professional club 10 years ago.
Alright then, let’s finally see the transfers! Not the new faces yet though, first we’ll see the old faces that left the club. If you look at the list you might notice that you don’t know most of those players and I can’t blame you, most of them never played in the first team! However, we managed to get no less than 66 million pounds for these players! Only two important first team players left the club this summer, centre back Louis Laing and striker Wellington Paulista, the rest of the bunch are fringe players like John Fleck or youngsters from the reserves that I thought were not going to reach their potential. I made some calculations on these players that I have sold this summer and guess what, I paid around 11 million pounds to bring them all in! So now I managed to get six times that amount, not really «youth to gold» but surely «youth to a bit of cash» :)
Now’s the big moment, the new players! I spent a staggering 91 million pounds on 14 new players but only four of them will be playing first team football next season, you will meet them shortly!
The most expensive signing in the club’s history joins the club from Liverpool for no less than 35 million pounds, his name is Danny Wilson and most of you surely know him from Darren‘s story. He is the best centre back in England at the moment and I was determined to pay up to 40 million for his services, I think that his presence will make a very big difference next season. Oh, and the Liverpool fans were quite angry when the news hit the papers :)
The right back area has been a bit of a problem for the last couple of seasons but now I think we have secured the future with Gary Warner, an 18-year old English full back that joined us for 12.5 million pounds from Everton. He will be a backup player for now but I believe that he can become irreplaceable pretty soon.
We already have a great right winger in Leandro Velasco but I wanted to bring in a youngster that could grow in his shadow and French wonderkid Moustapha Gueye seemed the perfect candidate. I did try to buy him last summer too but I didn’t have the money back then, now I gladly paid 8 million pounds to Standard Liege for a player that could become a sensation very soon.
Last but not least I needed a new striker since I decided to part company with Wellington Paulista. There were several candidates but the price tags were quite large for all of them, all except one: 21-year old Argentine Lucas Cuello. I paid 10 million to Dutch club Vitesse for him and I believe that he’s worth the money given his great skills and speed. This lad could become more than a backup for Parana and Zé Carlos.
I have another player to introduce before moving on, the most expensive youngster that I ever bought: 17-year old Iain McManus. He is dubbed the next Michael Owen and I paid no less than 12.5 million to Liverpool for this kid. I believe that it’s a good investment though, this boy can become a lot better than Owen, that is if he’s not as injury prone as Michael was.
Here is the full 24-man squad for this season, you can click the player names to view their profiles:
Goalkeepers: Luis Guilherme, Jack Butland
Right Backs: Julian Marino, Gary Warner
Left Backs: Pierre Touya, Hans Larsson
Centre Backs: Danny Wilson, Marat Bykov, Javier Godoy, Mervin Simon
Wingers: Leandro Velasco, Tiago, Abdallah Yaisien, Moustapha Gueye, Walid Mechergui
Central Midfielders: Marcos Fernandez, Robert Ackermann, Indio, Radek Vecera, Graham Howson
Strikers: Zé Carlos, Parana, Lucas Cuello, Ibrahima MBow
The friendly games went fairly well although we missed all the players that were away at the Copa America. Some lads from the reserves managed to step into the spotlight, I believe that a few of them will make reasonable backup players starting this season.
Even though we have won the last two titles the bookies still can’t believe their eyes, at 12-1 I would put at least half of my fortune on the Motormen :)
Before you ask, I have the answer: I have become a club legend :)
Before wrapping up I have to fulfill a request from Erick Wolf, you asked for Zeli Ismail’s profile and I give you that plus the career stats. ;)
There you go my friends, I hope that you have enjoyed this post. What do you think about my new players? I’m quite curious to find out! :)
Laxeyman
26 июня, 2011 at 19:44
Good signings on the whole, Johnny, although I would say that you’ve overpaid for some of those new signings. Still, they are all very good players and have great potential, particularly the new right winger. I reckon you’ll win the league again easily, and hopefully you can grab the Champions League too. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
26 июня, 2011 at 20:55
Thanks Laxeyman. I guess I did overpay on some of them but the prices didn’t matter too much as long as I could afford all my priority signings.
Stephan Mashford
28 июня, 2011 at 16:16
Your FM storys are great! I enjoy reading them, i was just wondering if you could show the Glasgow Rangers F.C team in your next post.
Johnny Karp
28 июня, 2011 at 16:45
Thanks mate, I will include a screen shot of the Rangers squad in my next post.
Darren Smith
26 июня, 2011 at 19:52
Wow, wow, wow. Incredible signings Johnny and to think you strengthened so much and just paid £25 mill after the sales balanced out. Simply brilliant, I live the new English forward and believe you now have two of the best left wingers available. Wilson is by far the best and most rounded defender I’ve ever signed on FM so he’ll be wonderful within your system. This is your year mate, I’m sure of it!
P.S. Please can I have some of that talent in my game, the regens are drying up and lack pace!
Johnny Karp
26 июня, 2011 at 20:57
It should be our year, I hope so too! About the regens, I am quite frustrated that there are not too many good English youngsters and those that are decent have insane price tags.
Darren Smith
27 июня, 2011 at 16:45
Couldn’t agree more about the regens. I’m really struggling to form a home grown side. With the new tactic I’m formulating the squad has to be of a high standard and I don’t have room to raise the English players as their technical attributes are terrible compared to the rest of the world.
Matt Clark
30 июня, 2011 at 14:59
With the regens you will produce quality ones if you have 3-4 excellent youth coaches and get the youth rcruitment and facilities at its best. By doing this i have produced a liverpool and england team that dominate all from the liverpool academy.
Johnny Karp
30 июня, 2011 at 21:32
I know, the club is still investing in the youth recruitment and facilities. I hope we’ll have top notch facilities in a couple of years.
Erick Wolf
26 июня, 2011 at 22:02
That’s a very impressive pre-season even without some of your best players!
I gotta say I’m quite disappointed with Zeli’s stats..
Can’t wait for the next read.
Johnny Karp
26 июня, 2011 at 22:07
Thanks Erick, Zeli has failed to reach his potential for some reason.
Kevin
26 июня, 2011 at 22:05
Hi Johnny
Great signings as usual. Danny Wilson is well worth the money and it’s going to be interesting to see how Gueye will perform. He looks like am Olympic sprinter and should «fly» down the wings. Warner will be a speedy support behind him on the right flank. Great job as usual.
Johnny Karp
27 июня, 2011 at 08:24
Thanks Kevin, I have high hopes for Gueye while Wilson should be a pillar at the back.
Lye
27 июня, 2011 at 01:45
Hi Johnny,
Danny Wilson is on his peak, 35 million maybe too expensive but he still have few years to play for. The price for the English players in FM is real insane. Gary Warner is a good deal. I think he is ready for first team football and he will surely be the England first choice right back. Overall all four signings are solid and you should be in for a great season. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
27 июня, 2011 at 08:25
Thanks Lye, I agree on the English player prices, maybe insane is an understatement :)
CsAtlantis
27 июня, 2011 at 02:23
Danny Wilson looks a bit overpriced(is he considered homegrown?), his stats are good but you might have gotten a better player for that amount of money, some good sales and some very interesting purchases too, 12.5 million for a 17 year old is interesting, but if he does become better than Owen he will be more than worth it
Johnny Karp
27 июня, 2011 at 08:27
Wilson is not considered homegrown, that was not the main issue for me. There were only a few centre backs on the market as good or better than him and the prices started from 50 mil… About the 17-year old, the price was steep indeed, it was a gamble but I hope it will pay off.
vaibhavc
27 июня, 2011 at 07:46
Hey Johnny
I think you paid a little too much for Wilson, but if he plays well, it will be a great deal. Your other signings are good. I would send McManus on loan so he does become really good. Congratulations on being a legend in Vauxhall! Are you planning to continue the story after this season as you have reached what you wanted to? I want you to keep continuing the story, as of now.
Johnny Karp
27 июня, 2011 at 08:28
Thanks Vaibhav. I think I will continue the story for a while, I don’t know exactly for how long but I will continue after this season even if we win the CL.
Daniel
27 июня, 2011 at 09:13
Hi Johnny,
Great signings and also great income from departures! £66 million that’s really good! I agree with Darren’s comment above, i think it is your year as well! seriously hope you can mount a serious challenge for the title and also the champions league.
Daniel :-)
Johnny Karp
27 июня, 2011 at 14:13
Thanks Daniel, we have to win the title (just a challenge is not good enough anymore) and hopefully we’ll reach the CL final again.
Sears
27 июня, 2011 at 18:53
Wonderful signings Johnny, I particularly like Wilson, he’s a great defender. Iain McManus looks a terrific prospect too!
Johnny Karp
28 июня, 2011 at 11:32
Thanks Sears, Wilson will have to do well right away while McManus seems to have what it takes to become a legend in a few years.
Desmo Wenning
28 июня, 2011 at 07:21
Very good signings, payed a bit too much but that isn’t really a problem when you have the money! Good luck!
Johnny Karp
28 июня, 2011 at 11:32
Thanks Desmo, money is made to be spent :)
Desmo Wenning
28 июня, 2011 at 19:37
Exactly :D Can you show a Feyenoord-screenshot in the next post? Thanks :)
Johnny Karp
28 июня, 2011 at 21:09
Sure, I’ll add that to the list right now.
Stromson
28 июня, 2011 at 13:17
Great signings Johnny, I especially like the look of that Gueye kid, who has some outstanding mental abilities!
Johnny Karp
28 июня, 2011 at 13:25
Thanks mate, Gueye has been a target for a couple of years and I’m pleased that I was finally able to bring him in.
Sibo
28 июня, 2011 at 16:05
Well done Johnny, some good transfers there and I am sure Vauxhall will be challenging on all fronts this season, hopefully with success on all fronts at the end too! :D
Johnny Karp
28 июня, 2011 at 16:10
Thanks Sibo, I hope this season will be even better than the last one.
Ana Garcia
28 июня, 2011 at 16:26
Wow, £35 million!!
A massive transfer fee so hopefully he can prove to be worth the outlay but having read Darren’s story he was a key player until he sold him so hopefully he can do the same for your side.
You have bought some exciting prospects, but your chairman is wanting to sell!
Why when you are bringing the good times to the club! :)
As always Johnny the best of luck!
Johnny Karp
28 июня, 2011 at 16:46
Thanks Ana, I guess the chairman is getting a bit too old for running such a big club :) Hopefully a wealthy gentleman will take over :)
Mike
1 июля, 2011 at 11:46
Hi Johnny,
I think thats an excellent pre-season, I love your new signings and i think your squad now looks stronger than ever. Wilson is fantastic and should do a great job, and i think Gueye and McManus will become world class in a few years. Congratulations on becoming a club legend, it is definately deserved!
Good luck for the coming season, i think you will go one step further than last season in the champions league!
Mike
Johnny Karp
1 июля, 2011 at 12:59
Thanks Mike, I hope we will reach the CL final again and maybe do better this time. Gueye is ready for first team football while McManus should be in there in a couple of years I guess.
Mike
1 июля, 2011 at 13:34
I agree, Gueye already has fantastic attributes, i love his pace, acceleration and dribbling, and i think he will make a great winger already, even at the highest level. And for McManus, with his physical stats, i think he has the potential to become a really explosive striker in the future