As I promised last week I am putting up a poll and asking you to decide my future team in FM 2011. Football Manager 2011 will be released exactly one month from now, on November 5th, so you’ll have plenty of time to vote until then. The poll is located in the right sidebar, I bet you have already noticed it. Now let me explain the options:
1. The weakest team in England
Like I did when I picked Dorchester, I’ll be looking for the poorest club in Conference North or South, the team predicted to finish last in that division.
2. The weakest team in Italy
It’s about the same thing as with the English club, I’ll be taking over the weakest club in the lowest Italian league and trying to take it to glory.
3. The weakest team in Scotland
This one was suggested by our friend Kevin and I liked the challenge: ending the supremacy of Celtic and Rangers in Scotland. I’d be taking over the weakest team in the lowest playable Scottish league and build them up to upset the two giants.
4. Arsenal
I thought about this option when I ended the Notts County career, now I’m offering it again because many of you thought it was interesting. It’s fairly simple: I’ll replace Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager and try to succeed with only under 25 year old players in the squad and with a transfer policy that would allow me to sign only players under 21 years of age. All the players that are over 25 years of age in the initial squad will be sold immediately and replaced with youngsters.
5. Universitatea Craiova
Last but not least, my beloved Craiova, my favorite Romanian club. Their last title was won in 1991, the last time they challenged for the title was in 1995. Since then there was only pain and misery, including a shameful relegation. The challenge would be to win the domestic title but also the UEFA Champions League and that could really test the new «dynamic league reputation» in Football Manager 2011.
These are the five options that I thought about but your suggestions are always welcome and I’d be happy to include other interesting options in the poll. I’m looking forward to seeing your votes and I’d like to thank you in advance for that ;)
callum
5 октября, 2010 at 16:45
Hey haven’t posted in a while I voted Universitatea Craiova thought it would be the most interesting and add a little diversity. I can also emphasis with there situation as Liverpool are in a similar one at the minute although not quite as bad :P Good luck though with whatever team you manage :)
Johnny Karp
5 октября, 2010 at 16:54
Thanks for the vote Callum, nice to hear from you. Liverpool’s relegation might come at the end of this season if they keep going like this :)
callum
5 октября, 2010 at 17:04
Ah yes it will if they don’t get better will be the best thing will give them some drive and heart again. :)
Nick
5 октября, 2010 at 17:57
I think Arsenal would be a good idea. By the way, would you simply release the players or would you sell them for as much as you can when they get over the age limit? Good luck.
Johnny Karp
5 октября, 2010 at 19:34
Thanks Nick. When a player would reach the age limit he would be sold for as much as possible, releasing on a free can’t be an option since the board would probably block those departures because of the high compensations that the club would have to pay.
hils
5 октября, 2010 at 18:52
I like the idea of using the weakest team in Italy because they have a lot of divisions! Another idea i recommend is the weakest team in spain because they have a lot of divisions as well!!!!!!! Good luck whatever team you pick!
Johnny Karp
5 октября, 2010 at 19:35
Thanks Hils. I thought that Ana would have the Spanish side covered, initially I intended to include that option in the poll as well.
Sea
5 октября, 2010 at 19:22
How do you vote
Johnny Karp
5 октября, 2010 at 19:36
There is a box in the right sidebar of the website, where it says «Poll». Pick your favorite option, then click vote and that’s it. Thanks.
Darren Smith
5 октября, 2010 at 19:46
I voted for the weakest team in Scotland, would be interesting to read a story in Scotland and a good challenge.
Johnny Karp
5 октября, 2010 at 19:54
Thanks for the vote Darren, it surely would be a tough and interesting challenge.
Vinners
5 октября, 2010 at 21:58
I agree with Darren as Scotland have a low league reputation so you could test out the new feature to see how effective it is. So it would add an extra challenge which would be very interesting to read.
Johnny Karp
5 октября, 2010 at 22:09
Thanks for sharing your view Vinners, I appreciate it.
bigbaz
5 октября, 2010 at 22:25
yeah agree with other 2 who say scotland! would love to read about it as not many scottish challenges around plus u can put celtic and rangers in there place!!
iv been thinking of teams to manage aswell, cant wait
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 07:43
Thanks for the vote Bigbaz. Less than one month to wait… :)
Sayam Khan
5 октября, 2010 at 23:14
Hi Johnny, I voted for Arsenal! It would be intresting to read a story with your type of policy. Your policy does seem tough though!
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 07:42
Thanks for the vote Sayam. The challenge is supposed to be tough, that’s what makes it interesting.
Calin
6 октября, 2010 at 06:46
Since I believe that Craiova should do well in FM 2011 with Piturca and the real challenge is going all the way up from the Conference, I voted too for the weakest team in England, even though an Italian challenge would also be nice…
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 07:42
Thanks for the vote Calin. I doubt that Craiova would win the Champions League with Piturca though, in FM 2011 or in real life!
Kevin
6 октября, 2010 at 10:43
Hi Johnny
Thanks for putting up my Scottish league suggestion. It would be intersting too as part of that story if you became manager of Scotland as well and take them to World Cup glory!
After saying all that I voted for Craiova as I sense this would be your best story yet :)
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 11:44
Thanks for the vote and for the suggestion Kevin. I was 100% sure that you would vote for Craiova, you’re turning into a fan of the team yourself :)
Jean Paul Borg
6 октября, 2010 at 10:56
I think the biggest challenge for you would be the lowest Italian football club. I haven’t seen you managing in Italy and it is totally different from England or any other place you have managed. I think that it would be a very good challenge.
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 11:46
Thanks for sharing your opinion Jean Paul, I agree that an «Italian job» would be a tough and interesting challenge.
Marius
6 октября, 2010 at 13:17
I think winning Premier League and Champions League with Arsenal with only under 21 signings is a big challenge. Winning weak leagues like the Romanian league or the Scottish league is too easy (at least for your skills).
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 14:18
Salut Marius :) And thanks for the opinion. Winning the Champions League with a Romanian team might be almost impossible though, so it might be an even tougher challenge.
Lye
6 октября, 2010 at 13:17
Hi Johnny,
I voted for Arsenal as i think it will be great to win something with a bunch of youngsters.
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 14:19
Thanks for the vote Lye.
Jack
6 октября, 2010 at 15:12
It has to be Universitatea Craiova doesn’t it? You could really test out the new dynamic league reputation feature. Just imagine the Romanian league up there with the Premiership and la liga? It’s a challenge I have wanted you to take on for ages, you could even spice things up a bit with having a minimum of 5 Romanian players in your starting 11, which could then pave the way to managing the Romanian national side and taking them to world cup glory… I’m already so excited! Also you are Romanian so stick to your own country :P… Only joking.
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 18:19
Thanks for your vote Jack. Actually I think there is a rule regarding home-grown players in Romania, you have to have at least five in the match squad (including substitutes) or at least that’s what I know but I might be wrong.
ravenie
6 октября, 2010 at 17:16
I’ve pre-orded mine. being from Scotland I would prefer if you selected Dundee.
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 18:20
Thanks for the suggestion Ravenie. I doubt that Dundee is the weakest team in Scotland at the moment though, is it?
Marius
6 октября, 2010 at 18:06
I was wondering ,
Could you quit your job and start careers in the same time at Arsenal , Universitatea Craiova , the weakest team in England , the weakest team in Scotland , the weakest team in Italy so all your followers would be happy ?
Johnny Karp
6 октября, 2010 at 18:20
Well, if somebody else would pay the bills for me then I’d be very happy to play FM all day long :)
Rob
6 октября, 2010 at 19:32
Would love to see you managing Universitatea Craiova would be a great way to try out the new dynamic league reputation and try and bring your club to the top :D Good luck!
Johnny Karp
7 октября, 2010 at 08:09
Thanks for the vote and for the good wishes Rob.
Jack
6 октября, 2010 at 20:12
Everyone vote Romania!
Johnny Karp
7 октября, 2010 at 08:10
You’re putting up quite a campaign here Jack :) And it seems to work too!
Jack
8 октября, 2010 at 01:46
The Romanians have a lead of 4 votes at the moment, but we all know how things can change… So everyone should keep voting for Universitatea Craiova!… You know it makes sense!
Ana Garcia
7 октября, 2010 at 11:49
I dont mind taking the weakest side in Spain orginally I was going to try and play the game as Barcelona using only players from the acadamy but I dont mind dropping all the way to the bottom!!
In your case I will vote for Universitatea Craiova for several reasons, but the main one being it will be interesting too see a you manage a club outside of the top european leagues.
You have done the weakest team in England loads of times, so I feel a change would be nice but thats just my opinion! :)
On a side note I hope they add more leagues below the segunda in Spain.
Johnny Karp
7 октября, 2010 at 12:32
Your Barcelona plan sounds great Ana, I would surely love to read such a story. I don’t know if they will include more Spanish leagues, no news about that until now as far as I know. And thanks for the vote :)
Rob Page
7 октября, 2010 at 14:42
Hi Johnny
I have followed your stories for a while keep up the good work my friend.
I know that this next suggestion is not the worst team in England but why not a team like my home team Derby County. No one i know can seam to get them into the premiership and progress them from there. Would be great to see how you would go about it.
What do you think??
Cheers
Johnny Karp
7 октября, 2010 at 17:28
Thanks for the suggestion Rob. I don’t think it would work though, Derby are in the Championship so most probably I would take them into the Premiership in a season or two so most people would say that it’s too easy.
Aguila
7 октября, 2010 at 22:33
Hey Johnny!
I vote for the Universitatea Craiova….
Seems interesting to be in the Romanian league.
And as same as Ana says — to be in other leagues of Europe.
Good luck!
Johnny Karp
8 октября, 2010 at 09:41
Thanks for the vote Aguila.
java
8 октября, 2010 at 05:45
I vote for Universitatea Craiova…
I’m also planning to create a game with my favorite club in Indonesia.
Don’t chose arsenal johnny, i think it’s not interesting since their youngsters are super. ;)
Johnny Karp
8 октября, 2010 at 09:37
Thanks for the vote Java and good luck with your home club. I disagree about Arsenal, they do have good youngsters but winning a title only with them could prove to be difficult.
Rob Page
8 октября, 2010 at 14:43
Well i can see your point of view there Johnny but would you not say Arsenal was easy for a man of your skills also??
Johnny Karp
8 октября, 2010 at 15:31
The Arsenal option has some pretty tough restrictions so I’m sure it wouldn’t be easy. I would take the Derby job in real life though, could you arrange a meeting with the board? :) You can present them my Football Manager 2010 CV, I’m sure that they will be impressed :)
Rob Page
11 октября, 2010 at 12:30
Ha
Mate i’d love too but i dont think they would get rid of Clough atm since they seamed to be playing much better recently.
Have you seen that Brazil are playing at the Derby stadium tonight?
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2010 at 12:37
I know, I will probably watch the game live on TV.