Hello Friends and greetings from Toronto.
I’m delighted to bring you my pre-season report from Wales but not so happy at the way the results went especially as for the most part were against weaker teams.
Results
I’m putting this down mainly to my backroom staff who are not all that great but required too much money to offload so they are here until their contracts expire.
On the transfer front as many as you know I usually get carried away trying to scoop up everyone I can see but I felt I showed some restraint this time in my pre-season acquisitions by only bring in eight new players :)
My only purchase so far at least is left back Steven Kinniburgh from Oxford. I didn’t have a lot of confidence in the two backs I already had so went shopping. In the same position I also picked up Darren lough who use to play for Newcastle.
Aside from signing Shane Williams whom you have already seen in Johnny’s game I also supplemented the midfield with Brian Gilmour. He’s nothing spectacular but gives the overall appearance of a hard working individaul.
On the left flank the fans were delighted with Lewis Emanuel joining the club and he will be playing in an attacking midfield role.
Here then is my tactic for FM2011 (at least for now) and it’s based on Darren’s Newcastle version which he kindly shared on his site. The lone striker is set to «run onto ball» and the two wide men are set as inside forwards.
Team Instructions
The season proper will start with two away games followed by a difficult home tie against Grimsby
Thanks for reading.
Sears
13 ноября, 2010 at 16:40
Hey Kevin,
those signings will significantly strengthen your team. I like your tactic too, attacking but also reliable in defense. I switched from a 4-4-2 to a similar tactic like yours, but I dropped one of the central midfielders back as a defensive midfielder. My lone striker’s role is deep lying forward or poacher if Muniain plays there, or if it is Llorente playing there his role is set to target man or complete forward. I’ll explain more in my next post! Anyway, good luck with Wrexham. I’m sure with your managerial skills you can lead them to glory. Good luck Kevin.
Kevin
13 ноября, 2010 at 16:42
Hi Sears
I’m thinking I might do the same thing and drop back the middle CM as there is a bit of a gap. Thanks for the well wishes.
Darren Smith
13 ноября, 2010 at 17:02
Hey Kevin, you’ve made some progress in pre-season. Your squad has been strengthened and that will make a big difference, hopefully promotion should come with ease. I agree with how Sears has tinkered with the 4-5-1, a defensive midfielder is needed in both Spain and Italy, at least that is in my experience. However I have found it too defensive in the Premier League and kind of counter productive. Though you may find it more successful in the lower leagues. Especially considering the amount of mistakes there might be, a dmc would help to clean up. Goodluck mate and I hope the tactic works well.
Kevin
13 ноября, 2010 at 17:07
Hello Darren
Thanks for your input as well as the tactic framework.
dami
13 ноября, 2010 at 20:43
haha…I think I need to start showing some restraint in signing players…Managing hereford in league 2 and signed 11 new players…
hopefully your players will pick up their form when the season starts…
God luck and have fun…
Kevin
13 ноября, 2010 at 20:46
Cheers Dami.
Glad to know I’m not the only one. Good luck with Hereford and incidently try looking up Ronnie Radford on You Tube for Hereford’s greatest goal ever
Sayam Khan
13 ноября, 2010 at 22:39
Hi Kevin
I think you signed some good signings there. Don’t worry about pre-season, you’ll get your team to click sooner rather than later. I know it :-)
Kevin
14 ноября, 2010 at 09:27
Hi Sayam
Glad you like my new guys :)
Arjuna Kankipati
14 ноября, 2010 at 00:49
Hey Kevin,
When you sign so many players, they have to gel. You should be getting results in no time.
Arjuna
managerstoriesfootball.blogspot.com
Kevin
14 ноября, 2010 at 09:28
Hello Arjuna
I selected «team blending» in the match preperation screen so hopefully that wil pay off soon as you say.
Lye
14 ноября, 2010 at 02:00
Hi Kevin,
You have definitely signed some good players. The restrain may see your team blending faster than usual. I always have a preference for the formation you have chosen, pushing the wingers up to support. I don’t use in my Telford game as lone striker always give me problems in scoring goals, that’s why i decided to go with two strikers up front. Good luck for the game ahead.
Kevin
14 ноября, 2010 at 09:29
Hi Lye
Thanks for the comment. I thought i’d try something different this time around as a change from the usual 4-4-2. Only tme will tell how goos this choice is :)
Ana Garcia
14 ноября, 2010 at 11:20
Hi Kevin!
Some good signings and an interesting formation!
Good luck but your backroom staff is slightly better than mine! :D
Kevin
14 ноября, 2010 at 18:30
Hi Ana
Yes the formation is interesting…I have no idea what I’m doing. LOL
Johnny Karp
14 ноября, 2010 at 11:22
Good luck Kevin! I see that you adopted a tactic that suits the «British style», I guess it should serve you well. Do you have a parent club to rely on for loaning players?
Kevin
14 ноября, 2010 at 18:33
Hi Johnny
Good question. I forgot all about a parent club. I’ll put that mistake down to the renovation which now comes in handy to blame all my forgetfulness on :) I wanted to try a different tactical approach this time but the old Maggies one is still on reserve.
hils
18 ноября, 2010 at 15:40
Hi Kevin,good signings their!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you use your parent club? I always loan players from my parent club!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
Kieran
22 ноября, 2010 at 15:07
Hey Kevin, good luck with finding a parent club! I found that West Ham were quite willing to look after my Southampton team. I found that Holmar Eyjolfsson is quite helpful in defence and as a DM if required — worth an emergency loan!