FM Blogwatch: April 6th 2009

I’ve been struggling with FM Blogwatch, largely because quality FM blogs are surprisingly hard to find (the FM community is very much focused around forums.) So, once again, if you know of any good FM blogs, please share in the comments.

One FM blog not short of quality is Brian’s Pro Vercelli story at Run of Play. Brian has lifted PV from the depressing depths of Serie C2A all the way back up to the happy heights of Serie A. Certain Gianni-come-lately fans were complaining about Brian’s early season form. But if the recent 4-0 win over Roma didn’t cheer them up, then maybe the commemorative video complete with rocket ship metaphor will do the trick.

Vitaly at TFM has kept Hull in the Premier League in 2011 (after yo-yo-ing down and back up again) and is planning to push on and grab a European spot in 2012. Nice breakdown of his team and how he plans to improve here.

One new blog I’ve found is For Love of the Game, where the blogger romped to Premier League promotion with Reading and is now preparing for life in the Premier League. They managed to snag Salvatore Foti for just €3m, so will be interesting to see how the big Italian fella does.

Just one update from St James’ and the news is mostly good (unless you’re a fan of pacy little Chinese prodigies)

vs AaB (away)

Champions League Group D, Matchday 3

Yeah, I’ll admit, I took AaB lightly and rested a few players. I even played Lewandowski out of position at left mid. My thinking: he’s perfectly happy as AML but he’s lost if he plays 15 yards deeper at ML? Not buying it. I laugh at your little red dot Football Manager 2009.

In the end it was a stroll. Federico Laurito had another header off a corner, played Fan Bo through for the second and then tapped in a Lewandowski cross for the third (really enjoying the process of easing him in).

Sadly Fan Bo tore his calf muscle while sprinting for a ball and will be out for three/four months. Such is the danger of being unnaturally fast.

Result: W 3-1

Elsewhere, Inter could only draw with Anderlecht, so Group D looks like… this:

Three games in so, we’re halfway to the knockout rounds.

Next up, couple of tough Prem games against Everton (who for some unknown reason have signed Kenwyne Jones and turned him into a center back despite the fact he can’t tackle) and then Man City, who are probably still p*ssed about me stealing their spot in the Champions League.

Category: FM09