Old Men Wanted
By: Daryl | January 8th, 2009
Things really aren’t going too badly, but the winter transfer window is on the way and one thing I’m very convinced about is that the squad is too young.
With the exception of Shay Given, everyone in my first XI is well under 30. So we need to get a couple more old men for not too much money.
And I know just the chaps.
My old mate Belletti (remember him from last season) turned down another season on loan at St James’ because he thought he could crack the Chelsea team. He was wrong, so he’s on his way to join me permanently for £700k. He’s not getting any younger at 33, but that’s sort of the idea. He’ll fill in nicely at either defensive mid or right back.
Speaking of which… my current right back Habib Beye is trouble. His contract is up in the summer, January’s coming and he’s unwilling to sign a new one. So he’s probably on his bike. Even worse, he’s currently playing like Emmanuel Eboue, and I don’t have any alternative but to play him. Jonathan Zebina (on loan from Juve) has lost it, so I’m stuck with Beye until Jan 1st when Belletti arrives.
And just to make sure, I’ve also lined up a deal for Spartak Moscow’s soon to be out of contract right back/centre back Martin Jiranek, who’s 30 years old, solid enough and will only cost me £275k.
Can’t see the Toon Army getting too excited about these purchases (maybe about Belletti’s return, maybe not) but I’m optimistic that the experience of both these old geezers will be a big benefit for the second half of the season. Especially because it means I can drop Habib Beye.
Last, and probably least, I’m considering buying 33 year old Mexican d-mid Pavel Pardo off of Aston Villa for £250k. Or would that be old man overkill?
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Category: FM09
Tags: Belletti, FM09, Football Manager 2009, Martin Jiranek, Pavel Pardo, Worldwide Soccer Manager 2009Subscribe
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Comments
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Is that Peter Kenyon and Sam Allardyce in your pic?
Yeah I’m usually going for aging players. There’s nothing really like signing someone you know you can put your trust in, even if they’re a touch past their use by date.
Posted from
United States
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Much as in real life, I signed Thomas Gravesen for Leeds explicitly for the purpose of reliability, and at the League One level it didn’t seem too much of a stretch…after 30 games, though, it became evident that his crab passing was overshadowed by the fact that everyone plays route one football and that he has the turning radius and acceleration of a 1980 Mercedes truck. Didn’t matter as we got promoted anyways, but where’s the dividing line between old reliable and just plain old? I’m going with a youth movement myself, for better or worse.
Posted from
United States -
Daryl,
Any update on the FM blog network ?
Cheers
Posted from
United States -
If you want experience in midfield i managed to get christian poulsen on loan from juve i just offered to pay 60% of his wages. I warned you bowt chantome he is unreliable mate sorry. skjelbred is the man you want im in my 3rd season now and im getting bids for him in excess of 17 million from the likes of chelsea. get some good coaching staff on board and train him up. yo can probs get him in jan for bowt 5 million sell beye and chantome
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Jiranek looks like a really great buy for so little money.
Nice to see Beletti back too, again a pretty solid player for not too much cash.
For the most part my squad is under 30 except for Richard Dunne, who’s still only actually 30, and Tim De Cler (really solid D/WBL i got and my fans really liked him). I’ve also got Dietmar Hamann who’s 36 and on his way out, so he rarely playes… And Gerardo Torrado who’s 30… Might seem like plenty right here but usually only two or three are on the pitch at once. That’s for my whole squad too. I like having mostly young players though. They’re not too expensive, they’re still growing and improving and some of them become really good.Posted from
United States -
@dp,
I’m also putting faith in youth, but I think it’s smart to have a couple of wise old heads in there too.
@Dhaw,
Working on it, promise!
@david appleton,
Yeah, seems Chantome might have been a massive waste of money. No point me moping about it (too much) though. He’s still a decent player, just not the midfield engine i thought i was getting.
Can’t sell Beye in January, at least not for much money, as his contract is up in the summer.
As for Skjelbred, I don’t know. Seems he would cost about 5m, and I’m not convinced he’s worth it. I know he’s doing the business in your game, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be good in every FM09 game. Does anyone else have any experience of Skjelbred?
Posted from
United States -
I’m managing Newcastle as well, and in the summer after my first season I managed to snap up David Beckham on a free! Hoping he’ll add a bit of experience to my team, as well as some much needed danger to my set pieces.
Posted from
United Kingdom
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