So, What Next?

By: Daryl | March 21st, 2009

So I’m finally in the Champions League (qualification pending). And have built myself a pretty decent squad. I think.

But how I buy and sell this summer feels important. If I get it right, I’ll be able to make a decent stab at the CL and establish myself in the top four at home. Maybe even a title challenge. I said maybe.

But before I go ahead and start making changes, I figure it’s worth a quick review of my playing squad, sharing exactly who did what in the 2010/11 season, and asking for advice about how to proceed.

With all the following images, just click to enlarge. And click back in your browser to get back (obviously).

Here’s my full first tea squad, by position (with values on the right)

First team squad by average rating:

First team squad, by stats:

Top scorer was Lewandowski with 21 in 51 games. Followed by The Pog with 17 from 34 (one in two, and he missed five months through injury).

Top man for assists was Jonas with a ridiculous 23, including 13 in the Prem which put him joint top with Theo Walcott. Good work sir.

Coloccini, Enrique, Jonas and Rusol led in the average ratings, but nothing really spectacular. Even Colo only averaged 7.18. Although ratings as a whole seemed to go up after I switched tactics for the last 10 games or so.

Based on the bove, my feeling is that I still need a new striker. The Pog is quality, if a bit limited. Lewandowski and Bendner are both OK but not stellar. Marquinhos seems better suited to playing on the wing or as attacking mid than up front. So maybe a big money bid from someone like Keirrison (now at Marseille) would be worth a go. He wouldn’t come cheap, but he looks the business. Maybe I could even go after Foti again?

Shay Given has been quality, and is now Newcastle’s all-time leader in appearances. But Igor Akinfeev’s contract is up soon, so I might try and get him on the cheap. Given’s a legend, but Akinfeev still looks like an upgrade to me. And he’s 10 years younger.

There’s a story behind the “bid” symbol next to Andrey Arshavin. At the end of the season, the usual big money teams – Liverpool, Chelsea, Barca, Real etc were linked with Marquinhos, Camacho and Arshavin. Marq and Camacho showed some loyalty and pronounced themselves happy to stay.

Arshavin… not so much:

So, I tried to part exchange him for Chelsea’s out of favour but brilliant looking left back Juan Manuel Vargas. Nice try, but looks like Real Madrid are going to gazump me with a £16.5m bid.

It’s OK, I’m happy enough with Jose Enrique (though I could do with a little backup).

Two other options I’m looking at are Christian Maggio to give me a threat from right back, and Miguel Veloso, to take some DM pressure off of Ignacio Camacho.

Last but not least, there are some staff contracts expiring. Dennis Wise has been taking &pound:10,000 per week as a scout, despite not being very good at it. So the second his deal runs out I’m kicking the little fella out on to the street.

More questionable is Chris Hughton. I could definitely get a better assistant manager at this point, but caan’t help feeling a little loyalty to CH these days. Has anyone ever replaced their ass man when things were going OK? Do the players react? Or do they not even notice?

So, there it is. No idea how much I’ll have to spend, but should be at least something. Any advice feedback on how to proceed here much appreciated.

Elsewhere on FM Offside:

We’ve got two new blogs to welcome to the ~~cult~~ family…