36 replies to this topic

[Bunk]

Season 1 - 2009/2010

Transfers In;
Tore Reginiussen - Free*
Yassine Chikhaoiu - £3.4m*
Anthony Annan - £4.5m*
Javier Chevanton - £1m
Ezequiel Carboni - Ln Fee £180k
Rudi Skacel - Free
Glauber - Free
Marek Sapara - £1.8m

Transfers Out;
Andrew Shinnie - £575k*
Alan Lowing - Free*
Kyle Lafferty - £4.4m
Lee McCulloch - £900k
Kevin Thomson - £4.2m
Steven Smith - £600k
Gregg Wylde - Loaned to Partick

*Deal was concluded during January window.

It was always going to be an extremely tough first season transfer wise. I started with a budget of £0 and an almost non existant wage budget. The only money I parted with was in securing Sapara who performed very well throughout the season although my other dealings weren't so successful as I brought in a fairly average Chaventon and Carboni and Skacel whom although were both needed as injuries took their toll they were simply awful. Just before January I was given an £8m boost in my budget due to improved finances and I managed to bring in Annan and Chikhaoui, both of whom did well throughout the season. I was sad to see Thomson go as it certainly wasn't planned but felt I couldn't reject such a substantial bid.

Best XI;

McGregor©

Whittaker - Bougherra - Reginuissen - Papac

Davis

Mendes - Sapara

Miller--------------------------------------Beasley

Boyd

As you can see with the official Best XI, most of the original team were relied upon. Davis didn't play DM once despite being strangely rearranged with Mendes in this version, it was normally the other way about. Boyd was the pick of the bunch scoring 36 in 43 overall and 32 in 34 in the league. Beasley and Miller provided over 30 assists between them also. I remained with this formation for most of the season, relying on Boyd to lead the line although Miller and Beasley were never far behind. Mendes dictated play from his defensive mid position whilst the others in front were allowed to roam somewhat.

Top Scorer: Kris Boyd (36)
Most Assists: DeMarcus Beasley (19)
Fans Player Of Year: Kris Boyd
Personal Favourite: Kris Boyd
Rising Star: Danny Wilson

League;

Scottish Cup: Final vs Celtic (0-2)
League Cup: Semi vs Dundee Utd (3-4)
Champs League: 4th in Group C

I knew the season would always be tough but I finished with no silverware and not even a win against Old Firm rivals Celtic all season to boast about. We were ahead in the league for a while but then fell miles behind after a shocking run of results. In the end it looked closer than it was in all honesty. The Champions League was absymal. In a group that consisted of Lyon, Sevilla and Kobenhavn we finished with a sole point which came courtesy of a draw in Spain.

Overall I was disappointed obviously but had always known the first season was more of a transition period and I had a healthy bank balance going into season two. Season two was where the pressure kicked in however, I had to do the opposite of what I had this season.

[Bunk]

Season 2 - 2010/2011

Transfers In;
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - Ln Fee £1.6m
Wayne Hennessey - Ln Fee £1.6m
Kevin Doyle - Ln Fee £1.9m
Nicolas Burdisso - Free
Mario Santana - Ln Fee £1m
Pape Diakhate - £2.8m
Ignazio Abate - £2.3m
Leigh Griffiths - £2.4m
Emir Babic - £2.3m
Jose Paolo Guerrero - Free
Eliaquim Mangala - £1.3m
Wayne Hennessey - £800k*
Henok Goitom - £1.3m*
Julien Faubert - £2.8m*
Johan Djourou - £2.7m*
Jo - £5.25m*
Paul Dixon - Free**
Total = £30m

Transfers Out;
Madjid Bougherra - £7.75m
Marek Sapara - £3.4m
Maurice Edu - £2.6m
Yassine Chikhaoui - £5m
Glauber - £2.7m
Andy Webster - £1.7m
Neil Alexander - £1m
Javier Chevanton - £2.5m
Steven Naismith - £3.1m
Sasa Papac - £3.1m*
Pedro Mendes - £4.2m*
Ignazio Abate - £3.2m*
Nicolas Burdisso - £7.25m*
Jose Paolo Guerrero - £9.5m*
36 players released - Free
Total = £57m

*Deal was concluded during January window.
**Deal was concluded at end of season.

After being given some money to spend, in the regen of £13m I finally could start to assemble a team I was happy with. As you can see it was a majorly busy summer and January was the same. Some players left for major profits which obviously didn't do my team any favours but boosted my balance a lot. Burdisso and Guerrero both came for free and left just over 4months later for over £16m profit. Wolves were relegated from the Premier Division so I raided them for loans, Doyle and Hennesey were revelations and I later activated Hennesey's clause by bidding just £800k for him, not bad for a player worth £3.4m \o/ Doyle was stubborn and wouldn't join unfortunately as he was pretty good for me despite picking up a bad injury he managed 14 in 15.

Best XI

Hennessey

Whittaker - Reginiussen - Burdisso - Wilson

Davis - Annan

Santana--------------------------------Beasley

Boyd - Doyle

Subs: Hennessey, Jo, Fleck, Mangala, Diakhate, Djourou, Guerrero.

Hennessey was that good he made it onto the subs bench as well as the first team! Suprised Jo didn't make it in although he was signed late January he still bettered Doyle's games played and goals scored. Six new faces from last season in the first XI, says a lot.

Top Scorer: Kris Boyd (43)
Most Assists: Mario Santana (40)
Fans Player Of Year: Kris Boyd
Personal Favourite: Mario Santana
Rising Star: Scott Durie

League;


Scottish Cup; Winners vs Dundee (2-0)
League Cup; Winners vs Celtic (2-1)
Champions League Lost in Qualifying Rounds vs Dinamo Buc
Euro Cup;

1st KO Round - Everton 6 - 7 Rangers on agg
2nd KO Round - FC Sochaux 1 - 3 Rangers on agg
1/4 Final - Rangers 6 - 4 HSV on agg
Semi Final - Rangers 3 - 2 CSKA Moscow on agg
Final - Rangers 1 - 2 Tottenham

Well what a difference a year makes. So close to completing a famous quadruple until a Crouch goal 8mins from time in the Uefa Cup final sent us home as runners up. The league looked unbelievably dim and was almost over in Jan as we were 11 points behind but some amazing form seen us storm all cups and eventually take over from Celtic after an epic end to the season. I have a squad capable of doing almost anything now and I definately want to make my mark in the Champs League proper as I've been disappointing in that so far. We have a bank balance of £50m and making profit consistently so we're in a good position financially as well. Very pleased with how this season panned out but next season should be better.

[JohnP]

Shit first season but something to be built on... Second did much better tbh, looks a decent team now tbh. Should in the UEFA cup next year if you get knocked out the CL.

Looks like you're getting the finances sorted too. Good work.

[Bunk]

Hoping not to drop into the Uefa Cup tbh, need a run in the Champs league. This year I got a group consisting of Stuttgart, AEK and Chelsea so hoping to qualify from that.

[JackHammer]

Tore Reginiussen
Loved him since my Norway game in FM09

Looking like a pretty good team too

[TommyFM]

So unlucky against Spurs, would of topped off a great year

Boyd is an animal

[killie97]

thats pretty good hauling in all that money in the second season for rangers
very unlucky mate with the uefa cup final, a quadruple wouldve just topped that off
looks like a good game so far  

[Jack Bauer]

Canny believe Santana got 40 assists \o/

Still not as good as me, but improving.

[ChrisOrmie]

Decent start and followed up with a great second season. Hopefully you can get through that CL group and start playing the biggest teams to see just how good the team can be, looks to be a solid group with some fb deals in and out.

Good luck for the next season!

[Blaze]

Nice couple of seasons there, which seem to be gradually improving. Brilliant profit you made on Burdisso and Guerrero, which I'm sure really helped the club financially, nice to see you that possibly foresaw that you could probably make decent profit on some you got on a bosman. Overall nice business and your team's really shaping up, wish you luck mate!

[Bunk]

JackHammer, on 08 January 2010 - 10:33 PM, said:

Tore Reginiussen
Loved him since my Norway game in FM09

Looking like a pretty good team too

Aye he has been a favourite of mine for a while now, available for a free at the start of the first season as his contract ends in Jan. He is a beast!

TommyFM, on 08 January 2010 - 10:43 PM, said:

So unlucky against Spurs, would of topped off a great year

Boyd is an animal

Boyd first season was like in real life, he was class in SPL but shit in Europe. He has now gotten much better and rapes in Europe too, has more than a goal a game ratio 11 games into my third season as well

[Cookie]

You need Beckford to partner him imHo.

[Bunk]

Man City have just approached me with a budget of £89m and a wage budget of £2.5m, still with the bulk of the original squad witht he only notable additions of Aaron Lennon, Srna, Ashley Young and Leighton Baines.

Tough choice?!

[AlexBRFC]

If I was you, I wouldn't take it. I reckon you should try and win the Champs League with Rangers, then if/when that happens, you will have took Rangers as far as you possibly can, and if you're lucky, a big team like Blackburn will offer you a job!

[Blaze]

I'd stay where you are mate, I've been at a side before, think it may have been after getting Leeds to the Premiership and I think it was City on FM 09 who came in for me and I accepted thinking the game would improve but to be fair, for me it just ruined my game and found myself resigning after a few easy months sitting at the top. I'd stay put and aim large at the Gers.

[Bunk]

I actually forgot to mention I am also manager of Cameroon, have been for the best part of a year. Played 7 won 6 lost 1, the loss came in a friendly to Brazil where I got beat 1-0 just. All other 6 came in the African Cup of Nations qualifying as I topped the group scoring 19 and conceding just 1. Unsuprisingly Eto'o has been top scorer with 8 goals.

Club football however sees me remain at Rangers, turning down an offer from Man City. Still a bit off ending the season so I'll update after January.

[ChrisOrmie]

Gers, on 10 January 2010 - 01:55 PM, said:

I actually forgot to mention I am also manager of Cameroon, have been for the best part of a year. Played 7 won 6 lost 1, the loss came in a friendly to Brazil where I got beat 1-0 just. All other 6 came in the African Cup of Nations qualifying as I topped the group scoring 19 and conceding just 1. Unsuprisingly Eto'o has been top scorer with 8 goals.

Club football however sees me remain at Rangers, turning down an offer from Man City. Still a bit off ending the season so I'll update after January.

Think it's the right move tbh, I always try and stick at a club unless I am trying new leagues and then its fun to manage for a year somewhere and jump ship to a new league.

I have managed African nations before (SA, Nigeria, Egypt) and it's always a pretty good deal - low expectations, good raw talent, and a chance to turn some heads at a World Cup and increase your reputation. Much prefer it to managing a big nation as we always seem to coast most tournaments.

[Bunk]

I've just broke a Champions League record for most goals in the competition, Barca held it at 33 in the whole competition. I now have 38.

I can't wait to update yous all, it has been an eventful season /o\

[ChrisOrmie]

That's a load of goals, even with my epic Liverpool side (5 CL titles in 7 years, finalists the other two times) we only got about 28 goals in the competition at most! Mind you we only conceded three times then.

Sounds interesting, so what you win?  

[Zabier]

38 goals in one Champions League campaign? Did this include any qualifying matches?

The first season was a bit of a stumbler but it wasn't that bad for a first season. Considering Rangers's financial problems you've done well to get them where they are. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have done this season now with all the hype of it being an 'eventful season'.