True Football Manager 2010 / 2009: March 2009

Sunday, 29 March 2009

Player positions that should be strengthened…

Hull story continues!

The season 2010/2011 is over and I want to share my minds with you about the weakest player positions in formation. It will be some kind of squad analysis that allows to make correct decisions on a transfer market. It’s very important because I’m going to set next season expectations – get to the Euro League!

The most of you know that formation of my tactics looks in the following way:

So I’m going to think over each of these 11 player positions and try to understand which of them should be strengthened.

Goalkeeper

Ochoa was the most successful transfer of the previous season! A lot of saves, MoM awards, fantastic performance! So I have no need to buy Akinfeev instead of him as some of you advice me in comments. Fabian Carini is reserve goalkeeper and it seem like he fills ok about that.

Conclusion

No changes on this position.

Central Defenders

Andriy Rusol is absolutely good central defender and my another successful transfer of the previous year . Though Olexandr Chyzhov is even more confident centre back but he has problems with injuries. When he misses matches I move versatile Pashaev from DMC on his position. This Ukrainian three is pretty good looking back to the previous season. Moreover, Chyzhov and Pashaev are quite young, and their attributes can be increased during trainings.

Matt Mills and Antony Gardner are substitution central defenders who perform not so confidently.

There is also talented youngster in Reserve team capped at U19 English national team – Phil Moses:

But he has problems with Jumping and Strength attributes as you see.

Conclusion

I will buy one new DC exceptionally in that case if he is better than all my Ukrainian defenders. So it can be some highly experienced centre back like Rio Ferdinand but more accessible one.

Left Defender

Kamil Zayatte was a leading left back till the end of the last season. But newcomer Henri Bedimo showed himself very confident in tackling ball (many successful sliding tackles) and managed to displace Zayatte a bit. Edgar Villamarin from Peru is number 3 here. I have also Michal Jonas who is average but good replacement for both DL and DR positions.

Conclusion

No changes needed.

Right Defender

This position is completely closed by Jonathan Spector – stable player of national USA team . He defends very well and supports attacks in quite creative way scoring goals and making passes sometimes. His closes competitors are already mentioned Pashaev and Jonas. Versatile Zayatte is also good player for this position.

Conclusion

No changes needed.

Central Defensive Midfielder

There is high competition on DMC position. I can give a comparison in percents:

50% – Maxym Pashaev

35% – Damien Plessis

10% – Eugene Shakhov

5% - Paul Codrea

Conclusion

No changes needed.

Central Midfielder

Here the main guy is Diego Buonanotte because of his great vision, pass making ability, technics and speed. Interesting thing that he is not so good on AML position because of weak ball strikes and low number of goals as a result. His partner in centre of midfield is Nuri Sahin. Turkish youngster showed quite disappointing performance in the 3rd season having such statistics:

Moreover, he is unhappy now because he “feels that it’s time to move on” .

His closest competitor for position is 20-years old Eugene Shakhov – really prospective and creative Ukrainian guy but unstable one. There are also some substitution players - David Obua and Paul Codrea – who don’t perform confidently often.

Conclusion

I think I need creative and experienced MC who will become a real threat together with Bounanotte.

Attacking Left Winger

Now we’ve come up to the most problematic positions of Hull: AML, AMR and FC.

AML is taken by Abdou Rasack Traore. He is nice young flank player with high dribbling and speed skills. But he doesn’t score almost all one-on-one moments which happen rather often for both AML and AMR. Look at the attributes:

May be Traore can be trained in better player, but I think his level is not enough at the moment.

When substitution is need then Victor Moses comes out:

Well, you see that these attributes are even more below level of top Premier League clubs.

Conclusion

New quick AML who can score goals and make accurate passes is needed very much. Now we miss a lot of goal moments due to poor finishing from the left flank. Marquihnos will be one of candidates!

Attacking Right Winger

Situation on this flank is somewhat better. Here Hull has flamboyant Irish youngster who is wanted by Chelsea now – Blaise O’Brien. His stats are pretty good, 7 goals here and 5 assists (not so much assists):

Iain Hume and Victor Moses perform as replacement AMRs and doesn’t excite fans with their performance on a pitch.

Conclusion

If I have enough money I will think about strengthening this position as well.

Forward

When I look to the statistics of the previous season I understand that this is the most problematic place in my tactical scheme.

Falcao (fans and me had high hopes about him) started well scoring 5 goals in 9 matches. But after 4 months injury – only 1 goal in 12 games . I’m still thinking about him .

Substitution player David Clarkson is very poor finisher and should be sold somewhere . Another our forward Iain Hume scored 4 goals in 20 matches having half of them played as AMR.

Conclusion

I will think whether it’s better to sell Falcao. And, of course, some new forwards will be bought then.

By the way, in season summary Falcao is the second worst signing of the season:

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Thursday, 26 March 2009

Bolton, Wigan, Wolves and Stoke in my FM 2009 game

This is the last portion of my series of posts about the Premier League clubs that compete with Hull. Today you will be able to read about results, transfers, record of Bolton, Wigan, Wolves and Stoke.

Bolton

Manager is Tony Mowbray.

Results

Season 1

8th place in PL

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Lost in FA Cup fourth round

Lost in League Cup third round

Season 2

14th place in PL

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Lost in FA Cup sixth round

Lost in League Cup semi final.

Current squad

Captain: Kevin Nolan

Transfers

Season 1

Season 2

Player statistics