FM 2010 Site Rankings
Follow me on Twitter
Advertising
The Author
HullComplicated Premier League start
In short, my Leeds United started the Premier League season rather poorly.
League table
Only 15 points instead of at least 20 points expected by me in the very beginning of the season. Well, 16th position is not so bad anyway and board won’t sack me for that.
Interesting fact that Man City and Man United are on the top and Arsenal is only the 6th.
Let’s analyze matches
Yes, let’s analyze, and we’ll find out reasons of lost matches 
But at first I would like to boast the most unexpected victory of my team – the one against The Gunners:
A red card shown to Eboue was the decisive moment of the game. Just right after the incident Leeds newcomers scored 2 goals. The first one was tragic for Almunia because he didn’t manage to catch ball from curled free kick from David Beckham and Andy Carroll was the first to strike the ball to a net. Then marvellous long shot by Matty Taylor amazed Leeds fans and brought us the first historical victory over English grand-club in Premier League.
But there were only 4 victories in 19 matches. The most games were lost to other Premier League clubs. I want to show you one interesting thing. Here are 3 screenshots:
If you are attentive you may notice equal amount of shots made by Leeds and opponent team in every game. What conclusion can we do being based on this fact? Leeds forwards were bad in dangerous moments realization. Look, there were 6 clear cut chances in “Leeds – Aston Villa 0:4” match!!! So my attack is a problem #1 now 
The second but no so keen problem is defence. Sometimes Leeds defenders make errors but in the most cases they are fooled by opponent attackers of higher quality.
By the way the worst Leeds match was League cup 2:5 loss to rival Sheffield United. I was really angry!
Let’s analyze players
Here is the full list of Leeds squad sorted by average player rating:
There are only several persons whose performances meet the case of Premier League:
- David Prieto. My best and quite reliable central defender, the one who is able to score from corners pretty often.
- Marco Verratti. Rising star, Leeds playmaker. His attributes grow very fast during trainings.
- Jonathan Howson. The best Leeds player who was in the squad from the very first season.
- Vincent Enyanma. Confident keeper making saves-miracles sometimes. He considered the best player in the squad by assistant manager.
- Adolphe Teicou. He is consistent performer though I am not sure about him because he had a long-termed injury and participated only in 7 matches.
Other players of Leeds United doesn’t reach that level at the current moment. And, as I have already written, the biggest problem is our attack. I would like to make some kind of forwards rating:
1. Oscar Trejo. 14(5) – 5 goals, 2 assists.
2. Andy Carroll. 14(2) – 5 goals.
3. Jermaine Beckford. 5(5) – 1 goal, 1 assist.
4. Dawid Janczyk. 11(2) – 1 goal, 1 assist.
Dawid Janczyk
It’s stunning to see Janczyk (the best Leeds player of the previous season!) at the last position of this rating. I don’t know what’s happened with him. He cannot merely score goals. Pepe Reina or Craig Gordon, for instance, made saves after his strikes without serious problems. Look at Janczyk shot statistics:
He had 15 shorts on target and only 1 goal! I am going to repeat myself – I don’t know what’s happened with him 
Jermaine Beckford
The same can be said about Beckford. He is really explosive forward and outruns opponent’s defence quite often. But when he comes out one-on-one with goalkeeper he is not able to perform good curled shot. Then ball is easily caught by keeper. Beckford’s attempts to score look even funny and that makes me angry
His shot statistics:
Andy Carroll
The transfer of Carroll became the most discussed one due to high price paid - $14.5M. And I can’t say he proved that he is worth that money. Let’s look at his shot statistics:
He has better percentage of goals than Janczyk and Beckford but his ability to shot on target suffers undoubtedly. We’ll see how he will perform in the second half of the season when Leeds team play will get better.
Oscar Trejo
Obviously he has the best statistics among all strikers. But I still don’t really like it. Trejo can perform better and can score more I believe. If he doesn’t increase his effectiveness Trejo will find himself on substitution bench.
Weird calendar
Some humour in the end. Look at these 6 home matches in row:
Isn’t it weird? 
first comment!
... poor start unfortunately as predicted, you just didn't strengthen your attack enough for prem...
but second half of the season can just get better, i believe you can get leeds up :)
greetings from croatia!
(prestanite mi krast pozdrav hahah)
as i said..your signing is suck..especially carroll.
u should buy welliton from spartak moscow instead..
i must say that i agree that you didn't strengthen your attack enough, Trejo is not good enough to be a starter, i had him as a sub and he often came in to score, instead of Carrol you should have bought Cardozo, way cheaper and scores with his eyes closed, next to him i had eden hazard. they performed brilliantly together and still do (i'm in my 5th season), just won the fa cup and finished 6th. First year in premier league i finished 13th and year later 9th
good luck
i dont completly agree with amal, but u shud look at welliton, hes pretty good (ZIGIC!)
this reminds me of ur southampton game from FM08, just reversed.
then u scored tonnes but had a rubbish defence- now u have a good defence but poor forwards
Poor set of results there, your strikers might get better as the season progresses i am confindent you get leeds mid-table an stay there. I am also in 3rd season with leeds (1st season in prem) after 26 games I am 3rd place somehow completly above expectations. My strikers are doing a good job and despite not having the best defenders they are coping very well and don't often make mistakes. There are some good English wonderkids popping up at the moment like Rodwell, Welbeck and a West Brom player Chris Wood. All oof them very expensive to buy :(
Good Luck Vitaliy, loving the blog as usual.
Hey Vitaly,
I have had a very similar experience as you with Leeds in my third season. Albeit I'm doing a little better but not much.
Just hang in there and avoid relegation, if you can stay in the prem and keep getting that cash money you can build up a squad that will eventually be good enough.
I also had a rare win against a top 4 team (chelsea) that also involved them getting a red card.
Let me know if I should send some screen shots through, if you would like to compare squads or get some player ideas.
Sorry this is so long but last thing, I just signed Gojko Kacar on a pre contract deal so will get him for free at the begining of the fourth season. Look into this in your game as he looks a real prospect.
Look forward to your next post
Nick
hope u avoid relegation as u r 1pt away frm it. i predicted this as i didnt stand by ur signings. but try get maximum pts frm the upcoming home matches. all da best.
informative blog thx for sharing,
Get complete Information on Swami Ramdev Yoga and health care product available in Books,VCD & DVD and medicines to cure all your health problems, diseases and make "Disease Free Society" http://www.swamiramdevmedicines.com/
Caroll doesn't even deserve 5 million, not to mention 15 ...
Yeah not to sure about carroll either its hard to get him to play right! can work as a target man with short passing and supply to his head and put him attack near post on corners and put your tallest d central to challenge keeper. in short if you get the ball to his head he can be leathal but it takes him a couple of seasons to work out the style of play. get rid of beckford and that dawid jank....what ever his name is and get a proven attacker who is quick. ps im the guy who started at blyth! im now on 9th season and at anderlecht but hoping to return to premier league tis season! good luck man
Have a look at Nilmar for a quick natural forward. I got him for 2m at start of season.
yeah...i agree with dimitri
cardozo is great.he will score tons of goal for u.
Janczyk is too poor to play in Premiership. I'd try to buy another Polish player called Robert Lewandowski. In 09 he had PA -9(!), I don't know what's in FM10.
try to sign oscar cardozo
when signing players pay special attention to their DECISIONS, composure, determination, and concentration. I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. the player can have 20 in his finishing, passing, technique or any other technical attribute, but if he has poor DECISIONS he will be useless
You should try some of the Brazilian centre backs there is loads of quality ones in my Reading game Geronmel, Leo, Miranda, Henrique. Have a look at the U-23 national team.
Hey vitaly sell beckford, he's not good enough for the prem, you should buy a MARQUEE MAN like how iverpool bought torres, i think that guiseppe rossi would fit yor bill nicely!!!!!!
Btw clear out the junk
eg:
like if you stll have naylor, sell him or kisnorbo. These players are way below par.
Btw Carrol Will get great he just still developing into life at leeds, encourage him every game and don't be to critical of your players!!!!!!!!!!
I have just finished the season that Vitaliy is on with leeds and I signed carroll on a free and he isnt any better then in vitaliy's game unfortunately. I finished 3rd in prem in my first season and have now managed to sign phil jagielka and curtis davies to strengthen my defenders!
i suggest getting cardozo or gignac, cost less than what u paid for carrol and they scored 30+ for me. btw vitali what skin r u using for fm 10 cuz im just wondering what skin u use cuz its annoying how on the default skin the attributes are all blue.
...it's impossible that cardozo or especially gignac cost less than carrol!
again how can you not finally realize that vitaliy's signings are in fckin dollars not pounds!!
however cardozo was certainly affordable given the money vitaliy had at the start,and would score loads (i had him in ma leverkusen game)... unless ofc if he hasn't already gone away from benfica...
@ mcgeady: i bought cardozo for 9M euro, convert his 14M dollars to euro and it will be around 10M euro, ok he's younger but that's not helping you to stay in the prem.
@ dimitri
ok, maybe so... it's possible... i spent around 14 mil pounds for him in the second season.
and still it's hardly possible to ever sign gignac for under at least 20 mil pounds... and that's an understatement!
i mean to sign him normally ofc.
(in the first 3-4 seasons and if he isn't transfer listed or his contract isn't expired...)
try signing vaclav kadlec or nicola kalnic (not sure about the spelling) the first play in my game at liverpool and he's quite good as he is a youngster the second play at blackburn he was goalscorer for the epl and every year he is among the top three goalscorers try them
it's nikola kalinic :)
and i'm a little unsure about him, but if you say he was that good then maybe...
its tough to use kalinic. he doesnt score much goals.
I told ya it was a massive step up in my last comment. The strikers i have been playin are also underperforming.
Just to address I signed Gignac for 10million and he was very poor think his return for last season was 2 goals in 22 starts. I had Ebi Smolarek and hes been most consistent 12gls in 23 apps.
I sold Gignac and signed Johnathon Cristaldo young Argentinian . Seems to be very good 2gls in 2games plus his finishing is 18... hope this helps
beckford does the same things he did in your game. somehow he doesnt score on one on one situations.
verratti and howson are the performing ones. but verratti may slumped into poor games in the middle of the season. so watch out for it.
Yes not the best signings, even Bramble, he has good abilities but very poor concentrating, what's very important for a defender!
anyway Enyanma's name isn't Enyanma, it's EnyEAMA!
Yep pretty similar situation for me in my first season in the prem with Leeds. Bramble was OK I used him as a stopper with a more sensible covering defender mopping up if he made a mistake and it seemed to work.
I was 13th after 15 games but got up to 9th by January which I was very happy with (Beckham was a superstar pulling the strings in centre mid). I got offered the Bayern Munich job and took it.
I changed tactics to a 4-5-1 as it seemed to suit the players at Bayern and I managed to take them from 13th to 2nd in the league and get to the semi final of the champions league (I had a 13 game winning streak which was amazing)
I'm in my second season with Bayern now and am top of the league after 10 games without really spending much money (Jonjo Shelvey for £8.25mil was my major signing).
Anyway I really wanted to say good luck with the rest of your season and I think Andy Carrol will come good if you use him as an out and out target man to bring your other players into the game. He won't be a prolific goal scorer, but he could be a diamond for a skillful poacher to play off of.
Take a look at James Vaughan. I play him in the target man role, and with his great speed he does most of the work on his own in attack.
Have loaned him for Millwall for the 2nd time in a row.
He has scored 7 goals in 5 games i the championship ( did 21 goals in 19 league 1-games prior to this season) and I'm sure he'd do well in the PL aswell.
first of all you srikers are shocking!, caroll you should loan out to a championship club to inprove his stats etc. You need to buy two strikers aswell, i strongly think carlton cole, fred, ched evans or bellamy, but maybe a bit too old.. also you should buy a centre mid, again i strongly think you should buy either, collisom, parker, noble or ledley..!
Good luck
(btw im not a west ham fan, i just turned them into an amzing team :))
... recommendation for a striker problem - try takayuki morimoto! (japanese, at catania)
i spent 11 mil pounds for him at the start of my 3rd celtic season and he had scored 8 in 10 so far!
i play him as an advanced foward up front with jo...
hope this helps
buy Kikin Fonseca. in 34 years old also he is one of the greatest strikers in premier league with 18 goals 25 appearences.
i want you to ask,how you play in not so good weather,whet it rains or snows? i have problems with fitness. with qpr in 6th season i stayed 2nd in premier league and now i play in CL and calendar ir so full,that i have problems with fitness (despite,i have 4 fitness couch and 2 physios).
@ pudzinsh
i dnt recommend u using 4 fit coaches. 2 r more than enogh. give one of them a strength training n another aerobic. but as u have 4, give 2 of them strength n 2 of them aerobic. hope this helps.
yeah no need for more than 2 fitness coach's (as long as there good)and make sure your players have good natural fitness obvious really!
thanks for advice. now i found the biggest problem with poor fitness- hard trainig schedules.
Does everyone know,how to help to board build new stadium without ultimatum? due to lack of space QPR board not allowed upgrade stadium larger.
and another question - how to better epmloy Robinho? to get out the best from him. i know he isnt a very good striker wich makes many goals in season and gives many assists. In my team he is 31 years old and i employ him like "complete forward"
FootballManagerLegend,
I don't believe that Carlton Cole is better than Carroll
@ pudzinsh
welcome.
does ur QPR team have enough finance to build a new stadium? it requires huge amount of money as compared to stadium extension. r u filling out the satdium regularly? if they r nt agreeing, i dnt think tht there is anyother way than ULTIMATUM.
never used robinho. no answer.
informative blog thx for sharing, !!china plus size wedding dresses