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My very first game on 2012 was with Wolves, and it's been going well. I wanted a team with not too high expectations to experiment with and learn a bit more about the game - through almost some flukey accident, it's been probably my most successful FM game ever (in terms of expectations .vs. achievements. I've won more trophies before, but with bigger teams).

2011/2012 season:
Premier League: 5th
FA Cup: Winners
League Cup: Semi-finals


I wanted someone who could play good passes out from the back, so I brought in N'Zonzi and played him as a DLP in front of the defence. I also brought in Welbeck (who wasn't as effective as I'd hoped, but still useful). In January, I was doing so well in the league that the board gave me another £7m to spend, so I took the opportunity to get a regular partner for Roger Johnson in Jonathan Mensah, a strong young CB.

I employed a counter-attacking, wing-based style, usually playing 4-5-1 (4-4-2 against weaker teams), which worked really well. I played with defensive full-backs Elokobi and Zubar, who were usually very solid (though sometimes fell apart against the top teams), N'Zonzi behind O'Hara and Milijas, Jarvis and Hunt flanking Doyle, Welbeck or Ebanks-Blake. Fletcher was repeatedly injured and never got a run of form going, Welbeck also, but Doyle and Ebanks-Blake were magical. Doyle got 25 goals that season, Ebanks-Blake 22. I have their form to thank for my good season.


I'd started the season just hoping to secure a mid-table position, I'd have been happy with safety, but after a fluke win against Man City in the opening game (you know those annoying games where you have 30 shots and the other team has one, yet somehow you lose 1-0? It was that, except for once I had the one shot), I went on a run and made a home in the top half of the table. There was a brief flirtation with 4th place, but in the end I settled for 5th.

In the cups I did even better. My League Cup run was bizarre and incredible. I expected to go out after drawing Arsenal in the third round, but somehow I beat them. But then I got drawn against Chelsea... and beat them too. Then I got drawn away at Liverpool in the QFs, yet somehow came away with the win there as well, and got drawn against Man Utd in the Semis. I beat them at Old Trafford but then lost at home and went out.

My FA Cup run was almost the opposite - I avoided all the big teams and beat Brighton, Barnsley, Leicester, Doncaster before realising I was in the semi-finals. I scraped past Everton on sudden-death penalties, before going up against Chelsea in the final. I scored from a corner early on and then clung on all game until the 80th minute when we scored against on the counter. We won 2-0 and lifted the FA Cup.

2012/2013 season:
Premier League: 2nd
FA Cup: Winners
League Cup: Quarter-finals
Europa League: Second Knock-out round


My biggest concern was at full-back, so I brought in Kyle Walker, who I thought at £5m was a bargain, and Roberto Canella, who's good, though in retrospect I think I overpaid at £12. I got Rosicky because he can play anywhere in midfield, a great squad player, and Welbeck on loan again. Then after Nenad Milijas broke his ankle twice, his attributes dropped and I got messages telling me he was declining sharply as a footballer, I quickly offloaded him and brought in Felipe Anderson in January, whom my 20/20 scout gave a 5 star potential. He promptly tore his hamstring so I haven't seen a lot of him yet, but he looks good and will be great in the future I'm sure.

As for tactics, I opted to be a little less defensive. I had better, more attacking full-backs, and switched my focus to putting teams on the back foot (I still employed defensive tactics against the top teams and some tough away games though). Fletcher found his scoring boots and bagged me 29 goals, I also got 24 from Doyle and 27 from Welbeck.



Great season for me, could've won the league with a little more luck - though could've finished 6th with a little less. Man Utd were fairly clear leaders throughout the season, but the remaining CL places were very close throughout. It was nailbiting at times, but I secured 2nd eventually.

League Cup was pretty boring, beat some smaller teams before getting knocked out by Chelsea. I somehow managed to win the FA Cup again though, and I draw wasn't even quite so nice. I had to beat Man City in the QFs and Chelsea in the semis, before beating Aston Villa 3-2 in the final and retaining the trophy.

I had a great run in the Europa League. Finished top of my group above At. Madrid, beat Fenerbache in the knock--outs, but then fell to Celtic. It's annoying, I was winning 2-1 at half-time in the first (away) leg, but stupidly told my players "You're playing well" instead of "Keep focused". They became complacent and fell apart. I somehow lost that game 5-2 and despite winning narrowly at home, went out on aggregate.

2013/2014 season:


I've just started the 2013/14 season, and I've got a good feeling. I've brought in a natural right-winger in Kiko Femina. I tried to get Welbeck on a transfer but my bids were rejected, so instead I got Juan Antonio De la Cruz, who looks like he will be incredible for me. 17 on pace and finishing - he'll be a perfect poacher. Gary Cahill should make me properly solid at the back - I was tired of too many errors, and Essien (got him on loan, with an option to purchase for £3m) adds some muscle in midfield.

My aim this season is to win the league. But I know that will be very tough, so I'll settle for getting in the top 4 again and making headway in the Champions League. I've been drawn with Lyon, Shaktar and Copenhagen - propably the kindest group I could've got, so hopefully I can progress from the group and maybe even get to the quarters.

Here's my current squad by the way. If anyone has any suggestions for improvements, please suggest them.