Season 3
PRE-Pre-season news
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Briliant achievement for the club as we were main climbers in the worlds rich list!
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Now 35th in worlds rich list shows some progression. If we can keep progressing at the rate we have done so far, we should continue to climb! Exciting news!
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Fantastic news for the future of the club. Hopefully we should see some better regens produced in our youth intakes now.
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If you remember, at the beginning of last season i mentioned about a new stadium BUT i never received any news about in my inbox? Well....1 year on....this is came in my mail....
Massive massive news!
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Absolutely fantastic news for the club. Makes the thread so much more exciting in my eyes, the fact that the new stadium is being named after Bobby Robson is so so relevant for this story!
I didnt have anything to do with it and i cant wait for it to be built! We need to start filling Portman Road now. If we dont start getting regular sellouts next season before this is built. Youve got to question why the club decided to build this new stadium in the first place surely?!?!
Hopefully theyl be lots of room for expansion though if we start bringing European football back to Ipswich!
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Loan repayments of £375k p/m is surely going to have an adverse effect on my future budgets?! But ive made some decent young signings this window. Perhaps just one or two centre backs next summer will be all i need.
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Decent profit last season which sees us wellllllll on side of the financial fair play. Getting into a routine of sticking to this will do the club all the good in the world. Keeping our finances in shape and avoiding any penalties from UEFA.
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Transfers and Backroom Staff changes
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Some eye catching changes for the Backroom Staff. Terry O'Connor has been decent as assistant manager. But i felt the need to make it more of my own club.
Mark Venus comes in as new Assistant Manager. Its a massive signing for the club as Mark Venus was of course a part of George Burleys Ipswich side when he was last in charge! He was one of Burleys most consistent and loyal players so its a decent signing for the thread 
John McGreal had also been signed, he goes straight in as an U18s coach. John McGreal was also part of George Burleys last Ipswich side. The fans will be pleased to see two old faces back at the club. John McGreeeaaaalllll OOH!
Rene Meulensteen & Xaxi Valero have been brought in to add some class and experience to our training sessions. Massive signings, shows just how far the club have come over the last 2 seasons.
Steven Gerrard retired at the end of the season. He has been arguably Liverpool & Englands most influential player of the last decade. A role model and inspiration for all young players. He will be apart of the U18s coaching set up.
John Terry also retired, i offered him a role as U18s manager, no news as yet though.
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The board must have heard me talking last season as i said i would ideally like about £20m for this summer transfer window. Happy with the backing as i can further strengthen our side.
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Some real decent signings this season which will improve key areas of the team!
I got all the signings done real early, i think this is the best way as they can all settle in together through pre season this way!
Jasper Cillessen - Goalkeeper
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Id say Jasper Cillessen is probably my most important signing. Gerken done ok last season to be fair! But he did concede ALOT of goals and hes stats have been decreasing despite lots of game time. He is 31, but for a goalkeeper he is now reaching his prime supposedly. Goalkeeper was one position i definitely had to strengthen. Delighted all round with Cillessen. He has decent stats, still young at 27. His eccentricity and first touch could be better. But im sure with training and game time they will increase rapidly this season. He speaks English already which is a plus and for me, his scout report was really really good. Speed off his line maybe a little bit of as concern considering my gks role of sweeper ( a ). But neither was Gerkens. Communication, Handling, Reflexes & Composure are going to be a real good asset for my goalkeeper! Excited to see how well he does!
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Ryan Donk - Centre Back
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Ryan Donk i signed on a free transfer as his contract expired. Will provide real stiff competition for the centre backs this season and could become a first team member. His stats are really decent for cb stopper and to sign him on a free is a real coup!
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Sam Byram - Right back/Right Midfield
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Sam Byram! A right back naturally but can also play at Right Mid. The last two games of last season i switched to Zero seas 442L. Which worked well and i won both games comfortably as far the stats go. I figured if i was going switch things up a bit more next season by using the 442 id need to sign as fully fledged right complete wing back. Byrams stats are superb for both Right CWB & Right WM. So his versatility come in handy. The fact he can be used in both the 442 and 343 formations is a real plus.
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Jack Grealish - Left Midfield
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Jack Grealish!....Dont think i need to say much more....
Signed him on loan for an Incredible 3rd season on the trot. The fact Aston Villa almost got relegated from the Championship last year in 17th place is probably a massive factor as to why ive been so lucky to keep bringing him back on loan. Not to mention im taking his entire wages off their bill. He is slightly improving each season. Still a key player for me. Im going to look at improving his tackling this season though as its one of his weaknesses for his role of wide midfielder ( a ).
A slight difference in his contract this year.....i have the option to sign him for £21.5m at any point. Probably a bit of a high price. But if he plays aswell as he has been and my other players signings settle in quicker....European football could be a real possibility. £21.5m then becomes a bargain. He has 2 years left on his contract though, so i could bare that in mind and see how that plays out. To get him on loan for a 4th season in his final contract year at Villa could see me pick him up on a free. But i dont want to risk losing him to bigger club!
Advice on this one would definitely be appreciated
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Angelo Henriquez - Striker
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A decent signing for me here i think. Hes stats are really really decent. To pick him up for only £500k i do feel like ive robbed Man Utd a bit. He becomes a world class striker providing he plays regularly.
Made a little bit of a school boy error here though as he currently needs a work permit....Hoping my request for one will be approved. If not i shouldnt struggle to loan him out while he gets one approved.
At £500k though im not going shed any tears.
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Paulo Dybala - Striker
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Paulo Dybala, a player you all know i started scouting back in December. I kept going back to look at this player and simply couldnt resist signing him. Looks such an unreal prospect at only 22! His stats suggest he is ready to be a key player immediately and thats exactly what he will be!
He comes to the club as the only Argentinian. He is does speak fluent Italian though. Considering he will be playing alongside Bonazzoli who is Italian, this is a massive plus for me. Hoping he will settle in quickly being a roommate with Bonazzoli!
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One player i missed out on was this beast! Youri Tielemans. Everybody who plays Football Manager will know this guy.
Offered him a little less on weekly wages but absolutely overloaded incentives for him. Ended up missing out on him to Barcelona. Was no doubt going to be inevitable with Barcelona & Madrid chasing him aswell!
In hindsight i probably should have offered him a superb weekly wage in addition to the add-ons as a midfield 3 of Hughes, Tielemans & Grealish would have seen me sorted for a good 8 years there! Oh well though, baby steps! We are getting really strong as we go on through the seasons. Maybe in another 2 seasons or so, we can be challenging for Champions league positions on a regular basis!
Ive got a few players in my sights for loan deals. They wont be massive signings, but will provide more depth. When i decide who i want i shall update as and when.
ROLL ON THE SEASON NOW!!!
Excited for this save again! Should make the Europa league through league finish i think!
