The Blue side of Manchester left in turmoil..

Bullardinho

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Hi Guys,

I am bit of a newbie at FM Stories, I tried one in 2014 but never really put much effort in to it. I am really gonna try give this one a go and just hope people enjoy the read.

I am going to attempt a story where the Abu Dhabi United Group have left Man City, along with all of its Middle Eastern investment/sponsorship/commercialisation and a incredibly high wage bill.

I will be attempting to maintain City's League title challenge as well as increase European stance.. but of course I am going to have to sell all of its top players to balance the books and put my trust in the reserve and youth team.

Please let me know if anyone would be interested in reading this story if I give it a go or any recommendations you may have.

Cheers!
 
Sure. Why not. least you've remembered to mention the sponsership and commercialisation removed as well. :)

You'll still have the new facilities for the youth, should be a good read.
 
When saying that you will trust the reserve team, does that mean that you will buy all Arsenals players?


Either way, should be interesting to follow!
 
Love the idea mate, any idea what sort of finances you'll get?

Thanks pal, I am thinking I will have a £0 bank balance, lose all investment (sugar daddy) and all major sponsorship. Then I will still have a large wage bill to sort out as well as the £4 million a year stadium payments to cover and not to mention the huge amount of debt.
 

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After the turmoil that has recently befallen Manchester City Football club, worrying times lay ahead.

For reasons that are still not clear, the Middle Eastern corporation ADUG, headed by Khaldoon Al Mubarak have deserted the club, leaving them on less than stable financial grounds.
With a new stadium, A list of highly paid star players and numerous bank loans, the supporters fear for their beloved club.

Not only has the backing of the multi-billion pound company no longer available, its many connections have also vanished, including Stadium sponsorship and affiliations with the likes of NYFC.

The club manager Pellegrini immediately invoked his rights to cancel his contract with the club as did many of its backroom staff.
The next manager to take change has a huge task on his hands, we can only assume that he we need to sell some of the key names to balance wage bills and debts, but he will also need to manage the fans expectations.

A decision is due to be made imminently on who will be the next man at the helm as the club looks to try and re-build and looks to the not too optimistic future.

 
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Breaking News: Manchester City have hired unproven manager Matt Bullard as the man the replace Pellegrini and take the club forward after a nightmare month.
Whether he has what it takes to succeed, only time will tell.

 
So here I am on my first day at the Etihad Stadium, I have had a mixed welcome and at the moment things are chaos, before I even had a chance to see the four walls of my office I had meetings with my current staff and the Chairman, my first job was unfortunately to sell some key members of my new squad as I have been informed the club have had to take a £170 million loan to cover increasing debts and the wage bill here is current almost £500k over its weekly budget.

My goals were simple:

YEAR 1
Stabilise finances by selling highest earners whilst maintaining morale in squad.
Rebuild a strong squad with youth, fringe and remaining 1st team players.
Try to remain in top 4 of BPL.
Get through group stage of CL.
Cup run in one of 2 Domestic Cups.

YEAR 2
By now finances should be stable.
Using the squad base in place, sign at least one marque signing.
Break top 3 (challenge for title).
Get through group stage of CL.
Win a Domestic Cup.

YEAR 3
Sign further marque signings
Win BPL
Good run in CL
Win a Domestic Cup

YEAR 4
Domestic and European Domination.



 
So after my first week in charge I have been busy putting the club back on stable grounds.
Its been toughing letting some of the best talent in the world go but it was the only way to stop the club going into administration.
As you can see I made a lot of money from the sale of players but unfortunately had to cancel the contract of Aguero, Navas and Jovetic. Clubs were not willing to give in to their demands and we just simply could not afford their combined wages of nearly 450K a week.

View attachment 307665
Now that we finally have a financial foot hold, I will invest a very small amount in youth as the squad is severely lacking in quality in certain areas and is also lacking alot of depth, so far my squad looks as follows:

GK:
J.Hart
W.Caballero

Def:
B.Sagna
S.Facey
E.Mangala
D.Boyata.
M.Nastasic
M.Demichelis
P.Zabaleta
A.Kolarov

Mid:
Fernando
Fernandinho
S.Fofana
J.Milner

Att Mid:
S.Sinclair
A.Nitcham

Fwd:
J.Hiwula
J.Pozo
T.Ambrose

Despite the GK/defence looking relativity strong, my attacking options are very poor and we have a long season ahead of us with a lot of games.

I will update again with once pre-season is over and the opening day kicks off, I have a busy month ahead.


 
Aguero going on a free transfer is insane - whoever gets him won't believe their luck!!

really cool idea interested to see how this works out
 
Aguero going on a free transfer is insane - whoever gets him won't believe their luck!!

really cool idea interested to see how this works out

Tell me about it.. I had a tear running down my face when I released him haha! I tried selling him as much as I could, even went down to 10mil on the asking price.. even teams like Barca and Real couldn't agree to his wage demands.
 
So far its been pretty quiet on the transfer front, I have a few deals going through but not confirmed as of yet.. I will do an update after the transfer window shuts.

An update on finances, as you can see, we are still considered to be 'Rich' but I am sure that will not be for much longer. Club value has dropped considerably, in fact almost £700 Million due to loss of assets (players), sponsorship and I am assuming just general worth. Loan payments towards the £170 Million have just begun of £635K a month until 2039.





Anyway, back to the football, Pre-season has actually gone OK, not too many upsets, Milner and Thierry Ambrose in particular performing well.

Friendlies:


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Community Shield day tomorrow and the team is no where near ready, Match fitness is still low and tactical match preparation is low!

The team will set up like so, with quick possession football and hard pressing defence/midfield and a lot of wing play.






Anyway I need to get back to preparing for the Community Shield game, will update you with a result and Augusts fixtures soon.
 
So its the day of the Charity Shield and my first match in charge of the new look City side. I have picked Joe Hart as my new captain to replace the departed Kompany, I think he was the only stand out candidate in my squad.
I'm a little apprehensive for the game today but I have done my homework on the Arsenal side and I sent out the best possible team I could..


View attachment 307401View attachment 307400At least I can say we have won a piece of silverware this season! It wasn't exactly the most convincing result but considering the team they put out compared to ours, I think this was a great result and it gives me hope.

Next challenge was the opening match of the season, We had QPR at their ground and this is one that could go either way. I have made a few additions to the squad to add depth and I will update will the full list after the transfer window closes. Needless to say despite the lack of attacking options.. we dominated.

View attachment 307396

Couldn't have been happier with that result and so far Scott Sinclair looks like he is going to be my main threat coming in off the left wing. Great to get the first 3 points and really show we have what it takes still. I hope this form continues for at least the rest of August until I can strengthen more.

Here is how the rest of August is going to look:

View attachment 307392

I would like to think we will still have enough in us to beat Sunderland at home, I am looking to really make the Etihad a fortress, so at least we will keep the home fans flocking in and happy, specially now they are not paying to see the likes of Yaya Toure and Aguero.
Liverpool away though will be a test but I hope to have strengthened my attacking options by then.



 
After the opening game we was given a lift and I really thought we could push on in August, I think given the performances I am happy at this stage.

View attachment 307227

Man CityVs Sunderland

View attachment 307220

So as you can see it was a brilliant result, we dominated the game from start to finish with high percentage possession and a lot of shots on goal. The only downside was that Sinclair (our stand out player so far got injured). That's now 6 points out of 6 and a good platform, now just to Anfield next. Oh and yes you are reading that write.. Darren Bent!

Liverpool Vs Man City

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So we played well in this game, We shared possession equally and it was a really tight game. Absolutely devastated to have lost the game in the way we did, Hart wasn't to blame for the OG, just bad luck really. I would have to take the blame for this, once we got the goal I sent out instructions to sit back and we had to soak up a lot of pressure. Another Sinclair goal though, he is looking a real good player so far.

Transfer Window Closes

This window has obviously been a very busy one for Man City, a lot of world class talent gone and some new faces in.

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I won't go over the players out, it's a depressing read as it is, I don't want to dwell on it any more.. So onto players in:

PLAYERS IN

Luciano Acosta
£5.5 Million


At 20 years old he is a fantastic talent, I would compare him to a young Argentinian David Silva, he has bags of potential and can play AM, LW and ST, so he offers plenty of variety.

Adama Traore
Loan


Offers an injection of pace on the right wing, at 18 the Barca prodigy isn't going to be a permanent fixture but he was definitely worth taking a risk and hopefully he will be a good sub player.

Darren Bent
Loan

Purely brought in for his experience, he has the odd goal in him and and he he can play up top on his own.

Pavel Savitskiy
£215k

Definitely one for the future, an extremely impressive young talent who will go on to be one of the best wingers in the world. Unfortunately for now he cannot play in my squad due to failing to get a work permit so I have had to loan him out to Espanyol for the season. One to watch.

Simon Pepe
Loan

Experienced Italian winger who will add experience and depth to my attacking options.

Sergi Samper
Loan

Again a brilliant Barca youth player, going to really help me in my cup games and lesser opposition to help my CM's to have a rest.

Andre Hahn
£2.1 Million

Pacey young German winger who had a Minimum Release Fee in his contract and he is already worth £12 Million so its a money spinner. He will be in my first team though and hopefully he can go on to be a world beater.

 
Its the end of the month and the awards have been handed out, It was a good month for the team as individuals.

View attachment 307181View attachment 307176

Scott Sinclair picks up the player of the month with a superb set of performances. So far he is the most inform player in the league.

Also the Champions League draw took place and we was handed a very hard group..

View attachment 307172

Very difficult group, I am hoping that we can get 2nd place, Real Madrid are obviously the favourites to come out on top. If our squad can handle the amount of games we have to play this year then we have a chance to scrape through.

SEPTEMBER

View attachment 307170

A tough month, Roma and Real Madrid are going to be difficult games and Tottenham are in form at the moment. I am hoping to be able to pick up at least 6 points in in the league and hopefully 3 points in the CL.
 
September overall was a fantastic month, we did much better than I had previous said I was hoping for, I even managed to pick up a runner up Manager of the Month award. The highlight for sure is the surprise hat-trick from the main man upfront.

SEPTEMBER

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Man City Vs West Brom

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So we kicked off September with a pretty solid win against West Brom, dominated the entire game, only negative would be that we had 27 shots and only scored twice, we need to convert more if we are going to keep on challenging. Sinclair gets on the score sheet again!

Roma Vs Man City

View attachment 306748
Roma away was a great Win, in front of 76,000 passionate Italian fans we came out on top with a well deserved penalty being all that separated us. Even on possession and equal on shots on target, it could have gone either way but a very valuable 3 points in the bag.

Tottenham Vs Man City

View attachment 306741

Darren Bent's fantastic hat-trick was what gave us the 3 points in this game, it was another even game where it could have gone either way but in the end his class was the difference, our tactics are getting the best out of him at the moment. We almost let our 3 goal lead slip but in the end another great 3 points, ending Tottenham's 5 game unbeaten run.

Norwich Vs Man City

View attachment 306740

I fielded a completely rotated team for this game, giving all of my youth a chance to shine and that's exactly what we did, controlled tempo and scored some really good goals, even when they equalised I had no worries that we would see this game off.

Man City Vs Southampton

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So frustrated with this result, absolutely dominated Southampton from start to finish, let in each of the 3 shots on target they had, it was not a good day at the office for Hart. Equally we just didn't finish the chances we had. Positives and negatives to take from this result, one of them being that Southampton are unbeaten at the top of the league at the moment. Also Fernandinho's last minute equaliser from 26 yards also got second place on goal of the month.

Man city Vs Real Madrid

View attachment 306737

What an amazing game, this match had everything. Nasri and Yaya Toure both started for Madrid but neither had much impact. We played really well and dealt with the onslaught from the Portugal captain Ronaldo really well, we took our chances from set pieces and defended excellently. Only negative was our main goal threat in Bent got injured early on and will be out for 3 weeks.

So here is how the Premier League and Champions League Group F table look so far:

View attachment 306735View attachment 306734
Player of the Month

View attachment 306730
I have to give it to Darren Bent.
I only signed him as an experienced striker to make up for the lack of out-and-out strikers in the squad and he has excelled, the hat trick against Tottenham and a poachers finish against Southampton now taking his tally to 5 in 5 in the League.

October

View attachment 306728
On paper a much easier month but as we all well know, no game is easy in the BPL and CL and I am sure Tottenham will want to seek revenge after the last game.
 
Breaking Transfer News!!

Sergio Aguero signs for Liverpool!!

View attachment 306681

Sergio Aguero has signed for Liverpool FC after being released from his contract at Man City.

The 4 year deal is thought to be around £120K a week, almost half of what he was earning at City.

In a press conference earlier today, he commented on his departure from Man City:

'I am sad the way it had to come to an end, but I wish them all the best and I am just looking forward to playing again'.

When asked if he would return to the Etihad he replied:

'To say this would be disrespectful to Liverpool FC, all I can say is I am here to give my best right now, who knows what the future holds.
 
Breaking Transfer News!!

Sergio Aguero signs for Liverpool!!

View attachment 758412

Sergio Aguero has signed for Liverpool FC after being released from his contract at Man City.

The 4 year deal is thought to be around £120K a week, almost half of what he was earning at City.

In a press conference earlier today, he commented on his departure from Man City:

'I am sad the way it had to come to an end, but I wish them all the best and I am just looking forward to playing again'.

When asked if he would return to the Etihad he replied:

'To say this would be disrespectful to Liverpool FC, all I can say is I am here to give my best right now, who knows what the future holds.

Liverpool fans immediately make a mess in their pants reading this lol.

Love the story mate and the idea. Good to see you can still compete at this level as well.
 
Liverpool fans immediately make a mess in their pants reading this lol.

Love the story mate and the idea. Good to see you can still compete at this level as well.

I know right.. ready made replacement for Luis 'The Biter' Suarez aswell!

Thanks very much, I was starting to think people were not too interested in this story. It is proving difficult though, never rotated a squad so much!
 
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