The English Lions - it begins here.

TicTactition

TicTactition

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What is this save you may ask?

I'm using the create-a-club section on Football Manager to take over a team in the Premier League and replace all current players with English ones. To make it harder for me, I'll be starting with the finances of Bournemouth so I'll have to pick players on a bare budget to see what I can try forge as they have the lowest in the division by a clear mile. I have a few philosophies and rules I want to be judged on during the save:


Ensure that I can survive in the Premier League
I can only sign/sell English Players
Try not to make a loss in the transfer window
Develop players in the youth system and breed them through
Develop a club legend from the youth system
Have an English goalscorer that will break Alan Shearers record


I will eventually aim to win the Premier League with all English players and then obviously try get the England job and furthermore go on to try win the World Cup and create dominance within my team to try and rule for years to come.


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Onto the picking stage.

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Goalkeepers


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 Comes in at first choice, I believe he is a strong keeper at such a young age and will only get better. The value which we acquired him at would have been foolish to leave him. I hope that he can be the safe hands behind the back four this year otherwise we will have to turn to our other option.


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Will provide excellent back-up cover for us and I know he can be relied on should we need him. A very solid #2 which he will get his chances in cup competitions and if he does well he may well earn himself the #1 spot.

Onto our draft of defenders.

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I like the logo with those 3 yellow chicken becoming white because of fear. They remains out of blood in lower body.:$
 
Left-Backs


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Up and coming from the u21's, Brendan possesses great attacking strengths similarly to Luke Shaw but not quite on par yet, will have some work to do but is a toss up between him and the other option at left-back.

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Been around for a long-time but will provide experience and possibly be a tutor to young Galloway. Richardson has been in the experience of battling in the Premier League slums before and it will serve us key this year

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A player that can also play at Centre-back. Will be used sparingly and signed as a player for when we kick on in the Premier League. I think he will go on to gain many England caps and has a similar playing style to Sol Campbell. He is a big, athletic strong unit and will only get better with age.


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Right Backs

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Flanno is an out and out English player, loves a tackle and is patriotic. If he can keep fit all season then he will be a major asset to us, we have seen what he is capable of before and he has some great shooting boots on him aswell. Flanno will be our main right-back during the course of the year

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There ready to step on his heels if not performing is Sam Byram, we managed to fend off West Ham to get him to join our project and manage to turn him into an England international. He can play all up the right side which is also another bonus for us and will be used sparingly this season.



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Darlow will likely be called up to represent Wales (well he was on my save anyway) - Not sure if that means you have to eventually sell him or not...

Loving the concept of the story so far though! :)
 
Centre-Backs

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Although being on a tight budget, I stressed out that we needed a leader at the back and one with quality. John Terry was my first choice of call but with age not on his side and with him declining in his latter years, there was only one other option. Amassing over 270 games for Stoke, Shawcross will be the rock of our defence.

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Another leader. He's been there and done it, I don't believe Michael Dawson is a Championship defender at all he deserves to be playing in the Premiership and will be great alongside Shawcross for us. I believe that Dawson will be his permanent partner unless a drop in form or injury should prevent it.


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Ryan Bennett whom I know from my days of watching him at Grimsby, very good player of reading the game and has been unlucky at Norwich and I think he didn't get given the opportunity. He will be a healthy option to choose should we want to exercise it.

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We need numbers and Ridgey was available for a cut-fee. Although he had to move abroad for an opportunity with Portland I still feel he can bring value to our team. He will have a new lease of life after winning the MLS Cup and I hope he gives it everything with another shot in England.



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Nomadic said:
Darlow will likely be called up to represent Wales (well he was on my save anyway) - Not sure if that means you have to eventually sell him or not...

Loving the concept of the story so far though! :)
Click to expand...

If he gets called up to Wales he will have to go haha! Thanks man
 
Centre Midfield

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The Skipper. Our leader, he was far too good to be playing in the MLS and I persuaded him to come on our voyage to success. I wanted him to be in inspiration of starting this club off, part of history. Stevies qualities will shine to others on the pitch and I hope we can make an example to him to everyone else as he wont be around for years to come.


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Our young driving force in the midfield. I will be calling on Ruben this season, his big athletic build and stature scream out energy to me and with some older faces in midfield we will need someone who can drive at defences from central midfield and commit players. If Jose Mourinho thought he was good enough, I certainly do.

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I can't believe he didn't have a club, his best years are probably behind him but he will still be a good squad member for us and an experienced head. We all know Kevin Nolan being a goalscorer over the years and if we can get a little glimpse of that it would be enough for us this season.

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Fierce, tenacious and a good passer of the ball. For our budget Ben Watson was a very good buy and knowing he also has good energy and passing range he will be considered.



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Attacking Midfielder

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Although it's eaten up alot of our budget, I wanted to accommodate for one luxury player and this is it. The future of English football and the player that will take us to that next level. He can win games on his own and will be the spearhead of our football with the team built around him, he has many more years to develop and will be our key-player.

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A big risk on being a back-up but one I'm willing to take. His recent performances in short cameos for Spurs have interested me and he is a talent I am wanting to take a punt on, I will be looking to treat him in a similar mould of Poch and use him sparingly see how he develops.

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Will have to fight Onomah for a second spot in the team, although a good young player he will have to step his game up should he want to join the first-team and develop with us.


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Wingers

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A tricky customer who I think should have already had a big move but its in our favor that we now hang onto him. On his day he can tear defences inside out and will be a key-player for us this year should we want to progress onto the next level this lad will take us there.


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Managed to ****** him from City's grasp as we explained to him being there was a waste of time and he wouldn't be valued as much as here, and we want to play him as much as possible. A very raw talent which will need nurturing correctly. I've seen in youth matches in Fulham at what Patrick can produce, we just need to push him onto the next stage.

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Junior possesses one thing that can always be relied on to get you out of trouble; PACE.
Some games we wont be in control and might have to look at counter-attacking teams. With Junior in the team you can turn defence into attack in a matter of seconds.

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Another player I'm ecstatic about, since making his debut for Newcastle and terrorising Man City we havn't really heard from him. But I've been keeping a watchful eye and boy is this player going to be good. We have time on our side and so does he.


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Strikers

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The finisher himself. We held off competition from Southampton and Newcastle to secure his signature, having someone who can finish clinically will be key to our season and Charlies up there with the best finishers out there. He will have competition for his place however.

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Callum boasts incredible speed and strength, some of the attributes needed to be successful in the Premier League. I know if he puts his mind to it he will be a success here. He also has age on his side to adapt to our style of play.


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Best XI

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Having reviewed the first few days in training, I have selected which I think is our strongest XI. I'm delighted with our options and will always be looking to improve the team where possible. I am especially delighted with the strength of the core in our team in Shawcross, Gerrard, Barkley and Austin. We will need time to gel and I still need to bring staff in who will know how to work with me & the players. It won't be long before our first few friendlies.


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So, South Africa it is for us. Two games there which we will use to try gain some supporters over in South Africa and increase our footballing stature there. We will be back in Europe after this for more friendlies to get us up to grips for the season; I've also been looking at some fringe players which would fit in with our current transfer scheme and improve the squad as a whole.


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First Signing arrives

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Arriving on a free transfer, he will provide a good option in midfield for us and that little bit more experience in that area. A good model professional who will no doubt be a good acquisition for us and all of the team. Whilst not being a specialist in any area I look at him as Mr.Consistent, our first signing as manager of the English Lions.
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I left the Pre-Season down to Ray Lewington our Assistant Manager.
He experimented a few things while I watched on trying to get a better look at the players from afar, from what I have seen I think we will be in for a season of hard work. Because although we have some undoubted quality in our team, we still need time to gel as a unit and how long that will take will be the key to where we finish this season. Although the board have only put the task of me avoiding relegation, I would like to think we may be a little more comfortable in the league and I would love a good cup run.



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Flan was our best player in the pre-season and looks to have taken to the team like a duck to water. As I said at the start, he will be pivotal for us this season and as part of us growing as a team. I just hope that we can get the games out of him and he stays injury free.


First 5 fixtures

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Nothing more of a test than starting at the Emirates against Arsenal. Maybe that will show us where abouts we are currently, although I wont reserve judgement on how we are doing until around 10 games into the season. I expect an easy draw first round in the Capital One Cup and in the league I will try to go for two wins from our first four games as I am optimistic; In other news just before our game at Arsenal we have announced a link with Scunthorpe United as our feeder team.

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Second Signing Follows

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A pacy full back who will allow Richardson to operate as a winger aswell as a fullback now, will provide a healthy option to choose between him and Galloway. I'm filling this team with bags of pace and Tyrone only adds to that, a great signing for us.

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Great start mate :) Redmond and Wilson were great for me when I had them at Newcastle!
 
PaperClipFMer said:
Great start mate :) Redmond and Wilson were great for me when I had them at Newcastle!
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Thanks man, yeah I'm looking to use Wilson as much as I can as I know how he can develop. I have a 4-1-2-1-2 which I'm yet to test!
 
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We was outclassed today by a total footballing team which I can say deserved all three points today. I can't be mad with the team though as we managed to get a goal and tried at fighting our way back into it. We just didn't possess the gulf of class that Arsenal have in their ranks, young Brendan Galloway had a tough afternoon trying to chase after Alexis Sanchez whilst Hector Bellerin doubled up on him and was the Man Of The Match today. I think the next game at Swansea will have a better reflection of where abouts we are.


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