The Swans Fly High Part II

[MisterObjective]

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After not really getting in to FM, so far this year. I thought, why not do a story to get me in to it. I did a couple of stories in FM14, including part one, http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/foot...-fly-high-swansea-football-manager-story.html. Hopefully with a bit of luck I'll be able to get right in to this story. It's great to know people are enjoying your story, I'd really appreciate any feedback or even just a like, it let's me know people are interested. Anyway enough talk, let's get on with it.

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As you can see Swansea are financially stable, which is great but this year, there's no European football. That'll be important to bring money in to the club and I'll be looking for a good cup run to try and secure Europa League football, achieving a place through the league campaign may be difficult. I'm looking for a top half finish, in the league this year. We wasted no time and straight away asked the board to upgrade the training facilities, they agreed.

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I've disabled the first transfer window to add a bit of realism to the game and to give me a chance to try out my whole squad. In hindsight, the squad I have is actually very small and I could've done with two or three more players. With Britton, my only defensive midfielder, injured for 3-4 months. I really needed to bring someone in, I tried to get Flamini from Arsenal but had to settle for Coquelin instead, he looks like a good player, he comes in on loan.

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Next time we'll kick off the season and it's a difficult start to life at Swansea, with two massive fixtures, away to United and Liverpool. We'll also face Bristol City as we look to go on a cup run in the Capital One Cup and we'll round up the transfer action.

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[MisterObjective]

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Jefferson Montero was probably our best performer in pre season but unfortunately he just misses out through injury, Rangel frustratingly picked up an injury the day before this game, keeping him out for a month. Well that wasn't the start we were looking for, our captain, Ashley Williams had a terrible game and we were outplayed by United. This save could be tougher than last time.

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A good chance to bounce back against newly promoted QPR now, Montero comes in for Routledge on the left side of our attack. What happened to the team that lost badly to United? You would swear it was a different team but apart from Montero, it was the same eleven. Brilliant performance from the team, Nathan Dyer was the pick of the bunch, with one goal and two assists.

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I was tempted to keep the team that beat QPR so convincingly in for this one but with a big game against Liverpool coming up, I decided to rotate, hopefully the team will do enough to put us through to the next round. It was looking good when Gomis scored his first goal, putting us ahead early on but the players didn't perform. We let them back into the game in the second half, poor marking from the corner, it went to penalties and we just about scraped over the line, Williams scoring the decisive penalty. We'll play Brighton away in the next round, that's a good draw for us.

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The same team that beat QPR return for this game. Plenty to talk about here, maybe it's just my tactics but there's so many goals flying in at both ends, anyone else struggling for the right balance this year? We came from behind in the first half, with a brilliant free-kick from Sigurosson but Liverpool came out firing in the second half. Sturridge was the difference, scoring a hatrick on the day but I'm happy with that performance, on another day we might of got something there.

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I'm not sure what to make of those results, a real mix, we got slaughtered by United, then went on to hammer QPR, just about beat Bristol City in a game we should of won much more comfortably and we put up a good fight against Liverpool. Very inconsistent but it's still very early days. Next time there's more tough games against Everton and Chelsea and we'll continue our cup run against Brighton.

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[Tracz]

I think its the right way to start a save, blocking transfers, atleast you will have time to sort through the squad properly and not make any rush choices for signings,
Id say its an ok start to the season, you wouldnt of been expecting anything feom the utd or liverpool games so to only just loose to liverpool is a bonus in a way lol.
Its the games against qpr, villa, sunderland, those sort of teama that you need to win, and pick up what you can from the big 4/6,
Great start to the story pal keep it up

 

[MisterObjective]

I think its the right way to start a save, blocking transfers, atleast you will have time to sort through the squad properly and not make any rush choices for signings,
Id say its an ok start to the season, you wouldnt of been expecting anything feom the utd or liverpool games so to only just loose to liverpool is a bonus in a way lol.
Its the games against qpr, villa, sunderland, those sort of teama that you need to win, and pick up what you can from the big 4/6,
Great start to the story pal keep it up

Definitely, like you say it gives you time to have a good look at the squad and for me, it keeps the game realistic. Thanks man, can't say I was expecting anything from the United and Liverpool games but to concede nine goals in two games, that's concerning.

 

[Tracz]

Definitely, like you say it gives you time to have a good look at the squad and for me, it keeps the game realistic. Thanks man, can't say I was expecting anything from the United and Liverpool games but to concede nine goals in two games, that's concerning.

Well that is true, any chance of ss of squad n tactics?

 

[DanoMulligan96]

I'd swap out the BWM for something more solid because the BWM will leave the defense exposed while he hunts down the ball. Maybe change it to a DLP (D) or A (D) or DM (D).

 

[zacram]

Is it not best to try get Sigurdsson playing in an AMC role?

He is the best player in your squad along with Bony and it may benefit playing him in his best position to better influence the game. Just a thought, although MC (AP) as you have will still be an effective position for him.

 

[Tracz]

Can shelvey play dm? If so maybe drop him back have 4-2-3-1, and out sigurdsson as am just behind bony

 

[MisterObjective]

Well that is true, any chance of ss of squad n tactics?

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I'm still chopping and changing my tactic, but I'm doing ok so far.

I'd swap out the BWM for something more solid because the BWM will leave the defense exposed while he hunts down the ball. Maybe change it to a DLP (D) or A (D) or DM (D).

If my defence doesn't sure up I'll give it a try but my tactic involves a lot of pressing and using a very fluid system, so a lot of players are out of position.

Is it not best to try get Sigurdsson playing in an AMC role?

He is the best player in your squad along with Bony and it may benefit playing him in his best position to better influence the game. Just a thought, although MC (AP) as you have will still be an effective position for him.

Can shelvey play dm? If so maybe drop him back have 4-2-3-1, and out sigurdsson as am just behind bony

You guys are probably right, Sigurosson will probably perform better further forward but it's just a case of balancing my tactic. I always feel like playing with 3 MC/DM gives you more control of the game, playing with Swansea I think that'll be important, at least for now. I recently played a season with Liverpool with 4231, in 56 games I conceded 74 goals and scored 148, crazy numbers! Like I said before I'm still chopping and changing, I always do. Didn't know Shelvey can play DM, Coquelin has done ok so far but thanks for telling me, really appreciate all this feedback guys.

 

[Tracz]

I dunno if shelvey can play dm i was asking lol.
May help just dropping to fluid, could be enough to hold there positions just enough,

 

[zacram]

I don't think he can play DM (or at least not very effectively) I think his best role is MC (AP). Found most of the swansea midfield prefer more attacking roles than defensive, which is a slight problem as they are only a mid table side. Hopefully you can strengthen that area at the transfer window!

 

[MisterObjective]

I dunno if shelvey can play dm i was asking lol.
May help just dropping to fluid, could be enough to hold there positions just enough,

I don't think he can play DM (or at least not very effectively) I think his best role is MC (AP). Found most of the swansea midfield prefer more attacking roles than defensive, which is a slight problem as they are only a mid table side. Hopefully you can strengthen that area at the transfer window!

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A lot of the goals I've conceded have been through bad marking, particularly crosses and corners, my players defensive positioning seems pretty good, so far at least. Ye, I just didn't know Shelvey could play DM, he's accomplished but he would be better further forward. I hear you zac, the only defensive minded midfielder I had was Britton who's still injured, that's why I needed Coquelin.

 

[MisterObjective]

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I forgot to cover the transfer window in the last update but there really wasn't much to cover, Coquelin came in but that was it. I tried to bring in Suso from Liverpool, on loan but he rejected me for Real Sociedad and nobody was interested in my deadwood, in the reserves.

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Rangel is fit for this one and comes back in, Williams picked up an injury on international duty, Amat is also injured so Bartley comes in. We dominated Everton in the first half, we were just missing a goal, eventually we made the breakthrough, a mistake from Howards goal kick and Montero punished him with an absolute screamer from 35 yards! Fernandez added a second to complete a deserved victory.

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With Williams still out, the same team line up here. What a shocker! these so called bigger teams aren't giving us the respect we deserve, more performances like this and we'll be playing in Europe in no time. Bony was clinical and the best player on the pitch, I don't want to get to carried away, there's still a lot of football to be played but beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is a great acheivement. It's not all good news, unfortunately Montero was on the wrong end of a reckless tackle and he'll be out for 7-8 weeks, that's a big miss, he's been an important player for us.

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With the team in such great form, I really wanted to keep them together for this one but it's difficult with all these injuries, we really do have a small squad so plenty of changes again. My second stringers just aren't cutting it, that's two games they've played now and they've been poor in both, disappointing to go out so early. Maybe I should forgot player power, let the form players get plenty of rest and keep them playing.

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Williams is back fit and comes back for this game, with Montero out I had a dilemma on the left, Routledge has been bad and Barrow was poor on his debut against Brighton, Yeung is probably the only player pushing for a place in the team, so he comes in and Gylfi is shifted out wide. I honestly don't know what to say after that, we dominated Sunderland from start to finish. We just couldn't finish our chances, they had one half chance and come away with all the points, it just wasn't our day.

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Those games didn't exactly go to plan, I mean we've won the games we were expected to lose and lost the games we were expected to win, so again a real mixed bag of results, we need to sort that consistency out. Next time we've only got league games but there's big ones against Arsenal and Spurs, hopefully we can start to put a good run together.

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[MisterObjective]

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Glyfi was ineffective on the left last time, so he goes back into central midfield and Routledge comes in for Yeung. We stayed in this game for long periods but again we were just incredibly unlucky, we had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside and Spurs second goal was never a penalty. We matched spurs and I know that's our third defeat in a row but we're making chances, we just need to finish them.

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Bony was very tired after international duty so Gomis comes in, Coquelin can't play against his parent club so Britton also comes in, despite being unfit, I need him. That's more like it! We could've got the three points but I've got to be happy with a point against Arsenal, Routledge was the man, scoring twice from two Bafetimbi Gomis assists.

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Williams has been really poor this season, so he gets dropped for Bartley. We probably just about pipped Villa on the balance of the play but it was a very close game. It's good to keep a clean sheet for the first time in a few games but there wasn't much to talk about in that one.

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Fernandez is suspended so Amat comes in and Bony starts up front. It's start to get frustrating now that we can't turn these draws into wins, we were unfortunate against Spurs and our last three games we could've won, if we were just a bit more clinical in front of goal. It's early days but there's certain areas of the team, that I'm looking at already and thinking, we need to strengthen there.

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There could quite easily have been nine points in the bag in these games but we've only managed three, it's very frustrating to be so close to the points but just miss out. Like I said before it's still early days, hopefully we can put an end to five games without a win, in the next update.

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[Seabear]

Enjoying your story pal. Nice to see someone not adding on the budget and adding more realism to the story. Unlucky about montero. Have you tried switching up the formation? Having Sigurosson as an attacking midfield might be more affective while sifting shelvey and britton to CM. Or even keeping Shelvey as a CM on the left and britton on the right as a DM.

 

[MisterObjective]

Enjoying your story pal. Nice to see someone not adding on the budget and adding more realism to the story. Unlucky about montero. Have you tried switching up the formation? Having Sigurosson as an attacking midfield might be more affective while sifting shelvey and britton to CM. Or even keeping Shelvey as a CM on the left and britton on the right as a DM.

Thanks man, really appreciate it. I've seriously been considering pushing Sigurosson further forward, I just don't want to lose the battle in the middle of the park by playing him in an AMC role, rather than MC. He's done ok this season but considering, he's probably my second best player, after Bony, he should be doing a bit better. It's worth mentioning that he's actually accomplished in MC, but for some reason he's got a light green rating on the tactics screen.

 

[MisterObjective]

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Fernandez comes back in for Amat, after he served his suspension. What a game at St James Park, it's always a difficult place to go and I think we did well to come away with a point. Newcastle had the better of the play but we were clinical in front of goal, we just couldn't keep them goals out, at the other end.

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With all due respect to Burnley, this was a perfect opportunity to end our six games without a win, Fernandez picked up an injury on international duty so Williams comes in. That's more like it, our wait for a win is over and what a win it was. Brilliant team performance from the lads, Routledge continued his fantastic form with another two goals.

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Britton comes back in, what a performance from the team! We absolutely slaughtered Stoke and away from home, that's no easy task. Bony was completely unplayable, he grabbed himself a hatrick to make it four goals in two games, It looks like we're starting to build some momentum now.

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With only two days to prepare for this one, after the Stoke game, I knew there would be some tired legs for this one so I gave the team as much rest as possible. Taylor was knackered though, he needed a rest so Tiendalli comes in. Southampton were 4th heading into this one, so I knew I'd be in for a tough game, we really did well though, took our chances and that's three wins on the bounce now.

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A first look at the league table, this season is good reading for Swansea. Those three victories have shot us right up the table, from 14th to 7th. Plenty of surprises this season as well and the table is wide open right now, with only twelve points sepreating the top seventeen teams but it's early in the season, most sides have only played fourteen games.

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That's more like the form we want to see, ten points from a tricky set of fixtures is a great tally, we can be proud of that, more of the same please. Next time we've got ample opportunity to continue our run of form but then we've got a huge game as Manchester City come to Wales.

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[MisterObjective]

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It's been a terrible start to the season for Liverpool and they wasted no time in sacking Brendan Rodgers and bringing in Andre Villas Boas, as his replacement.

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Montero comes in for Routledge after he's had two bad games, with Crystal Palace in 18th, this was a good opportunity to pick up another win and keep our run going. It's the Wilfried Bony show at the moment, he's been fantastic recently with seven goals in four games and he was the difference in this one. It was close but having a player like that up front makes all the difference.

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After listening to your feedback, I thought I'd give the people what they want. It might seem crazy to change when we're in such a good run of form, if it ain't broke don't fix it, right but what better time to try a more attacking formation when we're playing so well. Glyfi provided an assist, Dyer knocked in the rebound from a well hit free-kick and overall it was an excellent team performance, we definitely performed better with the change of system and there was another goal for Bony.

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I've got big balls and I'm putting them on the line here, I'm going all out attack against City, our match preparation has been focused on attacking movement and we'll be using the same tactic as last time. What a **** of a performance from the lads, we didn't just beat the Champions, we absolutely battered them. That's got to give us huge confidence for the rest of the season, Dyer and Bony were again, just brilliant.

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We've been in fantastic form recently so the board decided to offer me a new deal and after that performance, rightly so. I managed to convince them to increase the wage budget by almost 200k, that should help bring better players to the club. Just a one year extension though.

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No changes for this one, we're in brilliant form, so we've got to keep the squad together. Solid performance from the lads and another goal from Bony, we let them have a few too many chances for my liking but I can't complain another win and another clean sheet.

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That's seven clean sheets, seven wins and seven games Wilfried Bony has hit the back of net in a row now. It's amazing what a top striker can do for your form, twelve goals in seven games! I'm surprised by this form and I'm not sure how much long this is going last but hopefully a bit longer. Next time we've got some tricky fixtures against Liverpool and Everton but we should be beating Hull and Burton.

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[SamPeters]

What an amazing December so far mate! Bony is god!! keep this up and i also do like that Brighton knocked you out the cup lol

 

[MisterObjective]

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Newcastle, like Liverpool, were also very quick to sack their manager this season, A little surprising as they're sitting in mid table right now. Anyway Alan Pardew lost his job and an even bigger surprise was the man who took over, Ian Holloway.

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Plenty of changes for this one and with only a one day break from the Leicester game, I was expecting a tough match. What a game and just look at that wonder goal from Wayne Routledge! Despite conceding a sloppy goal we were cruising in the first half but I think the tired legs in the side cost us. All of the goals we conceded were because of a lack of pressing, trouble is I just don't trust my back up players, we were great at the other end though, scoring four.

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[video=youtube;9oBXcFYC9T0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oBXcFYC9T0&list=UUbh2hRjUd6QuDRYz9VF5UEg[/video]

Wilfried Bony, the man is on fire at the moment but unfortunately we're about to lose him for a couple of weeks, for the African Cup of Nations. There's a little bit of good news though, he was named in the African Team of the Year and he won African Footballer of the Year.

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I'm not quite sure why our transfer budget is negative, we haven't spend a penny. Anyway I was hoping for a little bit of money, to sign a couple of players but I can't even adjust the budget so I kept the season expectations the same. I'm not to disappointed because I don't usually go for players in January unless I know they can come in and gel straight away or if it's a young signing for the future, we'll have to wait until the summer to sign some players.

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The big guns come back for this game but I don't think we even need them, It's all about Wilfried Bony, he literally won that game by himself and he's been absolutely brilliant recently, it's such a shame we're going to lose him, he'll be massively missed.

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He's gone, we'll miss Bony for at least a couple of weeks, hopefully Gomis can step up in his place, anyway plenty of changes against league two side, Burton. Nothing special but a win's a win, it would've been nice to score a couple more goals but we kept a clean sheet and Gomis hit the back of the net in the absence of Bony, which is great news.

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Now we're really going to see if we miss Bony or whether we can still do it without him. We were losing the battle for poesession in the first half, so I pulled Sig back into central midfield in the second half. That was a really close game and to be fair, it could of gone either way, Everton played well but when they pushed foward late on and we played some great counter attacking football to put the game to bed. Gomis is showing, so far at least, he's big enough to fill the big boots of Wilfried Bony, a hatrick and fantastic performance from him.

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I honestly can't believe where we are in the table, third place after only six months in charge is incredible. I'm expecting our form to drop off, particularly without Bony in the side but to be in the running for a Champions League place is crazy and not what I expected.

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The fantastic form continues, we can be a little disappointed not to beat Hull but we did only have one days rest. Apart from that though, brilliant performances and results to match in all of our other matches. Next time we've got a tough match against United, we'll continue our FA Cup campaign against Sunderland and round up the winter transfer window.

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