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For the first time in a while, I actually arranged the pre-season friendlies myself (wanting to see how the squad measures up to some of the teams I'll need to beat) and I managed to nab a few big games for them.
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The first two friendlies were controlled by my assistant as I was busy winning the WC with Brazil. I then oversaw the rest of the games.
FC Twente was a solid win, nothing spectacular but they didn't really threaten and it gave me a better look at some of the bit-part players.
West Ham was a great game - they are the 6th richest club in game after a tycoon takeover (and have spent nearly £200m over the last 3 seasons) so i was delighted to get the win, not so delighted with our defending.
PSG and Napoli were both games where they showed their experience in these bigger games, generally being more organised defensively and more clinical offensively. Still - it does give us something to work towards.
The Real Betis and Verona games were disappointing, we were on top in both (not dominant though) and held leads in both - only to throw them away.
Fiorentina is the result I wanted - most of the transfers were done by then and the team looked like they were starting to play the way I wanted them to (even if the Fiorentina goalie did get MotM..)
Next we moved onto the competitve fixtures in August. There would be 4, 1 in the cup against a 2. Bundesliga side, 1 in the league (away to Leverkusen...) and the 2 legged CL playoff against Sparta Prague (we got lucky there). So how did we do?
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The team have gelled superbly and this is shown in the results!
The German cup tie looks like it was harder than it was, mainly due to us resting players, but it was never really in doubt.
The away leg of the CL playoff was awful, we didn't play anywhere near our best football but our superior class and ability shone through and we snatched an undeserved win - meaning we're probably through already. They do have a couple of promising regens - one of them scored an absolute worldie to make it 2-2.
Leverkusen away was the big game this month - and we delivered (even if it did require a hairdryer at HT). Ferrerya was amazing - he had 2 more disallowed for offside! It was easily noticeable that we had a weakness to long balls (even if they have 2 tall guys up front). This puts us 4th after 1 game - obviously hoping for higher after the performance they showed.
The second leg of the playoff was a formality as soon as we went 1-0 up, although their regen was playing well again. Unfortunately when i checked after the game they didn't want to sell him (understandably). We're in the CL and the draw was made just before the end of August:
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I suppose it could have been easier! Champions of France, Italy and Austria against 5th in Germany :/
We need to win the home games against PSG and Roma (plus both games against Red Bull) to hopefully get through - although a point away to PSG/Roma would be welcomed as well.
PotM:
Everyone played well this month, but i believe one player in particular was brilliant: Lazar Markovic.
He has really livened up the right wing with his runs with the ball, and his crossing is what is getting the strikers lots of goals. Could be a key player this season.
In September:
Games against Wolfsburg and Bayern, plus the start of our CL campaign (Red Bull away)
