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Manchester City, but not how you might think...


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Too easy? Yep, agreed if it was the present day. But this is going to be slightly different. We are going to be rewinding over a decade as I found this during a mini clear out this morning.

 

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Man City have enjoyed a fair bit of success in the last decade but, going back to before it all started, can I repeat or even exceed what they have achieved from then until now? Here is a recap of their honours since this game came out.

Premier League - 2011/12, 2013/14, 2017/18, 2018/19.

FA Cup - 2010/11, 2018/19.

League Cup - 2013/14, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20.

Community Shield - 2012, 2018, 2019.

So 3 seasons until they got a trophy under their belts and 4 for the league title so that should give me enough time to build a squad capable enough to challenge. Speaking of which, here is how it is looking at the start of play.

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So a half decent squad already in place that is expected to finish in the top half. I checked the stats for the season on wiki and they finished 10th and got put out the cups in early rounds by Brighton and Nottingham Forest although they did make the UEFA Cup quarter final. Overall I'm fairly confident of bettering that campaign though. I didn't even know they were in Europe that season so that was an unexpected surprise. The Champions League is where we want to be be though.

From that squad Michael Johnson looks like a good young prospect (there are plenty others in reserves and 19s) and I'm looking forward to see how his career turns out. Hopefully with plenty trophies alongside me and not like this...

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We have a generous £55m to spend. Yet to decide whether to go for a couple of right quality players as due to the stature of the club not being as big as it is now it could be harder to get them to sign. Also exploring the avenue of signing potential future stars on the cheap.

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Pretty sure 2009 was the last physical copy I bought before getting a free digital one as a researcher for a few years. I've just bought digital copies since.

I have 2005 -2009 boxes sat in front of me now!

Slightly, OT, but does anyone remember which version of FM or CM it was that had a grid in the tactics where you could set every players position for when the ball was in each part of the grid?

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15 minutes ago, Mr X said:

Slightly, OT, but does anyone remember which version of FM or CM it was that had a grid in the tactics where you could set every players position for when the ball was in each part of the grid?

Wibble Wobble. 

Think it was removed around ~2003, or whenever the 2D matches came into it.

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The transfer window is now shut and there are new faces to report on.

First in was a young Lech Poznan striker. At the moment he's not far behind Darius Vassells ability according to my assistant manager. I wonder if he will go on to have a better career than him...

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A few more youngsters with an eye to the future joined him in the following days.

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Various positions I felt needed strengthening that could go straight into the squad were centre back, left back, centre midfield, left midfield and striker and so in came the following...

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Only getting a year out Inzaghi before he retires as he's 37 but confident he can chip in with a few goals. I sold the ageing Martin Petrov for £5m so felt replacing him with the much younger and better Di Maria for £11m was good business. Rat will initialy be back up to Wayne Bridge. Jagielka will probably go straight into the team with Kompany so I can get Richard Dunne (who my assistant thinks is my best centre back) as far away as possible. I have good options at centre mid so Vidal will likely be used in a rotation system there.

To recap, here is the business in full. Of the players still playing, imagine how much that window would set you back in FM20 :lol:

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July/August

UEFA Cup QR1 First Leg - Man City v KF Partizani

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Second Leg

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Great way to start your Man City career for 17 year old Thiago who netted the only goal.

QR2 First Leg - Man City v Gyori ETO

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Only a slender advantage to take to Hungary. Surely not an early exit to diddies?

Premier League - Man City v Tottenham

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Thought Ireland's tap in was enough for a great start to the season but Bale's screamer a minute past the alloted added time turned a great start into a decent one.

Premier League - Man City v Newcastle

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2 new signings notching the first goals for the club. Vidals was a screamer of a free kick into top bin.

Second Leg - Gyori ETO v Man City

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Premier League - Stoke v Man City

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Only a point at the side who are in the Premier League for the first time.

Being unbeaten is always a positive but it really should be 3 wins from 3 in the league. I will face Standard Leige in the first round proper of the UEFA Cup and lowly league 2 Brentford in the League Cup 2nd round. 

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September

League Cup R2 - Man City v Brentford

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Unconvincing was the only way to describe this lacklustre showing against lowly league 2 Brentford. Although the majority of youngsters got minutes here which is a positive. I host Fulham in round 3.

UEFA Cup First Round First Leg - Standard Leige v Man City

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Premier League - Man City v Liverpool

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This game had plenty and got to be happy with the point in the end after Liverpool raced into a 2 goal lead. Robinho, Gerrard and Babel's goals were all absolute worldies.

League Cup R3 - Man City v Fulham

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I'm claiming that as a scalp as Fulham are actually above me in league. Another all Premiership tie awaits in R4 with Portsmouth visiting the City of Manchester stadium.

Premier League - West Ham v Man City

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So comfortable till Joe Hart gave away a stupid penalty and it was backs the wall after that, with Hart making up for his error by producing a couple of superb saves in injury time. 2nd time lucky in the quest for a victory on the road after the disappointing stalemate at Stoke.

So a fairly good month with progession in the cup, a good position in the European tie and a win and draw in the league to remain unbeaten. Here is the Premier League table as we enter October. I actually remain the only unbeaten side in the league :lol:

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UEFA Cup First Round Second Leg - Man City v Standard Leige

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We will now move on to the group stage, which is what I want to expand on here. Being informed about qualfying for the group stage when it's October had me confused as f**k that I had to google the UEFA Cup format from that season, and it turned out to be the final season of the format first introduced in the 04/05 season. This is it for anyone that can't remember.

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Man City were one of the 3 clubs to qualify through fair play :lol: Group stage is 8 groups of 5 with you only playing each opponent once. So 2 home games and 2 away games in the group. 

Another couple of ties from the 1st round that got my attention were 2 featuring Scottish sides coming up against Serie A opposition...

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Comfortable 5-0 aggregate win for Napoli in the end.

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Udinese did progress on aggregate but Motherwell get an unlikely victory on the night. Their match winner is still scoring winning goals 10 years down the line...

 

 

 

 

 

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UEFA Cup group stage draw

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A tough group with Hamburg and Atletico in there, particularly the latter who pose the front line of Diego Forlan and a certain Sergio Aguero. I would still expect to get out the group but might have to settle for a 3rd placed finish behind they 2 strong sides.

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October

Premier League - Man City v Aston Villa

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Jagielka with an absolute worldie which was enough to win it. First time volley from the edge of the box arrowed into bottom corner. Will definitely be the 2nd best goal of his career

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Premier League - Middlesbrough v Man City

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Jagielka going from hero to villian after a yellow card and penalty concession before half time. He never returned out for the 2nd half. Sturridge bailing me out to keep the unbeaten run going.

Premier League - Wigan v Man City

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Premier League - Chelsea v Man City

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Well beaten in our 3rd consecutive away game and unbeaten start comes to an abrupt end. Best side I've faced so far this campaign, much better than Spurs or Liverpool.

Premier League - Man City v Portsmouth

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Excellent response to the defeat with a strong display, even if we had to be patient before eventually getting the breakthrough.

 

Edited by C. Muir
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Only just stopped playing 2009 as my old Toshiba Satellite packed in over Christmas. It was a virus riddled old timer, but ran 09 like a dream. 09 was just the most up to date version I'd acquired.

Got a new laptop in January so have been playing 19 (opted not to go for 20) but I still have 09 through my steam library. Often contemplate going back for a wee laugh though. 

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11 hours ago, LoonsYouthTeam said:

Football Manager 2009 is the best one IMO. Man City have won 4 of the last 5 champions leagues in my current game beating my Annan side in the final in 2032.

Superb :lol: I actually forgot this version was Annan's first season in senior football. Might give them a bash at some point

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November

A busy month with no fewer than 8 games due to UEFA cup and league cup duties.

Premier League - Hull v Man City

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UEFA Cup Group Stage - Man City v Atletico Madrid

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A disappointing collapse here. Should've won it.

Premier League - Man City v Blackburn

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Blackburn nick the points to continue their superb start to the season and remain in touch up the top.

League Cup R4 - Man City v Portsmouth

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Same story as the league game with complete domination but taking even longer this time to eventually get the breakthrough. Could the quarter final draw throw up another winnable home tie?

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Absolutely fucking not.

 

Premier League - Arsenal v Man City

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Premier League - Man City v Bolton

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UEFA Cup Group Stage - AS Nancy v Man City

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Disappointing one. I now have plenty of work to do in the final 2 games (FC Moscow home, Hamburg away)

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Premier League - Everton v Man City

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My best result of the season so far I would say. Didn't half grind it out though.

After 15 games the league table looks like this.

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Decent enough position with the European spots still within reach. I imagine Man Utd and Chelsea will eventually pull away as the top 2. Drawing away to all of Boro, Wigan, Hull and Stoke were shitters looking at how poor they're all doing.

I play a 352 formation and since moving to that and dropping Bridge, bringing in Razvan Rat as a left wing back he has been superb going forward with his wicked delivery and isn't half a bad defender either. Enjoys an average rating of 7.30 over 9 games so far, the best in the squad. He's looked a steal at 2.7m. Stephen Ireland, Shaun Wright Phillips and Phil Jagielka (bar his first half horror show at Middlesbrough) have also been consistent over the campaign so far, Ireland being my top goalscorer on 7, 2 ahead of Elano on 5. Glad that the midfield are chipping in so much as I have too many strikers so rotate quite a lot for a number of reasons (injury, who opposition are, being raging at whoever missed a sitter in previous fixture) therefore none of them have really had a chance to get a run of goals. I will be trying to move a couple on in January.

 

Edited by C. Muir
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December

UEFA Cup Group Stage - Man City v FC Moscow

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League Cup Quarter Final - Man Utd v Man City

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Went a bit more cautious in this game with the wing backs moving back as full backs in a flat back 5. Managed to take them to extra time but failed to shitfest my way to penalties. Still, we meet again in the league in a couple of weeks so there will be a quick chance for revenge where I'm at home this time and will be going a bit more attacking.

UEFA Cup Group Stage - Hamburg v Man City - Nancy sit 3rd 2 points ahead of me having played all their games going into this so I knew only a win would see me progress..

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After an awful start we had a right go at them, but it ultimately wasn't enough as the European campaign ends on a poor note finishing 4th in the group. The defeat in Nancy proved pivotal as did throwing away the 2-0 lead against Atletico.

Premier League - Fulham v Man City

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Another fucking draw away to a team down the bottom end of the league.

Premier League - Man City v West Brom

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The pitch in this game amused me. A mudbath apart from one corner which was spotless :lol:

 

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Premier League - Man City v Man Utd

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No idea why he took the penalty but it was tucked away comfortably in any case. Delighted with this win; my first against one of the "big" sides if you like. Despite Stuart Attwell playing about 4 mins Fergie time ahead of the alloted 3 mins we managed to hold out.

League table looking like so.

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I predicted Chelsea and Man Utd to pull away so of course the opposite has happened and teams have gained ground on them, although they both have games in hand on the teams below them. Happy enough with our position and with January round the corner, movement will be happening. Can I strengthen the squad enough to mount a serious challenge? The closer I get to the teams above me the more frustrated I get at the stupid draws at poor sides.

Edited by C. Muir
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January

I will start here with the transfer window business. Plenty of players left the club including Zalabeta which was out of my control as the board accepted Atletico's offer. A few youngsters left on loan aswell, including Thomas Muller to Oldham... :lol: Who would predict he would be tearing England to pieces in the World Cup a year later.

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I did aim to trim the squad this month so only 2 incoming players. First one a youngster snapped up for £2.5m for Ajax.

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And on deadline day I managed to bring in a replacement for Zabaleta just in time after meeting Portsmouths £11m release clause.

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Anyway, on to the results this month...

FA Cup R3 - Man City v Everton

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A disappointing exit with Everton getting revenge for my league win at Goodison. Barring the very unlikely event I'll win the league, it will be a trophyless compaign to start this project off. The real Man City never managed one either so I don't feel too disheartened about it.

Premier League - Sunderland v Man City

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A north east horror show.

Premier League - Newcastle v Man City

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Less of a north east horror show. Newcastle were 3rd when I played this fixture so I thought that was actually a good result.

Premier League - Man City v Stoke

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Premier League - Tottenham v Man City

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Tweaked formation again in the Stoke game and brought Johnson back in. 2 goals in 2 games! If anyone remembers my post about him at the start of the thread - let's hope he doesn't celebrate this form with too much drink or fast food.

I actually forgot to screenshot the league table at the end of this month and I'm well into February now. Will remember to do so for the February update. One thing I will mention now about February is Lewandowski getting his international debut for Poland. Has the potential to be their main man for years to come.

Edited by C. Muir
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February

OK the last game here was March but I played on Sunday 1st from gameweek starting Saturday 28th so I just counted that game in this update so I could get the league table after that round of fixtures. Also as I'm out all the cups I will not be putting the compeition name any more this season. The only games I have left are league ones.

Man City v Wigan

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Man City v West Ham

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On a roll here. 4 wins on the trot and in great form ahead of the trip to Anfield next.

Liverpool v Man City

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Yeah..... a complete and utter collapse late on here.  :lol:

Man City v Chelsea

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Not the fixture I wanted after a heavy defeat at Anfield. Happy with a point in the end despite taking the lead.

Aston Villa v Man City

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Embarrasing. After 4 wins a row we've only took 1 point in 3 games, albeit a tougher run.

League table on March 1st. Last 3 results have been annoying as I was 4th and right in the mix after the 4 consecutive wins. Was wondering why Man U had played so few compared to others but forgot they were the Champions League holders so had the Club World Championship in December.

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March/April

With only 2 further games in March I decided to upload these together.

Man City v Middlesbrough

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Portsmouth v Man City

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Man City v Arsenal

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Man City v Hull

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Bolton v Man City

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Blackburn v Man City

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Man City v Everton

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All in all strong form with 5 wins in 7. Disappointing draw at Portsmouth (Bolton are doing alright so didn't mind the point there) but other than that no complaints. Here is the league table going into the final month of the season

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Good position but a bit of a shitter that Liverpool still have 2 games in hand although they still need to host Man Utd and travel to Arsenal. Getting a Champions league spot will be vital for attracting the standard of player to take this club to the next level. My final 4 fixtuers are as follows.

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Very tough ask to start as Man Utd are still chasing the title. 6 points behind Chelsea but 3 games in hand. They have some schedule to end the season, 7 league games alongside a 2 legged UEFA cup semi final and of course potential final. The 3 games after Man Utd should be victories though. Should

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