New faces are needed, just to freshen things up and to make sure the squad is big enough to cope with another plunge through Europe. Noticeable acquisitions are Aghahowa (AM/FRLC) for £3.9 million from Sao Paolo and 3 Bosmans, Ricardo Quaresma (AMRL) from Sporting, Petit (DMC) from Boavista and surprisingly, Contra (D/MR) from Milan. Surprising as he's in their first team and they are in the Champion's League too. I must have made the big time.
The Italian Super Cup is won in unconvincing fashion, 2-1 against Piacenza. Champion's League form is incredible, 26 goals in my first group stage, including 6-0 wins over PAO and Galatasary and a 5-0 win away in Istanbul. League form is less impressive however, although the top 4 is a constant, the title looks tricky.
The Italian Cup campaign comes to an end with a disturbing 5-2 aggregate defeat to Genoa of all teams. The 2nd group stage is overcome with the group won on goal difference over a peculiarly tough PSV side and the prize is a Quarter final against Arsenal. It is overcome fairly routinely, but not as easily as the Semi Final, a 5-0 aggregate victory over Milan who fail to muster a shot on target over 180+ minutes of football. So another final, this time against Marseille.
The league is secured despite my patchy form. My 4 rivals, Inter, Roma, Lazio and Milan all stumble badly in the last month and I come through, albeit with 12 less points than 2 seasons ago. Another poor Final, but this time it comes with a victory, 1-0, with Bonomi (DRC) the appropriate hero in a season where the defence was pivotal.
The Fan's Player/top scorer goes back to Luca Toni, 24 goals and a 7.82 average. Bjorn Bahr's 15 assits beats Peralta by one in another fine season. But credit must go to the defence, particularly Cristante, Bonomi and Bartolucci.
I have over £120 million to spend and I think it's time to spend a bit, perhaps on a couple of big names...
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Napoli - Season 4 - More Of The Same
But less so. Hmm. Not too many quality players out there, so I pretty much stick with the same squad, sometimes a risky business. One decent signing is Bartolucci (DC) on a Bosman from Fiorentina.
Super Cup humiliation to start the season, Roma wipe the floor with me 3-0. Any worries are soon dispelled though, by a good start in all other competitions. Less spectacular than the previous year, but occupying the top 2 all season. Even the Italian Cup 2nd Round is negotiated.
The 2nd group stage of the Champion's League throws up a nasty group with Man United, Dortmund and Barcelona, but I manage to win it after a nervy night in Dortmund.
The league is won with a few less goals for, a marginally better defence and one less defeat. Also a hell of a lot less in the way of interest on my part as I focus on Europe. Somehow my reserves storm through the Italian Cup and emerge victorious against a poor Piacenza side in the final. A Cup! My focus on Europe pays dividends with qualification for the Final.
Once again however, it's defeat at the hands of a fellow Italian side, Lazio edging a tight encounter 2-1 after a dreary match. But the double is a fine achievement, and I'll be back in the Champion's League for more next season, hopefully with some new signings.
Fan's Player and top scorer go hand in hand again, this time Nikiforenko securing it with 23 goals from behind the strikers and an average rating of 7.62. In defence, Bras does fine work averaging 7.78. Sixto Peralta's assist crown is usurped by youngster Bjorn Bahr (AMRC), a kid I signed on a free at the beginning of season 2 who is beginning to blossom into a very fine central midfielder, who gets 15 assists and 3 goals, a lot of which come from the bench.
Super Cup humiliation to start the season, Roma wipe the floor with me 3-0. Any worries are soon dispelled though, by a good start in all other competitions. Less spectacular than the previous year, but occupying the top 2 all season. Even the Italian Cup 2nd Round is negotiated.
The 2nd group stage of the Champion's League throws up a nasty group with Man United, Dortmund and Barcelona, but I manage to win it after a nervy night in Dortmund.
The league is won with a few less goals for, a marginally better defence and one less defeat. Also a hell of a lot less in the way of interest on my part as I focus on Europe. Somehow my reserves storm through the Italian Cup and emerge victorious against a poor Piacenza side in the final. A Cup! My focus on Europe pays dividends with qualification for the Final.
Once again however, it's defeat at the hands of a fellow Italian side, Lazio edging a tight encounter 2-1 after a dreary match. But the double is a fine achievement, and I'll be back in the Champion's League for more next season, hopefully with some new signings.
Fan's Player and top scorer go hand in hand again, this time Nikiforenko securing it with 23 goals from behind the strikers and an average rating of 7.62. In defence, Bras does fine work averaging 7.78. Sixto Peralta's assist crown is usurped by youngster Bjorn Bahr (AMRC), a kid I signed on a free at the beginning of season 2 who is beginning to blossom into a very fine central midfielder, who gets 15 assists and 3 goals, a lot of which come from the bench.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Napoli - Season 3 - Goals Galore
Not too much work required before this season. A few of the original squad that haven't made the grade are shipped out, along with Mexes who isn't settling. He had an OK year, so a £6.25 million profit is a decent return. Key transfers in this season are Cristante (DRC) on a Bosman from Piacenza, Max Tonetto (D/DMLC) for £1.2 million from Lecce and Luca Toni (ST) an absolute snip from Brescia at a mere £2.7 million, courtesy of a relegation release clause.
There is absolutely no way of describing the beginning of this season without the word ridiculous. It is the best run of league form that I can ever remember. I win the first 16 games on the bounce. It's fantastic and RIDICULOUS. Goals are flying in both ends. Italian Cup progress is halted by a useless Brescia side in Round 2, but the UEFA Cup proceeds smoothly, no real opposition until the Quarter Finals.
Eventually of course, the league run is halted, by a 3-3 draw away at Milan after being 3-1 down though, so I'm plenty happy with a point. The form remains good until the end of March, by which point it's almost in the bag. Good thing too, as I lose 4 out of my last 5 away from home.
Ajax and Valencia are dispatched in the UEFA Cup, but the final is a predictably sorry tale, Juventus beating me comfortably 2-0. But hey, a Serie A title in season 3 is a damn good result, so I'm chuckling away.
Luca Toni is Fan's Player (average rating 8.21) and top scorer with 21 and I'm sure there's more to come. Peralta bags another 18 assists in another fine season. Two records are set in the league by my side with a 19 game winning streak (3 games from the previous season) and the highest total goals scored (86 in 34 games), Job done.
There is absolutely no way of describing the beginning of this season without the word ridiculous. It is the best run of league form that I can ever remember. I win the first 16 games on the bounce. It's fantastic and RIDICULOUS. Goals are flying in both ends. Italian Cup progress is halted by a useless Brescia side in Round 2, but the UEFA Cup proceeds smoothly, no real opposition until the Quarter Finals.
Eventually of course, the league run is halted, by a 3-3 draw away at Milan after being 3-1 down though, so I'm plenty happy with a point. The form remains good until the end of March, by which point it's almost in the bag. Good thing too, as I lose 4 out of my last 5 away from home.
Ajax and Valencia are dispatched in the UEFA Cup, but the final is a predictably sorry tale, Juventus beating me comfortably 2-0. But hey, a Serie A title in season 3 is a damn good result, so I'm chuckling away.
Luca Toni is Fan's Player (average rating 8.21) and top scorer with 21 and I'm sure there's more to come. Peralta bags another 18 assists in another fine season. Two records are set in the league by my side with a 19 game winning streak (3 games from the previous season) and the highest total goals scored (86 in 34 games), Job done.
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