There's a few players at Spurs who I really can't abide. I'm not going to be playing the real arseholes, whilst other idiots I'll only use when I've got everyone else injured, suspended or jaded. Straight-away I put Adebayor on the transfer list, he ended up signing for AC Milan for £18m. Good riddance. Steven Pienaar went back to Everton in January for £9m - I was elated that I managed that, I see it happening in real life too. He was a totally unnecessary signing and runs round in circles like one leg is shorter than the other.
As much as I have respect for the following 3, I keep them on the bench - Bale, Modric and Van der Vaart. They annoy me in real life, therefore I treat their virtual counterparts like I would if I replaced Harry Jumbo Jowls tomorrow. I don't dislike Brad Friedel, however we had two decent GK's before this summer who never really resolved their battle for the No.1 shirt, so I sold Brad to Man Utd for £12m.
I made one signing, on "deadline day" too. Everyone's favourite first season tryout - Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. He looks like a teapot on fire so I thought he'd at least scare opposition back lines into surrender. He's skillful and nippy, however his finishing leaves much to be desired. Together with Pav, Defoe & Dos Santos, this was to be my strike force for the season.
Typical starting XI:
Gomes;
Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto;
Sandro;
Shimizu, Kranjcar, Dos Santos;
Neymar, Pavlychenko.
Subs:
Cudicini; Gallas, Corluka; Modric, Parker, Van der Vaart; Defoe.
Really struggled for the first few league matches, was up against Man Utd away, Chelsea at home and then Arsenal away. At my lowest point I was down in 12th at Christmas. However, I managed 7 wins on the trot in the New Year which got me up to 8th and I stayed there until the last game of the season, an away tie at Swansea City, already relegated a few weeks prior. Everton were currently holding the final Europa League spot, 7th. I was 3 points behind them and they had a four goal advantage. Whilst I had to go to Swansea, they were at home to Arsenal. At half-time, I was 1-0 up against the Swans, whilst Everton were 1-0 at home against the Goons. Nightmare. However, following a quick-fire double from Pav I remained hopeful and then I got the fourth with Gio Dos Santos heading in from all of five feet out and four feet off the ground, on his tiptoes!
After the end-of-season lap of honour, I checked out the other scores in the league. Arsenal had beaten Everton 2-1! I made the EL after all. Which is a bloody relief as earlier that season I got knocked out in the second round by chuffing Lazio. My FA Cup venture ended at the quarter-finals, a 3-2 loss to Manchester United. Top scorer was Pavlyuchenko with 18 in the Prem, Neymar on 12. League top scorer was Drogba with 31.
I failed many chairman "challenges". He repeatedly asked me to play Bale & Modric, which I didn't feel like doing unless desperate. Also the "no dirty play" requests came for both league games with Chelsea and Arsenal and there wasn't a cat in hell's chance I was sticking to that. He seemed pleased though at qualifying for the EL, even though he'd wanted CL.
I had one long-term injury which was a three month lay-off for Pienaar before he went in January. No skin off my nose. There was around 5 or 6 shorter injuries, which was enough to keep my pedantic side happy. Aaron Lennon put in a transfer request not long after I rejected his craving for the number 10 shirt. I refused just to piss him off, I have to be honest. He was already hurting from playing less games than Shimizu. He can come back to me when his eyebrows look normal. He's still going on about that shirt.
I'm also pretty pleased with the transfers amongst non-controlled sides. Not really over the top, I switched to Medium from Low just before the January window. Most teams just making one signing, the most high-profile by far being Xavi to Chelsea. Following season 1, Chelsea also bought Chicarito, Man City bagged Lavezzi and Aston Villa managed to snap up Alessandro Del Piero!
