I created myself as a SS, and after scoring the only goal in the training match, received offers from IFK Gothenburg, Brondby and Anderlecht (I'd created a division with teams from the 'Other' category as opposed to having the Eredivise).
I took up the offer from IFK and after about 4 training matches, managed to get myself on the bench. I scored on my debut after coming on as a sub, and then after another two goalscoring sub appearances, established myself in the starting XI and never looked back.
First Season
The team didn't have much quality, reliant mainly on my goals and the support of Tobias Hysen and Freddie Ljungberg, despite being a winger, Hysen usually started up front with me and I was often frustrated with his reluctance to pass
In the mid-season transfer window, IFK acquired the Brazilian striker Nilmar, which fortunately meant Hysen went back to the wing where he belongs.
However Ljungberg was absolute class, and I knew that if I made a run and shouted for the pass, more often than not he would not only attempt to get the ball to me, but it would be exactly where I wanted it
IFK Gothenburg managed to win both the League B title and the Cup, I finished top scorer with 28 goals in all competitions, but around half of these came from corners, due to my lack of quality.
Overall stats:
Games played - 36
Goals Scored - 28 [2 hat-tricks]
Assists - 8
MOM awards - 12, MIP awards - 1
Average rating - 6.84
Second Season
The team brought in some half decent players, including Bruno Cheyrou, Philipp Lahm, Rasmus Lindgren, Nilmar and Halil Altintop.
I started the season on fire, scoring in each of the first 6 games of the season, with a total of 8 in the first 6 games, before I needed to skip a match and re-couperate. The rest of the season continued in the same vein, with the team winning the league and cup double for the second season in a row.
In europe, despite a valiant effort, we were eliminated from the group stage of the European Championship - hardly surprising in a group with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Fiorentina! Despite starting poorly, in the end we finished 3rd in the group, only eliminated on goal difference.
The team went instead into the Masters Cup, and ended up lifting the trophy, after annihilating Liverpool 5-2 in the final, in which I managed to score a hat-trick.
Overall stats:
Games played - 46
Goals scored - 58 [5 hat-tricks]
Assits - 7
MOM awards 21, MIP awards - 2
Average rating - 7.05
World Cup Experience
At the end of my second season, I was called up to the England squad to play in the World Cup. This was completely unexpected as my stats were still rubbish and I was still only 18, but I guess it had something to do with scoring in pretty much every match I played for my club.
For the first game against Egypt, I was on the bench and brought on as the lone striker with 20 mins to go and England losing 1-0. Within seconds of coming on, I managed to get the ball of their centre back near the halfway line, broke away and slotted past the keeper. Then with 10 minutes to go, I managed to find some space behind the backline, received a pass from Ashley Cole down the left channel, ran forwards, then cut back inside onto my right foot past two defenders and lashed the ball into the bottom corner. England ended up winning the game 2-1.
England managed to progress beyond the group stage, despite an embarrasing 2-0 defeat to Canada
, and with two more sub appearances, I ended with 3 goals from 3 games, also bagging the winner after coming on with England drawing 1-1 with Chile in the other group game.
England progressed to the semi-finals, and despite another goal, I was still on the bench, slightly miffed that Alan Smith was preferred despite no goals and Rooney was playing on the wing! This time the manager decided to bring me on at half-time, with us losing 1-0 to Argentina. I proceeded to score two goals and set-up a third for England to win 3-1. In the final against Italy, I was on the bench again (
), and came on with 30 mins to go and the game at 0-0, the game was very tight with few chances - with 5 mins to go, the ball broke to Gerrard at the edge of the area and he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner, meaning England won the World Cup!
Overall:
Games played - 7 (all as sub)
Minutes played - 230
Goals Scored - 6
Average rating - 7.71
MOM Awards - 6, MIP awards - 1.
Was selected in the team of the tournament, and also won Player of the Tournament, though pipped to the Golden Boot by Ruud van Nistelrooy. Made a bit of a mockery of the manager deciding not to start me in any of the games in place of Alan Smith or Gabriel Agbonlahor, who managed a total of 0 goals between them.
).
and i have 1 MVP. My second goal was a beauty against Hull. It was the second in a 2-0 win. I found space and hammered it from the edge of the box. I missed a chance to score against Arsenal, but Almunia saved it with is face. It was a point-blanker.
so I had some experience