Re: The PES6 Master League Thread
Forest 2008 Season Review
While Manchester United won the Premiership by 12 points the real story of the season was no doubt up in Nottingham.
Nottingham Forests amazing first season back in the big time ended with the side earning a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifying group stage along with Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City. Not only that but Forest won only their third ever F.A Cup capping of an incredible season. While fellow promotion side Watford struggled and were ultimately relegated, Forest went from strength to strength finishing in fifth place. To cap it all off, manager Nigel Clough was named Premiership manager of the season for 2008.
“I never in my wildest dreams would have thought we would win the F.A Cup, finish fifth and qualify for Europe” the manager said. “This season has no doubt been a squad effort, there a great bunch of lads and they fully deserve this. This club has had some bad times in recent years and I hope the fans really appreciate this because they deserve it more than anybody. But the real test will start next season. We’ve seen before newly promoted sides have a fantastic first season and then even get relegated the next. We will not take our top flight status for granted and I hope we will solidify that in 2009”.
With the dust only just settled from this season, the fans are optimistically anticipating next season. There’s no way they can top this, can they???
Final Table
Man Utd 76
Chelsea 64
Liverpool 61
Arsenal 59
Nott’s Forest 48
Man City 46
Tottenham 44
Aston Villa 41
Newcastle 37
Blackburn 37
Fulham 35
Charlton 33
West Ham 27
Middlesbrough 23
Portsmouth 22
Watford 22
Promoted
Hearts and Reading
European Roundup
Western European Super League
1. Bayern Munchen
2. Ajax Amsterdam
Mediterranean Championship
1. AC Milan
2. Inter Milan
Iberian Liga
1. Barcelona
2. Benfica
UEFA Cup winners
Arsenal
UEFA Champions League winners
Chelsea
Transfers Roundup
It’s been a busy time at the city ground during the transfer window. Manager Nigel Clough made the most of his bonus funds to strengthen the squad for next season.
In
Marco Zoro- Free transfer
The former Messina fullback has spent his entire career in Italy and cannot wait for the new challenge of the Premiership, not to mention Europe.
Aiden McGeady- Celtic- Undisclosed fee
The talented wide forward joins Forest after becoming increasingly frustrated with not being in Celtics first team and languishing in Division 2.
Leighton Baines- Wigan- £3,600,000
The English fullbacks dream of being a full time England international have been put on hold in Division 2 with Wigan and now has a better chance of achieving that goal.
Leigh Bromby- Sheffield United- Loan deal made permanent
After forming a rock solid partnership with Joleon Lescott, the Forest manager didn’t hesitate to made the loan deal permanent.
Out
Aleksander Zamehof- Released
Alessandro Dodo- Released
Trevor Ceciu- Released
These 3 players were all deamed surplus to requirements at Forest.
Robert Macco- Espanyol- £2,500,000
The Welshman barely played all season and jumped at the chance to play for Iberian Liga side Espanyol.
Magnus Stremer- Everton- £500,000
The ageing Swede joins Division 2 side Everton after failing to play all season.
Luis Minanda- Palermo- £1,000,000
The 37 year old playmaker has been kept out of the side by Jason Eueel and the ever improving Oliver Fouque and leaves to join Mediterranean side Palermo for the final chapter of his illustrious career.
2009 squad
After an amazing season, Forest fans player of the year Phil Jagielka has beeen named captain of the side replacing Irishman Malcolm Stein.
Goalkeepers
1. Ivan Ivarov- Russia
30. Gábor Király- Hungary
Defenders
15. Jens Libermann- Germany
2. Jean-Pierre Valeny- France
17. Frode Giersen- Norway
16. Shaun Ruskin- Scotland
3. Jovan Jaric- Serbia
28.Joleon Lescott- England
25 .Alan Hutton-Scotland
5 .Leigh Bromby-England
4 .Leighton Baines-England
24 .Marco Zoro- Ivory Coast
Midfielders
18. Malcolm Stein- Rep of Ireland
6. Phil Jagielka- England
8. Jason Euell- Jamaica
19. Robert Macco- Wales
20. Oliver Fouque- Germany
Forwards
21. Mike Burchet- Australia
12. Marlon Harewood- England
23. Jason Oost- Netherlands
7. Aiden McGeady- Rep of Ireland
UEFA Champions League qualifying group stage draw
Nottingham Forest were drawn into a qualifying group of death as they were drawn against the following teams.
Roma
Lyon
Liverpool
Lyon have been made favourites by the bookies along with Liverpool to qualify from this group. Forest are going to have a tough time in this group starting against Liverpool at Anfield.