We ended the season with a very good run getting two especially tough wins against Liverpool (1-0) and Wolves (2-1) and in the very last game we sealed our position with a 1-0 win against Sunderland.
Goncharenko, Addison, Cathcart, Ochoa did really well overall this season. The strikers helped out but never at the same time. There was always a new striker to score the winner every new game. I'm missing that consistent goalscorer but maybe it's my fault for shifting the tactics a lot in the beginning and midle of the campaign. This season will be different now that I've found a set up that works against big teams aswell as smaller opposition.
Zigoni could've been a Millwall player by now but we had the same issue as Johnny Karp and his Notts Co. Zigoni felt he was too good for The Lions, maybe he would've been, but he certainly wasn't at the moment. We'll have to look for other options now. Strengthening the defensive line is a bigger concern though where Garics will be sold to open up for a really good full-back.
As you can see we managed to strengthen most areas. I couldn't lure a top striker to the club. The players left to choose from where all getting to expensive. Defederico, Marquinhos, Neymar, Tardelli, where all a few millions too steep and the players I could afford didn't want to join (O.Cardozo). I decided on pushing for young turkish player Deniz Naki who played for Lazio but was valued really low compared to his stats. He was a more creative forward and could add to the mix of strikers i already possess.
Sergiy Kryvtsov is the catch of the window for me. An extremly solid defender who has his best years ahead of him. He's outstanding in every department except for his decision-taking which is a mere 9. But I don't really think that'll matter too much.
Tim Cahill, former Millwall star returns home at the tender age of 33. I had a dream about taking Cahill back to The Lions before his career ended and thankfully i got the opportunity when he still had something to give to the team. Statwise he's still one heck of a player and he'll be vice captain to Miles Addison, I'll certainly look for Tim to learn some the younger players one or two tricks.
Thiaguinho is the right back I was looking for. Pretty cheap aswell, possessing the stats of a centre back(except jumping) and add the speed of a wing-back and you'll have this brazilian regen.
Deniz Naki was the striker I was talking about earlier. I'm hoping he'll develop into that superstriker i needed this year.
Migliaccio is already 32 but has great stats for a central defender. His main place is in midfield though but he'll act as a very good cover for both positions.
Jason Brown wanted to leave the club to get more playing time so I had to add a back-up keeper who could step up if Ochoa got injured. Westwood is no where near Ochoas quality but for the price paid I got a fairly good keeper.
Millwall has started out impressivly with a fine 1-0 win against Arsenal in the opening game and then just continued winning. Let's hope this streak will last a while longer.
Great Final Position And Some Good Signings.
ReplyDeleteI Bought Naki For Chelsea On FM 09 But He Wasn't Too Good Then, I Sold Him For About £30M To Real Madrid
The Other Signings Were Good Too.
Those Wins Were Very Good And I Hope You Can Keep It Up!
Well done Majk, finishing 9th is a pretty good achievement. The signings look good too but the older guys that you brought in might disappoint you, I've had that with Eric Abidal last season.
ReplyDeleteThanks Martin. Naki hasn't been all that impressive yet. I usually start with Rossvold and Vaughan, together with Cahill or Obolo. Ivan Obolo is a really good buy, had him with Reggina on my last game aswell but from the very start of the game.
ReplyDeleteThanks Johnny.
Migliaccio is more of a back-up player and he's just on loan too. But Cahill has done well, gets good rating when he acts as the playmaker in a striker position so he has only scored once i the first 10 games and it was a total fluke. But it held chelsea to a 1-1 draw.