Finally managed to finish my first season with Crewe. Got knocked out of the FA Cup in the semis by the scum, but it was on penalties though. Really thought I had them when the clock hit 120 mins, but my guys were crap from the spot when it came down to it. Immediately after the match I had 4-5 clubs interested in most of my first team. Unbelieveably the supporter's club spokesman told me the fans were underwhelmed by the FA Cup exit to Man U! Well bend me over and stick the shining holy cross of Bethlehem up my arse! Promotion as League 2 Champions, over 100 goals scored and 120 points on the board, Johnstone Trophy winners, FA Cup Semi Final beating West Ham, Forest and more bigger clubs along the way... and you're underwhelmed at getting beat by the team that ended up winning the Premier League? FFS, this game sometimes...
Rest of the season was a formality. Offloaded Reuser at 36 to Notts County. He was my highest earner and on a match wage clause too, but struggling to make the match day squad. Ended up playing him only to put him in the shop window. Also managed to pick up some decent prospects when released for their clubs, including Javan Vidal, but missed out on my No1 target Donal McDermott, who went to Aberdeen. Bloody frustrating that period when clubs outside England can get players on a free, but I'd have to pay the compensation (£1.37M in Donal's case!).
Got a bumper £1.2M reward for reaching the semis though, and my board have offered to double the wage budged and give me £3M to spend in L1 if I go for promotion, which I will, which seems very generous. So I've gone out and brought a young Italian striker and a centre back form the same club, Hungarian (I think) utility player and a Dutch playmaker and extended the loan deal for my goalie and brought in a left back I had on loan last year. I will be looking to offload a few too, depending on who I can get in. Other than that I hope to keep it British in the main, replacing players like my Romanian panic buy back up striker (whom is now linked with Portsmouth, great timing) with younger, preferably British, prospects.
Elsewhere, it's all happening at City. Mancini has left to going Arsenal, who sacked Wenger, and City have brought in Mourinho. City finished 6th which was disappointing, but already Jose is splashing the cash bringing in 2 defenders and a Turkish youngster for about £18M each. Zaba is off to Fulham too. Watford got relegated and I was linked, but I would rather be in L1 with my Crewe setup I think.