The flying donkeys

Season 8

My current team for the season starting.

After winning Serie A and qualifying for the Champions League, I’ve got some editing to do which Ive never done before.

First of all I need to edit the team into Serie A.

Then I need to edit the team into the Champions League competition.

The save is now set-up.

I spent heavy on a new left back. As I moved Robertson on at the end of last season.

I want to keep the squad trimmed a bit so I accept a bid for one of my defenders.

I’ve had my eye on a player for a while now and I get wind that he is available.

So I low-balled the price with a 7M bid and settled on a price we were both happy with.

Champions League group stage is confirmed.

Liverpool is probably the one I fear the most.

Not really bothered about any more signings, but I get an offer that is appealing.

So I agree with regret in the back of my mind.

It’s a lot of money to say no to. I might not have gone for it if they hadn’t added a player also.

With the funds increased I do make one more signing.

Champions League starts.

Nice win against the team I was worried about facing.

Carried that confidence into the next game.

Up against the weakest team in the group next.

At least that’s what I thought going in.

2nd wave of games.

I learnt from my mistakes last time out.

I gave Palmer a chance.

Needs time to settle in still.

Musiala impressed in his Champions League debut for the club.

In a game, Liverpool should have been victorious in as they came knocking at the door a few times.

Chievo just made sure their chances counted which is what separated the two side.

Done enough at the beginning of the campaign that I can take a break and rest a few key players for the league, knowing the result doesn’t matter in the final group game.

League-wise it’s still early days and not as impressive as our European campaign.

Picking up a lot of pointless draws.

The conflict between the competitions is starting to take its toll on the squad.

Played our first derby game and came out on top.

I take a side view of the league in general and noticed our former employee is settling well at his new club.

Next game is not the result I wanted, but happy with the point against a team that is doing better than us.

The January transfer window is coming up. One player that is catching my eye.

He’s performing domestically and on the big stage.

Our last game and its a B team affair.

Leaves us top of the table.

No Messi in sight and to be honest he’s got off to a slow start, whilst Martínez is taking every chance he gets.

The draw for the next group stages has been decided.

It’s a return for Haaland against his former club already.

Domestically, cup-wise we have started in the 2nd round and it featured a mix of fringe players.

January comes around.

Still trailing behind the other title contenders.

In the Champions League, I do enough in the 5 games out of the 6 to guarantee a quarter-final spot. Despite a number of draws.

We advance to the knockout stages.

Domestic cup-wise wise we reach the semi-finals.

After coasting through the early rounds.

But unfortunately, it sets up a semi-final showdown against the team that’s competing for the title.

The competition ends at this round as I can’t overcome the team that’s inform.

I do get revenge on them in the league.

Followed by completing a hat-trick against my rivals.

Just about keeping in the title race.

Quarter finals to deal with.

Got the away goal which might be the difference in the second leg.

Can’t help but think I deserved more from the game.

At half-time, I subbed Savic off as I wanted more from him from a defensive point of view.

He didn’t make a single tackle, so I brought on Rodri as a reinforcement.

Should have taken Messi off at the same time, but it’s Messi.

I gave him more time and didn’t do anything extra in the second half.

Mbappe looked like he wasn’t in it either.

The little time Saka was on the field, there wasn’t much time to make an impact in the game.

But I was wanting to go for a second goal.

Hanging on to the top spot again with 4 minutes remaining against a team I should have humped.

Napoli coming from a goal behind to snatch a point from Juventus is a massive result for their own claim.

Only a few days later I’m hosting Milan with the hope that Roma can derail Napoli.

Won the game thanks to lady luck stepping in.

Destroyed them on paper.

Ex-Chievo striker Cunha scored a brace at the end which still wasn’t enough to stop Napoli.

Sneaking up the ladder.

A disappointing draw away to our next opposition has given the chasers hope as they now close the gap.

Quarter finals second leg.

Home advantage played a part and the team having mixed results meant we needed to go out and prove a point that we deserve to be in this tournament.

I’m happy to take on Atalanta in the semi-finals over the other two teams remaining.

The fixture list is getting tight again.

A domestic double is out of the window.

But still in the race for the league and Europe.

Good win, but I’ve lost Messi because of injury.

It’s not serious however, it does rule him out for a bit.

Napoli’s European campaign ends at the hands of an English club in the semi-finals.

Ex-Chievo employee did the business in the first leg and Napoli was unable to bounce back.

Before the European semi-finals against Atlanta, we must face them in the league.

And we got humiliated.

Damn keeper got a 4 before Half-time.

Its given Napoli the advantage over us with only two games remaining.

They looked to be heading for a draw right up until the end as well.

That would have been ideal.

We play them again this time in Europe.

This time we are victorious.

I didn’t like the fact Luke Shaw hadn’t made a single tackle, so I subbed him for De Sciglio which paid off as he provided the assist that won the game.

Once again Savic was underperforming and needed to come off.

Bellingham had a better time than him in the MC position.

Back to the league.

Won the game, but should have scored more.

Puts the pressure on Napoli who demolished our rivals.

They probably fielded a weak team just to let them win.

They do have Milan away as their last game, who have already beaten them in the first leg of the Coppa Italia final.

First half of the semi-finals second leg

And its a draw for now

Disappointed to see Messi hasn’t had a shot at all and I fancy taking off Musiala too.

Im going to move Fernandes into Musiala AMR position and replace Musiala with Savic.

At the same time try Mbappe for the first time as a striker and sub Messi off for Saka who takes the vacant AML position.

The game ended goalless. But that’s find as we now advance to the final.

Real Madrid eliminated Milan to book their ticket to Scotland.

There’s been some news regarding a player I’ve had my eye on.

Somebody has put a bid in for him.

I fancy hijacking the move.

Last game of the season.

Comfortable win to see out the season.

Napoli only managed a point against Milan.

They won the league anyway.

Leaving just one game remaining and our only shot at silverware.

No pressure.

Half-time

We take the lead thanks to some quick thinking from Mbappe to seek out Mr Reliable.

Bellingham, I’m concerned about the yellow card he’s got despite completing the most passes in the squad in the first half.

I will sub him off for Odegaard to play it safe.

Full-time

Almost saw the game out till Casemiro popped up to bring the game into extra time.

I subbed off Musiala for Martínez on the hour.

Swapped Martínez with Messi so that Messi would see the game out as an AMR.

Just as well as the super sub scored an individual goal that could have won the game.

No wonder goals from either side to win the game in extra time.

The game goes to penalties.

Hazard missed which gave us the advantage.

However Odegaard (the sub) missed also.

Thankfully Rodri converted his chance unlike Fernandez.

CHIEVO ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE

Players end-of-season stats

Some deals have been completed throughout the closed window.

McTominay returns to Manchester.

He looks incredible, but hes not in the mix.

Couldn’t pen Dembele down with a new contract and to be honest the way he behaved I’m glad the little boy has left the club.

This next one was a let down and the offer was too good not to accept.

Eriksen was bought as cover for the cover and hardly featured which is a crime against such a talented professional. It didn’t seem fair to the world to deny them a glimpse of what he is capable of producing in the game. We wish him well at his new club.