Glory Hunting - Transfer Targets (Arsenal Football Manager)

GLORY HUNTING - ARSENAL FC

LOOKING FOR SIGNINGS!

  Hey everybody! Thanks for coming back to my Glory Hunting series with Arsenal. After a comfortable 3-0 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield, I am looking to try and improve my squad as the season begins.

  As I have mentioned, Olivier Giroud has unfortunately been ruled out of the opening few weeks of the season with a fairly serious injury. Even before Giroud had to be stretchered off in the final friendly, I had been considering with the board members of Arsenal, on the prospect of signing a strike partner for Giroud. Therefore, I have been sending my scouts to every corner of the world in order to find the greatest talent to bring to the Emirates! Amazingly, on their return my scouts have actually suggested some very good players for me to consider.

 

  Edison Cavani! The key target, number one on the shortlist. I would love to bring the Uruguay international to the Premier League. I contacted Paris Saint Germain with a huge £40 million bid which could rise to £47.5 million after some included clauses have been met by the player. 30 league appearances triggers a £2.5 million bonus to PSG whereas if and hopefully when Cavani bags my side a minimum of 20 league goals, we will have to add an extra £5 million onto the deal.

  However, money isn't the issue if we sign Cavani and he shows his class. I have faith in not only signing the player but him coming in and tearing up the Premier League with his skill and top quality finishing.

  A more well known player, Romelu Lukaku is another key target. We know a lot about the Belgium striker and he has proven at Premier League club, Everton that he is thoroughly capable at preforming in the Premier League. At only 22 years old, the fantastic player is not only going to be a fantastic signing for the upcoming season but for seasons to come, if we are successful with our offer.

  After a stern phone call with Roberto Martinez, I put in a enquiry containing a fairly optimistic £32 million offer, no clauses included. The Spanish manager conceded that he would have to consider the offer and talk to the Everton board. I think that my offer was adequate and could possible be accepted. Lukaku has also declared that he would be very interested in joining my side. Fantastic! This fact could help force the transfer through and hopefully speed the transfer transaction up.

  I'd love to bring Romelu to my team and the rest of my players are looking forward to playing with the striker, as for the fans, they are excited about my the targets I have declared interest in.

                             

 

  Away from strikers, myself and the board have decided that an improvement in the defensive midfield spot would help the squad develop incredibly. With that in the scouts mind, they came back from the tour pf the world looking for talent and their suggests were pretty disappointing. Many of the scouts, I have no idea why they are at a team such as Arsenal, they are terrible! But, my hope was restored when Peter Clark, an experienced scout, suggested Blaise Matuidi. It looks as though we will be raiding PSG this summer for their talent.

  Matuidi, would be an amazing signing. As a centre defensive midfield, its hard to find a better option. I made an offer for Matuidi, a standard £27 million enquiry. The French player would fit into my Arsenal team really well and hopefully he will see that he could become an icon at my club. The player has expressed his interest as being high in joining Arsenal which could help the deal go through.

  As for Arsenal players, Santi Cazorla, the 30 year old Spaniard, has been transfer listed. After careful consideration, I have decided that there are not only better options in my team already but Mesut Ozil will most definitely start the vast majority of games. Santi doesn't come close to challenging Mesut for his place and if required we do have Arron Ramsey as back up. Cazorla is also a chance for us to increase our budgets as his value is a nice amount at the moment and so the club has decided it would be best to cash in on Cazorla now. As of yet, there has been no interest in the player with an asking price of £26 million but with the quality he possess, I would be surprized if bids didn't come flying in soon.

 

  The squad is very good in terms of depth and I am grateful to have a quality amount of quality players in every position. Defensively we are solid with Koscielny, Mertesaker and Paulista which is great for allowing my to trial different combinations and also being able to rest certain defenders as the season progresses. Ramsey, Elmeny and Coquelin are available for the CDM role, but we have sent a bid for Blaise Matuidi who would be ideal.

  Attacking-wise we have amazing players with the likes of Sanchez, Ozil and Walcott. Hopefully in the coming days we will be able to add Edison Cavani which will improve the look of my side to a whole new level.

  Thank you for being here today! I will keep you updated with how these transfers progress and if we are successful in signing the players we have looked at today. In the next post, we start the Premier League at home to Manchester City. Come back to see if we can secure a winning start against a team that come the end of the season, I know its a long way off, could be potential title challengers. That's all for now, thank you and see you soon!

   Lee Harwood

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Glory Hunting - Community Shield

GLORY HUNTING - ARSENAL FC

COMMUNITY SHIELD!

  Hey guys, welcome back! Today in the Glory Hunting campaign we dive straight in at the deep end in our first competitive game as we look to defeat Chelsea, at Wembley stadium, in the Community Shield.

   The nerves were kicking in as the kick off drew closer. I would be forced to play a makeshift striker as Olivier Giroud had been stretchered off in the final friendly of preseason, a huge blow as the French striker is feared to be out of action for up to 5 weeks! However, being the good manager I am, I had Walcott out early at Wembley as he practised his shooting and finishing, as it would be Theo that I turned towards to lead the line and bag some goals.

  Of course my team have some quality goal scorers in other positions on the pitch, with the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, I was confident that despite the setback of no Giroud, we could go to Wembley and put up a fight against the Blues.

  I exchanged words with Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink in the tunnel, the opposing boss was attempting to get under my skin and apply the pressure. I would have none of it, I told him that Arsenal have nothing to loose and that I thrive on pressure. I could handle the pressure and nothing would distract me from sending my team out brimming with confidence and with that fight in their bellies.

 

  The line-ups were selected. The team sheets flooded social media sites and gossip filled the stadium as the news spread.

  Chelsea lined up a strong team, with a clear attacking mentally. Diego Costa partnered in attack with the Brazilian Oscar and world class Eden Hazard. The trio have an appetite for goals and each player is a threat when in and around the area.

  The Blues also fielded a very strong compact midfield trio, ex-Gunner Cesc Fabregas started alongside new £17 million signing Fred from Shaktar Donetsk. Matic provided the defensive support, playing just behind the two centre-midfielders.

  A four back defence filled with talent from full-backs Azpilicueta and Ivanovic, to the brick wall structured centre back partnership of John Terry and young starlet Kurt Zouma. Belgium goalkeeper Courtois started the game between the sticks for Chelsea.

  Arsenal, look towards Theo Walcott in the striker role, the pacey English man knows how to find the goal.

  Behind the striker, in the 4-2-3-1 formation, Mesut Ozil provides a creative attacking midfield option, the ex Real Madrid player has incredible vision and can create chances out of nothing. Alexis Sanchez starts out on the right and Oxlade-Chamberlain gets a start on the left flank.

  Ramsey fills in at centre defensive midfield role, partnered with 24 year-old Francis Coquelin, who will be looking to impress and secure a first team place.

  Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesaker and Bellerin make up a sturdy back four and experienced goalkeeper Petr Cech provides his expertise in the net.

  The game was quiet up until the 27th minute when it suddenly burst into life. A fantastic 1-2 between Bellerin and Ozil allowed Bellerin to get in behind the midfield, the left backs first touch was beautiful and allowed him to easily skip past Eden Hazard's weak challenge. He then fired a pass into Alexis, just inside the box. Sanchez turned and rocketed a thunderous striker past Courtois into the top corner. 1-0 Arsenal, a perfect start to my managerial career.

  The game just got better from my point of view! Straight from Chelsea kicking off, we win the ball back and just run directly at Chelsea's shaky defence. Fabregas got caught out in midfield by Coquelin who put tackled well, he then played the ball wide to Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez switched the play with a gorgeous ball to the feet of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, he then laid off the on rushing Arron Ramsey as he made a good run from deep. Ramsey played a through ball into Walcott who side footed the ball past the keeper coolly.  I great decision from me to play Walcott as the striker proven by him getting the second goal against Chelsea to put my team into a commanding lead. 2-0!

  When its your day, you just take advantage. That's exactly what my team did! Some good side-line managing from myself encouraged my players to attack and punish Chelsea. This time the deserving Oxlade-Chamberlain gets his name on the score sheet. Alexis Sanchez broke down the wing, running away from Chelsea's dangerous looking attack. Sanchez did really well to get to the byline where he lobbed the ball to the back post where Chamberlain was ready and waiting to sweep in the goal. Fantastic counter by my Arsenal players to make it 3-0 in the Community Shield, just 38 minutes into the game.

 

  On another day we could've had more goals, easily. Chelsea defensively weren't at it and attacking their forwards created little.

  Courtois however, was exceptional. Despite conceding 3 goals, he tried his best to give Chelsea hope. He pulled off some world-class saves to prevent my players but maybe if I did have Giroud or another recognised starter striker, then the score line would have been hefty in my favour.

  Can you complain about a 3-0 win though? I thought my side played excellently and they were deserved winners.

  The stats show that my team were worthy winners at Wembley, with the majority of shots and slight more possession, we made a good account of ourselves and most importantly, won the match 3-0!

  I was pleased with the amount of chances we created but I thought that we were disappointing when going into challenges and at aerial duels. A bit of work on the training ground should rectify the problems in our game for when we start the season.

 

 

  Thank you for being here and joining me for the Community Shield win! Come back tomorrow where we begin the Premier League season, the first game is a belter but a tough one against none other than Manchester City! Can we defeat the Blues from Manchester as we take them on at the Emirates?

  Also I will upload an individual post dedicated to the transfer targets and how we are doing in the market.

  That's all for now however, thank you and see you soon!

      Lee Harwood.

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Glory Hunting - Fantastic Preseason

ARSENAL - GLORY HUNTING

PREPARATIONS COMPLETE

 Hello, welcome back to Glory Hunting, my Arsenal, Football Manager career! Today we look to play the friendly games as we build fitness leading up to the Premier League season.

 

   I also look to see if we can improve the squad, ideally I'm hoping to bring a top quality striker to partner upfront with Giroud as I don't think he has the attributes to carry Arsenal in terms of goals. The centre-defensive midfield spot is the one other position I would like to improve. Coquelin and Elmeny can play there but, in my opinion, to be competing in the Premier League and in the Champions League, I would think that the team would benefit from a better quality CDM player. 

  

    I have some players on my Shortlist who I think are the players that I would look to sign to be key players. Every player on the shortlist is somebody who I am seriously considering bringing into my team and they are players that I feel will contribute the most to the season. 

  The list is very striker heavy as I feel this is the position where I will need to look to strengthen the most. Edison Cavani will be the main target, the man I will throw money at to try and persuade both Paris Saint Germain to sell and the player to accept a contract. Although he is very much like Giroud, I think Cavani will bring goals to the team much more consistantly and with having Sanchez and Walcott on the wings, pace upfront isn't a major factor and we will look to attack from down the wings and score via headers or at least from balls into the area. 

    Cavani, has the perfect stats for what I am looking for in a striker. His 16 composer matched with 15 finishing, makes him lethal up front! Also his physical stats are fairly good as he has 13  strength and decent pace at 16. I am hoping I can pick Cavani up for less than £40m, but PSG can be stubborn and I may end up splashing the cash for the Uruguan but I feel come the end of the season, it will be money well spent! 

  Matuidi from PSG and Kranevitter are the key targets for the CDM role. Matuidi is definitely the player I will look towards primarily but with hoping to sign Cavani first, PSG may not allow the signing of Matuidi. Kranevitter, is a wonderful young talent and on Football Manager is great. However, with him being young and not as good as Matuidi, he is certainly second choice but because of being young, I may still look to sign him as he will grow into a special talent! 

 

 

    As well as signing players and adding to the Arsenal team, players must leave. Flamini and Chambers are the only two players however that potentially would have been first team that will leave this season.

  Flamini, the defensive midfielder, left to Shaktar for a fee worth £825k after the clauses have been paid off. I let him go on the basis that there are already better options within the Arsenal ranks but also because the position he played in was one I am looking to improve the quality in.  This meant that when he is out of favour, I could see him coming to me and asking for more game time, something I would not be willing to give to him. I took action now so that later in the season the squad doesn't get disrupted or dishearten because of not getting football games.

  Calum Chambers is a fantastic player I intend to use as he progresses through his career, however at this moment in time, I felt as though there are already better options at Arsenal with the likes of Hector Bellerin. A season loan to Newcastle where Chambers will be a valuable first team player will do the player good in his career, before returning to me looking for first team action.

 

  Preseason friendlies went fantastically well! We managed to win comfortably in the games, all except the final friendly vs Sporting Lisbon where we humbled to a disappointing 1-1 draw. 

  Overall, I am very pleased with the way the preseason games went and I think the side looks in great shape as the season draws closer.

  However, there is always some negativity and that for me comes in the form of an injury. And to who else but Olivier Giroud! Out for 4-5 weeks, my main striker will miss the opening weeks of the Premier League campaign which is a massive blow but also adds to the desperate need to sign Cavani.

  Despite Girouds injury, we played very well and scored lots of goals. Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott impressed as they scored in plenty of the games and Walcott even managed a hattrick in the game against Getafe.

   

  With a great preseason in the bag, my Arsenal team are looking roaring to go when the Premier League begins. With winning the FA Cup, Arsenal do have the chance to win the first piece of silverware on offer this season, it may not be a massive trophy to fill the cabinet but its still a trophy and I will look to send a strong team out at Wembley to overcome London rivals Chelsea in the Community Shield. Sanchez looks like he could be a huge part of the team, but it will be the defence I will be calling on most, hopefully they can keep the likes of Hazard and Pedro quiet and it'll be an easy victory under the arch.  

 

 Join me tomorrow, to see how we do in the Community Shield game, and I will also have made some initial advances on transfer targets. All that in tomorrows post, but for now, thanks for reading. See you soon!

  Lee Harwood.

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Glory Hunting - Preseason Preparation

                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

GLORY HUNTING – ARSENAL FC

SETTING UP FOR THE FRIENDY GAMES!

  Hello, welcome back to a well overdue Football Manager blog, we’re back Glory Hunting with Arsenal today and looking to get some good results and build up the squad’s fitness in the friendly games.

  Just before we get going, I’d like to apologise for the eternity it took me to get this blog post out to you, but I’m back, it’s here! I’ve just had so much to do lately and getting the football manager post out in amongst has been difficult. But everything is okay now, let’s get the post underway…

 

    We start preseason by travelling to Singapore. Arsenal have middle-east sponsors FlyEmirates and so we agreed to fly out to Singapore for a camp and also agree to play a couple of the local teams there.  Obviously, the teams we will begin preseason playing against, will not be the most challenging and I predict easy wins. However, the preseason stage is all about fitness and getting the team to gel and play fluid football so that when we come to the first competitive game, we are ready to go and smash the games.

 












































 The training camp required a 40-man party. As manager I decided to include plenty of the youngsters and under 21 side. This will allow Arsenal to get better in two ways. Firstly, for the youngsters they will compete against the quality in the First Team, improving the kids and maybe somebody will stand out and get their name in my Premier League squad.  Also, having youngsters in will require the First Team to have good fitness and help them to play against the younger players which benefits the team for when the competitive games begin.

 There is one youngster I am particularly looking for performances from. Jeff Reine-Adelaide, a young talent in the attacking midfield role is a player that I am strongly considering including in my squads. If he performs well and trains to a good standard, then he could become a regular part of the team for me this season.

 

 

 

 

 

  

For the friendly games, I decided to go with the team that I would like to start the season with. Despite taking the risk of First Team players picking up injuries which could cause problems, I wanted to make sure that the team would be fully ready for the start of the Premier League campaign. Having 12 subs available allowed for players to be taken off when they tire which is good for allowing the whole squad to prove that they are worthy to play for Arsenal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   Tactics wise, my favourite part of the game, fielding a 4-2-3-1 formation gives a strong depth on the field, with protection for the defenders and extra bodies going forward with Ozil in CAM as well as good, fast wingers who have an eye for goal.

Playing a higher tempo means that the team will be looking to play fast and get the ball forward, accompanied with playing fairly wide means the players will look to go wide fast and get down the wing. A high defensive line means that defenders will be included in the build-up play and playing offside trap means the line will be structured and catch the opposition offside, hopefully. Playing out of defence also allows the defenders to get on the ball and play it into the midfielders.

 Bellerin and Monreal have the ability to cross balls into the box and both wing backs are very fast, this allows me to be able to play the ‘Look for Overlap’ tactic. This can be effective because the wingers have an option when attacking down the wing, something I will be looking for the team do often do. My teams are always told to be expressive too. Starting the game where they are allowed to express themselves allows wingers to cut inside and have long range shots and the team will look to play a tika-taka style of passing.

 

  That concludes this post, make sure you check back tomorrow to see how we go on in the friendlies. Hopefully, we can get the wins and build up the form towards the start of the season. Thank you for reading the post and see you tomorrow!

 Lee Harwood.

 

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