My story with Football Manager 2007: Lazio, the 2nd season
fter success of the first season my Lazio was targeted at fighting for Seria A title. And, of course, I was cherishing some hopes about success in the Champions League season. The success meant for me - getting through to the quarter final of the tournament.Transfers before the season
MID: Yildiray Basturk (Hertha) - Free
FOR: Roberto Soldado (Real Madrid) - Free, Stephen Makinwa (Palermo) - $3.8M
Sold
FOR: Simone Inzaghi (Messina) - $475K
Not really big changes. We wanted to secure a good style of playing achieved during the first season. For that Soldado and Makinwa were attracted as substitutes for the main forwards - Rocchi and Pandev. Yuildiray Basturk was signed with a high hope of doing playmaker from him.
So the season had started with two confident wins over Grasshoppers in the Champions League qualification. And we got to the group with Manchester United, Lyon and Shakhtar. Not easy one, but not mortal :) The next two away games were very hard and lost: 2:4 with Man Utd , 1:2 with Milan. And the next game was at home - 3:3 with Udinese. The problems with our defence became obvious! And there was also 3 month injury of Tomasso Rocchi, the real leader of Lazio. Although I didn't change 4-4-2 counter attacking tactics, just some small actions with few positions tuning their mentality and passing. But after such start I had more questions than answers concerning my team's strength and ability to fight for the title ofSeria A.
And actually after the first half of the season the results were somewhat disappointing. In Seria A Inter took many points and there was no chance to compete with it (12 points of difference between us). Moreover, Lazio was on the 5th place at all: Though the Champions League's start was rather successive. We had won home match with Man Utd what allowed to pass to the first knockout round even within 2 losses to Lyon and Shakhtar. Next opponent was astonishing and brilliant team of Arsene Wenger - Arsenal.
But before continuing the season we should attract new players to the club for solving the problem with defence:
Transfers during winter transfer window
DEF: Curtis Davies (Chealsea) - $19M
MID: Neri Cardozo (Boca) - $10.75M
Sold
MID: Valon Behrami (Liverpool) - $28.5M
Liverpool was absolutely in time with its proposition for Valon Behrami. Valon is fast and flamboyant but unstable winger. Therefore very highly priced proposition was accepted as a delightful event. On proceeds of the sale, I bought fast, safe and young central defender Curtis Davies and prospective winger from Argentina - Neri Cardozo. Thesetransfers turned out very lucky ones:
Actually, Lazio didn't become to play better in Seria A. At least not so better as a expected. The defence became safer, but results were unstable: Often draws and losses to Inter: Stunning loss to Fiorentina with 1:7 - it was terrible beating!!! Lazio had 2 sending aways in that damned match :) As a result - only 6th place in Seria A.
Lucky things became happening in the Champions League. All the matches with comments go below:
1/8 Arsenal - Lazio 3:2 It was like Arsenal of the former season in the Real Life. Many moments were missed by Gunners.
1/8 Lazio - Arsenal 4:1 Wonderful game by Basturk, Rocchi and Cardozo!
1/4 Lazio - Valencia 1:1 Villa was very dangerous and scored bad goal for us.
1/4 Valencia - Lazio 1:2 Lazio showed a fantastic character! Curtis Davies scored once, made many interceptions and tackles.
1/2 Inter - Lazio 3:1 We never won games with Inter before. This one did not become an exception.
1/2 Lazio - Inter 3:0 Something crazy was happening at Stadio Olimpico! We won thanking to Rocchi with his hat-trick!!!
Final Lazio - Liverpool 5:6 Unrealistic game without defending! We lost at the extra time!!!! Unfortunately I don't have screens of this game because I know playing the 6th season. Liverpool won the second final of CL in succession.
Here the screenshot of the Lazio's results at the end of the season (I have been playing for Inter during latest times - that's why it is selected with yellow colour)
Results of the season
Achievements:
- Fantastic team spirit in the Champions League, tremending final with Liverpool.
- Transfers of Behrami, Davies, Cardozo and Basturk.
- Tomazzo Rocchi is the best again!
Failures:
- 6th place in Seria A
- Bad transfer of Roberto Soldado who didn't want to score goals anyhow
- Loss in the 1st round of Italian Cup to Napoli on away goal.
To be continued: :)
Friday, 28 September 2007My story with Football Manager 2007: Lazio, the 1st season
I started managing Lazio in FM07 this winter and have been this game playing till the moment. Long time for one game, yup? :) But I would say I really relish the game...
So lets get started! Lazio is a football club having prospects to become a grand-champion. I took it as manager having just right that target. There was enough two month for setting up playing style of team and tactics I like. The choice fell for standard wing-attacking 4-4-2 on counter attacks.
Transfers before the first season
Bought: Cesare Natali (Udinese) – $7.5M, Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus) - $1.8M, Antonio Lopes (Sevilla) - $2.2M
Sold: Matteo Sereni (Parma) - $3.3M
Almost $12M for all. Lazio is not poor club, but not rich one. Therefore I decided to spend the most of the transfer funds on a good and solid center defender (Natali) who can take care of air balls and be concentrated tackler guarding access to gates.
The main intrigue with Lazio was its starting fine of minus 11 points. But we played really cool and reduced this fine quickly.Especially I would like to mention our brilliant forward Tommaso Rocchi who scored 28 goals in 35 matches.
Results of the first season
Achievements:
- 4th place in Seria A providing place in Champions League in spite of 11 points fine
- Tommaso Rocchi’s fantastic finishing and leadership
- Good transfers of Natali and Antonio Lopes
Failures:
- Loss in the quarterfinal of Italy Cup to Sampdoria
- Bad performance from bought backup defender Legrottaglie
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