niMic, use the FMRTE (Real Time Editor), it's on fm-base.co.uk . You'll be able to completely change a player and give him Spammys stats and age and what not.
The RedCafe FM Experiment
- Thread starter nimic
- Start date
Okay, I'll give that a go. Cheers.
How far in are you mate? The suspense is killing me! 
How far in are you mate? The suspense is killing me!
Do you mean how far in game or how far in writing the update? The update won't be out before tomorrow, in all likelihood. As for the game, we're just at the end of the second season. I've stopped running it for the moment in case Spammy wants in, then I can just insert him at that age.
I meant both, good stuff. So i'm guessing we're all 16 now, be funny to see who's gone where and how far up the tree.
I'm starting to think the updates may come even slower than I had expected. There's a lot of us! To compensate, I think I'll go back to my original plan of doing yearly updates from the start. As long as you're at least mildly interested in what the other lads are up to, it should be enough to read. That means I'm still aiming to get the update out tomorrow.
Also, Spammy will be "handing in his assignment" tomorrow, so I won't have to start running it again quite yet anyway.
Also, Spammy will be "handing in his assignment" tomorrow, so I won't have to start running it again quite yet anyway.
pffff, i wanted my birthday update. this has been the worst birthday ever
pffff, i wanted my birthday update. this has been the worst birthday ever
Ooh, it's your birthday?
Here's a small tidbit to cheer you up.
Happy birthday
best present ever!Being a Swedish citizen me and Rasmus should be in the first national team by now.
Being a Swedish citizen me and Rasmus should be in the first national team by now.
Since i'm a reckless player with no work rate I somehow doubt it. Lagerbäck probably hates my guts. It's probably different in the FM world though.
Ooh, it's your birthday?
Here's a small tidbit to cheer you up.
Happy birthday
hehehehehe!
considering i actually got a nice home kit with Rooney on the back from my girlfriend today, pretty appropriate.
hehehehehe!
considering i actually got a nice home kit with Rooney on the back from my girlfriend today, pretty appropriate.
Won't be long now before she starts asking for you to talk in a Scouse accent and let her grandma give you a handjob. On to a winner there, mate
Ooh, it's your birthday?
Here's a small tidbit to cheer you up.
Happy birthday
if he's rooney then i must be ronny
I only hope that one day i'll be known as the next Ronny Johnsen.
Okay, I'm getting really frustrated with this whole deal, now. The RedCafe forum is a nightmare to do this thing on. First there's the whole "preview doesn't display that particular picture arbitrarily", and then I couldn't even preview my third post. I had the other two also written up, and I could preview them. Now suddenly I can't preview any of them, and I can't post them either, I just get some "Connection Interrupted" browser error.
So I've got it all written up and finished, I just can't post it.
So I've got it all written up and finished, I just can't post it.
Damn man, can't you just post up little chunks at a time?
That sounds a bit strange. Maybe there's too many pics or words in the post?
There's only 8 or so pictures, and the limit is 10. And the two first worked to preview before I started adding pictures, so the words from the picture link would have to be the cut-off point. I'd really hate to have to start doing 4 or 5 posts per update >.<
Year 1 - 2008/2008, Post 1 of 4
Okay, here's the first update. There's not a whole lot to report on people yet, but writing two-year updates on 23 players would probably kill me so you'll just have to take it! Also, I'll start doing more stats and comparisons when there's actually something to compare.
Note: ImageBam messed up the screenshots of Karan Mittal and Ubor Skolskov, so I had to reupload them. So if you use the ImageBam scrolling through images thing, they'll be blank.
Alex Hemming (Bury)
Alex Hemming started his career at Bury, and it didn’t take long for him to get his first-team debut. He had barely turned 15 when he was thrown into the thick of it, and played well enough in the 17 league-appearances that by January he had already attracted the interest of bigger clubs. In the end the Championship club Sheffield United won out, and as Hemming was so young he signed for free.
There he naturally got fewer chances, but by the end of the season he had already started 6 games and come on as a substitute in one, providing one assist and becoming Man of the Match in the same game; all before he had signed his first professional contract. Hemming’s first season was pretty much injury free, except for a 9-day stint with a bruised head. As the season ended, he made it known he was optimistic about his future at the club.
Alwyn Payne (Shrewsbury)
As Alwyn Payne apepared on the footballing scene at the age of 15, he was instantly given a spot in the English u19 side, and the captaincy of said side just as quick. He was also given a chance to prove himself in his club, Shrewsbury, and did not disappoint. By mid-played season he had featured in 11 league games, scoring 1 goal and providing 4 assists, with a good average rating of 7.20. That was impressive enough for the big teams to notice, and in short order he was signed (for free) with middling Premiership side Fulham, where he continued to impress.
Like Alex Hemming his opportunities were fewer, yet 5 games in the Premier League at the age of 15 was hardly something to scoff about, particularly when he was under the tutelage of US international Clint Dempsey. As the season ended, Alwyn Payne was less than a year from signing his first professional contract, which had already been agreed at £10.75k p/w.
Chris Searl (Notts County)
Beginning his career in the good League 2 club Notts County, Chris Searl hadn’t expected to start his professional career for years yet. And though his professional contract was years away, his first team debut wasn’t. By mid-played season he had started a full 15 games, with 1 goal and 3 assists, helping Notts County to an eventual promotion. He wouldn’t be part of that, though, as he was quickly snapped up by Premier League side Stoke, where he’d feature 3 times to help them avoid the expected drop.
His mentor was manager Tony Pulis, who quickly became one of his favoured personnel. Searl was optimistic about his future at the club, and if he could avoid the injury-scare of this season, the next could be a great leap in his career. This season he was injured on 7 different occasions, for a total of 19 weeks on the sidelines.
Cinadine Cidane (Dag & Red)
Coming through the ranks of a club involved in a relegation battle, Cinadine Cidane was quickly brought up to the first team, and he performed decently in the 13 league games he got. Dag & Red didn’t get relegated, but if they were it wouldn’t have bothered Cidane, who jumped ship in January in favour of Championship-side Derby, where he became involved in another relegation battle. Derby didn’t end up relegated either, helped along by the 13 games Cidane featured in.
Equally impressive was his 3 appearances for the U21-side of his native Republic of Ireland, at the young age of 15. Unlike some other people, Cinadine Cidane had remained completely injury free, which could very well be a good sign for his future progression. He was already considered worth £1.8 million, even though he was still over a year from signing the £3.3k professional contract.
Cristiano Lazytov (Aldershot)
Cristiano Lazytov had it all to prove from day 1 of his footballing career, as he was swiftly dubbed “the new Michael Owen” by the local media. Hopefully that didn’t mean his career would take a sharp dip before ending up at City, who had just bought Owen for £24.5 million. Unlike some players, Lazytov decided not to move clubs in the very first transfer window, opting to stay and help his Aldershot side in the promotion battle. He performed well, and in addition to the 46 youth and reserve team appearances got 16 games for the Aldershot first team, instantly proving his mettle with 6 goals and 6 assists.
This was enough to earn him a spot in the English U19-side, but unfortunately not enough to ensure promotion. At the end of the season Aldershot had offered him a contract, and he was still considering whether or not to sign it. There was no doubt he’d end up at a higher level, the question was if he was ready for it. Didn’t want to go the Owen route, after all.
Cw1984 (Lincoln)
Cw1984 was another who quickly proved that he was one for the future as he performed well in the 13 games he appeared in for his Lincoln side. Like so many others, his appearces in the first half of the season were good enough to secure him the interest of bigger clubs, and soon he was plying his trade in the Championship club Crystal Palace. Interestingly, he actually upped his appearance tally there compared to Lincoln, despite the much higher level of competition.
This was no doubt helped by his versatility, which meant he could play both left back and central midfielder, and indeed he was used equally in both positions. His strong showing for Crystal Palace was enough to earn him a game for the English U21-side, where he was used in his most common central midfielder role.
Okay, here's the first update. There's not a whole lot to report on people yet, but writing two-year updates on 23 players would probably kill me so you'll just have to take it! Also, I'll start doing more stats and comparisons when there's actually something to compare.
Note: ImageBam messed up the screenshots of Karan Mittal and Ubor Skolskov, so I had to reupload them. So if you use the ImageBam scrolling through images thing, they'll be blank.
Alex Hemming (Bury)
Alex Hemming started his career at Bury, and it didn’t take long for him to get his first-team debut. He had barely turned 15 when he was thrown into the thick of it, and played well enough in the 17 league-appearances that by January he had already attracted the interest of bigger clubs. In the end the Championship club Sheffield United won out, and as Hemming was so young he signed for free.
There he naturally got fewer chances, but by the end of the season he had already started 6 games and come on as a substitute in one, providing one assist and becoming Man of the Match in the same game; all before he had signed his first professional contract. Hemming’s first season was pretty much injury free, except for a 9-day stint with a bruised head. As the season ended, he made it known he was optimistic about his future at the club.
Alwyn Payne (Shrewsbury)
As Alwyn Payne apepared on the footballing scene at the age of 15, he was instantly given a spot in the English u19 side, and the captaincy of said side just as quick. He was also given a chance to prove himself in his club, Shrewsbury, and did not disappoint. By mid-played season he had featured in 11 league games, scoring 1 goal and providing 4 assists, with a good average rating of 7.20. That was impressive enough for the big teams to notice, and in short order he was signed (for free) with middling Premiership side Fulham, where he continued to impress.
Like Alex Hemming his opportunities were fewer, yet 5 games in the Premier League at the age of 15 was hardly something to scoff about, particularly when he was under the tutelage of US international Clint Dempsey. As the season ended, Alwyn Payne was less than a year from signing his first professional contract, which had already been agreed at £10.75k p/w.
Chris Searl (Notts County)
Beginning his career in the good League 2 club Notts County, Chris Searl hadn’t expected to start his professional career for years yet. And though his professional contract was years away, his first team debut wasn’t. By mid-played season he had started a full 15 games, with 1 goal and 3 assists, helping Notts County to an eventual promotion. He wouldn’t be part of that, though, as he was quickly snapped up by Premier League side Stoke, where he’d feature 3 times to help them avoid the expected drop.
His mentor was manager Tony Pulis, who quickly became one of his favoured personnel. Searl was optimistic about his future at the club, and if he could avoid the injury-scare of this season, the next could be a great leap in his career. This season he was injured on 7 different occasions, for a total of 19 weeks on the sidelines.
Cinadine Cidane (Dag & Red)
Coming through the ranks of a club involved in a relegation battle, Cinadine Cidane was quickly brought up to the first team, and he performed decently in the 13 league games he got. Dag & Red didn’t get relegated, but if they were it wouldn’t have bothered Cidane, who jumped ship in January in favour of Championship-side Derby, where he became involved in another relegation battle. Derby didn’t end up relegated either, helped along by the 13 games Cidane featured in.
Equally impressive was his 3 appearances for the U21-side of his native Republic of Ireland, at the young age of 15. Unlike some other people, Cinadine Cidane had remained completely injury free, which could very well be a good sign for his future progression. He was already considered worth £1.8 million, even though he was still over a year from signing the £3.3k professional contract.
Cristiano Lazytov (Aldershot)
Cristiano Lazytov had it all to prove from day 1 of his footballing career, as he was swiftly dubbed “the new Michael Owen” by the local media. Hopefully that didn’t mean his career would take a sharp dip before ending up at City, who had just bought Owen for £24.5 million. Unlike some players, Lazytov decided not to move clubs in the very first transfer window, opting to stay and help his Aldershot side in the promotion battle. He performed well, and in addition to the 46 youth and reserve team appearances got 16 games for the Aldershot first team, instantly proving his mettle with 6 goals and 6 assists.
This was enough to earn him a spot in the English U19-side, but unfortunately not enough to ensure promotion. At the end of the season Aldershot had offered him a contract, and he was still considering whether or not to sign it. There was no doubt he’d end up at a higher level, the question was if he was ready for it. Didn’t want to go the Owen route, after all.
Cw1984 (Lincoln)
Cw1984 was another who quickly proved that he was one for the future as he performed well in the 13 games he appeared in for his Lincoln side. Like so many others, his appearces in the first half of the season were good enough to secure him the interest of bigger clubs, and soon he was plying his trade in the Championship club Crystal Palace. Interestingly, he actually upped his appearance tally there compared to Lincoln, despite the much higher level of competition.
This was no doubt helped by his versatility, which meant he could play both left back and central midfielder, and indeed he was used equally in both positions. His strong showing for Crystal Palace was enough to earn him a game for the English U21-side, where he was used in his most common central midfielder role.
Year 1 - 2008/2008, Post 2 of 4
Dennis Law (Darlington)
Like Cristiano Lazytov, Dennis Law quickly had the pressure on him to perform well, by having the local media compare him to Scottish legend Ally McCoist. Also like Lazytov, Law decided that it was in his best interest to stay at the club he came through, for the time being. For his loyalty he was rewarded with a regular place in the Darlington first team, and for his faith in Law the coach was rewarded with a free-scoring striker.
Even though Darlington was closer to the bottom than the top, Dennis Law’s 19 goals were enough to put him at 3rd of the Topscorer table at the end of the season, at the age of 15. He was also rewarded with his first appearance for the Scottish U21-side. He remained completely free of injuries, which no doubt helped his impressive goal tally.
Diver (Grimsby)
Even before he turned 15, Diver already had all the qualities needed to be a good center back. All he needed was the games to continue growing. And that’s what he got, quickly helping Grimsby overcome a poor start to the season to get involved in the promotion scuffle. Unfortunately he didn’t get any more than the 15 games of the first half of the season.
Fortunately, the reason was that he was courted by the Scottish giants Rangers. He only got 5 games for the rest of the season, but no doubt the facilities would help him. No doubt he was also considering the fact that he could now sign a professional contract a year earlier, at 16, which meant that by the time the next season started he would be earning £5.25k per week.
Ed Weatherall (Notts County)
While all the youngsters got some measure of first team action, Ed Weatherall took it one step further and, at the age of 15, played all but 4 league games for his Notts County side. Of those 42 games 16 were clean sheet performances, and he conceded a total of 46 goals. Impressive, considering only clear league winners Bradford conceded less than 46 goals in the league this season.
A clean sheet and a win in the last league game away to Chester was just enough to secure third and promotion. It was also enough to secure his first U21-cap for England. Perhaps England’s keeper troubles were about to be over. First he had to continue to rise in the grades, and at the end of the season he wasn’t on the direct shortlist of any of the bigger clubs. Perhaps the idea of a talented, reliable English goalkeeper was too preposterous; they had been burned too many times.
Flawless Thaw (Exeter)
As one of the older youngsters, Flawless Thaw was also one of the more developed ones. He quickly grabbed a place in the Exeter first team, putting in some great performances in the first half of the season. During his 14 games he managed 3 goals and 3 assists, and was named Man of the Match a full 4 times. His performances were so good that when he was inevitably courted by bigger clubs, he was one of the few who actually commanded a transfer fee, £275k in his case.
It took a Premiership club to want to shell out that kind of money for a youngster, and the lucky winner was Blackburn, who were struggling. There he was instantly compared to teammate Steven Reid, though he actually played better than Reid in the 5 games he got that season. Flawless Thaw was injured twice this season, a bruised rib and a strained neck, but both resulted in only days out of action.
George Worst (Exeter)
At 15 years old and 187 cm tall, George Worst was always going to be handful for his opponents. His ability to make the right decision also came in handy as he quickly took a spot on the team. He performed well in the 11 games, with one assist, and like so many others it was enough to secure the interest of teams higher up the league system. This time it went to the highest level, as he quickly signed for Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.
There his first team opportunities dried up, though he still got two games to prove himself. Somehow he performed better than he had at the lower level, and he bagged his first professional goal in a 2-0 win over Stoke. He was also quickly noticed by the Belgian U21 manager, and, still at the age of 15, he made his U21 debut. He sustained a small arm fracture, but not until the season was almost over anyway.
Hassan Emirati (Exeter)
Another player who came through the youth system at Exeter, Hassan Emirati wasted no time in proving his mettle as he scored in the very first game of the season, a 3-1 win over fellow League 2 side Brentford. He then followed that up with another 2 goals in the next league game, a win over Gillingham. Though his goals came more rarely after that, 5 goals and 1 assist in his first 10 games at a professional level was very impressive indeed. Impressive enough, in fact, to secure a bid (of £0) from Championship-side Sheffield United, who had already signed Alex Hemming that January.
Like everyone else, he didn’t get quite as many games there, though 5 games at a Championship level was still enough to ensure his continued development. He was injured once this season, a 3-week thigh strain at the tail end of the season. In the end his team was relegated, but that would still put him one division above his previous season.
Dennis Law (Darlington)
Like Cristiano Lazytov, Dennis Law quickly had the pressure on him to perform well, by having the local media compare him to Scottish legend Ally McCoist. Also like Lazytov, Law decided that it was in his best interest to stay at the club he came through, for the time being. For his loyalty he was rewarded with a regular place in the Darlington first team, and for his faith in Law the coach was rewarded with a free-scoring striker.
Even though Darlington was closer to the bottom than the top, Dennis Law’s 19 goals were enough to put him at 3rd of the Topscorer table at the end of the season, at the age of 15. He was also rewarded with his first appearance for the Scottish U21-side. He remained completely free of injuries, which no doubt helped his impressive goal tally.
Diver (Grimsby)
Even before he turned 15, Diver already had all the qualities needed to be a good center back. All he needed was the games to continue growing. And that’s what he got, quickly helping Grimsby overcome a poor start to the season to get involved in the promotion scuffle. Unfortunately he didn’t get any more than the 15 games of the first half of the season.
Fortunately, the reason was that he was courted by the Scottish giants Rangers. He only got 5 games for the rest of the season, but no doubt the facilities would help him. No doubt he was also considering the fact that he could now sign a professional contract a year earlier, at 16, which meant that by the time the next season started he would be earning £5.25k per week.
Ed Weatherall (Notts County)
While all the youngsters got some measure of first team action, Ed Weatherall took it one step further and, at the age of 15, played all but 4 league games for his Notts County side. Of those 42 games 16 were clean sheet performances, and he conceded a total of 46 goals. Impressive, considering only clear league winners Bradford conceded less than 46 goals in the league this season.
A clean sheet and a win in the last league game away to Chester was just enough to secure third and promotion. It was also enough to secure his first U21-cap for England. Perhaps England’s keeper troubles were about to be over. First he had to continue to rise in the grades, and at the end of the season he wasn’t on the direct shortlist of any of the bigger clubs. Perhaps the idea of a talented, reliable English goalkeeper was too preposterous; they had been burned too many times.
Flawless Thaw (Exeter)
As one of the older youngsters, Flawless Thaw was also one of the more developed ones. He quickly grabbed a place in the Exeter first team, putting in some great performances in the first half of the season. During his 14 games he managed 3 goals and 3 assists, and was named Man of the Match a full 4 times. His performances were so good that when he was inevitably courted by bigger clubs, he was one of the few who actually commanded a transfer fee, £275k in his case.
It took a Premiership club to want to shell out that kind of money for a youngster, and the lucky winner was Blackburn, who were struggling. There he was instantly compared to teammate Steven Reid, though he actually played better than Reid in the 5 games he got that season. Flawless Thaw was injured twice this season, a bruised rib and a strained neck, but both resulted in only days out of action.
George Worst (Exeter)
At 15 years old and 187 cm tall, George Worst was always going to be handful for his opponents. His ability to make the right decision also came in handy as he quickly took a spot on the team. He performed well in the 11 games, with one assist, and like so many others it was enough to secure the interest of teams higher up the league system. This time it went to the highest level, as he quickly signed for Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.
There his first team opportunities dried up, though he still got two games to prove himself. Somehow he performed better than he had at the lower level, and he bagged his first professional goal in a 2-0 win over Stoke. He was also quickly noticed by the Belgian U21 manager, and, still at the age of 15, he made his U21 debut. He sustained a small arm fracture, but not until the season was almost over anyway.
Hassan Emirati (Exeter)
Another player who came through the youth system at Exeter, Hassan Emirati wasted no time in proving his mettle as he scored in the very first game of the season, a 3-1 win over fellow League 2 side Brentford. He then followed that up with another 2 goals in the next league game, a win over Gillingham. Though his goals came more rarely after that, 5 goals and 1 assist in his first 10 games at a professional level was very impressive indeed. Impressive enough, in fact, to secure a bid (of £0) from Championship-side Sheffield United, who had already signed Alex Hemming that January.
Like everyone else, he didn’t get quite as many games there, though 5 games at a Championship level was still enough to ensure his continued development. He was injured once this season, a 3-week thigh strain at the tail end of the season. In the end his team was relegated, but that would still put him one division above his previous season.
Year 1 - 2008/2008, Post 3 of 4
Jacob (Rochdale)
As one of the youngest of the bunch, it came as a bit of a surprise when Jacob was actually one of the more impressive at the League 2 level. His first goal came in the 3rd league game of the season, his 2nd followed right after. With the season half finished, he had “only” 4 goals and 1 assist in 13 league appearances, but his general level of play was excellent. Thus it came as no surprise when the big boys came knocking.
Sheffield United, who had already snapped up both Alex Hemming and Hassan Emirati, won out in the end. There Jacob got back to business, appearing 14 times for the club in the Championship. Unfortunately some good performances and a few goals at the end of the season wasn’t enough to save the club from relegation. Very likely, though, it would just mean more first team opportunities for the promising youngster.
Karan Mittal (Dag & Red)
As the only foreigner in the Dag & Red U18 side, the pressure was on Karan Mittal to show that he was good enough from the start. And he certainly got enough chances to do it. Though he “only” got 19 league games for the first team that entire season, he featured a further 43 times for the reserve and youth teams. If lots of games was the road to progress, then Karan Mittal’s 62 games was surely enough. And indeed it seemed to be; though he was one of the few who stayed with their original clubs for the entire season, interest in him increased as the season went on, and at the very end of the season Reading and Rangers were the two main contenders.
Only time would tell if Mittal would play again for Dag & Red, or if his next appearance would be at a much higher level. He was injured a full 3 times in the first season, where he was out 3 weeks, 2 weeks and finally 1 week, all to different injuries. Not that that stopped him from making his Indian U21 debut.
Legold Legster (Bradford)
Pacey left-back Legold Legster was another who decided to stay in his original club, despite some interest during the January transfer window. Perhaps he thought that there was no point in moving at that point, since he had captured a fairly regular spot in the Bradford first team; he featured 26 teams in the first team. Another reason could be Bradford’s unstoppable march towards promotion to the League 1, in which Legold Legster played no small part.
At the end of the season Legster had predictably attracted the interest of some bigger clubs, the biggest among them Premier League side Stoke, who had just managed to avoid relegation. He was only injured once in the current season, though that had been pulled hamstring that had put him out of action for a full month.
niMic (Lincoln)
It was a somewhat mixed first season for niMic (yes, I’ll be writing in “that guy” style. Saying “me” would just be weird!). He had started it ferociously, getting 3 goals and 3 assists, as well as being named Man of the Match 4 times in just 9 league games. As January came, interest in him was high. In the end he opted to go to Scottish giants Rangers, who only a week before had secured the services of Diver. There he featured just one time, though that debut also saw his debut goal.
That was the good news. That bad news was that he was considered a first team substitute, not a youth or reserve team player, which meant he was quickly lacking in match fitness when he didn’t get matches for the first team. At least his new professional contract meant he had a lot of money to spend during that free time, though only time could tell whether it would seriously hamper is progress as a player.
Paz (Bury)
Unlike fellow Bury-youngster Alex Hemming, Paz decided that his best chances to progress properly as a footballer was to stay with the club. At least that’s what he decided at first. And indeed, he did get more chances there than he would likely get at a higher level. At the end of the season he had played in 21 league games, scoring 4 goals. Most of those games had been played on the left, but he was equally good on the right, and played some games there as well.
At the end of the season, though, he wasn’t so happy. Rangers were interested in him, he made it perfectly clear that he thought he had to leave to further his career. It was starting to look increasingly unlikely that he would ever play another game for Bury, the only question being who he would appear next for. The odds favourite at the end of the season was Rangers. He was mostly untroubled by injuries, only being out for 9 days once over a stubbed toe.
Psmith (Rotherham)
Psmith had a very good first season indeed. He decided that his best chance at getting first team football and progressing as a footballer was to stay with the club he came up through, Rotherham, and he shined. Over the course of the season he featured 29 times, starting the vast amount of them, and scored 15 league goals. He was some way off the top few on the top scorer list, but he was as high as 4th on the average rating list, showing how good he had actually been.
It wasn’t long before he was being compared to Indian footballing legend Subhash Bhowmick, and it was hoped that Psmith could emulate him. Well, up to but not including the accusations of corruption, in any case. He had had a pretty injury-free season, except for a one-week break for a gashed arm. At the time being, he seemed happy at Rotherham, though how fast that would change if he continued to progress, no one knows (I do!).
Jacob (Rochdale)
As one of the youngest of the bunch, it came as a bit of a surprise when Jacob was actually one of the more impressive at the League 2 level. His first goal came in the 3rd league game of the season, his 2nd followed right after. With the season half finished, he had “only” 4 goals and 1 assist in 13 league appearances, but his general level of play was excellent. Thus it came as no surprise when the big boys came knocking.
Sheffield United, who had already snapped up both Alex Hemming and Hassan Emirati, won out in the end. There Jacob got back to business, appearing 14 times for the club in the Championship. Unfortunately some good performances and a few goals at the end of the season wasn’t enough to save the club from relegation. Very likely, though, it would just mean more first team opportunities for the promising youngster.
Karan Mittal (Dag & Red)
As the only foreigner in the Dag & Red U18 side, the pressure was on Karan Mittal to show that he was good enough from the start. And he certainly got enough chances to do it. Though he “only” got 19 league games for the first team that entire season, he featured a further 43 times for the reserve and youth teams. If lots of games was the road to progress, then Karan Mittal’s 62 games was surely enough. And indeed it seemed to be; though he was one of the few who stayed with their original clubs for the entire season, interest in him increased as the season went on, and at the very end of the season Reading and Rangers were the two main contenders.
Only time would tell if Mittal would play again for Dag & Red, or if his next appearance would be at a much higher level. He was injured a full 3 times in the first season, where he was out 3 weeks, 2 weeks and finally 1 week, all to different injuries. Not that that stopped him from making his Indian U21 debut.
Legold Legster (Bradford)
Pacey left-back Legold Legster was another who decided to stay in his original club, despite some interest during the January transfer window. Perhaps he thought that there was no point in moving at that point, since he had captured a fairly regular spot in the Bradford first team; he featured 26 teams in the first team. Another reason could be Bradford’s unstoppable march towards promotion to the League 1, in which Legold Legster played no small part.
At the end of the season Legster had predictably attracted the interest of some bigger clubs, the biggest among them Premier League side Stoke, who had just managed to avoid relegation. He was only injured once in the current season, though that had been pulled hamstring that had put him out of action for a full month.
niMic (Lincoln)
It was a somewhat mixed first season for niMic (yes, I’ll be writing in “that guy” style. Saying “me” would just be weird!). He had started it ferociously, getting 3 goals and 3 assists, as well as being named Man of the Match 4 times in just 9 league games. As January came, interest in him was high. In the end he opted to go to Scottish giants Rangers, who only a week before had secured the services of Diver. There he featured just one time, though that debut also saw his debut goal.
That was the good news. That bad news was that he was considered a first team substitute, not a youth or reserve team player, which meant he was quickly lacking in match fitness when he didn’t get matches for the first team. At least his new professional contract meant he had a lot of money to spend during that free time, though only time could tell whether it would seriously hamper is progress as a player.
Paz (Bury)
Unlike fellow Bury-youngster Alex Hemming, Paz decided that his best chances to progress properly as a footballer was to stay with the club. At least that’s what he decided at first. And indeed, he did get more chances there than he would likely get at a higher level. At the end of the season he had played in 21 league games, scoring 4 goals. Most of those games had been played on the left, but he was equally good on the right, and played some games there as well.
At the end of the season, though, he wasn’t so happy. Rangers were interested in him, he made it perfectly clear that he thought he had to leave to further his career. It was starting to look increasingly unlikely that he would ever play another game for Bury, the only question being who he would appear next for. The odds favourite at the end of the season was Rangers. He was mostly untroubled by injuries, only being out for 9 days once over a stubbed toe.
Psmith (Rotherham)
Psmith had a very good first season indeed. He decided that his best chance at getting first team football and progressing as a footballer was to stay with the club he came up through, Rotherham, and he shined. Over the course of the season he featured 29 times, starting the vast amount of them, and scored 15 league goals. He was some way off the top few on the top scorer list, but he was as high as 4th on the average rating list, showing how good he had actually been.
It wasn’t long before he was being compared to Indian footballing legend Subhash Bhowmick, and it was hoped that Psmith could emulate him. Well, up to but not including the accusations of corruption, in any case. He had had a pretty injury-free season, except for a one-week break for a gashed arm. At the time being, he seemed happy at Rotherham, though how fast that would change if he continued to progress, no one knows (I do!).
Year 1 - 2008/2008, Post 4 of 4
Rasmus Nilsson (Morecambe)
Rasmus Nilsson’s first season at a professional level was an opportunity for him to show what he was good for. Like some others, he decided to stay at the club for the time being, preferring first team football to sitting on the bench at a bigger club. He got 20 league games for the Morecambe first team the first season, scoring twice and setting 3 goals up for his teammates. Perhaps most notable was the number of fouls committed. He was a different kind of winger.
Not particularly fast, and not a particularly good crosser, he was quite the tackler. Or at least that’s what he fancied himself as, diving into tackles like there’s no tomorrow. In the 60 total games he played that season – first team, youth team and reserve – he caused a staggering 143 fouls, being on the receiving end of only 13. Perhaps that had an influence on the clubs who took a liking to him, as at the end of the season he was courted by both Bolton and Nottingham Forest.
Sam Stock (Shrewsbury)
Coming up through the ranks of Shrewsbury, a club which was predicted to finish mid-table at best, and maybe fight for relegation, the question remained if the manager would give Sam Stock the opportunity to shine. He did. Sam Stock still played more games for the youth teams than the first team, but 21 league games at the age of 15 is hardly anything to scoff at. Particularly not when he notched up 10 goals and 2 assists.
Interestingly, he managed to collect 6 yellow and 2 red cards, all in the span of a total of 10 committed fouls, more than Rasmus Nilsson got in 143. Still, Stock helped the club defy the pre-season expectations, and when the season ended the club was sitting in an extremely strong 2nd place, which meant direct promotion. Whether or not Sam Stock would still be there to play in the League 1 remained to be seen, as he was on the shortlist of, who else, Rangers.
Shorty Phelan (Chesterfield)
Like Sam Stock, Shorty Phelan decided to stay at his original club, Chesterfield. He played fairly well in the league, scoring 8 goals in 26 games. Where he really shined was in the youth and reserves systems, where he scored a massive 52 goals in 40 games, becoming Man of the Match fully a third of the time. His number of appearances for the first team might be impressive considering Chesterfield was expected to battle for promotion.
Things didn’t go so well for the club, though, and finished a full 15 places lower than predicted. What that meant for Shorty Phelan’s future at the club was unknown, though as the season ended he wasn’t on the direct shortlist of any clubs. Being so physically weak for someone 185 cm tall, he was surely the butt of many “bulking up” jokes on internet football forums. Only time would tell whether he’d prove them wrong. Considering his blistering speed, his dribbling abilities and his precise finishing, odds were that he would.
Ubor Skolskov (Exeter)
Starting out as one of four super talents at the League 2 club Exeter, at the end of the season Ubor Skolskov was the only one who hadn’t left for greener pastures, and very likely less first team opportunities. On top of playing 45 games for the youth and reserve teams, he featured 24 times for the Exeter first team in the league, performing very well. He was already quite developed as a footballer, with some excellent defensive and offensive qualities, no doubt helped along by his first team opportunities, and possibly his tutelage by first teamer Matthew Gill.
Despite his club finishing well above the expected relegation scrap, few considered it very like that he would still be there by the start of the next season, particularly not considering who had their eye on him. You guessed it, Rangers. One factor that could count highly was the fact that Ubor Skolskov now considered Exeter manage Paul Tisdale one of his favoured personnel.
Walrus (Darlington)
Walrus started his career at League 2 side Darlington, and it didn’t take long for everyone watching to realize how much talent he had. His first goal game in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match against Grimsby, a game in which fellow Darlington youth Dennis Law also scored. Unlike Dennis Law, Walrus was not the kind of striker that scored a lot of goals. In 17 league games he only scored 3 times, laying up 2 more for his teammates to put in. Also unlike Dennis Law, Walrus decided he was best served moving up through the footballing ranks by going to a bigger club.
As soon as January came he was purchased by Birmingham for the relatively big £240k fee, becoming only the second player to command an actual transfer fee. There he made 5 appearances in the Championship by the end of the season, without scoring a goal. To help him with that, the manager assigned James McFadden to be his mentor, which should turn out interesting.
Rasmus Nilsson (Morecambe)
Rasmus Nilsson’s first season at a professional level was an opportunity for him to show what he was good for. Like some others, he decided to stay at the club for the time being, preferring first team football to sitting on the bench at a bigger club. He got 20 league games for the Morecambe first team the first season, scoring twice and setting 3 goals up for his teammates. Perhaps most notable was the number of fouls committed. He was a different kind of winger.
Not particularly fast, and not a particularly good crosser, he was quite the tackler. Or at least that’s what he fancied himself as, diving into tackles like there’s no tomorrow. In the 60 total games he played that season – first team, youth team and reserve – he caused a staggering 143 fouls, being on the receiving end of only 13. Perhaps that had an influence on the clubs who took a liking to him, as at the end of the season he was courted by both Bolton and Nottingham Forest.
Sam Stock (Shrewsbury)
Coming up through the ranks of Shrewsbury, a club which was predicted to finish mid-table at best, and maybe fight for relegation, the question remained if the manager would give Sam Stock the opportunity to shine. He did. Sam Stock still played more games for the youth teams than the first team, but 21 league games at the age of 15 is hardly anything to scoff at. Particularly not when he notched up 10 goals and 2 assists.
Interestingly, he managed to collect 6 yellow and 2 red cards, all in the span of a total of 10 committed fouls, more than Rasmus Nilsson got in 143. Still, Stock helped the club defy the pre-season expectations, and when the season ended the club was sitting in an extremely strong 2nd place, which meant direct promotion. Whether or not Sam Stock would still be there to play in the League 1 remained to be seen, as he was on the shortlist of, who else, Rangers.
Shorty Phelan (Chesterfield)
Like Sam Stock, Shorty Phelan decided to stay at his original club, Chesterfield. He played fairly well in the league, scoring 8 goals in 26 games. Where he really shined was in the youth and reserves systems, where he scored a massive 52 goals in 40 games, becoming Man of the Match fully a third of the time. His number of appearances for the first team might be impressive considering Chesterfield was expected to battle for promotion.
Things didn’t go so well for the club, though, and finished a full 15 places lower than predicted. What that meant for Shorty Phelan’s future at the club was unknown, though as the season ended he wasn’t on the direct shortlist of any clubs. Being so physically weak for someone 185 cm tall, he was surely the butt of many “bulking up” jokes on internet football forums. Only time would tell whether he’d prove them wrong. Considering his blistering speed, his dribbling abilities and his precise finishing, odds were that he would.
Ubor Skolskov (Exeter)
Starting out as one of four super talents at the League 2 club Exeter, at the end of the season Ubor Skolskov was the only one who hadn’t left for greener pastures, and very likely less first team opportunities. On top of playing 45 games for the youth and reserve teams, he featured 24 times for the Exeter first team in the league, performing very well. He was already quite developed as a footballer, with some excellent defensive and offensive qualities, no doubt helped along by his first team opportunities, and possibly his tutelage by first teamer Matthew Gill.
Despite his club finishing well above the expected relegation scrap, few considered it very like that he would still be there by the start of the next season, particularly not considering who had their eye on him. You guessed it, Rangers. One factor that could count highly was the fact that Ubor Skolskov now considered Exeter manage Paul Tisdale one of his favoured personnel.
Walrus (Darlington)
Walrus started his career at League 2 side Darlington, and it didn’t take long for everyone watching to realize how much talent he had. His first goal game in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match against Grimsby, a game in which fellow Darlington youth Dennis Law also scored. Unlike Dennis Law, Walrus was not the kind of striker that scored a lot of goals. In 17 league games he only scored 3 times, laying up 2 more for his teammates to put in. Also unlike Dennis Law, Walrus decided he was best served moving up through the footballing ranks by going to a bigger club.
As soon as January came he was purchased by Birmingham for the relatively big £240k fee, becoming only the second player to command an actual transfer fee. There he made 5 appearances in the Championship by the end of the season, without scoring a goal. To help him with that, the manager assigned James McFadden to be his mentor, which should turn out interesting.
... I just realised that I meant to swap Off The Ball and Positioning.
Lazytov is off to a bad start.
Lazytov is off to a bad start.
Superb stuff!
I'm still loyal to the cause, and sticking with Morecambe. 143 fouls.
Jacob might have transferred to a bigger club, but I got a call-up to the u19 squad first!
I'm still loyal to the cause, and sticking with Morecambe. 143 fouls.
Jacob might have transferred to a bigger club, but I got a call-up to the u19 squad first!
Brilliant worth £2.8mil playing for the scottish champions (step up from Grimsby town).
I'm worth £2.8mil but i'm on £30 a week? stingy scots.
Nice work Nimic, enjoyed reading the write up aswell.
I'm worth £2.8mil but i'm on £30 a week? stingy scots.
Nice work Nimic, enjoyed reading the write up aswell.
I think me and Nimic are playing for the biggest team in Rangers.
Good stuff niMic.
Rangers are sluts.
£1.8m already, sweet, though I've only progressed by about 5 points so far, being at Derby is good, means lots of first team apps hopefully!
Rangers are sluts.
£1.8m already, sweet, though I've only progressed by about 5 points so far, being at Derby is good, means lots of first team apps hopefully!
Brilliant stuff niMic.
Sheffield United have quite the youth team now! It's a good thing they got relegated, mnore chances for us.
Although compared to others my stats are laughably average.
Sheffield United have quite the youth team now! It's a good thing they got relegated, mnore chances for us.
Although compared to others my stats are laughably average.
@ my injury troublesHopefully I develop out of it, but it is realism
niMic, just a suggestion, but to save you time making huge posts, you could just put the save game file online at the end of each season perhaps? This will allow us to see injuries, apps and stuff and you can just focus on the essentials.
Not bad, not bad. I am sure that in time, my goalscoring record will catch up with my obvious talent!
brilliant stuff, just a shame i haven't even broke into chesterfields team when others are premier league regulars
I like it as is niMic, but it does seem a lot of work.
How long is the gap usually between updates so i know when to check back in?
How long is the gap usually between updates so i know when to check back in?
Fair enough niMic, but even if you sent it to me and I could do half the people? I've usually a good bit of spare time so I'd be happy to do it.
Great work Nimic
Just realized, I'll probably not get a move to another British club because of work permit issues Hopefully I'll be the first to move abroad, but to somewhere like Italy or France rather than Turkmenistan or something
Just realized, I'll probably not get a move to another British club because of work permit issues
Hopefully I'll be the first to move abroad, but to somewhere like Italy or France rather than Turkmenistan or somethingShouldn't be too long, really. In the beginning, a few days. After that...
I might very well take you up on that after another few updates. Right now it looks worse than it is, but eventually there's really just more to write about everyone. I also have no idea just how hard the next part of my studies will be, so I might have to pass it to someone else entirely after a while. We'll see