Now we will start the 5th Leeds story season from expectations and talks with the club board. As usually.

Continental qualification was promised to the board. But actually I have even higher ambitions for this season:

- qualification to Champions League or at least Euro League

- winning FA Cup or League Cup

So it would be interesting for you to follow if I am able to cope with such kind of challenge.

This is how media sources in Football Manager 2010 consider title odds of English grand clubs and Leeds:

Media prediction of 10th position coincides with the title odds:

 

Players Out

And now I am starting to describe Leeds players that were either sold or released on free.

(All prices are indicated in US dollars)

Some of you may remember that I promised to sell most my forwards and replace them with better ones. Well I did it!

Quite old Marius Niculae was signed by Catania. Dawid Janczyk transfer wasn't an easy deal because clubs doesn't want to offer much money. So I had to decrease asked price to his current value.I expected to get more money for Golden Boot award winner on Euro 2012. From the other hand 19 millions got for prospective Taison (who disappointed me much in the last season) is a real success of the transfer window.

I didn't regret to sell Leeds icon – Jermaine Beckford. The board supported my decision because his level is below Premier League surely

As a result only Andy Carroll stayed in the club and I started the search of better forwards.

 

Players In

Now look whom I found!

(All prices are indicated in US dollars)

I will describe new players that are intended to be used in the first squad. Others are rather talented youngsters and were bought just for a prospect.

 

New forwards

Welcome new leading pair of Leeds strikers – Marquinhos and Gignac.

Marquinhos

$22M were paid for this fast technical Brazilian. I think he has great future in Football Manager 2010. Would like to single out his creativity, first touch, speed and great teamwork.

By the way in the last season I changed my tactics a bit setting Tempo to quick one. Therefore I try to buy players with high value of First Touch. It's important.

 

Andre-Pierre Gignac

I hope former leader of Toulouse will be Leeds scoring machine. Gignac has all chances to do that. I am amazed that I had managed to sign him for free. There were many clubs pretending on his person but I offered a lot money to Andre-Pierre (+15% of wage and signing fee) and won the context!

 

Victor Anichebe

$2.6m for Anichebe – a good piece of business I think. He'll be on the substitution bench together with Andy Carroll. As for me it's very good when you have such players and don't use them in the first squad. It means your club has is approaching to the Champions League.

 

Strengthening midfield

Stephane Mbia

I couldn't reject myself to sign Mbia on free. I need such strong ball-winning midfielder in the centre of a pitch. Absolute first squad player!

 

Owen Garvan

Owen Garvan is fine Irish player with British nationality who can help the club. His has rather creative passing abilities and can be useful in matches when we need to score goals. But of course it seems that Owen will start most matches from substitution bench.

 

Daniele Galloppa

I paid $13M to Shakhtar hoping that this Italian will help to cover problem ML position. Most his attributes are about or higher than 13. It seems Galloppa can be marvellous footballer for Leeds…

 

Lee Wallace

Another attempt to get better ML. But this time I tried to get substitution player. I think Wallace is pretty nice left winger who can run, dribble and then cross the ball.

 

Transfers summary

As you see Leeds attack was totally rebuilt. I am so excited with transfers of Gignac and Marquinhos!!! Therefore I am not going to be too modest – this is my best transfer campaign in Football Manager 2010!

Do you agree?