OK, today I've prepared some information for you about my first steps in the attempt of making Super-Depor in FM 2011. Actually there are news about my transfer policy during the first "window".

We will start with small reports from Deportivo assistant about weaknesses of the squad:

As you see I have a lot of problems with physical abilities of Depor players. This is the reason why I decided to get some footballers with decent physical attributes. You will see info about them below.

Season expectations

Let's look what targets I claimed for the first season in La Liga:

The most simple and calm expectations were selected as you see. I don't want to risk in my first season because:

• Deportivo has large loan debts and restricted wage budget
• I have no experience with tactical tuning in FM 2011 at the current moment
• I need time to rebuild the squad

Transfers

This transfer window was pretty strange for me because of very restricted wage budget. Actually all my squad changes happened in struggle with low wage budget. So don't be too surprized by signed and sold players.

Players out

First of all I analysed the loaned players and wasn't impressed by their quality. All loans were terminated.

Then the sales campaign started:

I sold the current captain of Deportivo Manuel Pablo and the most valued player - Ze Castro. Manuel Pablo was too old to become a flank owner (WBR) on a pitch, and too greedy if we talk about wages  

Ze Castro's transfers was an intention to earn some money. I got $6.5M but unfortunately this sum is planned to be paid part by part every month. Others sales underline my wish to get more money for transfers.

I tried to sell several other players from Deportivo "B" squad but there is no luck. So I didn't manage to earn enough money I have to concede.

New coaches and scouts

The first newcomers were new staff members. This is because of quite poor situation with staff amount and quality in Deportivo. The club is almost in a financial crisis. Here are new Depor's coaches and scouts:

Damned wage budget bounded me to decide between signing coaches and players. Therefore I stopped staff search process at the middle. Currently Deportivo trainings overview is like that:

Remember I was mentioning the thoughts of Deportivo assistant about low physics of the squad. I took into account his opinion (especially after my squad analysis described in the previous Depor story post) – therefore Strength and Aerobic categories have 4.5 stars now.

Players in

It's at first when I don't buy players at all. Just signings on free. My free players search results helped me in that by the way. Here are the first Deportivo newbies under my management:

It's important also to mention that the wage budget was increased by means of decreasing transfer money. It's allowed me to get a better depth of the squad in the end:

Let's take a more detailed look at the best of the signed players.

Jose Goncalves – DC

Quick and physically strong Portuguese. He will certainly increase strength of Depor's slow cetral part of defence. Nevertheless I understand his shortcomings: Jose Goncalves is a weak team worker with poor concentration.

Roberto Baronio – MC

This guy is one of the best free players on the market at the start. I needed him because Juan Carlos Valeron is too slow and weak physically to be a playmaker in the complicated matches against stronger clubs.  Well, indeed Baronio doesn't shine with his physics as well. But he is perceptibly better for this role on a pitch.

Pierre Wome – WBL

Guardado, Deportivo leader, got a long-termed injury. This the main reason why I decided to sign Pierre Wome (the best free left wing back at the market) and pay him $17.75K weekly. He lacks Acceleration but all other attributes are very well in my opinion.

Julio Cruz – FC

3 forwards are not enough if you are going to use 2 in your tactical formation. That's why I signed Julio Cruz and young Ahmed Soukouna. Hope that experience of Cruz will help Deportivo in attack. I think you understand that he is a backup striker.

Abubakari Yakubu – WBR/MC

Yakubu is very good versatile player from Ghana. He is useful in destruction phase either on the right flank or in the center of midfield. Yakubu is also another attempt to increase physical strength of Deportivo.

Conclusion

After all free signings I have a quite good squad depth. It should allow to achieve season expectations. But of course I hope that things will get even better because Deportivo has to be taken out of tight financial bounds.

The next important idea is a smart tactical tuning. I have already started it and arranged a lot of additional friendly matches to work out an efficient tactics…

True Football Manager