My first winter transfer in Football Manager 2012 is over. I know most of you play FM more quickly than me. But I am getting a great pleasure from every moment, every nuance of the game. I have even decided to switch Match Highlights from Key to Extended because it's a fabulous enjoyment to watch my QPR playing football.

I know I promised to write a post about the QPR tactics. It appeared quite long and complicated, I am still in progress. So the next post should be tactical one. Just wait a bit

OK. The transfer window started with opportunity to change season expectations. I decided to avoid risking and claimed Q.P.R. should just avoid relegation this season. $3.7M were given me for that from board.

 

Players out

I tried to get rid of some players from the reserves and guys who didn't fit into my tactical scheme:

- Jay Bothroyd

- Anton Ferdinand

- Akos Buzsaky

- Adel Taarabt

I coped with the task only partially selling Buzsaky and organizing paid loans of Bothroyd and Ferdinand with future fees. Taarabt is not wanted by other clubs even for $3M instead of his real $6M value!

 

Q.P.R. newcomers!

My new tactics requires a lot of squad changes. I believe they will be done in summer. But now I brought into club several good guys strengthening defense quality first of all.

 

Defenders

 

Younes Kaboul

Tottenham put Younes Kaboul on a transfer list due to high competition among their central defenders. The French is better than any current central back of QPR, so it was obvious I should try buying him.

What I like about Kaboul is that he possesses both feet strongly. He is also able to play at DR position. Kaboul has 4 preferred players moves that can be useful potentially:

 

Arne Friedrich

I wanted to sign Arne before the season but we didn't agree regarding his salary. This time I signed every paper offered by his agent  Friedrich has a serious shortcoming: Passing = 8. Though experienced German covers it with many advantages: high Concentration, Teamwork, Positioning, Marking, Anticipation.

Hope to use him in the main squad as well as Kaboul.

 

Andreas Bjelland

I could not refuse myself to buy Andreas Bjelland! Look how much he is versatile. It's very convenient to have such kind of a player on substitution bench.

 

Midfielders

 

Daniel Paulista

I had no real alternatives to Faurlin and Barton at positions of central defensive midfielders. Shaun Derry is a good anchor man but too slow due to age. Therefore I decided to buy Daniel Paulista for just 1 million dollars. He will be helpful in case of when guys get injured or suspended (Joey Barton!)

 

Kevin McDonald

My main playmaker is a wonderkid Marco Verratti now. But there's no any good substitution for him in the team excluding Taarabt who is a poor team worker anyway. Decent midfielder Kevin McDonald was bought for ridiculous $300K. It's a very good deal for the player of this level in my opinion.

 

Winger

Henri Saivet

In several previous versions of Football Manager Henri Saivet was a big star. Now he is talented guy but not a wonderkid anymore. I loaned Henri because of two reasons:

1. Increase depth of substitution bench (more wingers needed!)

2. See Saivet in action!

 

Team report after the transfers

Assistant coach informed me that team was strengthened perceptibly after all. Especially you can see a massive improvement on DC position:

Well, it's really good!

As a result I spent all the transfer money given by board and managed to keep wages below limit:

 

Facilities upgrade and amount of coaches

Some excellent news here as well. Board agreed to my request of upgrading training and youth facilities

 

Current level of QPR facilities I have now looks in the following way:

 

I can boast that the board people were very kind allowing to sign 2 more coaches to the club.

 

Take a look at training overview with 2 new coaches already signed:

 

The second half of the 1st Q.P.R. story season has begun! Stay tuned.