2022
Spanish Woes
Hello Top 100, this is “Hasan Lika” manager of Malaga since 12th of December. I’ve been at the club for 7 matchdays already. During our short tenure we achieved 2 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. Unfortunately it was too late for the season to be saved and Malaga will finish Div 5 at the bottom of the table. As communicated by the admin team, I will return as the Spanish side’s manager in the next season and hopefully the team manages to do better this time around. In this article I’ve made a summary of the situation at Malaga, highlighting some key points about my team. Malaga surely isn’t among the most interesting sides in Top 100 but nonetheless I hope you find the article interesting.
Transfers
So far we have done around 20 transfers, mostly unloading some deadwood we found in the team, buying some band aid solution so we can be competitive during our rebuild and acquiring some young players which can turn out to be important assets in the future. Here are two of our most notable deals:
- Tsimikas+Zima for Gray+Mudryk: This is a bit of a gamble from my side. Gray already got his 88 this morning and I expect Tsimikas to follow suit shortly. However, in my judgement, Tsimikas as a player won’t make it past the 88 rating mark, while I think Gray has potential to reach 89/90. He has been Everton’s best player this season and if he keeps it up, certainly he will eventually get there. At 25 he is pretty young too and without doubt our star player at Malaga. The price I paid for having such a player was letting Zima go, the young Czech CB. Sad to see such a player go and I hope I don’t regret it. Anyway, on top of all that we acquired Mudryk, Ukrainian talent who has been linked with a move to Brentford this window. I’m really curious to see how this trade with play out in the future, but I think that taking such a risk was justified. We won’t get out of the slum with someone like Tsimikas, while Gray gives us hope of having a real top player.
- Geiger for cash: I was surprised to see Ajax let Dennis go for cash. I do understand that there may have been some squad cap issues, but I don’t think Geiger is a player who should be released like that. However, I am not complaining. Barring any injuries or sudden drops in form, Geiger might be a starter for us in around 1-2 reviews time. On top of that he’s pretty young at 23, so quite happy with this deal.
Main issues at “La Rosaleda”:
- Lack of trading chips: We simply don’t have enough good players to trade with other teams. There are like 4-5 players (mostly Arana+ few youngsters) which are of interest to other teams, but the other players aren’t among the most exciting ones, to say the least. Now, that’s not to say that there’s nothing to be done with them. They can still give their best on the field and they can always be exchanged with other teams, even if the deals themselves won’t be so sensational.
- Expecting rises from non-top-5 leagues players. I feel like we don’t talk about this a lot. Now, I’m pretty sure literally everyone in Top 100 deals with this problem, but I guess it is felt more at a small team like Malaga. To illustrate the issue: Anthony Ralston (23 years old, 78 rated) has played 16/20 games this season for Celtic as a fullback, 4 goals and 5 assists. Pretty amazing numbers for a fullback. Now, Scotland as a non top-5 league gets reviewed roughly once a year. And we all know that SM likes to give raises in bunches, for example a 78-rated player with these numbers will once be raised to around 82, then he’ll probably get a rise to probably 85. Assuming Scotland gets reviewed after approximately 6 months, it would take such a player 1.5 years to reach an 85 level. Meanwhile if he played in a top 5 league, it would only take half a year. And not to mention what will happen if during these 1.5 years Ralston has a drop in form or a long term injury. Then I will have waited for nothing and I would have taken up a squad place which would have been better used on a young talent. We have a few of these players, such as Sugawara, Mudryk, Vertessen, Reis etc. Because of this, the process of dragging out Malaga out of the mess it is in right now will be a long and painful one.
- High average age of our starting 11 – not much to comment on here, pretty obvious what the issue is with that.
What the future holds
I’d like to have a long tenure at Malaga. Obviously, this is dependent on if I will manage to fulfill my contracts in the upcoming seasons or not, that remains to be seen. But given that I won’t get sacked, I don’t plan on jumping teams for a very long time. I don’t see Malaga as a stepping stone, I see it as my project and a hard challenge, which makes it very interesting, even if it can get a bit frustrating at times. I don’t want to be the manager who trades his young talents for older higher rated players, just so I could get better results and apply for a better job. I genuinely want to make Malaga one of the more attractive sides in Div 5 and beyond.
One point I’d like to address: I won’t make deals for the sake of making deals. I assume a lot of new managers in Top 100 might feel pressured to engage in a lot of internal deals to show that they are active, but that is a trap I’d like to avoid. We can’t afford many mistakes here at Malaga and I will try to be conservative with my trades. That is not to say that I won’t be active in the market. All Malaga players are available for the right offer. It’s just that with the little resources that I have, I must tread very carefully.
The process surely won’t be easy, it’s gonna take a long time. As a plus, our lineup is composed of 86-87 rated players. This means that it isn’t the hardest thing in the world to find band aid solutions for our lineup. Beyond this group of players who will play on the field week in and week out, the other part of our squad will consist of promising players and our gateway to getting Malaga out of the hole that they’re in. I wouldn’t mind some luck here and there, winning a player lottery or two, but even without that I am confident that slowly but surely Malaga will rise. I just hope I’m there to see it all.
CITY - THE SECOND BUILD
Welcome football fans! You need a right pair of these to do what legendary City Gaffer McLean did! Sell Llorente and bring in....
.....this lad!! 'He's only 36 and he's rated 96 Ronaldo! Ronaldo! Was a legend in red, now he's at the Etihad, Ronaldo! Ronaldo!' Yes, soccer fans I should be taken outside and be assaulted across the head and body for such 'Chutzpah'. But needs must - and I must need a good kicking for this scandalous transfer. OUTRAGEOUS!!
Inch by inch, brick by brick, player by player - City continue to build without being utterly reckless. This is City. My City. And I want to keep it that way. We sold Mendy to external for cash...because it was THE RIGHT THING TO DO. We sold Aguero because he wasn't getting minutes at Barca. We finished the half season despite all this, needing just 3-6 points to guarantee survival. And then...then it all went tits up. Nothing worked. Youth Cup Final again - yes! A league win? Give me strength!
This is MY team. This is MY build. My SECOND build. These are MY players. If I get sacked, I get sacked. But do not question my integrity, my fearlessness or my squad building. I AM CITY. Have it.
Mullan gets his men ahead of the new season.
There is still one game to go for 8th place Espanyol in Division 1, but its the camp that never sleeps, and today the club finalised more transfers.
We review the new look line up.
Handonovic- 92 rated Goalkeeper. Now really very much a veteran but the manager has stated he will be the clubs number 1 until he retires. Espanyol have brought in two keepers for the future in Frenchman Bernardoni who has already had plus 1 since signing, and Brazilian Brenno who the manager likes. "We've two long term improvers for once Handonovic hangs his gloves up and don't forsee us going back into the market for another keeper. We are a division 1 side with a solid 92 keeper.
Joe Gomez 91 RIghtback - Gomez will join from Arsenal and replace veteran D'ambrosio 88 rated at Fullback. The team has been looking for a long term solution since Trippier departed. With Gomez's inclusion in the back four the team is already stronger. Gomez joins from Arsenal as Part of the Brozovic departure, with Saul Niguez the other half of the deal its superb business for the Spanish club. "Gomez is unlucky he plays for Liverpool, they have so many talented defenders, and prior to his injury he was in the side and the England set up. He is just 24, can also cover at Centre back, it was a no brainer for us to bring him in"
Jordi Alba 92 Left back - Alba has been the subject of some enquiries but will remain at Espanyol. He was not downgraded in the Spanish update, and with a 92 rating is still one of the games best left backs. "I'm surprised he was not snapped up when we was hawking him around, things change and now he wont be sold"
Bonucci 92 Centre back - Like Alba, the italian veteran looked surplus to requirements but a combination of poor offers has seen a rethink and he will captain the side as a solid 92 rated centre back next season
Martinez - 90 Centre back - The Spanish international was one of two players Mullan aquired when parting with Trippier. At 30 he has lots of miles in the tank and has built a good understanding with Bonucci.
Mikel Merino 91 Centre mid - SInce returning to Spain the 25 year old has been a revelation. Espanyol had been tracking him a couple of weeks, and today made their move once Ndidi's sale was confirmed. Also rated 91 and comfortable defensive or offensive, it is thought he will be Ndidi's direct replacement. Going out as part of the deal is Brazilian winger Raphinha and Enzo Fernandez. "We could of waited a couple of days for the update but this is a great deal for both clubs. Trying to replace quality like Ndidi or Busquets is difficult, but i think we've chosen well. He has not finished improving and at 25 will become part of the furniture in our first 11."
Fernandinho 91 centre mid - The veteran joined as a squad player earlier this season and has been utilised in both midfield and centre back. He is not getting younger but has become a vital member of the engine room "Its his performances and versatility which has given us more confidence in parting with players. We will need to manage his age and body, but he is a key player for us"
Oyarzabal 92 rated attacking midfielder - This was a deal the Manager was desperate to do. A world class player who is getting better and better. Negotiations were hard, with it looking at times that it was not going to happen. Ndidi moves on with recently signed Nunez. Its a big price but with Aguero retiring he adds goals, assist and becomes easily the teams best player. "You look where we were 20 games ago our options in attacking midfield was Di Maria and Aspas, fast forward 20 games and we've traded our way to now have one of the worlds hottest properties, i'm really excited by this deal"
Saul Niguez 92 Midfielder- The other part of the Brozovic departure needs some love irl. His move to Chelsea has yet to work out, but lets remember he is still only 27, and can play nearly anywhere in Midfielder. Two years Brozovic junior but rated the same, he still has time on his side to rediscover form, get a decent move and maintain his rating. "We got 2 x 90 plus players for one. Broz is 29, and was one of three players we recieved when Koke left. To now get two players with good ratings is unbelievable business for us, his versatility will be vital for us next season"
Fekir- 91 winger - Fekir has been a revelation since joining as the other part of koke's departure. His assist will be critical and if he can control his discipline and stay on the pitch, could be the clubs key man next season. "He is still only 28 and has been excellent since we brought him in, there has been interest from other clubs for him, but its very much a not for sale sign against Fekir"
Morata - 91 striker - When it was confirmed Aguero would retire the devastation within the camp cannot be underestimated. There was no plausible back up, with the clubs impressive youth too far away at this stage of impacting the first team. "We scoured every cranny and had 10s of knock backs to buy a striker. In the end the breakthrough came with Southampton wanting three of our starlets. We were a little backed into a corner with the retirement and we've paid big to bring a striker with a chequered history. Alberto was our jewel, but along with Trincao and Torres players which I brought to the club, we've parted ways and have a division 1 capable striker. He has big shoes to fill but hopefully being back in Spain we can get the goals I know he's capable of"
Wiegl 90 Defender/midfielder- joins from Sao Paulo for quite s hefty fee, given the clubs player of the year Sarabia and Under have moved in the opposite direction. "He's only 26, can cover defence and midfield and gives us more legs long term in defence when Bonucci hangs his boots up. We had to halt negotiations with other clubs that could of brought a minimum 93 midfielder in as under was part of a 2 for 1 on the midfielder. However Sao Paulo agreed a deal quicker and although we've given a lot both who have left would not now make our best 11"
youths
Marcos Paulo 80 joins from Man City as part of the Busquets deal
Esequiel Barco 85 also joins as part of the Busquets deal.
Oihan Sancet 85 joins as part of Ndidi sale from Chelsea
Alvaro Bastida 75 joins from Cadiz
"i'm excited by the new crop of youngsters given the few we've had to part with. We've managed to keep hold of the likes of Rodri Sanchez too and have a number of players who will just get better and better from our youngsters. We will start the new seasin with a stronger starting 11 than the one that ends this season, whilst more importantly we've significantly reduced the age of the squad.
the likes of Aspas, Herrera, Di Maria, Alonso, and Matip have all moved on. However when I reel off Oyarzabal, Niguez, Martinez, Gomez, Morata, Merino, Fekir, I strongly believe we are going in the right direction"
Espanyol continue to build for the future.
At 9am yesterday you would not have thought with two games to go, that Espanyol would sell two of their main stars in Busquets and Brozovic. However by early evening both had agreed moves elsewhere, as the manager continues to cull on what was once a very aging squad.
Brozovic will move to Arsenal in a move which sees the Espanyol bag a 91 rated 24 year old defender in Joe Gomez, and versatile midfielder Saul.
"top defenders are so hard to get, especially young ones which can walk straight into a division 1 side. In Gomez we have someone who can play rightback and centre back, and has his best years ahead of him. I'm delighted he will join in the close season. Brozovic is an excellent player, but at 29 is he going to go up in value?. Saul Niguez can play across the midfield, and although his career has somewhat stalled, he is still only 27. To get him and Gomez for Brozovic is excellent business"
The ink was not dry, when Man City came calling for Busquets. Their initial offer was countered, and an agreement came very soon after for club captain Busquets to depart. Darwin Nunez was a major pull in this deal, whilst Barco and Paolo two very talented youngsters was a bonus. "You never want to part with your best players, but how long can Busquets keep going? The offer was too good to pass on, Nunez is hot property and at 22 the best is yet to come with him. We have lost Alberto and Aguero in the last week, bringing Morata in and Nunez will more than fill the void. In Barco and Paolo, we are signing potential. Only time will tell if they fulfil that and if they do, then this deal could be the steal of the century"
Top100 TV - Season 16 - Final Countdown Preview - Division 4
Short 15 minute video previewing gameday 37 and 38 in Division 4. Season 16.
Fixtures final day
