FOOTBALL MANAGER 2021: AS SAINT ETIENNE

A great start to the season, only 2 losses in the league, sees us sat in 2nd early on, the main strength being our defence with 14 clean sheets already.

The results have kept up over the winter months, just 3 losses, we slip to 3rd, a few defensive injuries didn;t help at this time and we have had no first team left back.

We brought in 2 this window, both for the first team (breaking my rule of 1 per window i know but rules are there to be broken!}

Fernandez joins us from Manchester United and will go straight into the vacant left back spot. At 21 hes a great age for the long term.

Ponceau joins us from Lorient, offering an immediate upgrade in our CM position at just 23 he fits the mould of first team signings we want.

Just one out this winter with Nordin leaving for 1 million rising to 1.5m

We got played off the park by Roma in the ECL Semi’s but what a run, that had a knock on effct in we seemed to stutter to the end of the season. Luckily a win on the final day secured our place in Europe again next season

Missed out on Europa league by 1 point but the good news is next season 4th will be europa league football after the seedings changed again.

Abi is back with a bang 23 goals and first choice now.

We got our business done early this summer, strengthening our defence now and for the future.

Simakan joins from recently relegated Strasbourg, Will going straight into CB but has the flexibility to cover at RB. Relegation release clause means 4m could be a snip.

Teixeira joins us from Bordeaux for 2.5m at 17 hes one for the future. That was the end of my transfers for the summer or was it?

We’ve been placed under an embargo pending a takeover

Takeover completed

New board have put us on the stock market

New boards demands, develop players through youth system, we’re happy with that. Sign high reputation players. Ok so that’s something we need to address, I will sign someone I consider high reputation now to pacify the board early on after this takeover to increase job security under this new regime. Develop the best youth system in the country is something I like though.

lets get to work

Straight away the training setup is upgraded

Followed by the youth steup, which ties nicely into the club vision

And then the most important news, a new contract for me!

Some summer out business, Merat didn’t make the grade so hes off to Le Harve, Monaco pinched 15 year old Olive from me before he could sign a deal. Aboubakar was surplus to requirements following the emergence of a few youngsters. Raposo a homegrown newgen who broke into the first team last season moves on for a decent fee. Kouadio had a great loan spell last season which saw Milan take a 7m punt on him. Casteels leaves for 9.25m 3 times what we paid for him and at 32 I couldn’t say no. Then the big one, our wonderkid leaves for 25m!! to RBL he wanted to go and its a great fee, I have other youngsters ready to step up behind him so I took the deal.

So following the takeover and embargo lifted and a 60m warchest funded by sales I decided to go on a spree, mainlu poaching youth from around France.

Stanek is a no lose deal, for 52,000 I’ll make a profit on him when I sell him, Will he ever be a first teamer for us? unlikely, Can we develop him and make a profit, 100%

Callewaert joins us from Club Brugge youth team, 2.5m and rising but looks to have potential to be a first teamer.

Comte signs from Clermont, he caught my eye and is one to watch I think.

Following the sale of my first choice keeper and the recent takeover I’m not risking my job on a 17 year old keeper so we signed Bernardoni from Angers and he’s the perfect age for a keeper.

Diaz signs from Lille for 2.6m one for the future will stay in the u19s this season

With first team keepers keep being sold I wanted to invest in two young ones for the future heres the first, 1.6m from Reims and age is on his side.

Giraud was poached from local rivals Lyon for 3.1m has work to do but at 18 has a few years to develop.

When the new board took over and said they wanted high reputation players I looked at the starting XI and considered where would be a luxury upgrade and with Bouanga refusing to sign a new deal I thought we’d upgrade now and replace him early.

A big deal my biggest of the save so far but I’m excited about him.

On signing Doku wanted a player he knew to help settle so I looked through their youths and found the 2nd young keeper I signed this summer which Doku was happy with.

Babel joins from Lens. He will go into the u19s.

looking back I may have overpaid here but he has potential, lets see how he develops,

And we wrap up a busy summer with the signing of Antonini from Sochaux for 500k. Another who will be in the U19s and we will get to work on developing straight away.