The Class of Derby County

Here is the team that I have using for FM09. It is one of the best I ever had.
It gives me great joy to introduce them.
Some of the players I use FM Scout to search for them, but some of them I really took hard work and sweat to find them.

Formation: 451

Here is the formation I have been using.
Striker: The striker has to be "modern" and be able to fulfill a number of roles. He has to be able to score, hold the ball up and push the opponent's defensive line deeper, thus creating more space for the midfielders.
Attacking Midfield: The striker is backed up by 3 attacking midfielders, making forward runs and causing havoc. They are all quick, creative and intelligent.
Midfield: This is followed by 2 midfield centres who protect the back 4 , so they have to have good tackling, work rate and stamina.
Full Backs: The modern game requires full backs to be able to attack and defend. Therefore, they have to be speedy, high work rate, stamina and good positioning. They won't be doing much tackling, as their jobs is to intercept balls and block crosses from coming in.
Centre Backs: At first I wanted them to be able to head the ball, strong and aggressive, just like Sol Campbell. However, the modern game requires them to have some kind of pace as well. I was lucky to find 2 defenders to have both.
Goal Keeper: Often under-rated, I think the goal keeper is one of the most important player. I always look for players with good reflexes, agility. command of area and aerial ability. In this way, he can DOMINATE his area and block any attacks, whether they are high or low shots.

1. Ben Foster
He is reliable and stable. No mistakes made by him, but also no games that he becomes a spiderman and saves every ball that comes his way.
I bought him in my second season with Derby and he has been ever present in my team.
A solid buy at just 1.5 million.
Highly recommended for weak to mid table teams.







2. John Williams
He came from Derby's youth team. I was surprised to find him in my reserves and although he is not world class, he definately has the stats to suit my team and style of play.
This season his contributions have not been very outstanding, due to his poor defending.
However, his attacking form is very good as he has contributed 4 assists this season.







3. Gary Grant
I found this player myself! I bought him from Blackburn(sorry Tay) for a cheap fee of just 4 million.
In just 1 season, his reputation became world class and he was called up for the England team.
He became a regular, replacing Ashley Cole at just 21!
He is one out of 4 world class players in my team.







4. Francesco Buriani
This Italian defender came to me in a very very weird way.
I didn't find him, but my assistant manager did.
I was looking for a defender centre, and I asked my assistant manager for any recommendations. He recommended Buriani and I took a look at him.
At first, I was very sceptical as Italians cannot adapt to the English lifestyle. But his stats were so good that I plunge into it.
At that time, he had just signed a contract with A.S Nancy, a french team. However, the contract he signed lasted just 1 year! Needless to say, I picked him up for free after 1 year. He is the 2nd of my 4 world class players. =)



5. Danny Price
Another player from the famed Derby Youth Academy. Like John Williams, I didn't know he exists until I had an easy game to play and wanted to rest some of my players. He came in, did a good job defending and when Liverpool wanted to buy my first team defender, I sold my defender and let Danny Price make the step up.
He was highly recommended by my players and coaches to be the Captain.
At just 22, he is my captain.
Although his defensive stats are fantastic, his attacking stats are shit. Really shit.



6. Luke Marsden
Ok, I use FM Scout to find this youngster. I was a bit short on midfielders at that time. I wanted a hard tackling midfielder. I decided to be like Arsene Wenger and invest in youth. So I use FM Scout to find me the player with a high potential.
However, I really did not expect him to develop until to be so goooood.
His long shots are just superb. The only flaw I think is he is not aggressive enough and he can't head the ball for nuts.





7. Danny O' Connor
This guy I am DAMN proud of. He came from my youth team and my assistant manager say that he is probably the best player of his generation.
He is only 19 years old and yet his stats look very similar to Steven Gerrard.
Really, he seems superb in every way I look at him.
If I really have to criticise him, I think it would be his heading.
But seriously, I am damn blessed to have a player like him.



8. Luis Suarez Gonzalez
I bought this player for 18 million from Reading. My original right winger, Giles Barnes, had an attitude problem so I sold him. I couldn't find a replacement, so decided to spend big on him. I have no regrets though because he is turning out to be quite a good player.
No flashy shows like Ronaldo, but he is very efficient.
I just like to see him take the ball, dribble down the right flank, and cross for Chris Pearce to score!




9. John Fleck
Like Ben Foster, he is a real life player. Only both of them are real life players. The rest are regens that are generated by the game randomly. In this way, you will never play the same game twice.
I forgot about this player but Marvin reminded me of him.
In real life, he is dubbed "Wayne Rooney of Scotland".
He used to be good, but compared to the rest of my team, he is ok. However, I have some feelings for him as he has stuck with me for nearly 6 years.

Real life picture of John Fleck

10. Sam Roberts
Ok, he looks weird. But he is WORLD CLASS. He links up with Chris Pearce damn well. Many times, he takes the ball runs through the middle, and just slots the ball for Chris Pearce to run and score.
Simple pass, simple goal.
The only negatives of him is he just can't shoot. His finishing skill is only 13, and although he scores some, but he miss them more.
I will probably ask him to place his shots, in order to increase his scoring rate.
Oh, and he gets injured MOST OF THE TIME.
Stole him from Newcastle for just 2.8 million.


11. Chris Pearce.
This guy needs no recommendation. He is the jewel in the crown.
I wanted to make Danny O'Connor the vice-captain, but everybody liked him so much that I made him the vice-captain.
The only negatives of him, is his preferred foot is right foot only, long shots and positioning. Maybe his passing and bravery needs to be improved too.
But what the heck, he scores 1 goal per game for me. Better than Ronaldo.



Now that you have seen my team, I am hoping for some nice feedback. Who do you think I should replace? Who should improve and in what way etc.
Most of the players, I have some kind of bond with them. I have played the game the "Arsene" way by buying them young and developing them.

Hope you like this introduction as I definately enjoyed myself typing it. Now I feel even more gian to play. MUST CONTROL MYSELF.

Any comments?