So, first season at Rangers, win the league safely by about 5 pts but don't pull down any other awards and get dropped in the first knockout stage of the UEFA Cup. Make some moves in the summer to add some depth: Dessena for 3.2m pds, Kuszczak for 2.1m, couple other pieces. The key was in inability to provide a quality pairing for Cuellar at the back. By the time the January transfer window rolled around I was 9 pts adrift of Celtic, all but gone from the CL, out of the CIS Cup in the semi's, McGregor was ready to go and the board forced my hand on a 4.5m offer from Charlton. Wasn't looking pretty.
So sent the scouts out looking for the centre-half to hopefully save my season. A scout in Germany comes back with
Arturo Vidal, highly recommended, so I have my whole staff give me a report. All good, I start working the press and send an enquiry. Vidal's enthused about the potential move and Leverkusen seem happy to oblige. I land him for 4.25m, a 20% sell-on clause, and 250k after 30 games.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT. Him and Cuellar became a wall in the middle, only conceded another 13 league goals the rest of the way. Run down Celtic and overtake them with a week left, last match of the season hold out for a 0-0 draw at Ibrox to take the league by a point and take the FA Cup. Vidal finished with 13 goals, nearly all off headers on corners.
Next season the club looked unbeatable. A few pricely pickups (Gouffran for 3.2m, absolutely clutch) and I was on my way. Pulled off the treble, finished undefeated at 29-9-0 in the league, running a 55 match unbeaten run back to the previous season. Lost in the UEFA Cup final to Liverpool 2-1. Vidal with another 13 goals, overall
PR above 7.4, and the big clubs came calling: Milan, Inter, Barca, ManU, Real... Newcastle outbid them all with 16m straight up and I accepted (one draw back: despite his "loyalty" or happiness "to stay at the club," he gets pissed if you turn down offers). A week or so into the summer Newcastle offered me the managing gig after finishing 15th in the EPL and getting dropped from both cups early. After some serious consideration I accept.
So Vidal back under me, and an incredible season followed. Playing more than ten matches at four different positions (CB, RB, DM, CM) covering for outrageous amounts of injuries, he netted 9 goals and set up 13 more. Dragged the team to 9th in the PL and bagged the FA Cup, beating Sunderland 1-1 on penalties. Again the offers roll in, Arsenal top bid with 23m and Vidal didn't want to stick around. I'd been working Wenger since the start of the game hoping to land the Arsenal gig and it looked like it might happen. But he re-signed for 2 years, Liverpool came calling on 63k/week and a 50m transfer budget and I grudgingly accepted (yeah, right, tough to take). Hopefully two good years on Merseyside and I can rejoin him at the Emirates.
Anyway,
Arturo Vidal: CB, RB, RWB, DM, Football Jesus, CM, whatever... you could probably leave him up top as a lone striker and he'd net 20/season. Absolute must buy. Go do it. Now.
And if this match keeps going this way I might go shoot myself. Come the f*ck on! Nakamura's only good for anything if he's got ten yards clear in front of him!
*going to stab eyes out*
