Burn, baby, Burnley! - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

Seth7724 · 10-04-08, 10:34 AM

"32 Million for him? They almost accepted my 9 million pound bid!!". Jesus not again, on the edge of signing a player, when he gets attracted to a bigger team! Maybe I should set my sights abit lower.
Already 5 games into the premiership and 1 season into my Burnley career, thing will only get tougher. The memories of the playoff drama were long gone.

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*FlashBack!*
Billy Sharp scoring those magnificent 4 goals vs the firece rivals Preston in my 6-2 win, Ipswish scoring the last minuet winner which meant Norwish were level on points with me and west brom. I got into the play offs, by, well, by 1 goal difference. I guess beating the league winners 6-2 isn't so bad after all!

Then came the semi finals. Turf Moor was packed for the game against Ipswich, and well Billy Sharp gave them a show, he onl scored 3 this time, but Leto's brace and Carlisles header meant I could go into the 2nd leg with just a 6-0 lead. Not bad to be honest.

The 2nd leg though was horrible. I thought we would take it easy, and save ourselves for the final. We almost didn't make it. A first half hattrik from Danny Haynes had me on teh dge of my seat everytime the ball went near the area. And when that goal went in from Pablo Counago, I was thinking to myself "This surely won't happen!"
It didn't. I got through, just. (6-4 aggregate)

The final was next, and with Billy Sharp loan deal set to end, I was hoping he would give me another few in his final game for the club. Well he got one. And that was all they got aswell. A 1-1 draw meant the dreaded penalty shoot out.

Again, it was tense, but they missed thier first 2! this meant that Leto had a chance to win it on the 4th penalty! I knew there was a reason i signed him. top corner. Good lad. We are going to the premiership!

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Back to reality and things wern't going my way!

Just as I thought I was going to solve my left sided problems with a 9million pound budget blowing of Charles Nzgobia, Lyon went and stole him, for 32 million. Crazy fools.

This is not good. Who shall I get now? I desperatly started declaring intrest in player, hoping one would contact me saying they would like to join. Billy Sharp even said no. How can he reject the premiership for Sheffield United's bench?

just 18 squad players is not good enough, especially when you have 4 player older than 30, and 2 new youngsters in Eagles and Spearing (both for free mind) that don't know the club yet!

Then, at 6 am on the thursday morning before training, the phone rang. I was already eating my breakfast, and quickly finished my mouthful before picking up the phone. Come on, please be Theirry Henry telling me he wants to fulfill his life long dream of playing for Burnley.

"Hello, is that Mr. Seeth?" It was a thick asian accent

Oh jesus, not another one of these

"Listen, I don't want to buy a computer, i don't want a holiday, unless you are offering my Mauro Zarate, go away!"

"How does 3.2million sound?" He replied

"Pardon?"

"Mauro Zarate, for 3.2 million, I am member of Al-sadd, the player wants a move to the premiership, how does 3.2million sound?"

"errm.... that's.... brilliant! I'll tell my chairman and we can arrange a meeting for tomorrow. Thank you VERY much, we will definatly getting back to you!" I was in disbelief, is this guy for real?

Maybe this season won't be such a disaster now.

**Hartynips** · 10-04-08, 10:40 AM

Fantastic start there Seth and I love the bit about Thierry Henry and his lifelong ambition to join Burnley, brilliant mate!

You have a superb writing style, though it sounds a bit like character Mickey Rourke played in Sin City ought to be narrating it. Great stuff so far Mr Seeth, well done.

DO NOT GIVE UP ON THIS STORY!!!!!

**liveru** · 10-04-08, 10:45 AM

Haha. Nice one, you want Zarate and you get Zarate. Well, hopefully.

The Henry bit actually made me laugh out loud.

Keep it up mate, I wanna see more.

**Fedorico Roma Fan** · 10-04-08, 10:53 AM

great start mate, nice bit of humour there aswell :P keep it up!

Seth7724 · 10-04-08, 11:55 AM

Here it is, the meeting that could define my season. If I manage to get Mauro Zarate, I may have a chance of staying up. If not, I could be destined for relegation. Can he be my Tevez?

They officials at Al-sadd have come all the way from Qatar to meet me today, so I better give a good impression.

I have arranged to meet them for lunch.... at the holiday Inn. Not my best move.

I went into the restraunt, and they were sitting there at the table, dressed exactly how I imagined. Well not exactly. I had a dream last night that they showed up in a pimped out Land rover, and they got out the car with gold chains round there neck. Wow, that was a weird dream. But there was no gold tyres and blacked out windows. There was no fiddy cent playing out the speakers in the back of the car. Just 2 rich arabic guys waiting for me with faces of business.

As I walked upto them i did all the checks, checked my hair, my tie and ofcourse, my zipper. Don't want to be caught flying low.

They welcomed me by shaking my hand with very stern looks on there face. Then one said "4 million, that is the lowest I will go!" I was astonished, it is still a great price, but not what I had been told. My representavive kicked in quick. "We were told 3.2, that is what we are here for"

The Al-sadd chairman looked at the one that spoke to me on the phone, he showed him his clipboard. I took a quick glance at it, I had no idea what language it was, arabic maybe?

The Al-sadd boss with advisor discussing there options

After about 1 hour of talking and negotiating, the value was given at 3.2 plus add ons. What a great deal. The chaiman of Al-sadd then range Mauro Zarate's agent and arranged for us to meet the next day. It was just about done, the agent seemed delighted.

This last minute transfer was going to be a good one.

Mauro Zarate signs, he best be good.

It was just what I needed aswell, my start to the premiership didn't get off to the best start, predicted 20th though, I aint doing so bad.

Middlesbrough 3 - 0 Burnley - Did I even touch the ball in that one?
Portsmouth 1 - 1 Burnley - How lucky was I, Chris Eagles saved me there.
Burnley 2 - 0 West Ham - A win? Wow, Maybe my home form will keep me alive now!
Birmingham 1 - 1 Burnley - My defense didn't show up today, maybe they were too busy thinking about the big game against yeovil in the cup. Damn Idiots.
Burnley 5 - 2 Yeovil - This one was way too close, they scored a 90th minute equaliser that meant extra time, Jay Bothroyd got a hattrik, who need Mauro Zarate?
Burnley 4 - 1 QPR - Bothroyd once again gets another brace. This lad is good.

The next day, Mauro's representavtive's came to the club, and we agreed a deal. Wow what a signing, unfortunatly he wouldn't be able to join me for a while, as he is in Beijing at the Olympics.

This was the best news yet, and only got better when Torje joined me for 40k.

Hope my defense can hold out until January

The next game was another home game, this time against Bolton. A 4-1 defeat. Oh dear. Has my defense given up? I suppose Caldwell and carlisle arn't the 2 fastest round the pitch.

Liverpool was next, and my heart sank. I couldn't belive for the first time in my life, I didn't want Liverpool to win. This was like asking my girlfriend to have sex with another man. It was that bad.

I bottled it. I coulnd't get my head straight for the team talk, and ended up with just 37% of the possesion, and a 4-0 lost at Anfield. I just hope they play the youngsters in the Carling Cup game against them.

Anfield was not a good place for me
After the liverpool match they fans were angry. They all know I have been a life long Liverpool fan, so they thought I must have thrown it. Memories of last season came back

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*Flashback*
February came, I had signed no players in january due to the club being skint. I did manage to get Seba Leto on loan though. We had jus been on a run of 4 draws, and then we lost 4-0 to West Brom, th fans were anything but happy. I then made one of the biggest mistakes in my life, I delcared intrest in Mark Hughes's job at Blackburn.
Wanting out was bad enough, but to jump ship for Blackburn was like stabbing the Burnley fans in the heart. It hurt them, and they wanted me out. It was a bad time for me.

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Let's hope I can keep the position I am in now. Burnley ultra's can't be unhappy with mid-table premiership surely? Hopefully not anyway, I mean, who would want a gang called the "suicide squad" after them.

Would they rather I didn't take over in teh first place, and they were still fightig Championship relegation?

Fickle fans, managers can't win!

I needed my sleep that night, and needed to be ready for next set of games coming up. When I can finally unleash Mauro Zarate, if he can force Jay bothroyd out anyway.

**liveru** · 10-04-08, 12:00 PM

You're right about the Liverpool bit and you are definatly right about fickle fans. lmao.

Anywho I hope you stay up so you don't have the Ultras on your back.

**Hartynips** · 10-04-08, 12:32 PM

Lmao at the "fiddy cent gangsta" chairmen reference...this is Burnley!!!!!!

great stuff mate very entertaining

**John10** · 10-04-08, 12:38 PM

lmao this is great stuff so far seth, im really loving this story so far

Seth7724 · 10-04-08, 04:08 PM

Added a few graphics to the story, will be updating tomorrow morning =]

Seth7724 · 11-04-08, 10:20 AM

The morning of the tottenham game I woke up feeling rough. This was the first big team that were coming to turf moor. I bet those posh cockney boys won't be used to splinters in thier arses when they get up.
It was a half one kick off on a sunday. This was my first sunday kick off in the premiership and I have to say, its different. The crowd seemed more subdued, like they didn't want to be there. Maybe they just didn't want another thrashing after the Liverpool match.
I was glad ;cos nothing happened for the first ten minutesbut on the 18th minute the ball broke loose and Caldwell gave it a punt upfield. It dropped at the feet of Charlie Adam, he looked up and pleted it top right corner.

The fans went crazy. Theres nothing Ledley king, or Jonathan Woodgate could have done about that. Charlie you absolute beaut.

The next few minutes was tense as they kept pressing and Robbie Keane missed a sitter infront of the home fans. That wasn't to be the end of his misery.

22 minute from the end, I brought on Mauro, Itold him to take all the freekicks as I had seen his delivery in training. He got the ball as soon a she came on, ran at them and was fouled at the corner of the area. I looked up to the skies and prayed for him to get a good delivery.

He stepped up, drove it hard and low, and Robbie Keane's foot touched it past the goalie.

GETTTT INNN!!!

I doubt Thierry Henry could have done that. It finished 2-0 and those fickle fans were back on my side " I love you!" was screamed as I walked down the tunnel.

Next up was Liverpool, again, this time in the carling cup. and this time at Turf Moor, i think I can stick it to them now. I told my players to get at them, and when ever they got the ball just let them know your there. They did it, and we took the lead with a jay Bothroyd run from the half way line and then he slotted it under Reina.
I was delighted, I ran down the sidelines to jump on him, only to be warned by the fourth official. It only got worse, a through ball from Steven Gerrard ripped my defense apart and Dirk Kuyt took it past Joe Hart. 1-1, and they had the momentum. Just 5 minutes later, Crouch outjumped Clark Carlisle to header a cross from Ryan Babel into the net. Damn.

My team didn't look like they were going to get back in it after that. I tried to lift thier spirits at half time, but still nothing.

The game finished 2-1 and Liverpool were able to take it easy for the last 20 minutes. Those fans weren't too happy again. Do they really expect me to beat Liverpool?

The next game was pain ful.

A 3-1 defeat at the hands of Derby County, and it was at Turf Moor. Joe Hart had a nightmare, he let 2 stupid goal's in, and after me taking a lead after 2 minutes, I should not have lost.

If that was painful, the next game hurt even more. Manchester United, away.

Old Trafford was big, but not as noisey as Anfield. Alex Ferguson told me that I was going to be relegated before hand, I decided to be the bigger man and not comment back.

The team played well, they did not let United in at all. My only problem was attacking. with 18 year old Jay Rodriguez upfront, I was having a mare when ever we got into thier third. But atleast my defense was keeping Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo, quiet.....

That is untill the final minute. Jordan Stewart decided it would be a good idea to try and keep the ball in his own half to play for the draw. I was screaming "HOOF IT!" at him, but he kept it, and Ronaldo ran up behind him, knicked it between his legs and wetn on to smash it home. Stewart will now be dropped for the next 2 games. Idiot.

I sat at home that night and decided to play on fifa08. My friend challenged me to and online game, and the kid inside of me couldn't resist, whilst I was playing It hit me. 4-4-2, Zarate and Bothroyd upfront with Owen Garvan playing them through. Brilliant!

I wrote it down, completly forgetting about fifa. I ended up losing 5-1. Oops.

But all I could think about for the next 4 days wa this new tactic. It was superb. I had it all worked out. And I could finally test it in my next game....

PRESTON!

Bring your armour and swords guys, this one will be a war!

**John10** · 11-04-08, 10:42 AM

nice win agaisnt spurs mate and hardluck with the loss to liverpool.

good luck v preston in the next match tho

kutgw

**liveru** · 11-04-08, 11:34 AM

Brilliant result against Spurs. Bad luck against Liverpool and your mate on FIFA. That's what you get for not paying attention.

At least you kept United quiet for a large period of time on their own turf.

Good luck for the Preston game.

**Hartynips** · 11-04-08, 12:25 PM

Cracking result against spurs seth, poor old Jordan though, He was probably working out which utd players to ask for autographs when he got mugged by Ronaldo!