Barcelona: My First Season (FM2009)

I started a league with Barcelona recently and I just can't put it down. My previous track record with FM2009 left me completely puzzled as I tried valiantly, but failed miserably in progressing with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Wolves . I was almost at the end of my tether but fortunately my faith and excitement has been restored all because my invincible Barca side continue to progress.

The story so far….
I'm still in my first season having played 31 league games where I have just been crowned champions, an impressive twenty three points ahead of Real Madrid in second place. I can barely believe it myself! I can also boast that I have a Spanish Cup final to look forward to and I’m still in the Champions league at the semi final stage having beaten Shaktar and Lyon in the knockout stages.

It's been a phenomenal season which saw me lose two of my first eight league games against Osasuna and Numancia but I have only lost 1 league game in the last 23 matches! My current record in the league is played 31, Won 26 , Drawn 2, Lost 3, which I am pretty chuffed about.

Tactics
I play with the default tactic FM2009 assigns to Barcelona from the start of the game (4-1-2-2-1) but I sometimes mix the front three up effectively setting up a 4-1-2-3) formation.

Key Players
If I were to pick a top three it would have to be:
Leo (CB) has been immense achieving a high 7 average rating. The young Brazilian defender has formed a solid partnership with tutor Carles Puyol and has kept the talented Gerard Pique and experienced Gabriel Milito watching from the bench.
Xavi (CM) has scored some vital goals and put in some inspirational displays in the centre of midfield. His contribution from set pieces has been impressive and his distribution from midfield sees him as the clubs assists leader
Bojan (CF) hasn’t been as prolific in front of goal as senior strike partners Samuel Eto’o or Thierry Henry but the young Spanish striker has scored crucial goals every time he has deputised for the injury prone pair.

Best Player in the World? Not on my watch…..
I started a league with Barcelona for one, very obvious reason….Leo Messi but I have been disappointed with his contribution. I’m not sure if I am using him wrong – even though I play him in areas he is ‘natural’ – but he just doesn’t do a great deal in matches to reflect his amazing stats. He has had a few long stints out through injury but so have other players and they have performed on their return to fitness, but the same can’t be said for Leo. In around thirty appearances my ‘star man’ has managed a woeful (for his calibre) average match rating of 6.5, contributing only three goals. Boooooo...

Injuries, Injuries, Injuries!
My only gripe, and it’s a small one is that I have had an unbelievable stroke of bad luck with injuries which has spanned the whole season. Several key players have been out for long periods but I have been fortunate enough that my Barca squad has enough depth to cope without Leo Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Xavi, Yaya Toure, Eric Abidal and Dani Alves all at the same time (I kid you not!). When I consider the bad luck I have had with all these injuries it only leaves me more baffled as to how I am still doing so well. I have no complaints though – long may it continue.

Transfer Activity
At the beginning of the season I looked into bulking up a few areas as Barca don’t have the depth and class you would expect. With Gabriel Milito out for several months I decided to invest in a young centre back. I scouted a Brazilian defender called Leo and snapped him up for £7m, which turned out to be a great buy as he has been one of my most consistent performers.

The other area I wanted to strengthen was to have a decent keeper to deputise in the absence of Victor Vales. I opted for Valladolid’s highly rated 19-year-old keeper Asenjo who has been my cup keeper who has played a vital role in getting my Barca side into the Spanish Cup final. With seven league games to go with the Championship already in the bag I will be using Asenjo in order to keep Valdes fresh for the Champions League.

I took Arsenal’s Alexandre Song on a season-long loan to give me an extra option in the middle of the park. Song started the season well, scoring two goals in my first two league matches but has been in and out of the starting xi since rotating with Rafeal Marquez and Seydou Keita in the anchor role.

My last bit of transfer business was snapping up young Brazilian Gerson, who will join my squad in two season’s time when he turns 17 years of age.

Summary
I now have seven league games left, a cup final and the prospect of being three victories away from bringing the Champions League back to the Nou Camp. Now I remember why I love Football Manager.

If you’re still here, thanks for reading.