Going up in the world…

Well, not the Gameworld rankings. As I write this I’m down to 4th in the world after the aforementioned somewhat dodgy results in the league. However, my league form has picked up and things are starting to look better…

AEFA Premier League

After a record of 2 draws and 2 losses from the opening 4 games, I felt things had started to turn around after a rugged 1-1 draw against Theatre of Dreams. A hard fought win against One World United chalked up the points total to 4 from 5 games, relegation form in all honesty. I’d gone from being the Barcelona of AEFA to the Tottenham.

Beaulieu FC 3 – 2 Ajax FC

After going 3-0 up, I thought this would be a relatively easy match. Ajax came back strongly, and with an impressive front 3 featuring Trezeguet and the former Anchor-man Chamakh, I was clinging on by the end. A valuable three points.

Wombles 0 – 1 Beaulieu FC

A tight win against The Wombles saw Onouha snatch a goal at the far post following confusion around a corner. In all honesty, we should have had the game in the bag but just couldn’t find the finishing touches. Caceres and Onouha managed to keep the imposing Guiza at bay for most of the match, keeping an impressive clean sheet.

Beaulieu FC 5 – 0 Johnsons Users

The most impressive match so far this season saw us completely wipe the floor with Johnsons Users. The clearly came to the Anchor looking for a point, but in a 4-5-1 formation featuring the ever-potent Brandao, they were always capable of scoring. Caceres and Onouha were imperious, taking Brandao out the game. With a mean defense, their was still plenty to be done but man of the match Felipe Monteiro netted a hatrick of stunning free-kicks to ensure the 3 points.

Beaulieu FC 3 – 0 Bohemians FC

Bohemians FC are a very strong side, featuring brilliant winger Rosi, Adrian Mutu and Luca Cigriani. The return of Guilherme, from injury, was the catalyst that was needed to spur Beaulieu FC on to victory and his two goals ensured the three points.

Beaulieu FC 0 – 2 Maffe

This match was a crushing blow. Despite dominating the game, the front threesome of Guilherme, Esqcueda and Welbeck simply couldn’t find the back of the net. A deflected goal saw Maffe take a 1-0 lead in at half time after managing just 1 shot and none on target. The second half saw Maffe have more of the game as the lads went searching for the equaliser, but an Ronaldhino corner saw Adriano meet the ball at the front post and secure a big win for Maffe.

Workshop Wednesday 2 – 2 Beaulieu FC

On the back of a demoralising result against Maffe, the lads clearly looked in poor form. When we took the lead early on, through … , things were looking bright. But then came possibly the defining moment of the match as Onouha was carried off the pitch, injured. His replacement, a 17yr old, simply wasn’t up to the job. He gave away a freekick on the edge of the area which was duly dispatched by Rat. Worse was to come when, deep into injury time, brazillian giant defender Cacapa was marked only by the 17 yr old, to head home. But that wasn’t the end of the match, as with seconds to go none other than Guilherme popped up to snatch a late and undeserved, point.

Noerrebro Rangers 1 – 3 Beaulieu FC

Noerrebro were sat right at the wrong end of the table and anything other than a win would have been a terrible result. Despite being very active, the manager chose to let it go to AI, rejecting or ignoring my challenges, which makes this victory all the sweeter. The lads sat back in the second half, but there was never any real danger of not picking up the three points.

Beaulieu FC 3 – 2 AFC Carpathia

After losing to Barry Welch’s AFC Carpathia at the start of the season, this was a grudge match. In reality, Carpathia set up defensively, hoping to nick something. When we went ahead through the worst deflection I’ve ever seen following a Guilherme thunderbolt. Caceres and Onouha had a real off day against the lively Defoe, and a mistake by the former let Defoe in for the equaliser. After taking the lead again, another mistake by the defence saw him through on goal to bring it back to two all. The game was won by the young Mexican forward Enrique Esqueda who nodded home Dani Alves’ powerful cross to bring home the points.

Beaulieu FC 0 – 2 Huntsdown Villa

A tough match for Beaulieu FC. Huntsdown managed just two shots on goal, while the lads carved out two clear cut chances. Fair play to Villa, though, they took their chances and took all three points from The Anchor – a bad result.

I'm up near the top of the league now, and there or there abouts in the projected points, so I'm happy considering my awful start. Will update on some more matches that I've played in the league soon.

Cups

Having somehow lost the AI rights, Hughes duly dispatched my AI side 2-0 in the All Evening Cup Last 16. The gold cup matches are due to be played by Saturday and I face a tough opponent, with players such as De Rossi, Schweinstieger and Utaka. The Gameworld Cup has seen me progress to the Last 16, where I'll almost certainly face the imperious COYS. Not hopeful. Will update as and when matches are played.


Comings and goings…

Most of the deals done in the last week or so have been aimed at increasing the balance of money at Beaulieu FC while trying to maintain the core of the squad.

Bjorn Sigurdsen

Out - £2,000,000 + 30%.

Bjorn was the future of the strike force for a long time, but although his potential was starting to be realised, so the space in the team dried up. With the arrival as Esqueda and Welbeck, along with the ever-present Guilherme, there was going to be no space for him for the foreseeable future. With Markus Bungert really starting to come on, it was time for Bjorn to find pastures new. A bid of £2m and 30% of future profit was good enough to see him leave.

Carlos Zambrano

Out - £3,800,000

Unlike Bjorn, Zambrano was a key member of the first team, acting as first choice left back and cover for the center for a long time. Even though he joined for a hefty £3m, the market has crashed in recent times, and an offer of £3.8m represented a very hefty amount for the talented and versatile centerback. All things considered, and with money needed, it was decided that Zambrano, although he would be missed, was not integral to the plans of Beaulieu FC.

Roberto

In - £1 / Out – £500,000

I managed to find this veteran in a £1 auction, and miraculously, actually got him for that fee. An absolute steal considering his market value was approaching £800k. Within 4 days, someone was looking for a quality goalkeeper and with an eye on a quick profit, Roberto found his way off of my bench and into Chris’ starting lineup.

Natalio

Out – £425,000

Natalio was never going to be more than a squad player at Beaulieu FC, but he’d done a job, coming off the bench and grabbing a handful of goals while tearing up the reserve league. A big of £425,000 was more than enough to secure his signature.


Next update will finish up the team review.