Written by member Big B 1970
Season 43 saw my Go Ahead Eagles finish safe in 5th place in Division 2, the mid table position that has become common for me lately, but Season 44 could be the toughest test yet as I try to beat the drop. I've left the Netherlands and travelled south to Italy, where my team with wear the navy and light blue of Calcio Lecco 1912 this season. I chose Lecco because it might be the last chance I get to use them, as in real life they've just finished bottom of Serie B so are unlikely to feature in EA FC25. Another reason for picking this franchise is that I've been through the small city of Lecco quite a few times on my way to and from the Alps, back in the days when I used to ski. Its a lovely picturesque place at the foot of the Alps and on the banks of Lake Lecco, well worth a visit. The team play in the small Stadio Rigamonti-Ceppi, and have spent most of their history just outside the top two divisions.
I go into the season with a team in transition but carrying no dead wood, as I started planning a rebuild towards the end of last season. I've moved away from the previously favoured 4-1-3-2 formation with a a strong attack but seriously lacking in defensive talent. I need to address this as I leaked a lot of goals last season but I have a short list of players I like, a healthy bank balance and won't be making any panic buys. After the departure of Christian Burgess, Koki Machida will take the captains armband but is the only defender thats unlikely to be replaced over the course of the season. Onyedika has been a solid CDM for me but I'm open to the idea of upgrading him. I'm very happy with my two strikers Beier and Levi Garcia, as well as Beste and Ferguson in midfield, so any PMs offering to buy them will be politely declined.
Looking at my opponents this season, I can't see any fixtures where I'd be confident of getting full points. I start with games against Hilly89 so picking up some points against him is vital, and I think I'd be happy to get 3 like I did last season. I've not played NUFCMILLSY but going from the comments of those that have, I expect him to win the division, with TheAshCohen09, ItsOnlyJEFF9108, RFC Buncey and maybe Blakeey91 fighting for the other promotion places. By deduction that would leave me grouped in with Red Rhinoceros, payne wales and Hilly89 trying our best to avoid the drop. Rhino has built one of the strongest teams in the league, so that will give him an advantage, and Payne also has a very strong squad. Other than maybe Millsy at the top, everyone else can points off each other if they have a good day, so a bit of the old FIFA luck in a couple of games could give a big boost to someones season. As Ash would no doubt say on the AG podcast, 'It's going to be interesting!'