Cast your mind back to the end of season 40, out with the slags and in with the new prospects for a fresh start in season 41. Some people will have researched the teams extensively, doing investigative wor on all 18 players before committing their bids. I only needed one name, Archie Gray.
Squad 7 wasn’t one of the standout and desired squads at the time. It only ended up receiving one bid, which was obviously me. But looking back, their are a couple other stand out players
Namely Kelleher and Pape Sarr. Kelleher also stayed with me through the leagues, but Sarr was shipped off early to Hilly.
But this blog isn’t about either of them, it’s about Gray. Starting as a 65 rated youngster, and finishing as a 74 rated, well, still a youngster. The versatile midfielder was playing great at Leeds. He was energetic and passionate, and that attracted the attention of the big clubs. Finally making a big money move to spurs, for better or worse.
In AG though, he’s played all over the globe, Leeds(MOT), Dortmund, Palermo and even having a spell in China thanks to Buncey! He’s certainly well traveled and has been a rock in the forever changing team around him.
He’s played every single minute of every single game, never missing a start, never being subbed off and never receiving a red card.
118 league games
10,620 minutes played
177 hours of pitch time
7.375 days boots on the grass
1 (and a teeny tiny bit) week out there giving his all
13 goals from predominately central defensive mid
64 assists, if I can count right
9 yellow cards
0 red cards
It’s not as extreme as limiting my squad to just a couple nations or one team alone, but I’ve really enjoyed having some stipulation. I was lucky that the majority of sofifa updates included Gray, so it was fun having him steadily grow alongside the team. He never felt too low, even towards the end of this season! Solid as a rock and a lovely shot on him (sometimes)
It will be a real shame to see him go, but I guess he won’t be back in the leagues for another couple of seasons, hopefully I’ll be back by then and can snatch him up myself and relive some of the fun