Preston North End, Life with the Elites Einstellungen

[nicharit]

I have been playing with Preston North End for 4 seasons now and I want to make one last contribution to the diary section (for FifaM09). So I decided to write up the 5th season of my Preston North End career as a diary. I will post up the history for the last 4 seasons so that everyone can be updated with my game. So this is not a full diary, just an extract from my career perhaps.

This diary will take a similar format to my Liverpool and Kevin Wright. Anyway please enjoy reading!!

[nicharit]

Into injury time, Neil Mellor placed the ball onto the penalty spot. Can he end Preston's season on a high? Mellor make a short run-up, smashes it into the top corner and Preston has got their 4th! Neil Mellor ensured that Preston wraps up an impressive victory and ended what was to be a marvelous match.

FT Manchester City 2-4 Preston North End

The whistle has gone and the big roar from the away end says it all. Preston has wrapped up their season in style by thumping Manchester City 4-2 at the City of Manchester Stadium. And for the 3rd year running Kevin Wright has kept the Lancashire club in the top flight. What a job he has done

While managing to surpass the 40 point mark for the first time since promotion and finishing 18 points cleared off relegation, there are surely lots of optimisms along the Preston fans and supporters to finish even stronger next season



Preston North End finished the 2011/12 season strongly by finishing 13th, collecting an impressive 46 points. They only conceded 40 goals this season, only bettered by Everton, Spurs and Liverpool.

[Liberty_swan09]

A very interesting story as always

[nicharit]

A look back into Preston North End's life in the Premiership.....

After finising 3rd in the Championship and winnning the play-offs, Preston North End finally made it into the top flight in the same season that manager Kevin Wright took over. Neil Mellor was the top scorer of the league, scoring 26 goals in the process.

Season 2009/10

Right after promotion, Preston went on a spending spree which saw them drafting in loads of new players. There were mainly young players who have eyes for the future. The only players who were still featuring regularly and were in the promotion team last year were Neil Mellor, Simon Whaley, Daniel Carter, Eddie Nolan, Billy Jones and Andrew Lonergan. Coming in were Adam Hammill, Danny Guthrie (loan), David Cotterill, Mark Randall, Julian Kelly and Tommy Spurr (who were handed the captain armband), who were all young talents. This team had a really successful start, winning the first 3 games. However, since then they struggled for form and were left hanging in the relegation zone until New Year

Kevin Wright however found the solution to their struggle: they lack experience. So they decided to bring in Manuel Almunia to replace the inconsistent Lonergan. They also solidify the defense by bringing in Christian Silvestri and Michel Salgado, as well as signing veteran midfielder Jerome Leroy. When approaching the end of the season, they managed to grind off some important results and only avoided relegation by 1 point.

However, financially Preston struggled as they spent more than £10m on transfer but will be glad that they managed to stay up.

Season 2010/11

This season however did not see any new players and only Eddie Nolan made the switch to Spain, which really benefit Preston's financial situation. They managed to escape relegation around 2 weeks before the final matchday thanks to Portsmouth, Reading and Hull City's struggle in the top flight, although they finished 16th and gaining 38 points again. Left back Julian Kelly, a 500,000 signing from Reading last season, blossomed as a Preston player and become Preston's player of the year.

Adam Hammill was given the captain armband and also played a big contribution, while Mark Randall developed a knack for scoring vital goals.

Season 2011/12

(see table in second post)
Kevin Wright made 3 bosman transfer which proves to be very effective, bringing in striker Fernando Morientes, midfielder Gavin McCann and ex-Manchester United captain Gary Neville. This means that Kevin Wright did not have to spend any penny to bring in some valuable experience into the side. Also Wright completed 3 loan moves. Christoph Dabrowski (DM), Nikolce Noveski (CD) and David De Freitas (CM) all came in on loan, with the latter making the move permanent. Simon Whaley was the only departure out of Deepdale, the midfielder leaving to join Stoke City on a £3m deal.

Gary Neville proves to be the signing of the season, showing lots of consistent as well as giving Preston North End the much needed experience. This led to Preston North End finishing 13th with 46 points, a truly good achievement.

Der Beitrag wurde von nicharit bearbeitet: 17.08.2009 - 11:25

[Liberty_swan09]

Slowly getting to grips with the prem, in a couple of years you could be high in the table.

[nicharit]

This Season.....

Preston captain Adam Hammill tops departure list

Adam Hammill tops the departure list of Preston North End after refusing a contract extension, allowing himself to make a free transfer to German club VfB Stuttgart. The ex-Liverpool winger, who joined Preston in the year which they got promoted, rejected a chance to extend his 3 year stay with Preston and will now tackle his next challenge in life in Germany. In his 3 years at Preston North End, he made 99 appearances (only one short of a century) and scored 13 goals. He was awarded the captain armband in 2010.

The players who are also to be released are Chris Sedgwick and Jaroslav Cerny, while Michel Salgado, Fernando Morientes and Gary Neville decided to hang up their boots after their contract expires.

Kevin Wright Completes 7 Bosman Transfers


3 of the 7 players who made the move: Jem Karacan, Nuno Gomes, Tyrone Mears

Kevin Wright continued to save up his transfer budget by completing 7 Bosman transfers in preparation for the new Premier League season. By having to deal with losing captain Hammill and veterans such as Gary Neville and Fernando Morientes, he has managed to notch up some valuable players.

The following joined the Kevin Wright regime:

Tyrone Mears (RB) - Mears only made 12 appearances in his 4 years at Marseille and will return to Preston North End, who was there between 2002 and 2006. He is arrived as a replacement for Gary Neville.

Moreno (LB) - The 29 years old Brazilian joined Preston after having a spell with Croatian club N.Zadar. Moreno will provide a valuable back-up incase Julian Kelly is injured

Conor Clifford (CM) - The 20 years old terminated his contract, only a year after he had signed the professional contract to be part of the Chelsea first team. However, he could not break into the first team and had to settle for playing in the reserves. Moving to Preston North End will give Clifford a new hope of playing regular football.

Gael Danic (CM) – Gael Danic arrived from Valenciennes FC after making 141 appearances there and is eagered to make an impact at England. A creative player, who is always praised for his consistent while playing for his team.

Jem Karacan (CM) – Kevin Wright has made the midfield his main area to strengthen and the signing of 23 years old Karacan from Reading proves to be one of the best deal. He has made over 100 apperances for Reading and played a key part in Reading's promotion campaign last season. Eagered for a new challenge, the Turkish midfield will hope to be an instant hit for the side.

Nuno Gomes (ST) – After Morientes's retirement, Kevin Wright opted for yet another experience striker, this time landing Nuno Gomes. Still a regular in the Portugal national team but found opportunities limited at Benfica, so he decided to end his 10 year stay there to join Kevin Wright's Preston North End. Only time will tell if he can score goals in the Premiership.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (ST) - In his first 4 years at Celtic, he made 114 appearances as well as scoring an impressive 59 goals. However, at 2010 he could not regain his form and since then he struggled for both goal and appearance. It did not help him when he suffered a knee injury in 2011, meaning that he was out of action for most of the year. After leaving Celtic, he joined Preston, hoping for his last shot in the later stages of his career.

[nicharit]

Preston North End
2012/13 Squad

Goalkeepers
Andrew Lonergan
Ramzi Al Nubi

Andrew Lonergan continued his service at front of goal, with Ramzi Al Nubi, a young promising goalkeeper, providing a decent back-up.

Defenders
Billy Jones ©
Tyrone Mears
Neal Trotman
Tommy Spurr
Moreno
Julian Kelly

Gary Neville and Michel Salgado's departure from the club meant that Neal Trotman have to replace them, although Tyrone Mears is not far behind. Julian Kelly, Tommy Spur and Billy Jones continue to form an impressive back-up line. Moreno as expected is signed as a back-up.

Meanwhile, Billy Jones is awarded the captain's armband following Adam Hammill's departure

Midfielders
Daniel Carter
Mark Randall
Gael Danic
Jem Karacan
David De Freitas
Conor Clifford

Conor Clifford and Jem Karacan instantly claim their first team spot, both of them controlling the middle of the park in central midfield, while Daniel Carter will replace Adam Hammill at left wing. Mark Randall, still keep his place at right wing. David De Freitas and Gael Danic will opt as a valuable back-up.

Strikers
Neil Mellor
David Cotterill
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
Nuno Gomes

Neil Mellor and David Cotterill is still expected to spearhead the Preston North End frontline, despite the signing of Vennegoor of Hesselink and Nuno Gomes. However, Kevin Wright will adopt a rotation policy at the striking department so that all players could get games.



Der Beitrag wurde von nicharit bearbeitet: 21.08.2009 - 10:16

[nicharit]

Premier League Matchday 1
Preston North End 0-5 Everton

For 3 seasons since promotion, Preston North End was faultless at winning their opening game but today saw them slipping into a shambolic 0-5 defeat at home to Everton.

Preston never looked confident when on the ball and found themselves 0-1 with only 2 minutes gone. Arteta firing in the first of the five. Yakubu added the second on the half hour stroke before Scott Sinclair headed the third just before half time. Joleon Lescott makes it four with a trademark header from a corner before Steven Defour completes the misery with a deflected strike in injury time.

The final whistle was greeted with boos in Deepdale and Kevin Wright knew that the team needs real improvement

[nicharit]

Premier League Matchday 2
Manchester United 0-1 Preston North End

Preston North End responded in style to their opening day defeat by pulling off a memorable win over Manchester United.

Nuno Gomes marked his debut in the Preston shirt with the winning goal, finding the net after having been put through on goal before the interval. Manchester United were outplayed by the impressive Preston North End, who looked very different from their embarrassing defeat to Everton last week. This defeat left Manchester United having to face with a second defeat, as they lost to West Ham United last week.

[Liberty_swan09]

Got some good players there, not well known, although Nuno Gomez is.

[Spursandmilan]

Good start to your latest campaign. Hopefully you can keep taking Preston further.

[nicharit]

Carling Cup 2nd Round
Ipswich Town 0-4 Preston North End

David Cotterill scores the rebound after his attempt hits the post as Ipswich failed to held on in the first 10 minutes. Nuno Gomes drives in the 2nd from 20 yards as the Portuguese international scored his 2nd goal in 2 games.

Preston’s reserve player Wasim Ahmed, the young Bangladeshi striker, was brought on as a 2nd half substitute and managed to score the 3rd goal of the night on his debut, heading in a cross. Cotterill then wraps it up with the 4th, a deft finish after a swift one-two with Gomes.

Meanwhile, Preston North End will have to face a tough tie against Liverpool in the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup.

Premier League Matchday 3
Preston North End 3-1 Charlton Athletic

It was a disastrous start for Preston when Simon Cox slipped the ball through the legs of Andrew Lonergan. But Preston responded well with Cotterill poking Randall’s cross into the net. Nuno Gomes continued his fine form up front with a simple finish from 12 yards.

Mark Randall headed in the killing blow in the 2nd half to seal off the match.

Der Beitrag wurde von nicharit bearbeitet: 23.08.2009 - 9:36

[nicharit]

Premier League Matchday 4
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Preston North End

Jem Karacan prevented Blackburn Rovers from getting their first win of the season with his first goal for Preston North End.

The Turkish midfielder cuts inside past Christopher Samba and angled in a superb shot. It was a big turn of event, as Blackburn took an early lead through Sami Khedira and had even more clear-cut chances. Joe Ledley had his effort turn around the post by Lonergan and Ofori-Twusami's tame header was easy for Lonergan to safety catch it.

Premier League Matchday 5
West Ham United 0-1 Preston North End

Nuno Gomes scored the only goal despite a game with so many chances. The Portuguese was picked out by a lovely Mears cross and he finished it off with a fine header.

Premier League Matchday 6
Preston North End 3-0 Portsmouth

3 goals in 20 minutes continued Preston North End's superb start to the season. Jem Karacan headed the home side in front and continued to become a hero for the club with a curling strike to make it 2. David Cotterill adds the 3rd with a sweet goal, finishing off a great Preston North End move with a lovely volley. Preston continued to pile up the pressure on Portsmouth but Jamie Ashdown had to make some pretty good save to deny Preston a chance to increase the lead.

Der Beitrag wurde von nicharit bearbeitet: 24.08.2009 - 10:54

[nicharit]

Preston Among High-Flyers

Tottenham, Arsenal and Preston has arguably made a great start to the new campaign

Tottenham are currently leading the pack and is currently the only team who's unbeaten. Reigning champions Arsenal are still on their tail, while Manchester United are on hot form despite their disappointing start, winning 4 games on the trot. However, the team which is raising eyebrows to all the pundits is Preston North End, who seemed to make yet another stunning start. But everyone had witnessed what happened to them afterwards, when they falter and struggled mid-season. However, this season they showed different quality than before and who knows, maybe this year they can finally establish themselves as a true top flight club.

Worrying times for Portsmouth, who started the season with -6 points and after 6 games they still couldn't overcome the deficit, neither reduce it by a single point. Charlton and Watford are also struggling as the the likely candidates for relegation seems to be getting a bit clearer.

[nicharit]

Wright Praises His Squad


Nuno Gomes has made an impact following his move to Preston

Preston manager Kevin Wright has praised his team for a superb start to the season, and insisted that the team is capable of finishing in the top half of the table this season.

Despite an awful 0-5 defeat to Everton in the opening fixture of the campaign, Preston embarked on a hot-running form as they beat Portsmouth, Charlton, West Ham United and most impressively Manchester United. While speaking to the press after their 3-0 victory over Portsmouth, Kevin Wright insisted that the team is going from strength to strength each season.

"After tonight, I was convinced that this squad is improving each year. And my job was to make them perform at the highest level. We escaped relegation by a mere point in the first season in the top flight and the second one we did a bit better. However, the third season saw big improvement and now we can do even better."

The gaffer also went on to praise in-form midfielder Jem Karacan, who has easily slotted himself into the side, while Nuno Gomes also impressed following his arrival

"Jem (Karacan) has done a brilliant job since he arrived. He has offered something very different in midfield with his creativity and his ability to attack, as well as his hardworking ability of running back to defend. He showed that against Portsmouth today and it was not a surprise that he managed to get himself on the scoresheet, let alone he scored two instead."

"Nuno Gomes also offered us a very different option to our strike force. He can make a very intelligent run and at front of goal he can also finish well. He also has a very impresive assist rate, and of course his goalscoring record is pretty much amazing, in international level as well as club level. His experience is also very well needed."

[Liberty_swan09]

Who knows, you might get Champ leauge or Europa cup, if you get to a european comp it is worth doing a extra season to see how you do.

[nicharit]

Who knows, you might get Champ leauge or Europa cup, if you get to a european comp it is worth doing a extra season to see how you do.

Great idea, I will consider that thanks

[nicharit]

Carling Cup 3rd Round
Preston North End 0-3 Liverpool

Liverpool progressed to the next round with a resounding display against Preston at Deepdale.

Preston failed to captilise early on when they were awarded a penalty, as David Cotterill's tame effort was comfortably saved by Dean Bouzanis. It was until the 40th minute when Liverpool finally managed to break Preston's defending. Darren Carter lost his foot and Camacho stole the ball, before hitting a low shot into the bottom corner. A minute later Diego curls in a free kick to double the lead. Daniel Agger puts the icing on the cake in the 86th minute, smashing in from a low Gerrard cross.

Premier League Matchday 7
Watford 1-1 Preston North End

The fans at Vicarage Road had to wait for 76 minutes before seeing the first goal but it was a scorcher. Renato hitting an unstoppable volley from 25 yards and it was a goal worthy of winning any game. But Preston had other ideas. Randall ran onto a Nuno Gomes flick and finishes off with a simple hit into the back of the net.

Premier League Matchday 8
Preston North End 0-1 Liverpool

Fernando Torres scored the only goal in the game but also found himself sent off as Liverpool ran out winners. Liverpool had already emerged victorious earlier on when they face each other in the Carling Cup and for the second time they came away from Deepdale as the happier one.

Der Beitrag wurde von nicharit bearbeitet: 24.08.2009 - 19:54

[Liberty_swan09]

Great idea, I will consider that thanks

Be interesting Preston as Champs of europe.

[Liberty_swan09]

Are you going to post diarys on FM10?