bhurst99

Liverpool vs Arsenal, Game Two [video=youtube;Vmnq0-8ULv4]

Got to get some points out of this game. Looks like Podolski had a hat trick in Arsenal's first game.

Yeah, Gerrard was okay in our opening defeat. I don't know about "master class". He had an assist and connected on just about every pass he made. The important thing is that he didn't get injured again.

West Brom vs Liverpool, Game One [video=youtube;uBSRU1dm9Os]

I told ya Gerrard would be back for the first game. We're not going to "ease" him back in. He'll put on the captain's armband and be in the starting 11.

The biggest question I have going into this game about our opponents: What in the world is Zoopla, the sponsor on West Brom's kits? Okay, I looked it up and apparently Zoopla is a UK web site for searching properties. It almost sounds like one of those fake sponsors you'd see in some sports games.

It's a pretty tough schedule to start the season Aug. 18 -- West Brom Aug. 23 -- Arsenal Aug. 26 -- Manchester City We're going to find out what we're made of this month.

So our Norwegian scout has been busy scouting players for a month. I'm not prepared to sign anyone yet so I've asked my scout to keep following these players. Except for Sean Brislen-Hall. We're just not into players with hyphenated last names.

You don't read the words prolificacy and guile in sports stories very often. Skrtel was worried about being benched in favour of Rolando just days ago now the media pundits say he needs to be a rock. I'm more worried he has the speed of a rock. I think Tevez has been the biggest transfer of the pre-season so far. I'm actually not a big fan of the pre-season transfers in FIFA since they can be so wild. If I had the option I would probably turn transfers off before the start of the first season as I like to play teams with their real rosters until the January transfer market (Note: I realize you can do this on the PC but I'm playing on XBox 360).

I'm surprised at the game's expectations for Liverpool considering they are a mid-table team in real life with mid-table talent. The Board expects me to finish first and EA Sports is predicting a third-place finish. I think I'd be happy with fourth place and a Champions League spot.

We had some good success loaning out our teenagers. Hopefully, they'll get some first team playing time on their teams and return at the end of the season with higher ratings.

Yes, I like being coy with the media. But you faithful reader I will tell the truth: The season doesn't start for another two weeks so Gerrard should be good to go for our opening game against West Brom.

Liverpool vs Marseille, Exhibition Game Three As you can see, I am playing a lot of reserves in our final pre-season match. [video=youtube;Vy062UNQTTI]

Whoa. Whoa. I wasn't expecting this when I signed Rolando. Move away from the ledge, Skrtel, you're still one of our starters. (That's a terrible picture of Skrtel. If I saw him an alley, I would run the other way screaming like a girl). Both Rolando and Skrtel will play in our final pre-season match against Marseille. But we're mostly going to be using reserves for our final game to drum up some interest in those players for loans.

I've rejected all offers for our "elite" players as without them there's no way I can qualify for the Champions League next season. I can't believe we even picked up the phone when Everton called about Johnson. No way are we selling to our Merseyside derby rivals. The Lyon offer was an interesting one since $10 million is a lot for a slow defender but we elected to keep Skrtel. Suarez is the best player on the team. We're keeping him. He's probably going to be disappointed that he won't get to see all the Italian models walking along Via Montenapoleone in Milan but life's tough sometimes. Even if you're a 25-year old multi-millionaire.

Liverpool vs Chievo Verona, Exhibition Game Two [video=youtube;lCmb3Is8E7k]

He looks so unhappy in his picture. With my luck he'll probably come back to haunt us in the F.A. Cup.

And that completes my pre-season additions as we are now left with under $1,000,000. I probably should have done a little more research as some of Rolando's ratings leave a lot to be desired. He has ratings above 80 in tackling and marking so he's certainly no bust. Unfortunately, it turns out he is not available for my second exhibition game.

We didn't want to break the bank to sign a striker since we also want to sign a defender. We offered $12,400,000 but Hannover rejected that so we upped our bid to land him. Hopefully, he's got a lot of goals in him with that finishing rating of 86. We have about $10 million left to sign a credible defender.

Nope I didn't bid for Hoilett. I'm still mad he didn't commit to Canada before our World Cup Qualifying disaster. (Actually, I'm not mad at all. I doubt he would have made a difference).

"Hurst is an incredible guy" I'm starting to warm up to Yesil with comments like that. Flattery and bribes will get you everywhere. (I'm lying Yesil's going back to the bench next game. I have a tough season to prepare for and he's not making enough coin to bribe his way into the starting 11 ). For what it's worth, Yesil was rated 6.5 for the match. I've always wondered what goes into these ratings. Some of them can really make you shake your head. Cole, a substitute in the 77th minute, was rated just 4.0. What did he do, or not to do, in 13 minutes to deserve that?