The FM Elimination Challenge (June 2026)

[shantanu_rooney]

As you say Blake, hopefully I keep my place in the starting XI of Real Madrid for the next season. Nice to win the Golden Ball and score 30 goals in the league. Hopefully this continues.

 

[BKB1991]

Solid Stuff, Blake the writing is one of the best on PC.

 

[LongLegs?]

This should really win SOTM. I thought it should've won last month too. Great stuff blake. Great writing, great concept and very intriguing stuff. I always want to see how the players have developed, and how their seasons have progressed.

 

[Imager36]

I voted for it as well. In the lead now, so there's a good chance.

 

[Themer]

Just read this from start to finish. One of the best stories/narrations I've seen on this forum.

Incase you do another I'd certainly be interested.

 

[blake]

Thanks guys, been fun doing this as well - was as much an experiment as everything and I think it's worked out quite well. Only four years left in this one and then I'll be considering a second one, it's looking highly likely that I'll have one. Just contemplating what changes I can make to it right now, because I have a few interesting ideas.

 

[Ollie_H]

Just let me batter Shan already? We all know it's gonna happen anyway. May as well announce me the winner.

 

[hedger_14]

Well whatever it is, count me in. And do I get a screenshot of my players history?

 

[Aoun13]

Well This really is a great story. I want to participate here.

 

[blake]

Well whatever it is, count me in. And do I get a screenshot of my players history?

No Hedger. But you moved to Palermo in the June 2024 update.

Once my bandwidth is fixed I will give you a screenshot.

 

[blake]

June, 2024​

Fifteen years down, three to go​

There isn't a great deal to write about in this update, with the World Cup already done and finished. World Cup Qualifying matches now for the 2026 World Cup are just starting to begin, however there hasn't really been any real progress by any team to speak off so far in those matches.

Elsewhere internationally, South Korea claimed the Asian Cup after a dominant 5-1 win over Australia in the final. For Australia, only three non-regens remain in their team fifteen years later, which is to be expected really. Goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, who spent the 2009/10 season at Liverpool, is now the Australian captain and has proved to be a worthy replacement to the likes of Schwarzer with 107 caps for Australia. Starting on the bench was also 35 year old midfielder James Troisi, who has made 90 appearances for Australia over the years. Adrian Luche Ucchino, a central midfielder who is not well known, also started on the bench. He spent the 2009/10 season in Italy, playing in Frosinone in Serie B.

It took the U.S.A penalties to defeat a fiery Canada in the Gold Cup of North America, after a 1-1 draw in regular time. The Canadians, who have improved greatly to 50th in the world, gave their North American counterparts a real run for their money but in the end failed to keep their composure from the spot. The 2013 Copa America also saw some very interesting results, with Mexico thumping Brazil 4-0 in the quarter finals to end their tournament. The Mexicans continued their excellent form by defeating the other main giants of South America in Argentina 2-0, but they couldn't hold their nerve in the final as Paraguay came back from 1-0 down at half-time to record a tense 2-1 victory.

In the Under 20 World Cup it was the Brazilian youth that showed the most promise, going all the way to the final and defeating Belgium 2-1. They had a squad filled with flair and it paid off as they won comfortably in the end, despite a Belgium late goal. Brazilian full back Leandro Machado was later named the player of the tournament, after some fantastic matches in defence. He is currently contracted to Atltico Mineiro and looks to have quite a promising future.

The UEFA European Championships are set to begin very soon, with the groups already drawn. Group A looks to be an easy run through for the world's number one in England, who are managed by David Wheater, ex-Middlesbrough star. They will be competing against Slovakia, Belgium and Serbia. Group B could almost be classified as the group of death with giants Spain and Italy clashing alongside Ukraine and Austria, while Group C should see Germany progress comfortably against the Czech Republic, Sweden and Croatia. Group D is the next hardest behind Group B with Holland, France, Ireland and Turkey all set to fight it out.

And, now to the players! It seemed a one-sided affair this year as Ollie dropped off the pace a little bit, with age starting to weary him in midfield. He lost some of his pace and technical abilities, and as a result he started just 28 games over the year for Manchester City, making 6 more appearances as a sub. The 31 year old must now be starting to cast his sights elsewhere, somewhere that he can be guaranteed some more game time. He was still superb in the league, but City wanted to blood some of their younger players like 24 year old Felix Fleischer, who looks to be a world star in the making. Ollie Holden is now unhappy at City, claiming that he wants a new challenge which might be the best for him. If he isn't going to get game time, he's going to find it very hard and as it is he will need a brilliant comeback to salvage anything better than second from this competition.

On the other hand, Shantanu Rooney showed no signs of slowing down at Real as he played 46 more competitive matches over the season, scoring 28 times. The figure was his lowest goal return in over ten years, but he continues to get crucial game time at the Spanish giants which has given him a very big lead now with just three years remaining. He will need to do something disastrous for him to relinquish the lead now late in the game and it seems that Shantanu Rooney has just about got this competition tied up. At 31 years old he still remains the 13th most expensive player in the world, and he is still scoring for England with ease. He now has 70 caps and 60 goals, a long way past the record set by Sir Bobby Charlton. He still trails Holden by a few caps but overall the signs are very good for Shantanu Rooney whose lead is over 600 points strong.

Can Shantanu Rooney be caught, with just three years left?

Blue: Back to back wins

Roll of Honour:
Barclays Premier League: Manchester City
Serie A TIM: Genoa
Liga BBVA: Atltico Madrid
1. Bundesliga: Hoffenheim
Ligue 1 Orange: Olympique Lyonnais
Eredivisie: PSV
Liga Sagres: Sporting CP
Turkcell Sper Lig: Fenerbahe
Jupiler Pro League: Club Brugge
Russian Federation Premier Liga: CSKA Moscow
Bank of Scotland Premier League: Celtic

FIFA Club World Cup: Tottenham 1-1p San Lorenzo
UEFA Champions League: Man City 1-2 Man Utd
Europa League: Villarreal p1-1 Werder Bremen
UEFA Super Cup: Genoa 5-1 Tottenham

Ollie H (MC, England)
Club: Manchester City
League: English Premier League
Player Profile

Points: 4583.41

Shantanu Rooney (ST, England)
Club: Real Madrid
League: Liga BBVA
Player Profile

Points: 5207.47

Leaderboard:

  Player            Team            Value (AUD)    Points

[IMG]http://leadpaging.com/ars/equal.gif[/IMG] Shantanu Rooney   Real Madrid     $65M           5207.47
[IMG]http://leadpaging.com/ars/equal.gif[/IMG] Ollie H           Man City        $33M           4583.41
-------------------------------------------------------
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] Hedger            Eliminated 2022/23
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] Mattfb            Eliminated 2019/20
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] Nakul             Eliminated 2017/18
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] Maney2k9          Eliminated 2015/16
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] MaD               Eliminated 2014/15
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] Giggity Giggity   Eliminated 2013/14
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] User2010          Eliminated 2012/13
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] The Spin          Eliminated 2011/12
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] Covvy             Eliminated 2010/11
[IMG]http://www.careercalculus.com/images/cross_button.gif[/IMG] Treva             Eliminated 2009/10

Value Changes:

  Player            Change  
[IMG]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/__down_arrow.jpg[/IMG] Shantanu Rooney   $2M
[IMG]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/__down_arrow.jpg[/IMG] Ollie H           $7.5M

Wages:

  Player            Team          Wage (per year)

[IMG]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/__up_arrow.jpg[/IMG] Shantanu Rooney   Real Madrid   $23,000,000
[IMG]http://leadpaging.com/ars/equal.gif[/IMG] Ollie H           Man City      $19,250,000

International Caps:

  Player            Caps  Goals     Country

[IMG]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/__up_arrow.jpg[/IMG] Ollie H             76     12     England
[IMG]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/__up_arrow.jpg[/IMG] Shantanu Rooney     70     60     England

For Hedger:

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Nice to see I am still on the top and hopefully I end there.. Great writing Blake.

 

[hedger_14]

Thanks for that blake. Nice start to my career at Palermo as well. 15 goals in 21 appearances. I've been very consistent it seems with goals scored but I haven't really had a stand out season. Only surpassed 20 goals in a season once. Nearing 200 league goals as well.

 

[mattfb]

Did Ollie ever win that world player of the year award I said he'd get ages ago?

 

[Ollie_H]

Damn, this is slowly slipping from my grasp, looks like what I expected, that my midfielder would be able to go on for longer without deteriorating was heavily wrong. Gonna be hard to catch Shantanu unless, he has a major injury, but wouldn't mind a move away from Man City now!