Nearing the Jan window I wanted to see if I could get Bannan. I'd generally managed to get offers accepted in the range of 10-15m and had enough money, but his agent would demand 50k wages and a first team status. He withdrew from 3-4 dealings and I was on his dislike list. Meanwhile, Villa were doing poorly and I decided to try again. Got a 14m bid accepted and the agent jumped at my first offer of a backup role and 30k. I realised that I might have been too hasty in offering him such good terms and I also wanted to postpon the transfer for the summer so he could keep developping at Villa, so I cancelled the deal and re-bid. Just then McLeish got sacked and now they want 35m. Damnit.
EDIT: Other than that, currently 2nd with Chelsea, two points off United. Generally done well at home, but pretty poorly away (3 draws in the last 5 matches). Brought in Jordan Lukaku on a free, Kevin De Bruyne for 3.5m but he stays at Genk for the rest of the season, Seamus Coleman for 6.5 and he stays the season at Everton, Verthongen for 9m (chose him over getting Hummels for 35m), and Hazard for 55m (most of it over 4 years, the other transfers were also split this way). Sold Alex for 15m, Ferreira for 1.6m and I dunno who else, sent lots of people on-loan and brought in Zuiverloon for act as cover for RB for the season, with little intention to play him, althoiugh he got some matches. Figured Coleman would be of more use getting regular playing time and there was no talented RB in the youth squad.
Knocked out of the Carling by Norwich in the 2nd round (for us), atfer needing oenalties to beat S****hrope. In Europe (Rangers, Valencia, Dortmund), I got through with a perfect record, using the opportunity to try and unsettle Gotze (little luck) and will face pushed-Milan-to-Europa Partizan in the next round and Bolton in the FA. Lots of ups and downs, but it's generally been fun. Hoping to get Gotze next year, but I'm not too optimistic, since I'm hoping not to saddle the club with more huge transfers that will eat away at our finances for 4 years.
Might upload pics later.