The Guardian has a where are they now story on Cherno Samba, who bailed me out a couple of times in Championship Manager. It explains why he was so highly rated in the game. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1411968,00.html
Have never been able to afford him. He's a thorn in my side playing for Liverpool, although he's not like friggin' Ruud, who was absolutely impossible to prevent from scoring. Thank God he moved to Real Madrid, the jerk.
I remember Moukokou (sp?) being very good to me in CM 01/02 when I managed lower-division clubs. Anyone every use him? As for Samba....maybe I'll give him his dream shot with a big club.
Tonton Zola Mokouko, CM 01/02 God's of gods... Playing him in a AM free role, he would score at will. Usually available on a free after a few years, he would be dynamite in all leagues. A fond memory, Tonton comes on a free transfer for my D2 Burnley squad & scores 35 goals, a dozen assists in 40 games with a 8.25 average.
Kallstrom was brilliant before CM03/04 Now he's at Rennes and is like 7m......not good. Matsuovic at Banik Ostrava is an amazing striker. You can buy him for like 450k and he scores a s***t load of goals.
In CM 01/02 - Mark Kerr Tonton Kallstrom Robben (good call, that) Cherno Samba Sometimes, Kalam Mooniaruck (in my current game, Man U sold him to Dortmund for 40 million pounds!, where he later became European Player of the Year) Taribo West - a huge tackling monster, available on a free Plus a million Greek forwards and goalkeepers. Now I understand why Greece won the '04 Euros.
Maybe the smog got to him........hehe. Just kidding, didn't do me any har.....*cough* *cough* *splutter*, "was that blood?" I have him at Chelsea, 17, and amazing stats. Train him well. He's the best young defender on the game. If you play in a country that has non EU restrictions, then sign Naldo from RS Futebol (I think...... ) He costs 45k and his value shoots up, absolute class. May need it on Large DB though. Also, try Fernando Henrique from Fluminense. Amazing GK and only 21!
Ok, so who remembers Nii Lamptey? An AM/RLC who set the world alight, this guy could run out by himself and win.
My two favorites were Phil Jagielka and Frederik Parkhagen... in CM 00/01 these two guys led my Stoke team to the Premiership title in 2005 (or was it 6?). Parkhagen in particular was unstoppable that year and won the Premiership Player of the Year. Too bad he insisted on a minimum fee release clause... he was missed. Anyone know who these two guys really play for? I have never known.
don't forget emile m'penza mateja kezman rafael van der vaart juan roman riquelme these guys were superstars in that version. m'penza averaged almost a goal a game with me at milan. 48 appereances 45 goals.
In CM03/04, the man of all men was... ALESSIO CERCI! He was a 15 year old at Roma. I signed him for Tranmere in the English 2nd division (noww League 1) and he was beyond immense, scoring over a goal a game... he bagged over 600 goals for me by the time he was 27, had over 60 Italian caps and about 70 goals, and almost all of him technical attributes had gone up to 20, most of his mental attributes were 18-20, and he was above 16 on everything phyiscally, with 1 or 2 20's. He helped me turn Tranmere into the equilavent of 1960's Madrid, and all for something like €300,000 .
I agree about Matusovic. I've been coaching Shahktar and was able to get Matusovic. I'm now starting Matusovic and Olisidebe (another pickup, not as good as Matusovic) up top and we're in the knock out stages of the Champions League in year 2. Banik Ostrava seems to have better players in the game than Sparta or Slavia Prague.
#1. Maxim Tsigalko (18 pace and acceleration and 20 finishing) #2. Cherno Samba #3. Mark Kerr #4. Kim Kallstrom #5. Julius Aghahowa #6. Andres D'alessandro #7. Jimmy Davis #8. Ryan Williams #9. Richard Landley #10.Franco Costanzo (best goalie in the entire game) All these players are from CM 01/02, the greatest ever CM.....
I've never seen Maxim Tsigalko, but I always play in England. Maybe he can't get a work permit? Kim Kallstrom isn't consistently excellent. Sometimes, he's just a midlevel EPL middie. Purchased D'Alessandro & Williams for the first time ever. Not immediately, but in about 2008 when I got the $$ and reputation to sign guys of that quality. Have never heard of Williams in real life or the game. He was costly but spectacular. Have never senn Costanzo. Work permit issues again, I guess. Taribo West is my all-time favorite. I just loooove monster center backs with an attitude who bitch slap opposing forwards. Even Ruud struggles to score against Taribo. And yes, 01-02 is the best.
My favroite player in CM 01/02 was the Brazilian Marajo I would buy him from Club Venus for 60k and he would avg a cool 8.10 Another hidden gem was To Madeira, although i rarely used him.. .