As a better challenge , me and a friend decided to select two second division teams and the challenge is, to see how long it takes to get into the Championsleague.

He chose Millwall, I chose Stoke City.

I got automatic promotion in the first year, despite my friend persuading Taribo West and Stan Collymore to join him, he failed to make the playoffs. I stuck with my Icelandic and Irish players adding a couple of premiership loan players to my midfield and buying Steve Harper to keep goal.

After I got promoted, I got a whole host of premiership players who were out of contract wanting to join me. Like Sumerbee from S/land

The following season I targeted the conferance for scouts with good potential to spot good players. I managed to get three good scouts who I sent to europe. I added Andy Griffin to defence and increased the squad with premership freebies. Most don't turn out to be very good, but my scouts come up with some good Europeans, such as Arne Slot (Ataack mid)Darius Kampa (new goalie)and Jason Gavin (boro defender) and Niki Antivakis (right defender). By xmas I am in 4th/ 6th in the league, but as other teams fade I have a good run, winning the last game . My old boys, Stefan Thoradason, Bjarni Gudjohsson, Brnjar Gunnarsson , Peter Thorne (MY BEST PLAYER), James O'connor and Rik Dadason, all getting over 7.00 average.(I recomend tem all) .

In the last minute of the last game I score get the only goal of the the game gaining automatic promotion by a single point to the premiership.

Having played and being thrashed by the likes of Spurs and Man U in the cup last season I know I'll be hard pushed to stay up in the following season, my first in the premiership. I need some top players but have no money, and the top players don't fancy joining Stoke , Aaron Hughes, Gareth Barry and even Jamie McClen don't want to know, looks kie I'm stuck with nationwide players in the big league.This season (no3)is gonna be tough ... to be continued

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2001

Answers

From Planet Football:

SWEDISH starlet Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a pre-contractual agreement with Ajax, as the Dutch side beat off stiff competition to land the striker.

Ibrahimovic had impressed a number of European clubs with his performances for Malmo FF and managed to break into the Swedish national side, having starred with the Under-21s.

Ajax have moved ahead of the likes of Milan and Juventus for the player who has claimed two caps for his country.

The player will sign a five year deal with the Dutch giants in the summer.

Planetfootball.com had already linked Ajax to Ibrahimovic, when the club sent a delegation to watch him, however, the 19-year-old had a virus and missed the game.

Arsenal had also watched the player but it appears that Ajax have surprised many of their competitors and beaten them to the punch.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001