Challenges Late Bloomer Challenge Version 2024!

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

One of my all time favourite challenges, courtesy of @FoxD

I had a great time on FM21 completing this twice for two great players in one game. Check out my previous career;

And it felt this ended prematurely, so we're back at it again! A return to China and to doubling up a legend's career total. So, who will it be..?

 

Leaderboard

@Gazzaeverton Olivier Giroud: 194 Goals

@BordeauxAndBrawn Marouane Fellaini: 101 Goals

Edited June 27 by BordeauxAndBrawn

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

And what a choice it is!

Once of Everton, and to a lesser extent Man United, glory, Marouane Fellaini represents an interesting possibility. A versatile player, I'm going to deploy him as a lone striker, hoping that his talents as an ideal Target Man/Complete Forward will bully the Chinese league to victory. At 35, we'll have to see how long those impressive stats can remain!

76 goals to date, meaning under Late Bloomer rules, a further 101 goals are required. Can it be done? A positive transfer window should help - the likes of Lallana and Vidal will hopefully provide much needed creative support.

Tune in to see Fellaini's swansong!

[leedsunited87]

I like the look of this. Good luck buddy! 

[Gazzaeverton]

Wonderful! Shall give this a go.....we need more challenges to get us through to the next edition of FMM......I am going to choose Giroud.....

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

15 hours ago, Gazzaeverton said:

Wonderful! Shall give this a go.....we need more challenges to get us through to the next edition of FMM......I am going to choose Giroud.....

Great shout!

Exactly - this extra long wait is eeking out!

[Gazzaeverton]

CHALLENGE COMPLETE - Olivier Giroud - 193 to 387 goals 👍

This was tougher than I thought....starting with someone at age 36, but thankfully his consistent aerial ability got me there in the end.

Also became French national manager during the challenge...so got to call Giroud back up into the national team....adding a further 17 international goals to his tally too.

He was completely knackered by the end of the challenge....but then he is getting old 😁

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

53 minutes ago, Gazzaeverton said:

CHALLENGE COMPLETE - Olivier Giroud - 193 to 387 goals 👍

This was tougher than I thought....starting with someone at age 36, but thankfully his consistent aerial ability got me there in the end.

Also became French national manager during the challenge...so got to call Giroud back up into the national team....adding a further 17 international goals to his tally too.

He was completely knackered by the end of the challenge....but then he is getting old 😁

Great job! He's definitely ready for a break after those mammoth seasons! Trying to get the most game time without totally knackering them is a challenge!

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

Late Bloomer Season 1 update

So this one was going very well - was being the operative word. I should have taken a picture 20 games in, as with our Fella on 29 goals, all seemed great.

Then the barren spell came - 1 goal in the next 10-15 games! Tweaking of tactics galore, but no end result.

Finally, with a handful of games to go, he hit 10 goals to drag his way to 40 (still a fine haul for someone whose best season was 11 goals for Everton). However, with his state dropping (see screenshot) this could prove a step too far. Only time will tell...

[leedsunited87]

Cor is he still playing fellaini? 

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

2 hours ago, leedsunited87 said:

Cor is he still playing fellaini? 

No, so he's doing better on FMM! Retired in 2023 - he needs to do at least 2 more years for me I think!

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

Late Bloomer Season 2 update

We're in for the long haul on this challenge - and people thought turning the once laughable Man Utd scapegoat Marouane Fellaini into a out-and-out goalscoring machine would be easy!

Again, this was all about purple patches, this one coming before the season started, thanks to the beautifully awkward timing of the Asian Champions League, which due to the Chinese League acts as an odd pre-season campaign. And what a campaign it was for our man! 10 goals in 5 matches, including two hattricks, set up another 40+ season surely? 

The answer, an emphatic 'Yeah right!' Fits and bursts and multiple goal droughts led to an average 34 in 51. 

This means we are 74 goals towards our magical target of 101...which seems at least a season away at 27 goals remaining, especially given the inevitable stat decrease.

Like I said, we're in for the long haul...

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

Late Bloomer Season 3 mid-season update

Mid-season update? Surely not!

On yes he did! Our man Fellaini, in two and a half seasons, hit the 101 goal target! Proof that I love this challenge; as his stats were decreasing, he wasn't stopping, and made it at a canter.

 

 

[FoxD]

This challenge is a blast from the past! Great to see it being resurrected and you did a great job with Fellaini.

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

Late Bloomer Season 3: A New Challenger

One thing I adored about this challenge back in FMM21 was the fantastic cycle of upcoming legends which surfaced. As the game progressed, the talent turning to their career twilights brought new challenges.

And so, a new challenger arrives. I've always a soft spot for this cult hero of the game - overcoming adversity, resurrected career - it only felt apt.

Please welcome, Sebastien Haller, who, at 176 goals aged 31, provides an interesting challenge. I signed him as Fellaini was finishing off his 101 goals, and as you can see they worked well together from the off! 

But as Fellaini drops away, a new king rises...

Edited June 29 by BordeauxAndBrawn

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

29 minutes ago, FoxD said:

This challenge is a blast from the past! Great to see it being resurrected and you did a great job with Fellaini.

It was a fun one - certainly determining his best role! Target/pressing forward played more to his strengths (literally) but aren't ruthless and selfish enough. Complete forward worked for a season, but it was killing his engine. In the end, poacher proved the simplest and most effective position, especially as his stats dropped in season 3!

[leedsunited87]

Yeah I remember him from Dortmund, still in his twilight years, should do well in your league

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

Late Bloomer Season 3 Finale

We could be onto a real winner here - great stats from Haller in his half season have me thinking when he will hit his 176 goal mark. 

27 goals in 19 games says it could be done earlier than imagined? Only time will tell...

[BordeauxAndBrawn]

Late Bloomer Season 4: Hall-erv a Season!

For someone who rarely creates free scoring teams in FM (it's the centre half in me - defence first!), I am always pleased when a plan comes together like this.

Seb Haller continued his free scoring exploits in his first full season and made a mammoth jump towards his total target.

80 goals in 50 games takes him to 107 goals in total. His stats have taken the inevitable dip (it happens to us all!), but with 70 goals to go, could this be done in 1 more Season?

Only time will tell...