Rebuild and Reload!
The date: October 30th, 2017. England's Matt "Chopper" Morris was appointed as manager of FC Basel in Switzerland. A bold move to bring a new manager into the great league of Top 100. An ambitious hiring, with the goal of restoring the roar to St. Jakob park, for the bright lights to shine brighter than ever. Matt Morris arrived at Basel with an objective, a mission to bring talented young players to the club, build a squad with tremendous potential and skill. To put together a group of lads that could win immediately, and in time develop into exceptional football players.
The Englishman came with determination, to rebuild and reload FC Basel . Reset the club, and the players, begin to construct a football academy that would become world renowned in the future. To guide, teach, and train young footballers. To see them grow into men, grow into heroes, icons, and legends at FC Basel. Now, after his first month at the helm, "Chopper" has begun to do just that...
St. Jakob Park
Many new players have arrived at St Jakob Park, players that the faithful supporters can be quite excited about. Morris immediately went to work at his new club, making phone calls, scouting, and scouring the world of football for potential new Basel players. His first signing, and currently the most important one, a player Morris has named his "Talisman"; Portugese winger, Armindo Bruma!
Bruma was signed from Andre Guerra's FC Porto in exchange for William Carvalho and given the number 10 shirt, along with the faith from his new manager to help lead Basel to greatness. With his blistering pace, and sublime skill, Armindo will be looked upon to score goals, and create many assists in a RotBlau shirt. Yet he was not the only player that came to Basel in the Bruma deal...
Promising young midfielder, Lewis Cook also came to Basel with Bruma. A fellow countryman, Morris has stated that Cook is one of the new players that excites him the most!
The supporters were thrilled with the new signings, and "Chopper" did not waste any time bringing in more talent. He began to put into action his philosophy of building through youth. The next signing is one that sent St Jakob Park into a frenzy of excitement. It was announced that the Turkish wonderkid Emre Mor had arrived for a medical from Newcastle! A young lad with superb dribbling and talent. Emre Mor's number 20 shirt has been a top seller for the club since his arrival, a club icon in the making.
At just age 20, Mor has the potential to become an amazing football player.
After the thrill and excitement of Mor's signing, neither supporter nor spectator knew what to expect next! The transfers then began to really come fast, as a deal was struck with manager Doug Earle and his Espanyol side to bring in the veteran attacker Salomon Kalou, Dutch leftback Nick Viergever, and a skilled 24-year-old attacker in Pierre Lees-Melou. These players added much needed depth to the squad, as Fernando Marcal went to Spain in return.
Pierre Lees-Melou is another talent that Morris rates highly, the Frenchman is expected to become a great asset to the club in the future.
After the big deal with Espanyol, another veteran talent was called upon to help lead and teach the young players that were quickly arriving at the club. Welsh midfielder Joe Allen made the move to Basel from Atalanta, a player whose skill and experience will be vital to "Chopper" Morris' young club.
27-year-old Joe Allen is important to the structure of Basel's midfield, his leadership could propel him to the Captain's armband in the future.
The manager's office at St Jakob Park continued to be an extremely busy place, as the club started to earn more points in their matches, beginning the journey out of the relegation zone. Rebuild and reload, the mission carried on as more new players arrived at FC Basel.
Morris then returned to Italy, this time to strike a deal with Hussain Saif and Fiorentina. Right back Darijo Srna and 23-year-old defensive midfielder, Soualiho Meite were signed in exchange for Pablo Zabaleta. Young English centerback Ro-Shaun Williams was also added as a makeweight in case Srna decided to retire in the near future. Meite is another young talent Morris believes could be of quality to the club in the future.
Fan excitement and ticket sales began to increase, as the new look Basel squad started to take shape. The club was struggling in 19th place before Morris took over, and as weeks passed the RotBlau boys became more successful. Defensive depth was brought in with Marc Muniesa, Anaitz Arbilla, and young Kaan Ayhan joining the squad. Matthew also added more promising youth defense as well, with the Portugese Diogo Leite, and Juan Miranda being notable names.
Youthful football exuberance cultivated throughout the city of Basel, as another very exciting young foward in Hee-Chan Hwang joined the movement from Levante! Morris rates Hwang highly, and believes he has the talent to lead the front line for the club in the future.
21-year-old South Korean, Hee Chan Hwang.
In the ensuing weeks many more players were added to the squad, players who have the confidence of manager Morris going foward, all shaping Basel into the squad Morris intends it to be. Next, a huge goalkeeper swap took place at the club, with Italian keeper Salvatore Sirigu arriving in Switzerland from Leicester in a deal which then allowed Danijel Subasic to complete his move to Espanyol from Basel. Center back Dani Pareja and a highly touted Egyptian midfielder named Mohamed Hassan Trezeguet, were sent to Basel in return. Young Isaac Success will also join Basel in January, capping off this exciting mega-deal for the Swiss club.
Chopper Morris proceeded to get his club younger in another important transfer deal. It was agreed between FC Basel and West Ham United to send then Captain Jose Fonte to West Ham. Morris felt the 33-year-old defender had begun to slow, and seized the opportunity to send Fonte to West Ham for Scot, Matt Ritchie, and the versatile Chancel Mbemba. Morris has expressed admiration for the talent of young Mbemba, so he was thrilled to bring him in with this deal. Fonte had an emotional last match for Basel, as the club moved on to a more fresh pair of legs.
23-year-old Chancel Mbemba will be groomed to be the pillar of Basel's defense in the future.
Veteran foward and Basel top scorer, Robin Van Persie was named the new club captain after the exit of Jose Fonte. RVP is a player that "Chopper" believes can be a huge leader for the club, a true captain who will lead by example. Legend among men.
After the deal with West Ham, there was no denying that Morris had achieved his goal of building a younger squad, while also adding players that could continue to help the club win. The youth movement is in full swing here in the city of Basel!
Young Brazilian playmaker Raphinha was signed from Nick Justice's Aston Villa. He is one of Morris' favorite signings as manager of Basel. Midfielder Solly March was sent to Villa in return.
Top young talent had been assembled at St Jakob Park, and the future began to look so bright. Then, a few weeks later, two new Spanish youngsters were signed. Their arrivals made the future of FC Basel shine much brighter than before...
17-year-old Sergio Gomez was signed as a free agent, a player with amazing abilities, and the potential to become one of the best players at Basel. A huge youth signing for Matt Morris.
Oscar Rodriguez. Remember the name, the 19-year-old midfielder has every tool to develop into a top player. His superb free kicks are already praised throughout the youth academies of the world. Oscar was brought in from West Ham in a deal that sent Trevoh Chalobah to the London club in return. Oscar Rodriguez and Sergio Gomez are two names that could be THE future for FC Basel. An exceptional duo who could lift the club to even greater heights.
Basel, Switzerland
So now the pieces of the puzzle have been put into place, a squad of players brought together that the whole city can be proud of. A tremendous intiative filled with ambition is now in action. With so many moves, so many new faces, and so much potential, it is now time for the city as a whole to rally behind the new FC Basel. This has been mission: "Generation Next" and Matt "Chopper" Morris is the architect behind the blueprint. Basel has been rebuilt, and Basel has been re-loaded...
Now, we are ready to take aim!
RotBlau Inferno
Great work
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