Valv, I didn't think the answer was harsh or unreasonable, from your perspective Park is a great find! I was also referring to a loan with Nishitani; would that be possible? At the moment, I think I'm going to be tempted to take too many "outsiders", and need people to fill the gaps. This does NOT mean that I am expecting you to just hand over your best riders. In fact, I expect you to do the opposite; who wants unnecessary competition? Good luck Valv, I hope to see you both in the transfer season and in races!
We would be very interested in possibly acquiring Crawford in the off-season, as it seems as it's best for everyone. We would also be very interested in discussing some possible loans, as we would love to be the team that takes your less experience riders to the next level.
Bjartne have long had a great desire to bring Uzbeks to the Middle East and after seeing Sergei Lagutin dominated the Uzbek championships, he definately tops the wish list for PFG - Armavia, and it seems that Parsian Financial Group would like to bring in big cash to secure him during the transfer window.
Meiji would definitely like to retain the service of Lagutin, as he is thought of as an important part of the team, not only for his NC wins, but also as a very all round rider. He can do many things, that will come in handy during the year. A large sum of Cash would be needed to secure him on another team for next season.
With every new season, there is a time when a team must decide where it would like to excel, for various reasons. The choice is never easy, as you must please your sponsors, fans, and also get results, but today, we believe we have made some good choices as our season goals for the year.
• Asia Tour Final Rankings: Top 5
• Japan Cup (HC) : Win
• Tour of Japan (C1) Win
• Giro dell'Emelia (HC) Top 10
• Ulaanbaatar GP (C1) Win
We chose our goals for the following reasons:
We believe in giving back to your fanbase, and most importantly, to provide results for our main sponsor, whose main market is in Asia. That is why good, consistent results in Asia are a must and a Top 5 in the Asian Rankings are a must. We would have liked to be ambitious and go for the win, but with the growing popularity in the continent we also want to be realistic. Cycling has grown immensely in the last year in Asia though, so we can be proud to be a part of that cause.
The Japan Cup is the single most important day of Cycling in Japan, and we want to win the event. This may be a little ambitious, but if the transfer goes to plan, we think its possible to achieve.
The Tour of Japan, is quite an important Stage Race in Japan, and it climbs up Mount Fuji, the most sacred mountain in the whole of the country. That in itself is enough reason to focus on the race.
Lets not forget about our other sponsors though. D'Angelo & Antenucci would like results in Italy, and to a lesser extent so do Cannondale, so the choice to focus on an Italian Classic was not too difficult. We only want a Top 10 here, so if we can bring a strong squad we should be able to attain this goal.
And finally, we have the Ulaanbaatar GP, a C1 classic. Mongolia is a very rugid country, and it is an area of the world that greatly interests the team, so to do well here, would be very good.
@ Pelli - I think there's only one goal we share where we both cant achieve our actual goal. The Top 5 and Top 10, we can both technically get together I'm winning Japan Cup though
@ roturn - I agree. Glad we have a fan in you Roturn. ANF did a great job on the jersey, and the champion shirts as well. Love them. Thanks.
Meiji made sure that they greatly improved the team during the transfer window, in order to achieve the #1 goal of the season, which is to avoid relegation from the Pro Continental Tour. Doing so would mean a reduction in wage budget, overall budget.
Meiji's newest signings should ensure that Meiji put up a strong fight in avoiding the relegation. So here they are!
Tomohiro Kinoshita (300,000) - He is a big talent for the future. Maybe one of the best the country of Japan has ever seen. Thats why we felt it was important to bring him in, and make him the cornerstone of the team going forward. He was very expensive, because he was much sought after as a free agent, but Meiji were clearly the most ambitious and signed him. Later Kinoshita stated: "I wanted to sign for Meiji all along, so to have them win the bid for me, was a great moment"
Miyataka Shimizu (125,000) - Shimizu is a very strong domestique climber and one of the best from Japan. He is getting old, but he will still be a useful rider for Meiji in the upcoming season. He too, was glad to be signed by Meiji and really likes what Meiji are constructing.
Yusuke Hatanaka (175,000) - Hatanaka is Japan's strongest hilly rider at the moment, and will be a valuable leader when he gets his chances. He will also be a useful helper to another new signing in some of the more important classics of the year. His wage is a bit inflated from his real value and as a true pro he understands that, but with all the new asian teams in the Cycling Tour, he was heavily fought over.
Sascha Modolo (80,000) - Modolo is a great signing for Meiji. They get a strong sprinter, which will increase Meiji's sprint train power. It is still missing that one powerful sprinter, but the amount of support sprinters who will now get their own chance is quite big for just one team. Modolo looks to have a great year, and Meiji hope he can live up to his expectations.
Peter Stetina (Loan, 55,000) - Peter is a great climber from the USA, and one of Meiji's plans going into the transfer season was to sign Americans thanks to the backing of Cannondale their new bike supplier. Unfortunately, Meiji underestimated the American market, and Stetina was the only American that we could acquire, but he will be a very useful rider for the team.
Joshua Edmondson (Loan, 160,000) - Edmondson is the same style of rider as Kinoshita, and could be a key rider for the breakaways this year. He is only on loan, but Meiji liked the idea of helping out Pendleton's, as it allowed for friendlier conversations in regards to Jianhua Ji.
Florian Senechal (Loan, 110,000) - Senechal came over in the same loan deal as Edmondson and is Meiji's only cobble rider. He isn't expected to win much, but if any cobbles come up in Meiji's schedule you can be sure he'll be there.
Jianhua Ji (97,000) - Ji is one of Meiji's strongest riders now, and is expected to be the GC captain in many of their races. Pendleton's were fantastic in allowing a transfer deal for Ji, and we thank them very much for allowing an Asian Superstar like him to be joining our team. Another key aspect to the deal is the great wage that Ji is on, which allowed us the cap space for many more quality riders.
Tomotuki Iino (50,000) - Iino is a solid mountain helper and still has the capacity to grow as a rider. He will never be a team leader, but in some lesser races he could get some chances of his own. Meiji are very happy to sign Iino on such low wages, knowing that he still has the chance to grow into a very decent rider someday.
Tommy Zaini (80,000) - Well, Meiji paid through the roof to acquire Zaini, and it was certainly a gamble, but the wages that the Italian Free Agent punchuers were getting made the deal seem a little more sensible (but hardly). Nonetheless, Meiji have acquired their Classics leader that they desperately needed, and will be paying quite reasonable wages for a rider as strong as Zaini on the hills. The fee was probably too big, but Meiji had money to spend, and keeping lots of wage space was more important for Meiji.
Nacer Bouhanni (Loan, 50,000) - Bouhanni is coming to Meiji on loan. We felt it would be nice to bring in a very decent sprinter like Nacer on 50k wages. He will be used often, but I do not expect him to win very often.
Gian Piero Signorini (57,000) - Signorino joins on a transfer and he is also a good domestique in the mountains. His wage is again very reasonable and he can still grow into a better climber, being young. He fits the teams Italian focus, and we look forward to having him on the team for a long time.
Hossein Nateghi (50,000) - Hossein is a very strong sprinter, who went unnoticed in the Transfer Window. We think he will be a very great rider for Meiji, and he adds to the ever growing amount of sprinters the team has. The only problem, is picking a top sprinter.
Wataru Mutsumine (50,000) - Wataru is going to be another strong classics rider for Japan in the future. He is expected to be a great helper for Kinoshita, but also play his own card too. For now, he will gain experience, help out and get into breaks, but Meiji are very glad to have signed him, as he seemed to have been missed by the other Asian teams.
Mauro Santambrogio (80,000) - Cisco offered Mauro to Meiji, and as both managers get along, and Meiji were looking for Italians, the deal was rather quick to sort out. Mauro will be a useful rider, since he can climb short hills and also sprint. He is also known to attack a lot, so a strong breakaway rider he could turn out to be.
You upgraded your team, very well done! Ji is a nice addition, he was on my list, too, but your deal came too early Also some nice talents like Kinoshita and a decent climbing squad. You should do well (of course better than last year), even with this lack of TTlers. Looking forward to where we both end up in 2013
I think your going to be close Valv, i can't see you anywhere but in the scrap at the bottom with us newbie teams, though the sprinters could claw you to safety with a number of points lack of points in the hills unless Zaini can deliver maybe your downfall.
Anyway, well done on the team. Really like it and you got some great Japanese talents. All looking good for a comfortable season ( no fear of relegation ) which you can enjoy and see your team performing up to your standard
Zaini will probably be the key for you to not relegate. He is a lesser Di Maggio but should still get you enough points to stay above the relegation zone. Nice that you added a local leader in Ji. Should get you some nice results in the mountain races with a lesser starting field.
Thanks a lot everyone. I think its hard to place where we will finish. I look at some of the teams that look good to promote and think "Meiji aren't too far from that" while I look at some of the weaker teams and think we are almost even.
There's always the chance I muck things up in the race planning though
@ tsmoha - Thanks a lot. Yeah, was quite happy to get Ji, was my biggest non FA target for sure. Glad we have a leader now. Was hoping for Sella though Indeed, I hope both of us have great seasons, battling it out again, but hopefully not at the bottom this time
@ jt - Yeah, its really hard to tell. If I plan well, I think we can do well, and the fact I have like 9 sprinters certainly helps. Means I can probably get the odd bunch of points in each race. Zaini and Ji will be key I think.
@ Alakagom - Glad you're so sure Indeed lots of talents. No amazing riders, but in a few years, I will have a very deep squad. Thanks
@ Spilak - Exactly. Overpaid, but for me, he was really the only option, after Di Maggio was out of my price range. A little worried about his secondary stats, but if he gets my goals achieved in the hilly races, I'll be happy.
Japan Cup (HC) : Win
Giro dell'Emelia (HC) Top 10
I'm winning Japan Cup though 
Lloyd
Bauer
Shikai
Manan
Kwok
Park
Lagutin
Peter Stetina (Loan, 55,000) - Peter is a great climber from the USA, and one of Meiji's plans going into the transfer season was to sign Americans thanks to the backing of Cannondale their new bike supplier. Unfortunately, Meiji underestimated the American market, and Stetina was the only American that we could acquire, but he will be a very useful rider for the team.
Joshua Edmondson (Loan, 160,000) - Edmondson is the same style of rider as Kinoshita, and could be a key rider for the breakaways this year. He is only on loan, but Meiji liked the idea of helping out Pendleton's, as it allowed for friendlier conversations in regards to Jianhua Ji.
Florian Senechal (Loan, 110,000) - Senechal came over in the same loan deal as Edmondson and is Meiji's only cobble rider. He isn't expected to win much, but if any cobbles come up in Meiji's schedule you can be sure he'll be there.
Hossein Nateghi (50,000) - Hossein is a very strong sprinter, who went unnoticed in the Transfer Window. We think he will be a very great rider for Meiji, and he adds to the ever growing amount of sprinters the team has. The only problem, is picking a top sprinter.
