FM22

[cheadlepotter]

Won the Champions League! Still not won the PL though, missed out on the last day in the last two seasons.

Big stadium news…the club have decided to build a new stadium. I hope they fill the corners in haha.

[mattador78]

Jan 15, 2022 21:16:33 GMT cheadlepotter said:

Won the Champions League! Still not won the PL though, missed out on the last day in the last two seasons.

Big stadium news…the club have decided to build a new stadium. I hope they fill the corners in haha.

👏
I’m with the bin dippers now so see how this goes

[cheadlepotter]

Won the treble with Stoke, awaiting my knighthood now. Also a season away from moving into the Gordon Banks Arena, 58,000 capacity, not sure of it’s potential capacity.

On my next career I might do the technical director job myself. I appointed the heads of various departments myself but thought a very highly rated TD would appoint decent scouts, coaches, analysts etc but they just renew existing contracts. This means I’ve signed a player for £115m who turns out is nowhere near as good as the scout thought he was.

The board’s refusal to improve youth recruitment is frustrating. Surely a club that’s winning the league and CL regularly should have brilliant recruitment? And I’m now getting £20m transfer budget, perhaps I need to be more Daniel Levy in my negotiations!

[mattador78]

Jan 24, 2022 17:21:53 GMT cheadlepotter said:

Won the treble with Stoke, awaiting my knighthood now. Also a season away from moving into the Gordon Banks Arena, 58,000 capacity, not sure of it’s potential capacity.

On my next career I might do the technical director job myself. I appointed the heads of various departments myself but thought a very highly rated TD would appoint decent scouts, coaches, analysts etc but they just renew existing contracts. This means I’ve signed a player for £115m who turns out is nowhere near as good as the scout thought he was.

The board’s refusal to improve youth recruitment is frustrating. Surely a club that’s winning the league and CL regularly should have brilliant recruitment? And I’m now getting £20m transfer budget, perhaps I need to be more Daniel Levy in my negotiations!

It depends on your TD the one I had at Stoke was a bit shit but the one at Liverpool is a beast at negotiating

[cheadlepotter]

My Stoke Under 23s have just won the Papa John’s Trophy!

🎵We’ve won it three times…🎵

[mattador78]

Well I’m out at Liverpool I won the league and champions league at a canter. Stoke after sacking my replacement brought in Scott Parker who couldn’t instigate a great escape went down. I won the world club championship with the dippers and sold £400mill worth of player and signed. £100mill worth, so I pushed my limits made demands and ended up walking away again. So it’s now January the next season and I’ve been at sampdoria since the middle of November I won three matches between then two were in the Europa league. Following a dramatic wheeler dealing over the Christmas break I have now drawn one, an unfair result against inter who I battered but scored with both their shots on target and two convincing wins with Icardi a Jan signing scoring five in his first three games.

[cheadlepotter]

I decided on a change after being dominant with Stoke. In a new career I won leagues with Dortmund (Haaland amazing then sold to City for £185m), Ajax, Roma and in another I won every league game in a season with Barcelona, then lost the first game in the next season!

I then decided to do from bottom to top career with Alfreton Town but got bored after one season. The realities of managing a non-league club kicked in when I was signing players who turned out to be scouted badly, given the very low ratings of the scouts.

I’m also a bit disappointed that FM haven’t released an update to the database yet considering it’s nearly been a month since the window closed and especially as quite a bit has changed to our squad and they could put Tezgel in too.

[mattador78]

Feb 23, 2022 23:40:51 GMT cheadlepotter said:

I decided on a change after being dominant with Stoke. In a new career I won leagues with Dortmund (Haaland amazing then sold to City for £185m), Ajax, Roma and in another I won every league game in a season with Barcelona, then lost the first game in the next season!

I then decided to do from bottom to top career with Alfreton Town but got bored after one season. The realities of managing a non-league club kicked in when I was signing players who turned out to be scouted badly, given the very low ratings of the scouts.

I’m also a bit disappointed that FM haven’t released an update to the database yet considering it’s nearly been a month since the window closed and especially as quite a bit has changed to our squad and they could put Tezgel in too.

Plan is to try and get back to Stoke and lead them on a charge again like a returning messiah. I nearly always find though no matter how big you make a smaller club once you leave they never reach or hold onto the same heights that you took them.

[marylandstoke]

I love this…a little daunted by the expertise on show on here but.

Got a start on the deep thing doing KC2 also recommended off here. Found this a little less intimidating. Let a couple of people manage the ‘upstairs’ stuff which seems to mean I can play a little more.

didn’t want to start with Stoke, wanted to try the game first, so tried MLS and went DC Utd. Second in the table. Won’t get past the NY but pretty solid season. Feel like I need a couple more players for support (strkers esp but isn’t that the real world all over)    

Just promoted a couple of my franchise strikers…don’t have a clue how that will go.

[mattador78]

Up to sixth in seria A sold off a winger to inter on deadline day for £30 million and my first choice keeper to Newcastle for another 20million plus add ons, proceeded to hoover up all the young talent I could find for a bargain. This included five players from the top 50 wonder kids 2 joining at start of next season. Moved up to sixth have an outside chance of top four, semis of the europa drew first leg with Man City but with suspensions and injuries going need a miracle win the second leg. Most importantly in my first few games I was tatered 8-3 by Sassulo as I went down to 8 men two reds then an injurie after using my subs, I avenged this defeat with a 3-1 home win moving above them in the table with a better goal difference. Got Man City sniffing around my left wing back but I’ve triggered his contract extension and he’s valued at 60mil if I can get it he’s going in the summer as compared to a prem save I have loads of cash as my wage bills much lower

[cheadlepotter]

Mar 1, 2022 17:06:28 GMT mattador78 said:

Up to sixth in seria A sold off a winger to inter on deadline day for £30 million and my first choice keeper to Newcastle for another 20million plus add ons, proceeded to hoover up all the young talent I could find for a bargain. This included five players from the top 50 wonder kids 2 joining at start of next season. Moved up to sixth have an outside chance of top four, semis of the europa drew first leg with Man City but with suspensions and injuries going need a miracle win the second leg. Most importantly in my first few games I was tatered 8-3 by Sassulo as I went down to 8 men two reds then an injurie after using my subs, I avenged this defeat with a 3-1 home win moving above them in the table with a better goal difference. Got Man City sniffing around my left wing back but I’ve triggered his contract extension and he’s valued at 60mil if I can get it he’s going in the summer as compared to a prem save I have loads of cash as my wage bills much lower

One thing I did have to change when playing with Roma was my recruitment. I usually have Brazil well scouted as there’s some brilliant bargains there and cheap massive potential compared to what you’d pay the big European clubs. However in Italy of course you can usually (it was two once) only register one new non-EU player per season.

[mattador78]

Mar 1, 2022 23:49:00 GMT cheadlepotter said:

Mar 1, 2022 17:06:28 GMT mattador78 said:

Up to sixth in seria A sold off a winger to inter on deadline day for £30 million and my first choice keeper to Newcastle for another 20million plus add ons, proceeded to hoover up all the young talent I could find for a bargain. This included five players from the top 50 wonder kids 2 joining at start of next season. Moved up to sixth have an outside chance of top four, semis of the europa drew first leg with Man City but with suspensions and injuries going need a miracle win the second leg. Most importantly in my first few games I was tatered 8-3 by Sassulo as I went down to 8 men two reds then an injurie after using my subs, I avenged this defeat with a 3-1 home win moving above them in the table with a better goal difference. Got Man City sniffing around my left wing back but I’ve triggered his contract extension and he’s valued at 60mil if I can get it he’s going in the summer as compared to a prem save I have loads of cash as my wage bills much lower

One thing I did have to change when playing with Roma was my recruitment. I usually have Brazil well scouted as there’s some brilliant bargains there and cheap massive potential compared to what you’d pay the big European clubs. However in Italy of course you can usually (it was two once) only register one new non-EU player per season.

England won the World Cup and the manager who I said wa shit originally has retired. I applied for the job and got laughed at again. Spain approached we without an interview and I’m now dual managing. Due to the attitude of the English FA about me again I’m now making my sole purpose to turn Spain into a world power house again and to ruin Englands chances at every turn snobby bastards.

[mattador78]

Well I’m out at Sampdoria! Two weeks before the season started Juventus lost Pep to Man Utd and offered me the job. Had a cracking transfer window cut 1.5 mill in wages and spent£100 mill on players, finally got my Ukrainian right back from Stoke fans unimpressed with transfer 3 games in he’s got 6 assists 😉

[Stoke711]

I've just started to redo one of my favourite saves from FM21.

Starting out with NAC Breda in Dutch second division. Had a lot of fun with this save last year. I was there 6 years, winning the 2nd division in my 1st season, got to the dutch cup final 4 times out of 6, losing to PSV twice 2-1 and a 3-0 tanking by Ajax before finally winning it against long time foes PSV.

Best finish in top flight was 4th. Had one single venture into Europe which sadly only last 3 rounds.

Moved to Hannover in German divsion 3 and marched them to the Bundesliga in straight seasons.

On FM22 a lot of the side are there from FM21. So I have a good idea who is who. Making some early moves in the transfer market for freebies and signing one Feyenoord kid for a modest transfer fee as I need a good young right back as mine is being poached already.

Looking forward to this one and I will update with how I'm doing.

[mattador78]

I’m powering on at juve unbeaten in the league so far one draw against Milan after the Christmas break. Sold chiesa to Bayern for £160mill in January, sold a defender regen called okali by mistake but will get him back for his minimum fee release in the summer. Brought in Pogba and immobile as well as 4 wonder kids who are all loaned out all for 60mil land my wage bill is still under my allowed, I had five million at start of season I took it down to 3.8 and I’m on 3.7. Stoke have sacked Parker and keep dipping in and out of the bottom 3. A player I had signed for them but couldn’t join till he was 18 is now worth 100mil with Madrid sniffing

[mattador78]

Mar 13, 2022 9:14:24 GMT mattador78 said:

I’m powering on at juve unbeaten in the league so far one draw against Milan after the Christmas break. Sold chiesa to Bayern for £160mill in January, sold a defender regen called okali by mistake but will get him back for his minimum fee release in the summer. Brought in Pogba and immobile as well as 4 wonder kids who are all loaned out all for 60mil land my wage bill is still under my allowed, I had five million at start of season I took it down to 3.8 and I’m on 3.7. Stoke have sacked Parker and keep dipping in and out of the bottom 3. A player I had signed for them but couldn’t join till he was 18 is now worth 100mil with Madrid sniffing

Stoke survived by the skin of their teeth to then lose their first five games of the next season. I couldn’t stand it anymore so after a monster spell at Juve I resigned and applied for the Stoke job. So I’m back it’s October so I need to survive until Jan with what I’ve got, which the core is still players I know. Started with a 5-4 loss to Man City after 2 red cards in the last ten minutes. Followed up with a 5-0 cup win and a 3-1 home win return against Newcastle, with the international break coming up it’s time to go shopping just sold a player for 25 million otherwise I’ve got pay West Ham 7.5m if he plays five more games and I need the cash as I have just a £40mil budget

[marylandstoke]

I am really newb at the deep sims and am ck2…..and got converted to this.

Love the story aspect.

Did what I thoughta coulda done with DC Utd. The Board seemed to be choking me down and, after consulting the Oatcake Oracles I resigned.

No plan, no idea and actually, after what I had achieved, was quite queasy at the thought.

Inbox….we think you would be ideal to replace Thierry Henry.

Gin, meet tonic, meet keyboard.

What a great time to be alive….now how do I get a real fake game job that isn’t the Houston Dynamos? 

[mattador78]

Apr 2, 2022 1:28:16 GMT marylandstoke said:

I am really newb at the deep sims and am ck2…..and got converted to this.

Love the story aspect.

Did what I thoughta coulda done with DC Utd. The Board seemed to be choking me down and, after consulting the Oatcake Oracles I resigned.

No plan, no idea and actually, after what I had achieved, was quite queasy at the thought.

Inbox….we think you would be ideal to replace Thierry Henry.

Gin, meet tonic, meet keyboard.

What a great time to be alive….now how do I get a real fake game job that isn’t the Houston Dynamos? 

You have more patience with the mls than me lol. Try applying for the mid table European clubs in the bigger leagues or even go Croatia or turkey for the blast and easier route to Europe. Or just start again and jump in where you want. I’ve done the MLS before and struggled with the whole transfer and draft bollocks so I could never get invested as I didn’t understand it. The joy of FM is play how you want it’s just for your single player experience so you can do no wrong. Other than lose the champions league final and lob your laptop across the room after your player who doesn’t miss penalties ever misses the decisive penalty in the shoot out losing it for you with the last kick, note I did just lob it onto the settee from the chair as I’m not a complete moron 😂

[mattador78]

Apr 2, 2022 1:28:16 GMT marylandstoke said:

I am really newb at the deep sims and am ck2…..and got converted to this.

Love the story aspect.

Did what I thoughta coulda done with DC Utd. The Board seemed to be choking me down and, after consulting the Oatcake Oracles I resigned.

No plan, no idea and actually, after what I had achieved, was quite queasy at the thought.

Inbox….we think you would be ideal to replace Thierry Henry.

Gin, meet tonic, meet keyboard.

What a great time to be alive….now how do I get a real fake game job that isn’t the Houston Dynamos? 

My save back at Stoke I’ve finished 7th won the league cup and now in fa cup final qualified for Euro 2 don’t want get europa league really as I would like win this trophy just to win it lol. Already got a my next season transfers lined up with full backs and a keeper as priority.

[marylandstoke]

Apr 3, 2022 20:43:11 GMT mattador78 said:

Apr 2, 2022 1:28:16 GMT marylandstoke said:

I am really newb at the deep sims and am ck2…..and got converted to this.

Love the story aspect.

Did what I thoughta coulda done with DC Utd. The Board seemed to be choking me down and, after consulting the Oatcake Oracles I resigned.

No plan, no idea and actually, after what I had achieved, was quite queasy at the thought.

Inbox….we think you would be ideal to replace Thierry Henry.

Gin, meet tonic, meet keyboard.

What a great time to be alive….now how do I get a real fake game job that isn’t the Houston Dynamos? 

My save back at Stoke I’ve finished 7th won the league cup and now in fa cup final qualified for Euro 2 don’t want get europa league really as I would like win this trophy just to win it lol. Already got a my next season transfers lined up with full backs and a keeper as priority.

Took your advice to start anew hoping I know a leeetle bit more.

I am now the new manager at Stoke. First preseason friendly Newcastle Town and won that 3 0. Now onto Utrecht.

[mattador78]

Apr 3, 2022 21:02:35 GMT marylandstoke said:

Apr 3, 2022 20:43:11 GMT mattador78 said:

My save back at Stoke I’ve finished 7th won the league cup and now in fa cup final qualified for Euro 2 don’t want get europa league really as I would like win this trophy just to win it lol. Already got a my next season transfers lined up with full backs and a keeper as priority.

Took your advice to start anew hoping I know a leeetle bit more.

I am now the new manager at Stoke. First preseason friendly Newcastle Town and won that that. Now onto Utrecht.

Depending on what database you loaded I’m still playing on the original. There is a great five at the back tactic to download from fm base based off of Contes inter/Chelsea, with a few tweaks and transfers I murdered the championship. Only regret I had I let Timon’s contract run out and he wouldn’t renew. There’s no shame in downloading a few tactics then changing a few parts to suit your players

[marylandstoke]

Does seem awfully real. Dean Holden picked Chester for the second friendly and the fans hate it.

Now Pal Arse are trying to sell me Jack Butland 

[The Drunken Communist]

Finally found some time recently to start my 'proper' save for FM22. After spending days searching through all the different leagues & teams I decided to do it with Atalanta in Italy but, I have come up with a few 'rules' to try & make it more interesting, those rules being... I can not sign anyone from outside of Europe (Basically to stop me raiding South America for cheap wonderkids), I also can not sign anyone from any of the major leagues (So no players from the top divisions in England, Spain, Germany, France or, despite me managing a club their, Italy). I also can not sign anyone over the age of 21... And whilst not strictly a rule I'll be trying to keep signing to a minimum & rely as much as possible on my own academy.

So yeah, first transfer window I obviously didn't have much to do other than a massive overhaul of the staff for the first & youth teams, scouts, analysts, doctors, the lot. Sorted out all the training, sent a bunch of kids out on loan & what not then, after God knows how many hours I finally went & had a look at my first team & realised half of them were either injured or suspended! Looked at the fixture list & had a lovely easy start, I think it was something like the first eight games included matches against Roma, Lazio, Milan, Inter & Juve... We're in the Champions League aswell & got put in a group with Barcelona & Man City!

Oh & the Italian fixtures are shite! You basically play a game have two days off, play a game have two days off, so you need to be making full use of your subs & trying to rotate players as much as possible... Oh and the youth teams matches happen on the same days, so the only youth players you can rely on to pick up some of the load are the ones rated 6/20. I'm about 12 games into the season (Sat in 4th in the league & 2nd in Champs League - We somehow beat Barcelona away!) and I've already given a good half-a-dozen U18s their debut, and have had to use something like 20 (Twenty) different kids to fill out the bench from game-to-game.

It's been great fun so far though

[mattador78]

Apr 23, 2022 18:21:51 GMT The Drunken Communist said:

Finally found some time recently to start my 'proper' save for FM22. After spending days searching through all the different leagues & teams I decided to do it with Atalanta in Italy but, I have come up with a few 'rules' to try & make it more interesting, those rules being... I can not sign anyone from outside of Europe (Basically to stop me raiding South America for cheap wonderkids), I also can not sign anyone from any of the major leagues (So no players from the top divisions in England, Spain, Germany, France or, despite me managing a club their, Italy). I also can not sign anyone over the age of 21... And whilst not strictly a rule I'll be trying to keep signing to a minimum & rely as much as possible on my own academy.

So yeah, first transfer window I obviously didn't have much to do other than a massive overhaul of the staff for the first & youth teams, scouts, analysts, doctors, the lot. Sorted out all the training, sent a bunch of kids out on loan & what not then, after God knows how many hours I finally went & had a look at my first team & realised half of them were either injured or suspended Looked at the fixture list & had a lovely easy start, I think it was something like the first eight games included matches against Roma, Lazio, Milan, Inter & Juve... We're in the Champions League aswell & got put in a group with Barcelona & Man City

Oh & the Italian fixtures are shite You basically play a game have two days off, play a game have two days off, so you need to be making full use of your subs & trying to rotate players as much as possible... Oh and the youth teams matches happen on the same days, so the only youth players you can rely on to pick up some of the load are the ones rated 6/20. I'm about 12 games into the season (Sat in 4th in the league & 2nd in Champs League - We somehow beat Barcelona away) and I've already given a good half-a-dozen U18s their debut, and have had to use something like 20 (Twenty) different kids to fill out the bench from game-to-game.

It's been great fun so far though

I’m in 2029 now with this Stoke team. I won the prem after having a collapse in December/January where I lost three in the league drew four and was knocked out the league cup in the semis. Luckily I didn’t play anyone in the top six after that until the last game of the season. Liverpool and Man City are my kryptonite, with City it’s Harland and a player I sold them when I was at Liverpool who keep battering me and with Liverpool it’s I can’t break them down, Mark Noble is their manager and he’s got me on strings. Harry Souttar is getting his testimonial against Monaco and still a valid member of my defence. I padded out with youngsters from all over the world when I rejoined and sent them all out on loan or left them there for a season, now they are rocking back in. Two I’ve sold for a combined £25 mil profit with future add ons and I’m willing let two of my centre half’s leave for about £80 mil and I won’t miss them. I’m struggling up front though, I keep signing replacements but Campbell and Rodrygo scored 65 goals between them over the season, however I’ve got 65 goals out of Sesko and Lucce each at Liverpool and Juve respectively. Might just spunk my budget on a big name striker and see what I get. With England the squad depth is ridiculous apart from keepers, there was one keeper a regen 16s old with unbelievable stats but the little bastard declared for Wales and rejected Stoke for Man Utd, I will end his career if I get the chance lol.

[The Drunken Communist]

Halfway through the first season now & I'm sat in 4th place in the league - I was in second but the Christmas break has had a negative effect on my team as after it we've drawn both games we've played (0-0 & 1-1 against teams we should really have been beating... The two games before the break by comparison we won 5-0 & 6-0) We've made it through to the knockout rounds in the Champions League aswell, Man City won the group & it all came down to a final game decider at home against Barcelona, we just needed to avoid defeat... Barca were winning 2-1 untill we equalised with the last kick of the game in the 96th minute! (We've been rewared with a knockout tie against Liverpool!)

January transfer window is open & my recruitment team are throwing so many amazing players at me who'd fit right in, only problem is they'd all break some of my self-imposed rules so I can't sign any of them! Only players I have signed are some teenage left-back who was already on-loan at the club from some team I've never heard of in Serie B (I've only signed him as the good left-back at the club was already loaned out, with a permo transfer already agreed to Inter, and the left-back I was playing, another player who was already loaned into the club, was due to cost £3.8m if he played 20 games for us. Luckily I spotted that in his contract 12 games in so he hasn't played since!) I also signed some 17 year-old striker from some team in one of the Serie C leagues (I have no hopes for him although he had decent finishing, first touch, determination, natural fitness -all 15+ & a few other attributes which I thought would make him okay for my U20's... I needed to sign players like that as the board want me to sign players from the lower levels of the domestic leagues... The fans hate the signing though 'cos they think he's shit!)

Loving it so far though, the self-imposed rules of not being able to easily go out & sign a bunch of players who will instantly fill gaps & improve my team, and instead having to scrape by with some young kids out of the youth teams makes it so much better. I highly recommend some of you give it a go. (If anyone wants a suggestion on a team to try it with then the others I'd narrowed it down to, after much research were - England, Southampton. Germany, Leverkusen. France, Rennes. Spain, Espanyol).

[cheadlepotter]

Apr 27, 2022 18:48:59 GMT The Drunken Communist said:

Halfway through the first season now & I'm sat in 4th place in the league - I was in second but the Christmas break has had a negative effect on my team as after it we've drawn both games we've played (0-0 & 1-1 against teams we should really have been beating... The two games before the break by comparison we won 5-0 & 6-0) We've made it through to the knockout rounds in the Champions League aswell, Man City won the group & it all came down to a final game decider at home against Barcelona, we just needed to avoid defeat... Barca were winning 2-1 untill we equalised with the last kick of the game in the 96th minute (We've been rewared with a knockout tie against Liverpool)

January transfer window is open & my recruitment team are throwing so many amazing players at me who'd fit right in, only problem is they'd all break some of my self-imposed rules so I can't sign any of them Only players I have signed are some teenage left-back who was already on-loan at the club from some team I've never heard of in Serie B (I've only signed him as the good left-back at the club was already loaned out, with a permo transfer already agreed to Inter, and the left-back I was playing, another player who was already loaned into the club, was due to cost £3.8m if he played 20 games for us. Luckily I spotted that in his contract 12 games in so he hasn't played since) I also signed some 17 year-old striker from some team in one of the Serie C leagues (I have no hopes for him although he had decent finishing, first touch, determination, natural fitness -all 15+ & a few other attributes which I thought would make him okay for my U20's... I needed to sign players like that as the board want me to sign players from the lower levels of the domestic leagues... The fans hate the signing though 'cos they think he's shit)

Loving it so far though, the self-imposed rules of not being able to easily go out & sign a bunch of players who will instantly fill gaps & improve my team, and instead having to scrape by with some young kids out of the youth teams makes it so much better. I highly recommend some of you give it a go. (If anyone wants a suggestion on a team to try it with then the others I'd narrowed it down to, after much research were - England, Southampton. Germany, Leverkusen. France, Rennes. Spain, Espanyol).

I might try a career with Bilbao if I get back into FM soon. Has anyone else ever tried it? Only being able to sign Basque players sounds tough but obviously they do ok in real life with it.

[mattador78]

Apr 27, 2022 21:27:53 GMT cheadlepotter said:

Apr 27, 2022 18:48:59 GMT The Drunken Communist said:

Halfway through the first season now & I'm sat in 4th place in the league - I was in second but the Christmas break has had a negative effect on my team as after it we've drawn both games we've played (0-0 & 1-1 against teams we should really have been beating... The two games before the break by comparison we won 5-0 & 6-0) We've made it through to the knockout rounds in the Champions League aswell, Man City won the group & it all came down to a final game decider at home against Barcelona, we just needed to avoid defeat... Barca were winning 2-1 untill we equalised with the last kick of the game in the 96th minute (We've been rewared with a knockout tie against Liverpool)

January transfer window is open & my recruitment team are throwing so many amazing players at me who'd fit right in, only problem is they'd all break some of my self-imposed rules so I can't sign any of them Only players I have signed are some teenage left-back who was already on-loan at the club from some team I've never heard of in Serie B (I've only signed him as the good left-back at the club was already loaned out, with a permo transfer already agreed to Inter, and the left-back I was playing, another player who was already loaned into the club, was due to cost £3.8m if he played 20 games for us. Luckily I spotted that in his contract 12 games in so he hasn't played since) I also signed some 17 year-old striker from some team in one of the Serie C leagues (I have no hopes for him although he had decent finishing, first touch, determination, natural fitness -all 15+ & a few other attributes which I thought would make him okay for my U20's... I needed to sign players like that as the board want me to sign players from the lower levels of the domestic leagues... The fans hate the signing though 'cos they think he's shit)

Loving it so far though, the self-imposed rules of not being able to easily go out & sign a bunch of players who will instantly fill gaps & improve my team, and instead having to scrape by with some young kids out of the youth teams makes it so much better. I highly recommend some of you give it a go. (If anyone wants a suggestion on a team to try it with then the others I'd narrowed it down to, after much research were - England, Southampton. Germany, Leverkusen. France, Rennes. Spain, Espanyol).

I might try a career with Bilbao if I get back into FM soon. Has anyone else ever tried it? Only being able to sign Basque players sounds tough but obviously they do ok in real life with it.

Did it a few years ago when Inaki williams first burst on the scene. It’s challenging but the pool wasn’t that bad

[The Drunken Communist]

First season is done & dusted with. Ended up finishing second in the league which was way better than I expected. (Actually ended up being involved in a hell of a title race that, with just 3 games remaining, could have seen ourselves, Milan or Inter winning it, and Milan had to play both of us... And went & beat us both the bastards!!!)

Big decisions for next season now, none bigger than deciding what to do with my two strikers. They're both out-of-contract at the end of next season, both are on £55k p/w (My two top earners) both are attracting interest from Milan, Juve & Inter, both are 31, both will be 32 halfway through next season... I can't really afford to offer them bigger contracts (And you know they're gonna be wanting £80k+ If not £100k) as my weekly wage is only £1m (Juve & the Milan clubs have wage bills 3 or 4 times as big as mine). I've got a cracking young lad in my youth team who's been out on loan this season who could come in for one of them, but I'd really prefer to loan him out again so he can play every week, I've also got another young lad coming in from a club in Serie B at the end of next season. So I'm thinking I try to hang on to my two old strikers for the season, let their contracts run out & lose them for free, but then have the two young lads come in for the season after.

It's been great fun so far, though, one of the most enjoyable games of FM I've had in a long time.

[mattador78]

May 3, 2022 16:30:34 GMT The Drunken Communist said:

First season is done & dusted with. Ended up finishing second in the league which was way better than I expected. (Actually ended up being involved in a hell of a title race that, with just 3 games remaining, could have seen ourselves, Milan or Inter winning it, and Milan had to play both of us... And went & beat us both the bastards)

Big decisions for next season now, none bigger than deciding what to do with my two strikers. They're both out-of-contract at the end of next season, both are on £55k p/w (My two top earners) both are attracting interest from Milan, Juve & Inter, both are 31, both will be 32 halfway through next season... I can't really afford to offer them bigger contracts (And you know they're gonna be wanting £80k+ If not £100k) as my weekly wage is only £1m (Juve & the Milan clubs have wage bills 3 or 4 times as big as mine). I've got a cracking young lad in my youth team who's been out on loan this season who could come in for one of them, but I'd really prefer to loan him out again so he can play every week, I've also got another young lad coming in from a club in Serie B at the end of next season. So I'm thinking I try to hang on to my two old strikers for the season, let their contracts run out & lose them for free, but then have the two young lads come in for the season after.

It's been great fun so far, though, one of the most enjoyable games of FM I've had in a long time.

On mine there’s a lad at Everton Thierry Small not sure if he’s on yours but he was on the first database on mine now he’s Real madrids first choice left back and a machine. At the beginning of the game though he’s sold off for pennies and works his way there from league two. Have a look for him might be a bargain

[clarkeda]

Started a new save as stoke last week with the new update being out, finished 2nd playing a 3412 brown and Campbell up front.

Brown was top scorer with 25 only coming into the team in October/November time.
Current 5 games in sitting 16th, having beaten spurs.