The Football Manager 2017 Thread - Sponsored by Brexit.

[Adam]

http://i65.tinypic.com/p0nrt.png

Probably the best regen I have ever managed.

[phonics]

I finally took my first deep dive into scouting Youth Intake yesterday, what should I be looking for in 15/16 year olds? Just need a couple of 14-15s in key areas? (Like tackling/heading for a Defender etc.) or are there more specifics?

[John]

It's been weeks since I even turned this on, has there been an update which ups the ceiling on player values? Prior to that mad Brazilian I don't think I've ever seen anyone with a value over seventy million quid.

[Adam]

It's been weeks since I even turned this on, has there been an update which ups the ceiling on player values? Prior to that mad Brazilian I don't think I've ever seen anyone with a value over seventy million quid.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2zxnlfc.png

Might have something to do with the transfer fee I paid for him.

[phonics]

In my Bournemouth game, after the first season, 3 players moved for over 110 million quid each which seemed mental.

[John]

http://i64.tinypic.com/2zxnlfc.png

Might have something to do with the transfer fee I paid for him.

Possible but I've seen plenty of players go for that sort of money and never an assigned value anywhere near that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've had the same thing 3 seasons in a row with Arsenal and it's more accentuated each time. Design a good tactic in the summer, smash in 60 goals before Christmas and then completely collapse in March. Three seasons in a row we're going to score 90+ goals and come fourth. This year we were borderline untouchable before February but now have hit April and will not win again. We were 21 points ahead of United in January, but now level.

I'm pretty sure it's just good old fashioned tactic cracking. It makes no sense otherwise. I've had three quite different setups each year as well.

[Dquincy]

http://i.imgur.com/LVvyPIS.png

Glorious.
Must be nice to see these start to pay off further down the line. Patience is a virtue...or something like that.

[Dark Soldier]

I've had the same thing 3 seasons in a row with Arsenal and it's more accentuated each time. Design a good tactic in the summer, smash in 60 goals before Christmas and then completely collapse in March. Three seasons in a row we're going to score 90+ goals and come fourth. This year we were borderline untouchable before February but now have hit April and will not win again. We were 21 points ahead of United in January, but now level.

I'm pretty sure it's just good old fashioned tactic cracking. It makes no sense otherwise. I've had three quite different setups each year as well.

Do you put the tactic in all three slots and train tactic only? Its the way I've been doing it for years and they never get cracked, but then the ones I use game the match engine a fair whack so the AI can't do anything after 3-4 years.

[Smiffy]

There's no beating a World Cup success with USA so I swiftly resigned on top and now find myself with Napoli and an eye on ending Inter Milan's four year resign as champions. It's time to do some globetrotting.

After nearly eighteen years as Liverpool manager, a stint that brought about eleven league titles and forty-two cup victories I finally brought my time to an end and gave international football a crack. A brilliant tournament saw USA crowned World Champions and as I mentioned previously, you're not going to better that so I immediately went back to club management.

"It was like living in a foreign country."

Although Giovanni van Bronckhorst had left the Partenopei to the Serie A league title five years prior, the club had failed to capitalize on it finishing 6th, 5th, 7th and more encouragingly, 3rd prior to my arrival but by God what a terrible decision. We may have toppled Inter Milan who had won the previous four league titles but what I didn't know is that the club had failed the FFP for Europe and so the 3rd place didn't actually bring Champions League football because the twats had screwed it up already.

http://s28.postimg.org/6d1sv36x9/20170320_125238.jpg

Losing 4-3 on aggregate to Roma was a bitter pill to swallow given their away goal came five minutes from time but ultimately we achieved the main objective. Not me however, I was bitter about the Europe incident so I fucked off to France and took over PSG who do have European football. The French giants have been crowned Ligue 1 champions for over two decades now but the Champions League trophy has always alluded them.

[Dark Soldier]

This tactic is fucking disgusting btw, started as Burnley, no changes bar bringing In Ronaldinho and Simao on frees, and we win 5-0 v Stoke first game, completely blitzed them.

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-17-tactics/362878-aggressor.html

[Baz]

This tactic is fucking disgusting btw, started as Burnley, no changes bar bringing In Ronaldinho and Simao on frees, and we win 5-0 v Stoke first game, completely blitzed them.

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-17-tactics/362878-aggressor.html

There are three. Which did you use? Defensive?

[Dark Soldier]

There are three. Which did you use? Defensive?

Start with defensive, then if you need to chase it, or playing weaker, go attacking. Timewaste seems akin to its name.

Lost 3-2 away at Arsenal, its defensively good considering the players I have are all utter wank bar Keane.

[Dark Soldier]

And now this:

https://i.gyazo.com/dcc9c4f44d5cb7aa78b52131eb7f2bcc.png

Seems a cracking tactic for smaller teams.

[Dark Soldier]

Its shit away from home :D

But it is Burnley. Not getting battered, but City/Southampton won.

[Smiffy]

PSG - Season 2035/2036

Having signed a one-year deal to become the new manager I had but one goal. To win the Champions League. The gulf in quality between PSG and the remainder of the division was plain to see. A total of 34 points separating second from first. It was to be the clubs 24th league title on the spin.

http://s28.postimg.org/puq2fbv7x/20170320_125238.jpg

The Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue were both claimed as welll as the season opener, Trophee des Champions? Community Shield, right?

An easy run to the final. No legit challenge domestically at all which is why the solitary defeat to Nice in the league grinds my gears.

http://s28.postimg.org/8vlpdt9e5/20170320_125238.jpg

http://s28.postimg.org/mdslq3ljh/20170320_125238.jpg

Yasin Ozer returned to the club in January after I signed him whilst at Liverpool almost a decade ago. A fitting end to his career.

http://s28.postimg.org/u1fi8ek7h/20170320_125238.jpg

Away from home and our quest to land the European Cup got off to a rocky start until we rattled off a hat-trick of victories in the return fixtures to set up a tie with Spanish Champions Real Madrid.

http://s28.postimg.org/7vvei3u8d/20170320_125238.jpg

Madrid have dominated La Liga for the past 7/8 years now but proved to be walkovers as over 180 minutes.

http://s28.postimg.org/421y8ycwd/20170320_125238.jpg

I feared a return to England given I expected Liverpool to beat Benfica but the Portuguese nohopers actually caused the shock of the round. It was a return to England however Tottenham and then Man City stood in our way.

City and ourselves were evenly matched and Rousseau's late strike in the first leg probably saved us. The return saw a melt down of epic proportions. Poor City.

http://s28.postimg.org/91zegwij1/20170320_125238.jpg

And so off to Austria to face Barcelona in the final, the Catalan club having knocked out fellow La Liga side Athletico out of the competition they win just twelve months ago. Miroslav Kudela and Erdi Yildiz gave us a comfortable lead in what had been a comfortable game in general before we switched off.

http://s28.postimg.org/5wesqozwt/20170320_125238.jpg

Thankfully we recovered despite Steve Gaillard getting sent off in extra time.

As usual it's the front three that bring the success but in Richard Alonso's case it was a killer as broken foot ruled him out of the las three months of the season.

http://s28.postimg.org/95t7x5o0d/20170320_125238.jpg

Recently named th Best Player in Europe which was some consolation, I'm sure.

The experienced Paul Reekers hit a personal best but still hasn't justified the £80M PSG paid out for him in 2030.

http://s28.postimg.org/72ispho7h/20170320_125238.jpg

He never will either.

The ever improving Emilien Rousseau was the point of the triangle with 25 in 30, a poor return compared to previous sides but still the focal point of the team. He scored the important goals.

http://s28.postimg.org/fm6s0zlxp/20170320_125238.jpg

The board want to renew the deal but Champions League success means there's no point. It's off to Germany or Spain next in a bid. At just 51 years old I reckon I have at least another 20 years left in me.

[Smiffy]

I've really messed up this Facepack business. Most my players now have bald heads. I deleted them thinking it would load the originals but has it heck. Uninstall job or is there a work around?

[Smiffy]

I love how careers can take shape up this game. Dominating with Liverpool over an eighteen year period. Defeating Italy in the World Cup final just months before moving to the country to take over Napoli. Winning the Scudetto in my only year in charge before sodding off to France. Completing a domestic clean sweet whilst landing a 10th European title as manager defeating Barcelona in the final. After winning six trophies in my first season at PSG I decided not to renew my one year deal and swiftly moved to....Barcelona.

With just one Copa del Rey trophy in the last eight years whilst watching Real Madrid race to eight consecutive league titles, these were bleak years for the Catalan club.

In truth after Lionel Messi retired in 2025 the club had won just four honours. The La Liga title, two Cop del Rey cups and the Supercopa. 652 league appearances, 482 league goals. He holds the recorders for top league scorer, most goals in a season, most goals in a match, most assists and having enjoyed a 23 year career at the top for the Spanish giants, he became the club's oldest goalscorer at 37 years 267 days with a strike against Leverkusen in his final year as a player.

CV.

Liverpool 2016 to 2034.

Premier League - 2018, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Community Shield - 2018, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FA Cup - 2019, 2024, 2025, 2031, 2034.
League Cup - 2022, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Champions League - 2019, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2033, 2034.
Europa League - 2024.
Super Cup - 2025, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2019, 2026, 2027, 2029, 2030, 2033.

United States 2034 to 2034

World Cup - 2034.

Napoli 2034 to 2035
Serie A - 2035.

PSG
Ligue 1 -2036.
Coupe de France - 2036.
Coupe de Ligue - 2036.
Trophee des Champions - 2035.
Uefa Champions League - 2036

Barcelona - 2036 to....


In my mind now I'm hoping to reclaim the La Liga title from Madrid whilst getting some more European success, possibly a domestic clean sweet given I signed a three year deal. Then I plan on moving to Germany in a bid to do the same, Borrussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich still dominate there and then a return to Italy so in an attempt to win a European Cup with an Italian side too given Napoli were expelled from the competition in my only year in charge and thus hopefully completing league and european success with a club from the top five nations.

Some globe-trotting ala Sven should follow that to America, Asia and the like before settling down as the manager of Wales whilst taking over a newly promoted club from the Conference North and South.

Currently only 51 so I reckon I got a good 30 years left before retiring.

[Giggles]

Not much time left but may be of use to someone.

http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/24/football-manager-2017-is-now-free-to-play-all-weekend-6532269/

[Smiffy]

Barcelona - 2036 / 2037

Former Liverpool reserve manager Michael Beale was the last man to win the league title with Barcelona having done so in his debut season back in 2027. After nearly five years at the club that was the best things got with the exception of a token Copa del Rey trophy. Beale later moved to Benfica which brought a couple of small successes before being appointed Manchester United manager in 2035.

It was as clear as day that that wouldn't be a road I would be following but I wanted to at least mirror his league success and we gave ourselves the best possible chance of doing that by winning ten of our first eleven matches. By time Real Madrid came to the Nou Camp on matchday #19 however we were in the running and a championship challenge was a viable target. After eight years dominating the division I had expected Madrid to be harder to overcome especially as the club had had our number for the past decade. The Catalan's winning just a handful of head to head matches. This season was to be different however with all three meetings bringing about the same outcome. Just as well given how close the league table ended up.

http://s28.postimg.org/wton8j8st/screenshot_1162.png

http://s28.postimg.org/3tu8sjq6l/screenshot_1163.png

Transfers In

I initially agreed to allow the clubs Directer of Football to be the man who kept the squad topped up but I swiftly realised the error of the ways and duly took control back. £12M on this geezer being the only reason I needed.

http://s28.postimg.org/4kmyybsjx/screenshot_1164.png

He was the only arrival in the summer but after a few players started moaning about the quality of players at the club we had to act again in January. This time it was all me.

http://s28.postimg.org/sd0vnljyl/screenshot_1165.png

Although we had agreed for him to join at the end of the season we decided we'd buy him earlier which cost us £15M, I figured he would be a worthwhile addition from Borussia Monchengladbach but he flattered to deceive when given a chance and spent much of the season overcoming petty injuries. I'm attempting to retrain him as an attacking midfielder given I don't tend to use wingers.

On a better note, our £80M signing of Tiago Francisco paid off a little better although I'll be expecting much more once he's had a full preseason.

http://s28.postimg.org/fzo1goua5/screenshot_1166.png

As of right now, I'm not sure what the budget will be for the summer but we've got so many areas we need to improve as I inherited an ageing squad who surpassed my expectations this season although one that I don't think is cut out to repeat the feat over the next two years.

http://s28.postimg.org/djm82uc7h/screenshot_1167.png

Back to the cups though.

http://s28.postimg.org/dkw5w9e19/screenshot_1168.png (http://s28.postimg.org/dkw5w9e19/screenshot_1168.png)

It had been a decade in waiting to avenge a cup final defeat to Madrid as we were victorious at the Nuevo Mestalla.

In Europe we took a bit of a hit.

http://s28.postimg.org/uzge4jb65/screenshot_1169.png

When Rapid Wien equalised in the last five minutes to knock us out of the Champions League I almost had a bitch fit. Only once before had that happened in my twenty plus years although this time it received a better ending. In 2031/2032 after being eliminated from Europe's premier competition we ended up progressing to the Europa League final before losing to Tottenham. Five years later we against entered a Europa League final against London opposition although this time we proved victorious.

http://s28.postimg.org/8c14ydvm5/screenshot_1170.png

It was the first time since 1966 that the competition had been won but given how it's viewed by the top clubs I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.


CV.

Liverpool 2016 to 2034.

Premier League - 2018, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Community Shield - 2018, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FA Cup - 2019, 2024, 2025, 2031, 2034.
League Cup - 2022, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Champions League - 2019, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2033, 2034.
Europa League - 2024.
Super Cup - 2025, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2019, 2026, 2027, 2029, 2030, 2033.

United States 2034 to 2034

World Cup - 2034.

Napoli 2034 to 2035
Serie A - 2035.

PSG
Ligue 1 -2036.
Coupe de France - 2036.
Coupe de Ligue - 2036.
Trophee des Champions - 2035.
Uefa Champions League - 2036

Barcelona - 2036 to..

La Liga - 2037
Copa del Rey - 2037
Europa League- 2037

[Raoul Duke]

Good stuff Smiff :thbup:

[Smiffy]

Cheers. It's awesome looking back at clubs histories. You can almost see where it went completely tits up for some.

In Barcelona's case it was rather curious at best. Luis Enrique had lasted a decade as manager landing 7 league titles in the process before he moved on to manage Arsenal. Leonardo Jardim couldn't quite escape his shadow and resigned after nearly three years in charge. Then in came Michael Beale who did manage to grab the La Liga title back but he was sacked just months shy of his 5th anniversary at the club when that proved to be the high point.

Luis Enrique made a return to the club in 2032 in an effort to rebuild the Barcelona brand but the cliche'd "you should never go back" statement rang true in this instance as three bleak seasons somewhat tarnished his previous stint. Gareth McAuley was the surprise choice to replace him and twelve months later it was me.

Luis Enrique's career has seen him go from Barcelona > Arsenal > Spain > Germany > Romania > Portugal > Man City > Barcelona > Arsenal > West Ham.

Hugely successful all round, you'd think? Not quite. After leaving Barcelona in 2024 he has won the Europa League and that was in 2026. :D

[Max Power]

Playing as Stevenage. Was comfortably ensconced in the play off spots for 95% of the season and then melted down at the death to finish 9th. We were right at the top of possession and passing tables so morally we got promoted ofc.

We have even less money second time around but I like my lean, young squad and we've smashed Tranmere on the opening day and dumped Championship Burton out of the League Cup.

[phonics]

2016 - 18

Last time I updated this thread with the travails of the mighty Bournemouth, I was in my first season in 7th place with 9 games to go. My first choice striker, gone. My second choice striker, gone. My third choice striker, on loan. I lost or drew most of those games and ended up finishing just outside the Europa League in 8th place behind Sunderland.

Since then much has changed, Max Gradel who never seemed to do anything but the press raved about went for 25 million, Jordan Ibe went the same summer for 22 million. Jack Butland came in from relegated Stoke for 19 million, was absolute rubbish for 18 months only to seal his dream move to Arsenal for twice the price(?) along with; Jerome Ongeune, as backup for an ageing defence, David Concha and Fabien Benko, who were cheap U21s that could replace the not doing much and the not playing much holes left by the two partees and John Flanagan just so my bench didn't look quite as stupid with it's 5 right sided attacking midfielders and a centre back as well as an assortment of youngsters. Rob Holding follows in January for 3 mil to push old man Francis out the team.

2018/19

The following season my top scorer from last year, Callum Wilson, did his cruciate, would be lucky to play 8 games all season and it's September. Benik Afobe is firing blanks and in desperation I turn to the guy who was on loan at Fulham the season prior. Lys Mousset scores 23 goals in 26 Premier League games to rescue me 7th.

Gonzalo Martinez, my flair winger that I bought instead of playing Jordan Ibe, left to Schalke for 18 million after I paid 2. Jack Butland followed as mentioned previously. After the success of Jerome Ongeune I decide to hire another in Jeroen Zoet to replace Butland. I went back to Latin America to pick up Stefano Driussi who my scouting department assured me would be excellent and Nuno Santos, who's agent told me was transfer listed while I was desperate. And a load of kids.

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate was knocked out in the group stages after a last minute equaliser from Belgium had them finishing third in their group and I, putting the disarray of English coaching on full view took the job on full time. I don't often do International Management but it's the first time in a while I've felt like I was setting up a career and thought why not. I figured it might give me a chance of signing higher profile players as well but I'm not sure if that's true.

Onward and upwards I thought, only to go through the roughest patch of form I've had on a game I was invested in and couldn't quit. The only bright light was an EFL cup run where I managed to beat Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley, Arsenal, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Watford getting me into the European competition I always dreamed of.

England walked over the Italians in some competition called 'European League Div. A' and finished top of a 3 person group. This apparently qualified me for something called the International League Semi-Final? The seriousness with which I took on the competition was evident by the fact that I was knocked out by Belgium at the first hurdle. I thought I was in for a world of trouble only to find out the FA had never heard of it either. Phew.

2019/20

I waste a shedload on Youri Tielemans who I've always failed to buy in other games after he's transfer listed by Real Madrid. 23 million quid. He's shit. Sven Van Beek also comes in from the shadows of the PSG transfer list and is a complete boss every second he's not injured for months at a time.

We spend most of the season in 3rd place despite averaging 35% posession only to collapse at the end of the season; winning 2, drawing 3 and losing 9. We finish 8th.

This years Europa was a load of wank where upon ruining my team by qualifying, I beat Sevilla twice only to go out to Bordeaux after failing to beat the team from Cyprus.

I turn up to the Euros deflated, my first game? Belgium. I'm cursed. I go into half time 2-0 up only to come out of the game with a point after Christian Benteke runs wild in the second half. 2-2. People are calling me Gareth. I struggle for the win against Bosnia and swat aside Estonia and finish behind Belgium on goal difference.

The Gods gift me a reprieve with half my team nackered to the point of collapse with a second round game vs Greece. I swap a few people round and roll away with a simple 2-0 victory.

No time to rest though because Portugals up next. a 35 year old Ronaldo on 575k a week tears me apart but I get to extra-time with a clean sheet and Dele Alli smashes one in from 30 yards.

I'm in the fucking semi-final lads but I feel I've met my maker when I come up against France. We've got a bit fluky to get this far and get flukier after we get a penalty in the first 10 minutes and I realise I've never set Penalty Takers in the 2 years I've managed this team. John Stones smashes it in and we come out with a 2-1 win.

I've never won any major trophy outside of a League in this game since going on 2001 (maybe even 97/98 I can't remember) so I'm buzzing. I haven't even been looking at the other draws just slamming continue when it flashes up, Belgium.

We haven't beaten them in our last 4 competitive games. All at crucial times.

http://i.imgur.com/d8s2wyM.png

:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaBdajHOsSM

[John]

Smiffy How do a few of your newgens have real pictures?

[John Arne]

Anybody struggling to sell player since the 17.3 update? I have 5 good players on the transfer list, relatively cheap (including 2 for $0), but I'm getting no offers at all.

[Smiffy]

@Smiffy (http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=142) How do a few of your newgens have real pictures?

It was a pack like that Demski fella that I used but then I don't remember where I found it. I wouldn't bother either as it's quite shit for the best part.

[Smiffy]

Barcelona - 2037 / 2038

Although we managed to win the La Liga title last season I felt we would still need to strengthen for the upcoming campaign after our early exit from the Champions League. We may have went on to win the Europa League but the dip in quality is a noticable one. With that in mind we went and spunked a load of money we haven't really got.

Transfers In

Zeljko Juricic

http://s19.postimg.org/r61p06dlv/screenshot_1172.png

Nothing special but given his contract was close to expiring at Hajduk we took a punt on his agents say so. As the season developed he wasn't getting a look in for the first team so we loaned him to Alcorcon where he didn't fare much better.

Nico Alegre

http://s19.postimg.org/45v1nufs3/screenshot_1173.png

One of Spain's golden boys. Nico started his career at Villareal before being lured to Manchester United. After two solid seasons at Old Trafford we decided to spunk £70M on him. 25 goals in 53(2) matches was a decent enough return in his debut season and the nine assists merely added to that. Still a costly one.

Pau Perez

http://s19.postimg.org/5m6k5zioz/screenshot_1174.png

A true WTF moment. He started just once in the league which should tell you all you need to know. I'm sure we got the wrong player or something because at £22M he's been an absolute flop. Possibly the worst of my 'career'.

Dariusz Liberacki

http://s19.postimg.org/am40dxobn/screenshot_1175.png

Signed in January from Arka for a much more modest £800K and looks as though he might actually make a name for himself in the game. Admittedly he was only signed due to the squad needing an injection of youth but definitely one to keep an eye on.

Nicolas Soto

http://s19.postimg.org/rba1nlaar/screenshot_1176.png

We needed cover in midfield and spotted plying his trade in China was this man. We duly snapped him up for around £1.8M....then forgot to register the fucker. :moop:

Season Summary

After claiming the La Liga title last season I expected us to retain it although we things much harder than we ought to have and at one point trailed Real Madrid by a hefty nine points until they finally started dropping some of their own after the New Year. We struggled through far too many games, suffered defeats against teams we shouldn't have and the warning signs were there last season too but I failed to fix them.

Our start to the season was rather telling in that it appeared as though we were in for a hard time against the supposed bigger sides. (I say supposed, Barcelona have dropped out the top ten in recent years).

http://s19.postimg.org/gcys5elpf/screenshot_1177.png

Defeat against former club Liverpool in the Super Cup was a bummer. As annoying as such competitions are you still want to be the one taking it home. We followed this disappointment up with a double whammy against Madrid too which made things worse.

http://s19.postimg.org/bsclqh203/screenshot_1178.png http://s19.postimg.org/5fxggmyxv/screenshot_1179.png

Thankfully our fortunes were to improve as the season progressed but it took a while getting there. Real Sociedad and Atletico were all rather close by the turn of the year too.

http://s19.postimg.org/svfdlzioz/screenshot_1180.png

http://s19.postimg.org/db7zvg8kj/screenshot_1181.png

We may have retained our league crown but we wouldn't be claiming a domestic double after Sevilla pounced at the wrong time.

http://s19.postimg.org/4u8hkj3vn/screenshot_1182.png

Winning at the Santiago Bernabeu would have been nice but our time would come.

Sooner, rather than later.

We managed to expell last seasons demons in the Champions League as we were drawn against Rapid Wien once more.

Normality resumed however.

http://s19.postimg.org/b97ih7alf/screenshot_1183.png

Qualification to the 1st Knockout round was all well and good but not when January saw promises dished out to three first team regulars that they could jolly well fuck off if we didn't win the entire competition.

Celtic were drawn in the next stage which increased our chances. Two 3-0 victories ensuring a safe passage. The quarter finals saw every man and his dog hoping to draw Wolfsburg or Inter Milan, the two 'easiest' ties left and sure enough we drew the Italians. Whilst a 4-2 aggregate scoreline looked close, it wasn't and we were deserved victors. Ourselves, Manchester City and former clubs PSG and Liverpool made up the final four. Madrid and Arsenal faltering. We were now the weakest team left and easy pickings for Man City for sure but a 2-2 draw at the Etihad followed by a comfortable 2-0 victory at home meant we would be marching right across Spain and back to the Bernabeu for the European Cup final. Liverpool at this point had a 3-1 first leg lead. PSG didn't give a fuck.

http://s19.postimg.org/c008mzcyr/screenshot_1184.png

And so it became a repeat of the 2036 final. Barcelona vs PSG. The French were victorious under my command just two years ago before relinquishing the honor to Liverpool just twelve months ago. After roasting the Merseysiders in the last round, they felt confident.

We felt like winners though.

http://s19.postimg.org/gaewiki1v/screenshot_1185.png

:jayjay:

[Raoul Duke]

What's that Richard Alonso like?

[Smiffy]

He's a bit of a beast tbh.

http://s19.postimg.org/ou2vu2fs3/screenshot_1186.png

http://s19.postimg.org/qaeec7ioz/screenshot_1187.png

http://s19.postimg.org/x24tf27oj/screenshot_1188.png

[Dquincy]

More updates in here please people. I enjoy reading them god damn it.

[phonics]

No-one commented on my greatest success ever so y'all can get fucked.

[Smiffy]

Am I missing something?

http://s19.postimg.org/wtq2rh5cz/screenshot_1189.png


http://s19.postimg.org/wi8mepowz/screenshot_1190.png


I did load USA, China and Australia at the end of the season if that's had a effect on it? I'm going to struggle after Barcelona as the only 'realistic' move that fits is to Germany with Bayern Munich. Dortmund are too good at the moment and still feels a tad too soon to return to Italy in a bid for a European title.

[Smiffy]

Barcelona - Season 2038 / 2039

Transfers In

Rafael Contreras

http://s19.postimg.org/nn0fi7h43/screenshot_1192.png


Although £40M was a huge outlay given our financial state we desperately needed to strengthen at the back at Rafael ticked the right boxes. IE. £40M isn't 'silly money'. :cab: A solid campaign and well worth it in the end.

Mory N'Diaye

http://s19.postimg.org/xycsav8tf/screenshot_1193.png


Linking up for a second time after I siged him twelve years ago at Liverpool, Mory and me go way back. :cool: Although he cost £17.5M this time around, he eventually forced his way into the first team when we switched to three at the back.

Season Summary

Our season got off to a winning start in more ways than one as we won a hatrick of trophies. The 'All Stars' Trophy (shh), the Super Cup against Bordeux and the Spanish opener, a 5-1 aggregate win over Sevilla in the Supercopa Final.

After rattling off ten goals in our first two league games, we were widely tipped to retain our title once again until a 2-1 defeat at the Bernabeu silenced that talk. As it was though we went about our business easing past the likes of Alaves, Athletic and Osasuna but stumbling when faced with a contender in Atletico. It didn't help we had lost 5-3 to West Ham in the Champions League just days earlier. However we were still on course for a third successive league title and we need not have panicked.

After losing to Atletico Madrid we swiftly embarked on a 16 game unbeaten run before local rivals Espanyol ended the streak albeit in a meaningless second leg match after we trounced them 5-0 in the first. I blamed tiredness based on our successful FIFA Club World Cup stint but the press were having none of it. The mark of a championship team is always in its ability to bounce back and we did that in style just one week later by beating Real Madrid not once, not twice but three times in the space of seven days. The Catalan hadn't had it so good in years.

By this time the title was ours to lose and despite a hiccup here to Getafe, and another over there to Rayo, we were never really in doubt as to where we would end the season.

Come May we were once again crowned La Liga champions. Winning it after beating Espanyol in the league at the Nou Camp being a small cherry on top.

http://s19.postimg.org/flc70aycj/screenshot_1194.png

The Copa del Rey was a competition we had had mixed fortunes in but we were more than deserving victors this season as we seized a domestic double.

http://s19.postimg.org/3xmqjhylf/screenshot_1195.png

All is forgiven Pau Perez.

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I'm claiming it as a trophy. I don't care.

In Europe our quest to retain old big ears was in vain as Liverpool knocked us out of the semi finals. It was gutting but expected. Thankfully they/we beat Real Madrid in the final too securing their 16th European Cup. :drool: Every silver cloud etc.

My three year deal with Barcelona is up and as luck would have it, Napoli are looking for a new manager although once again have no Europe having finished in 7th place. Unfinished business?


Liverpool 2016 to 2034.

Premier League - 2018, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Community Shield - 2018, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FA Cup - 2019, 2024, 2025, 2031, 2034.
League Cup - 2022, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Champions League - 2019, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2033, 2034.
Europa League - 2024.
Super Cup - 2025, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2019, 2026, 2027, 2029, 2030, 2033.

United States 2034 to 2034

World Cup - 2034.

Napoli 2034 to 2035
Serie A - 2035.

PSG
Ligue 1 -2036.
Coupe de France - 2036.
Coupe de Ligue - 2036.
Trophee des Champions - 2035.
Champions League - 2036

Barcelona - 2036 to 2039

La Liga - 2037, 2038, 3039.
Copa del Rey - 2037, 3039.
Supercopa de Espana - 2038.
Europa League - 2037.
Champions League - 2038.
Super Cup - 2038.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2038.
All Star Trophy - 2038.

[Adam]

http://i65.tinypic.com/2z7gyyw.jpg

Chorley FC tale of the tape so far

Got stuck into a cracking save with one of my local clubs on FM16 here is how we have got on so far...

Season 1 in the Vanarama National League North - We are semi pro which is a new scenario for me as I have never managed this far down the pyramid, not being able to secure players to long term contracts was a massive pain in the arse, I managed to get a few loans in from football league clubs and surprisingly managed to finish top of the pile, had a cracking run in for the title over the last 10 games ourselves and our local rivals AFC Fylde swap positions a few times it was neck and neck up to the last 4 games but thankfully they bottled it and we won the league by 10 points in the end.
http://i64.tinypic.com/2lkb7le.png

Season 2 in the Vanarama National League - Our first season in the national conference was a fucking nightmare, we didn't win a league game until our 10th game of the season when we smashed Altrincham 4-0 at home. We then sort of turned a corner and picked up some decent draws away and some good results at home that kept us just clear of the drop zone coming into January. A shit load of injuries and some loans then went back to their parent clubs saw us not win any points in January and we slumped back into the relegation places. Things were looking pretty shit coming up to March but we went on a cracking run of results that pushed us all the way up to 14th and that's the position we finished in ultimately, which considering that we struggled for most of the season I was pretty happy about that.
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Season 3 in the Vanarama National League - I fucking hate this league, board wont let me turn pro, They wont sort out a parent club so I have got to loan 17 year old's from shite teams like Port Vale and Oxford. Season was steady nothing spectacular and we ended up finishing 11th, which I guess is a step forward.
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Season 4 in the Vanarama National League - Last seasons finish saw a slight boost in our rep which meant we could bring in some better quality players on loan also some young lads on free transfers that have been released from league clubs academies. The improvement in players saw us finish 3rd and go into the play offs. Two games away from Wembley and we were in good form, we drew Ebbsfleet. The First leg was away from home and we secured a 0-0 draw which I was really happy with, we got them back to our place and managed to turn around going a goal down and won 2-1, on we go to Wembley. In the Final we would face Eastleigh. A massive day for us if we win this we are a league side for the first time in our history. An absolutely bonkers game and I'll have to just show you as words just wont do it justice.
http://i67.tinypic.com/34pykab.png I honestly thought we were going to bottle it against 10 men, I went fucking wild when we scored in ET. Into League 2 we go!

Season 5 in League 2 - Our maiden season as a professional club, god damn it feels good having players on 3 year contracts! One slight disappointment was our rep, I didn't feel like it had improved in anyway, so I was still only able to sign the same quality of players as my last season in the National League, still the board wont give me a senior affiliate club to get some decent loans. Summer was really difficult as I was struggling to find any players of real quality and was mainly filling my team with squad players. Towards the end of July I managed to pick up a couple of decent players and felt confident we could stay up. We did just that finishing 10th in our first season, I was absolutely delighted with that finish we were comfortable all season and never struggled at any point during the season. Onward and upwards.
http://i65.tinypic.com/2pzzfoh.png

Season 6 in League 2 - Coming soon...

Other news
No cup updates so far because we have done sod all in any of them, we got to the 2nd round of the FA cup twice but that is about it. We were also the subject of a takeover in our 3rd season by none other than Randy Lerner, I was expecting a decent amount of money to be pumped into the club from him, but so far I have seen nothing. Transfers have been ok we havent brought any old major names in, so far we have spent a total of £120,000 on transfers and almost all transfers I have spread the payments over 48 months so that we could afford to bring them in, in terms of incoming money for transfers we currently sit at £0.

Thanks for reading !

[Smiffy]

At least it should get easier now. I like League Two when doing LLM games because of that extra promotion spot and your entry into the League Cup gives another chance for a money spinning tie against a big side. Three seasons in the Vanarama must have been a slog although again it's easier now more than one go up.

[Dark Soldier]

I loaded up 12 European leagues, gave myself the best coaching badges and holidayed until a job came up. Got Club Brugge. The Belgian league format is fucking stupid.

[Smiffy]

I thought my man Pilkington would have retired by now but the guy is still a beast. :cool:

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785 goals in 1,405 games. :eek:

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Oof.

Top five managers in the HoF are myself, Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Jose Mourinho and Unai Emery. The careers of all are incredible.

Me - LIVERPOOL > USA > NAPOLI > PSG > BARCELONA > NAPOLI.

Conte - CHELSEA > BAYERN > ARSENAL > REAL MADRID > LIVERPOOL > BARCELONA

Allegri (retired two years ago though) - JUVENTUS > MAN CITY > REAL MADRID > BAYERN > WEST HAM > PSG

Mourinho (retired three years ago) - MAN UNITED > PORTUGAL > FRANCE > ENGLAND.

Emery - PSG > MAN CITY > WEST HAM > REAL MADRID > CHELSEA >.....Bordeaux?

Between us all we've amassed 214 trophies.

Pep?

He's had a weird one given he isn't meant to stick around. After claiming only the Champions League and FA Cup in his time at the Etihad, Guardiola left the club in 2021 to join Italian giants, Juvetus. A successful five years proceeded with four league titles wrapped up but no European gold to show for his time with the Old Lady. Surprisingly he turned to England as the new manager of Chelsea in 2026, a Europa League and EFL Cup double in his debut season was promising but just three FA Cups in what turned out to be a decade in London merely confirmed what many thought. He was yesterdays news. :nodd:

When Chelsea sacked him just two weeks after his tenth anniversary it was said to have broken Pep. A return to Italy was concluded a month later but it was to be a dismall twelve months with Inter Milan and a second successive dismissal. In what came as a surprise to most he then upped sticks and returned home to Spain and endured a rocky ride with Real Sociedad before resigning just eighteen months in. It has been ten months since he made that decision and he's still to return to management.

Scarred.

[Smiffy]

Napoli - Season 2039/2040.

Season Summary

After a flawless preseason we felt ready to hit the ground running and look for a top three finish. Italy losing the fourth Champions League spot just twelve months earlier. The first time I joined Napoli the club had no European football due to the FFP, this season would see no European football due to the clubs 7th place finish last season and so a third year spent with the club and no attack on a trophy I believe to be my own just won't be acceptable.

We kicked off the Serie A campaign with two successive 2-0 win's over Carpi and Palermo before suffering a surprise 4-3 defeat away to Brescia. In fairness since returning to Serie A in 2033 the club have progressed on a yearly basis, finishing one place above Napoli last season as early as last season, in fact.

I forever measure a squads ability in its ability to bounce back from such defeats but the manner in which we responded to that defeat surprised even me as we proceeded to remain unbeaten for the rest of the year and beyond. Marcus Vinicius, a much better player than five years ago, Jamie Muphy, yet another talented American and perhaps our signing of the season, Johan Stromberg all ensuring goals were easy to come by, a solid back line ensuring they were just as easily kept out too.

Milan (2-), Inter (2-1), Roma (3-0) and Juventus (5-1) just a few of those put to the sword by the attacking trio.

As we entered 2040 we were flying in the league and with no challenge in sight, no European football to hinder we were able to benefit hugely. February 18th we were finally stopped in our tracks as Bologna secured a 1-0 win to end our unbeaten run of 26 games. Another response was desired and after 10 day break we would return to hammer AC Milan, last seasons league champions 3-0 in the TIM Cup. Not quite needed given we had beaten them 5-2 just a fortnight earlier in the first leg. It was a bit of a statement though we would still need to win the final for it to mean anything. Palermo being the opponents increased our chances considerably.

We would remain unbeaten still. By time the final game of the season had been played we had already set records left right and centre. No team had claimed as many Serie A points, no team had won so many games (33), our 16 league games won in a row became a new Serie A record, as did the 97 goals we ploughed past the rest.

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Top Goalscorers

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37 in 43.

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17 in 37.

http://s19.postimg.org/lw2qwaa1v/screenshot_1198.png

Signed for little over £5M from Malmo and has become arguably the most important player in the first first eleven as his 27 goals and 14 assists suggested Italy would be no problem. Plenty of resale value too at 21. A break out year that saw him pick up the European Golden Boy award, a domestic double as well as making his Sweden international debut.

^^

The others signed during that summer may have cost a grand total of £5M themselves but all are for the future. Napoli's financial situation isn't the best (although Europe now changes that!) so I wanted to avoid splashing out huge sums. Having spent four seasons playing at the top end of the transfer market, its been a nice change of pace looking for value in the market this time round.

http://s19.postimg.org/6tv3zcew3/screenshot_1198.png http://s19.postimg.org/fdehx3n8j/screenshot_1198.png http://s19.postimg.org/9qi4zmkpv/screenshot_1198.png http://s19.postimg.org/bwcfu4o6b/screenshot_1198.png

I'm hoping Pino starts the 2040/41 season as our new number one although current number one Diego Parma is perfectly fine, he's 28 and I think Pino will develop to be a much better keeper. I only intend on staying for three years as per my contract but I'd like to leave some sort of imprint before I do.


Liverpool 2016 to 2034.

Premier League - 2018, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Community Shield - 2018, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FA Cup - 2019, 2024, 2025, 2031, 2034.
League Cup - 2022, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Champions League - 2019, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2033, 2034.
Europa League - 2024.
Super Cup - 2025, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2019, 2026, 2027, 2029, 2030, 2033.

United States 2034 to 2034

World Cup - 2034.

Napoli 2034 to 2035
Serie A - 2035.

PSG
Ligue 1 -2036.
Coupe de France - 2036.
Coupe de Ligue - 2036.
Trophee des Champions - 2035.
Champions League - 2036

Barcelona - 2036 to 2039

La Liga - 2037, 2038, 3039.
Copa del Rey - 2037, 3039.
Supercopa de Espana - 2038.
Europa League - 2037.
Champions League - 2038.
Super Cup - 2038.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2038.
All Star Trophy - 2038.

Napoli - 2039 to current

Serie A - 2040.
TIM Cup - 2040.

[Raoul Duke]

Hang on - you won the World Cup with America?

I'd completely missed that

[Smiffy]

Hang on - you won the World Cup with America?

I'd completely missed that

I did indeed.

2034 World Cup - In Focus.

For the second time in just twelve years the event was held in Morocco but England went into it hoping to retain having claimed the 2032 World Cup, ending the pain of 66.

Group A

Belgium made easy work of the group by finishing first which is more than can be said for the Republic of Ireland who finished runners up. A 90th minute required in their opener against Paraguay, a 1-1 draw against host nation Morocco followed by a defeat to the impressive Belgiums but still enough to qualify for the next round.

Group B

With Greece, Senegal and Spain to contend with, we (USA) felt confident of getting 2nd place which is exactly what we ended up with but not in the manner expected. We opened up our group with a 1-1 draw to Senegal whilst Greece took three unexpected points against the Spanish. Our following opponents. Defeat and there was a very real chance we were out already. However we went on to win 2-1, our only victory of the group stage due to Greece claiming a third successive 1-0 win to top the group. Spain went home. Eh up!

Group C

Brazil were always going to finish top in a group containing Czech Republic, South Africa and Australia although the Brazilians 1-0 defeat to South Africa was probably the shock of the tournament at that point. It wasn't enough mind as they slipped up against the Aussies to give Czech Republic the runners up spot.

Group D

Sweden and Mexico eased past Mali and China. China's expensive experiment working to an extent although three defeats out of three probably wasn't what was hoped for.

Group E

A group of death. Argentina, Japan, Netherlands and Portugal. Argentina had lost the final to England four years ago, Netherlands had lost theirs eight years back. Japan stood no chance. Neither did the Netherlands as Portugal spanked them by a couple of goals to finish top of the pile. Holland out at the group stages but then someone big was always joining Spain.

Group F

The WTF group. DR Congo finished above Germany. :cab: Russia and Honduras barely turned up.

Group G

France were favourites to finish top but were made to scrap for it with runners up Iran. Quite an open group when it was expected the French and Chile would go through. Angola should have stayed at home.

Group H

Costa Rica, Ecuador, England and Italy. The holders remained unbeaten in the group stage but much to their dismay, they remained winless too as both Italy and Costa Rica secured the vital wins against Ecuador to qualify for the knock out rounds.

Second Round

The big guns mostly avoided one another with Germany V Portugal perhaps the biggest game of the round. We kicked off the proceedings with a 2-2 draw against Belgium before progressing on penalties. Greece slaughtered Ireland by four goals to nil. Still to concede a goal in the entire competition. Brazil left it late against the Mexicans, Sweden capitulated against the Czech's whilst France and Italy eased past Costa Rica and Iran. Argentina though. Argentina 0. DR Congo 1. Shock of the last few decades.

Quarter Finals

We were handed a favourable tie against Czech Republic which we duly won whilst the rest of the tournament took a mental swing. Greece defeated Brazil 2-0. Still no goals conceded. Italy triumped in a very Italian way by keeping out Germany to go through 1-0. DR Congo proved the last round was no fluke by knocking out France. The last four. USA. Greece. DR Congo and Italy. Wow.

Semi Finals

Whether it was good fortune we drew DR Congo could have been disputed before kick off due to their form in the competition but we had little to worry about in securing a 3-0 win. We would go on to face Italy in the final. You had to feel for Greece.

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Final.

Not since 2006 had Italy tasted World Cup glory, an opportunity to land a fifth crown. For the USA, a first. But make no mistake. We were no pushovers back then. I just never realised it until I took over. :cool:

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[Smiffy]

Al Clark is actually still going. I can't believe I didn't sign him when I had the chance. I practically let him join Arsenal.

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[Raoul Duke]

Nice work.

Can't believe SI haven't done something about the regen faces. They are horrific in this version.

[Smiffy]

Napoli - Season 2040 Preview

The summer transfer window opened in impressive style as our very own Andreas Chapman moved to Tottenham for £37.5M rising to £58 and we made the decision early on how we were going to invest it. Youth.

Roma had an impressive market by their standards and I imagine it'll be them, both Milan clubs and Juventus who are challlenging again.

The Youngsters

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Finally, one for Scotland to get excited about.

http://s19.postimg.org/4cxlgog2r/screenshot_1239.png

[nsd]

Nice work.

Can't believe SI haven't done something about the regen faces. They are horrific in this version.

Mine all look fairly normal, not a clue what's going on with some of the abominations on show.

[Dark Soldier]

Aye I use a regen facepack and its helped massively.

[Smiffy]

Napoli - Season 2040/2041

Transfers

http://s19.postimg.org/jfphvkp2b/screenshot_1242.png

Frank McInally, Jason Silva and Florin Dragomir all made a dent in the first team which was reassuring with our Scottish arrival McInally scoring 14 times in 34 games. Not amazing but given he's not long turned 19 and has potentially 5*stars then I imagine he'll be a worldie for years to come.

Slightly gutted to have lost Andreas Chapman but overall it was a decision that needed to be made given the clubs financial situation over the last few years and given he signed on a free in 2032, it pretty much forced my hand.

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Nothing special in AI terms.

And on we go.

We won the season opener against Palermo in the Supercoppa, a meaningless trophy (I think?) but a trophy all the same.

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It was perhaps a sign of things to come but we were far from at our peak as the season got underway despite what looked like good form on paper.

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Defeat to Pescara was followed by defeat to Inter Milan and that was enough to decide it was time to go back to three up top. The change was almost instant but it was still a close fought affair between ourselves, the Milan clubs and indeed Bologna. We went into the final game of the campaign against AC Milan, top at the time and one point clear of ourselves. It wasn't to be.

For them.

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A successful retention of our league title which is more than could be said for our TIM Cup effort.

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Juventus really are shit. Not as tough as they once were.

So a league title was fine and dandy but it was European football I looked forward to the most given the last two seasons at Napoli saw none.

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You could tell from the group stage that it had been a while. We were outclassed against Man United despite our four goals in the return game. Basel beasted us which was a shock, we eventually got revenge there though.

A favourable draw in the 2nd round was welcomed but again we made half work of the first leg. A lot of 0-0 draws during the season. A 4-2 win in Holland was much better.

http://s19.postimg.org/51vavbi03/screenshot_1250.png

The away goal was all we asked in the quarter finals and whilst we got it against a very powerful Manchester City, the manner in which we dispatched them in the return was brutal. Semi finals on route and a genuine chance of winning the competition. Again.

But it wasn't to be. Madrid facing Man United in the final. The Red Devils starting their upturn in fortunes again. A return to England being muted.

Liverpool 2016 to 2034.

Premier League - 2018, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Community Shield - 2018, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FA Cup - 2019, 2024, 2025, 2031, 2034.
League Cup - 2022, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Champions League - 2019, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2033, 2034.
Europa League - 2024.
Super Cup - 2025, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2019, 2026, 2027, 2029, 2030, 2033.

United States 2034 to 2034

World Cup - 2034.

Napoli 2034 to 2035
Serie A - 2035.

PSG
Ligue 1 -2036.
Coupe de France - 2036.
Coupe de Ligue - 2036.
Trophee des Champions - 2035.
Champions League - 2036

Barcelona - 2036 to 2039

La Liga - 2037, 2038, 3039.
Copa del Rey - 2037, 3039.
Supercopa de Espana - 2038.
Europa League - 2037.
Champions League - 2038.
Super Cup - 2038.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2038.
All Star Trophy - 2038.

Napoli - 2039 to 2041

Serie A - 2040, 2041.
TIM Cup - 2040.
Supercoppa di Lega - 2040.

[Smiffy]

Bayern Munich - 2041/2042

After claiming a second league title with Napoli the decision was made to leave the club twelve months early due to the Bayern job coming around once more. I came close to becoming the new Munich boss after leaving Barcelona but opted to move back to Italy however Germany was always in the pipeline such was my 'ambition' to win a treble in each major nation. A dream that has since died down somewhat having failed to land the European Cup with Napoli.

A one year deal agreed and the target was simple. To be crowned Bundesliga champions once more after losing the crown to Bayern Leverkusen last season and to end the clubs ever increasing wait for another European Cup. Not since 2012/13 had Bayern Munich won Europes biggest honor. That said, with the exception of PSG in 2035, the European Cup has lived in the North West and occasionally Spain.

Oof.

http://s19.postimg.org/5c7esem03/screenshot_1252.png

Season Summary

After surrendering their league title last season by finishing 3rd, Bayern knew they would start the season having to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League however friendly games against Man United, Real Madrid and Barcelona suggested we wouldn't have a huge amount to worry about.

I made the decision to stick with the squad I invested given I only intended to stick around for twelve months and in truth, I was looking to move away from Europe in the next few seasons anyway.

http://s19.postimg.org/4hkv6de5f/screenshot_1253.png

Leverkusen were no match despite finishing just three points adrift and the Bundesliga title meant the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 all five domestic leagues had been successfully navigated. It was about to get much better though.

:drool:

http://s19.postimg.org/7uxp6tx43/screenshot_1254.png

The first time in a long time that the club would feature in the premier competitions final but to do so against Liverpool was difficult given the Merseysiders are the record holders with 16 cup wins. A return to the former stamping ground from a club who are finally starting to get things right again after three years without a league title.

Ouch. Sorry lads.

http://s19.postimg.org/svnqrr0mb/screenshot_1255.png

:jayjay:

So after starting this save on January 5th, I am now finally ready to leave Europe and rock up in America, China or Australia. Time for the Asian Champions League and some backwater travelling. :drool:

Liverpool 2016 to 2034.

Premier League - 2018, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Community Shield - 2018, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FA Cup - 2019, 2024, 2025, 2031, 2034.
League Cup - 2022, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034.
Champions League - 2019, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2033, 2034.
Europa League - 2024.
Super Cup - 2025, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2019, 2026, 2027, 2029, 2030, 2033.

United States 2034 to 2034

World Cup - 2034.

Napoli 2034 to 2035
Serie A - 2035.

PSG
Ligue 1 -2036.
Coupe de France - 2036.
Coupe de Ligue - 2036.
Trophee des Champions - 2035.
Champions League - 2036

Barcelona - 2036 to 2039

La Liga - 2037, 2038, 3039.
Copa del Rey - 2037, 3039.
Supercopa de Espana - 2038.
Europa League - 2037.
Champions League - 2038.
Super Cup - 2038.
FIFA Club World Cup - 2038.
All Star Trophy - 2038.

Napoli - 2039 to 2041

Serie A - 2040, 2041.
TIM Cup - 2040.
Supercoppa di Lega - 2040.

Bayern Munich - 2041 to 4042

Bundesliga - 2042
Champions League - 2042

[phonics]

Can anyone explain to me how to deal with agents that tell me literally nothing about what they want and I get to play the contract guessing games? It's eternally frustrating to suggest something, than they're immediately pissed off and negotiating even slightly downwards results in talks being cut off immediately.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hate that, mainly because of the amount of buttons I have to click.

[Smiffy]

Using 'existing terms' is rather pointless given when they come back with the counter offer it's astromical and any changes tend to see negotiations closed down.

For a few weeks at least.

[Panda Bear]

http://i.imgur.com/yoPejMB.png

http://i.imgur.com/C7yWmUd.png

Panda :cool:
I just saw this notification.

Mahow. :cool:

[Ian]

2032 in my FM15 save and Dirk Kuyt has just taken charge of mid-table Man City. :drool:

(Their previous manager, before I gave them a fucking, was Paul Lambert.)

[Smiffy]

I'm currently processing through a years sabatical. I was going to venture into Asia but it still feels too soon so instead I've loaded up Portugal, Russia, Holland, Greece and Belgium which are the other five countries to occupy the top ten leagues in Europe. I'm only '58' at the time of writing so plenty of time albeit I haven't decided when I'm retiring. I think league success in the above countries followed by a final LLM effort in Italy, hopefully ending with a Champions League title with an Italian side.

Stuck in which direction to take it at present.

Liverpool > USA > Napoli > PSG > Barcelona > Napoli > Bayern > ?

[Reg]

Going back to your homeland seems like a sensible option since you're doing the realistic/sim/story thing.

[Smiffy]

Going back to your homeland seems like a sensible option since you're doing the realistic/sim/story thing.

Wales? I suppose that's one way to rob Ivor Powell's claim as the worlds oldest manager. I still reckon I have a decade plus at the top.

[Reg]

Oh, yeah. Well I was thinking it was England. The first country in which you managed - I reckon that's what a real manager might do. That or cash it in with national sides / nameless new money clubs.

[Mike]

Get back to Anfield for one last run.

[Smiffy]

Anfield is merely rubble these days, Mike. The job isn't even that appealing given Zinedine Zidane just claimed his second successive league title. (34 league titles now :drool: )

[Smiffy]

Well it took just over two hours reloading however I don't think I'll find a better way to end this save:


http://s19.postimg.org/a3sgp6ehv/screenshot_1258.png


I've got a decade to go before retirement, I reckon. If the Wales job comes along then that'll be magical too.

[Dquincy]

Yeah I was about to bin my Southampton game but I always wanted to see could you kill a club in this (you can't btw, bottom of league one in admin and 600m in debt, you suddenly get 800m 'sponsorship' and a 300m transfer budget for the next season) so I resigned from St Mary's and holidayed the main manager and added another. The trick is that you can still offer massive deals to players in the U18 squad even if you can't for other players. 50% wage rises, long contracts for 34 year olds that you bought for 35m from Airdrie, and selling decent players for 0 with 100% selling club wage contributions also help. I pop in from time to time to sack all their new staff and make sure they keep dropping but they're on their own now as I've taken over from Jose at Man U with my main guy in 2028. I'm also interested to see how they fare out in rising again when fully simulated. Though they are down to regional rep, have sold the training ground and academy, and are getting a new loan every month so I'm not sure if big money will come now to get them back. Still pulling in around 12000 a home game though.

My Man Utd squad is full of wingers and I'm playing a 5-3-2, and the squad hate me for shipping Martial off to America and Pogba off to Turkey but CL looks handy enough.
This tickled me. :D Well played.

[Shindig]

That's something I'm surprised they haven't pulled in a version yet. Miles must be desperate to put 'Phoenix clubs' as a back of the box bullet point. It's all a bit carry on regardless.

[Dquincy]

No-one commented on my greatest success ever so y'all can get fucked.

Bloody good feat me old mucka. Did you take England on to World Cup domination?

[Dquincy]

Finally read up to date with this thread. Really enjoyed reading it.

Smiffy that is one epic career. Well played. Love the youth players brought through at Liverpool. Are you going to continue with your updates? Hope so.

Sir Andy Mahowry Giggles phonics John Yevrah - what happened to your careers ?

[Dquincy]

Are there any other fm forums out there that have career updates like these?

[Smiffy]

.....

[Dark Soldier]

I'm still playing it but its dick around and cheat games so no point writing 'em up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm done for the year I think.

[Dark Soldier]

This is the only reason I still play it, one of the best FM tactics I've played since the old cheat tactics on earlier iterations:

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-17-tactics/365135-become-football-manager-17-king-pandemo-combination-pandora-demolisher.html

Use an Instant Result skin, win fucking everything regardless. Even without Instant Result its insane. Solid defensively, insane going forward.

[Giggles]

Finally read up to date with this thread. Really enjoyed reading it.

Sir Andy Mahowry Giggles phonics John Yevrah - what happened to your careers ?

I was too far into regen territory so I'm done until FM18, if not for good.

[phonics]

I got into the Champions League, got ideas above my station, bought a bunch of players I didn't need. Had to change formation to fit them in, everything fell apart and I never wanted to play again.

[wullie]

I tried a game as Arsenal thinking it'd be a project to return them to former glories, all I needed to do was sign Lukaku and then pissed the league. Quit and started again as Cov instead as I'm struggling to pick a different team to try properly.

[nsd]

Are there any other fm forums out there that have career updates like these?

https://community.sigames.com/forum/60-fm-career-updates/

[John]

John - what happened to your careers ?

I chucked it out of spite when you posted that you enjoyed reading it.

There was a strange glitch which decreased the values of my entire squad by about four fifths, and the idea of going back to losing all my players for buttons seven seasons in put me off playing for a while. I actually booted it up the other night and continued far enough to see that what I could expect to receive for the players hadn't dropped by as much as the player values had, so there might be an update coming soon if I can trudge through the fifty transfer offers a day for an entire transfer window.

[John]

Did you play on into the next season after that one you'd completed on my save, Smiff?

[John]

Whatever I used to send it to you can't have needed an account, so if all else fails you could use that. Sendspace I think it might have been.

I'd rather not have to make a new manager seven seasons into the game, but it was that value balls up which killed the game for me so continuing that same save without that having happened would probably be worth it.

Apparently I remember your season of that game better than you do. You had two Belics, Slobodan and Luka. Slobodan was the youngster I'd brought through who was off if you didn't win the Champion's League and you'd given him a contract worth about fifty times what I had during the same season, and Luka was a former player, still holding the club record for youngest player, who you'd brought back from West Ham, I think.

[John]

If you're using it as a cloud storage deal and don't have the save on your hard drive any longer or the details to access it then yes, I'm with you.

It's fine anyway. I've gone a few weeks through the save and although the player values have plummeted, the only player I've lost is one I have ample cover for. He went for five million less than his value before the glitch fucked me over, but it was still thrice his value so obviously the player reputations aren't to blame and I still have some room for negotiation. It looks like I might have been a bit hasty in binning the save off.

I've had an offer accepted to bring Ahmed Jahic, the first good player I had through the academy, back into the fold too. He wants nigh on ten times the wages of my current top earner to sign, but I have fifty million quid in the bank and a mental amount of room in the wage budget so I'm in. My current sixty grand a week total wage expenditure is very pleasing but it'll have to balloon at some point, albeit perhaps not by fifty percent at once, and I don't get many chances in this sort of save to vastly improve a position over one summer.

[John]

That sounds a bit complex for whoever they have in the dev team now. They can hardly get dynamic odds working properly on a combination of form and club reputation, and a player on loan from a big club will still occasionally win the Golden Boy based on performances in League Two if he returns at the right time, so I wouldn't trust them to tailor the medias reaction to your form to your club's reputation and not make a huge arse of it. It sounds like what you really want is for the game to ruin your life when you're shit, like a Gran Turismo game that gave you actual broken ribs if you crashed.

Jahic signed for Gladbach for half the money, so my wage budget remains a source of delight but my best playmaker is still someone who hasn't performed in two years. Although the season he did perform he was the league's second top goalscorer so it could be my fault.

[Spikey M]

In fairness, nothing has actually improved with the game in about, what, 5 years now? In that time they could have made some headway with improving media interactions. I am currently sat in 8th with 20 games played with my newly promoted MK Dons side and the question of if we can survive relegation is still being asked. To make it worse my choice of answers range from 'nah, we're too shit mate' to the most positive of 'we're going to need a bit of luck'

I MIGHT GET EUROPA LEAGUE YOU CUNTS.

So, I go with 'no comment' and the media report I am being 'cagey' and my players take issue with it. Fuck this game.

[wullie]

I like when you're asked about another manager. If you don't make a comment they repeat the question a million times, if you criticise them you've started a blood feud that will last until the end of days, and if you give a manager the faintest praise the response is OMG SOUNDS LIKE UR SHIT SCARED OF HIS TEAM YEAH

I'd send the assistant every time but they're too stupid to be trusted.

[John]

I turned FM on the other night for the first time in over two months, and hit continue in my OFK Beograd save for the first time in four. I'm having a go at continuing it despite the arseache of suddenly having a squad of players worth a tenth of what they were three days ago but with their reputations at a save high, so it seems like a refresher is in order for the thread.

The squad.


Milovan Zlatic

https://i.gyazo.com/94ec216501f96e867bbf633702c486d2.png

Twenty years old and already first choice for two and a half years, he's my own Donnarumma. Twenty clean sheets in his thirty seven league games last year were instrumental in the title win.

Milos Panjevic

https://i.gyazo.com/620e094f78feed404fe44e3d09d71d2e.png

First choice for five years now, and vice captain for two, he's only once posted a seasonal average under 7.2, and never beneath 7. An absolute rock at right back, despite his poor technical stats, I'll keep him at the club forever if possible.

Nemanja Blagojevic

https://i.gyazo.com/bac0fc122e24d769518344a2dca81006.png

After a brief loan spell in the season after he came through, he broke into the first team and has stayed there for the three years since. At twenty years old he's a regular in the Serbia side and comfortably our best defender.

Filip Matovic

https://i.gyazo.com/c80a303e3785c0bb8194f1842afba91a.png

Spent the first season off on a loan deal built into the game, but was our most consistent defender for four of the six years since he came back and has been first choice the whole time. This season might see him replaced though, as the intake at the end of last season saw an impressive defender come through and we can afford a neophyte against most sides.

Jovan Jaksic

https://i.gyazo.com/e802f4dc823736b4bbf860a899bac3c8.png

Has been first choice for two years now, having played almost no part for the first two years after he came through. He's comfortably our most technically impressive defender and has the performances to match.

Dejan Jankovic

https://i.gyazo.com/d71dbc469cca81c1e9ec452741ce7747.png

Got a place in the first team last year due to injuries but impressed initially, then began to grow like a weed, so he's now first choice.

Nemanja Petkovic

https://i.gyazo.com/b0e68ed36348a136fda7b8a083504761.png

First choice for the last three years and a bit player before that, I reckon he's the best all rounder we've produced so far. My coaches reckon he's hit his peak, but that's just fine because he's comfortably the best midfielder in the league. First choice for as long as he's here.

Denis Karic

https://i.gyazo.com/5ed6cd98698c47b9155c4e53126c8938.png

Has been hanging around the fringes of the first team for three years, but last year was his breakout season. Could do with improving in a few key areas, but his combination of strength and dribbling make him effective at this level, far more so than his flimsier competition.

Igor Rundic

https://i.gyazo.com/4e2f69556c66af2be47882105b99662c.png

His last two seasons have been significantly down on his breakthrough season, in which he contributed to well over a goal a game as we won our first league, but he's still the best option in his position. Hopefully Radovanovic will improve over the year to the point where that's not the case, but for now he's first choice without competition.

Zvonko Milosevic

https://i.gyazo.com/124033b27fa01b3d6dd1057710d931a4.png

Has been the league's best player for three years running. Rarely seems to attract serious interest from elsewhere, although that's changed at the moment thanks to the game ballsing up player values and marking everyone down by three quarters, so has somehow flown under the radar despite posting mental numbers year on year.

I wrote this post out as a text document when I first loaded the game the other night, and I'm just adding the screenshots now, so as you'll see Milosevic is gone. I got ten million quid for him, rising to twelve, and a cut of whatever he goes for in future. He'll be replaced by a younger player pictured below.

https://i.gyazo.com/58f33c80c7b03b81c748d73141dd4e0b.png

Has been a bit part player and backup to Milosevic for three years now, performing adequately during that time, but will have to step up in a big way to replace someone who's averaged twenty five assists a season over the last four years.

Slobodan Belic

https://i.gyazo.com/f6db46cfa6a3dab96ec389f2b019833f.png

Really broke through last season, finishing as the league's top goalscorer despite turning eighteen halfway through the season. The player he's replacing as first choice finished the previous season as top goalscorer with several more goals, but Belic has a higher ceiling and fits my style of play better, so he'll step in for now. Hopefully forever.


We won the league last season, but it was by no means comfortable. We went into the final phase of the league three points clear, cut from six due to league rules, and finished that phase dead even on points. The league was won on goal difference, entirely due to one bonkers spell in midseason where we scored seventeen goals in four games. Partizan conceded three goals in their last seven games to our nine, so we'll have to up our game.

[John]

To bring that right up to date, we're off to a wonderful start. Eleven games into the league campaign and we're six points clear at the top, having won every game bar one. The one blip was away to Partizan, who at the time were off to every bit as good a start as we were, but I just shut the game down and left with a draw.

Matches so far;

https://i.gyazo.com/4718393286aaec1e0a732c23bd5a94a1.png

A couple of the players named in the squad list above have either been usurped or performed considerably differently to expectations.

Belic spent the entire summer telling me he wanted to win a Champion's League at some point in his career, which apparently meant he had to leave at eighteen years old because 'it's a short career', so I rejected every bid out of spite, including a couple I'd probably have accepted otherwise, and started the season with him on the bench. He's since calmed down a bit, and while he's still complaining that he wants to go to a bigger club, which he will as every big club in world football is interested, Beograd are a favoured club and I'm favoured personnel so I'm not worried about him causing too much of a stink. His replacement in the first team is also his predecessor, Ilija Marjanovic, and he's started the season like a train with nine goals in nine league starts.

https://i.gyazo.com/b115899d5f38af90b8cbbeb124c49ff8.png

Denis Karic picked up an injury just as the season was getting underway and his replacement, Ninoslav Petric, hasn't stopped impressing since, so he's back to being a bit part player for the moment. Petric has three goals and four assists in his nine league starts, which is almost a match for his best seasonal return over thirty games when we won the league a few years ago, so he seems to be playing well above himself for the moment.

https://i.gyazo.com/fdb77da8b8b1a1f3b7cb638349efb686.png

And Igor Rundic, who I mentioned in the post above had a blinding goalscoring season a few years ago, is in that sort of form once again. In the league he has ten goals and four assists in eight starts and three sub appearances, making him the league's top goalscorer. Those ten goals have come from fifteen shots on target, which combined with his 50% on target ratio gives him a 33% conversion rate, much higher than I'd expect from someone with those stats. Lovely stuff.

I've missed this save.

[wullie]

Eat shit, real life

http://i.imgur.com/HVjheBl.png

[7om]

Did anyone buy the Touch version for iPad this year? Any good? Any glaring differences between it and the PC versions or is it pretty similar?

[Giggles]

Did anyone buy the Touch version for iPad this year? Any good? Any glaring differences between it and the PC versions or is it pretty similar?

I had it on Android, which I believe is pretty much the same version, and it's basically like playing a full PC version from around 5 or 6 years ago.

[7om]

Oh, so it is streamlined then? What does the Touch version not contain?

[Giggles]

A lot of the interations with players and the media. No bad thing really, though it just slips into 'press continue' too often.

[Bernanke]

Decided to re-install this. Good choice:

http://i.imgur.com/RcolYnM.png?1

:drool: I haven't been this excited about the game in a long while. Time to build a tactic around him and hope he doesn't break in the 10 months I have him for.

[John]

https://i.gyazo.com/bb7114782d5e56920fef6ee2c9780548.png

The young player of the year award. :drool: Adonis Hadzic is my player too, on loan at Radnicki.

[Dquincy]

I chucked it out of spite when you posted that you enjoyed reading it.

There was a strange glitch which decreased the values of my entire squad by about four fifths, and the idea of going back to losing all my players for buttons seven seasons in put me off playing for a while. I actually booted it up the other night and continued far enough to see that what I could expect to receive for the players hadn't dropped by as much as the player values had, so there might be an update coming soon if I can trudge through the fifty transfer offers a day for an entire transfer window.

This glitch, is it a bug or is there a genuine reason their values are dropping? Anything reported on the SI forums?

My FM11 career is still going strong. I'm PSG in the year 2049...i think. Shall upload my manager summary when back on the mainland.

[John]

If there was a good reason I wouldn't have described it as a 'glitch' and dropped the game for months because of it.

We retained the league for the first time this year, along with the Serbian Cup and the Super Cup to make it our first treble in the eight seasons I've been playing. We went out in the group stages of the Champions League before being fucked to death by AC Milan in the first knockouts of the Europa and there are no other Serbian sides worth a shit in Europe, so the league dropped from twelfth to fifteenth this year. That performance was good to boost us from the eighties to the sixties in the club rankings though, so obviously the rest of the country just need to get their fucking acts together.

Going into the ninth season I'm beginning to lose hope that I'll ever get Slobodan Belic, comfortably the best player I've had through on this game and possibly the best I've ever had if he develops as the game reckons he will, to perform up to standard. He was comfortably outperformed last season by a player half as good as him. It's particularly frustrating as when he does show flashes of what he can do it's something bonkers like score four and set up three in a seven nil win, but despite my coaches marking him out as consistent he's the exact opposite.

The last youth intake had several promising looking players in it. Nobody spectacular, but five or six players who have the right base stats to be solid in their positions.

[Mike]

After winning the League Cup my plucky Brighton squad did the unimaginable in the league:
https://i.imgur.com/Og8eh5u.png

:D

[Adramelch]

With Benevento (a team that I developed a special bond with through FM) being one step away from being promoted to Serie A I've been thinking of picking up this game (haven't played for 3 years). I can get it for 20 euros, do you think it's worth?

[7om]

I've started playing FM16 again after a break and I've noticed that crosses seem to be very hard to defend on this iteration. Is it because crossing is overpowered or the defenders are particularly useless at defending them? I've tried a higher defensive line and pressing all over the pitch which was a disaster. I'm now settled on a 'slightly deeper' line with only my full backs and wingers as the ones pressing the opposition wide players and it seems to have reduced the volume of goals conceded from out wide but still more than what is reasonable.

Did anybody else notice this problem?

[Dark Soldier]

Yup, its the primary flaw of 16. Crosses will fuck you regardless of what you do, FBs and CBs cannot deal with them at all. Hence why, as in all FMs, the true way to win is 7-5 rather than 1-0.

[Mike]

With Benevento (a team that I developed a special bond with through FM) being one step away from being promoted to Serie A I've been thinking of picking up this game (haven't played for 3 years). I can get it for 20 euros, do you think it's worth?
Do it!

[ScousePig]

I started a game with Norwich a couple of months back when I first got the game but never really cracked on. Yesterday I was looking on Pinterest for something and stumbled across some FM tactics. I read over them a decided to implement a couple. One of them was a 4-3-1-2 which many of you will no doubt be aware of. I think it's given me the kick to get going again as our form has been excellent. We've gone from as low as 15th after about 15 games to a few points off 2nd after 30. We've scored something like 25 goals in seven games.

[Dark Soldier]

I started a game with Norwich a couple of months back when I first got the game but never really cracked on. Yesterday I was looking on Pinterest for something and stumbled across some FM tactics. I read over them a decided to implement a couple. One of them was a 4-3-1-2 which many of you will no doubt be aware of. I think it's given me the kick to get going again as our form has been excellent. We've gone from as low as 15th after about 15 games to a few points off 2nd after 30. We've scored something like 25 goals in seven games.

3-2-2-3 is the way. Strikerless, wing backs, three across the back. Fucking destroys teams like they're nothing and it currently leads the tactics league on FM Base. Insane attacking, solid defence, and if you play in quick result mode, its mental.

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-17-tactics/365135-become-football-manager-17-king-pandemo-combination-pandora-demolisher.html is the one I use.

[7om]

Yeah, I don't fucking get this piece of shit game. Up to about three quarters of the season my team (Bishop Stortford in Vanarama South) was second and playing ok. Not great because the defending was not perfect but we were winning. Then we end up losing 10 of the last 16 for absolutely no reason at all. Is 16 just completely fucked or what? Let me know now otherwise I'm not going to responsible for my actions if it carries on with this bollocks.

[ScousePig]

3-2-2-3 is the way. Strikerless, wing backs, three across the back. Fucking destroys teams like they're nothing and it currently leads the tactics league on FM Base. Insane attacking, solid defence, and if you play in quick result mode, its mental.

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-17-tactics/365135-become-football-manager-17-king-pandemo-combination-pandora-demolisher.html is the one I use.

Cheers DS, I've had a look. If I do use it I might put a more conventional striker in.

I've realised since Steam updated the game, the German national team and stuff are wrong again. When I try and delete those files, it says I need permission from the administrator??

[Adramelch]

What reputation do people start with for Jman in this version? Sunday league was rather obvious but then coupled with the tracksuit thingy it gets complicated.

First day on my new job, game crashes. :sick:

[Adramelch]

So just a super quick update:

I started my Journeyman game with a host of European leagues loaded, with my manager being an ex Sunday League footballer with no coaching training whatsoever. I got some offers from teams that a) I thought were too high (League 2 teams etc) and b) were just starting the season and I wanted to join a team mid-season so I declined them. Finally the mighty Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar from the Icelandic First division (2nd tier) decided to approach me after their previous manager had managed to gather 8 points from 12 games and the club found themselves in a relegation spot, despite being expected to finish 3rd.

The players in the squad was ok and there were no glaring gaps. Since we were fighting to avoid relegation I decided to set-up a straightforward counter-attacking 4-4-2, trying to play to the strengths of the squad. My first game was a disappointing 3-0 defeat to a mid-table team, but from there on things picked up and we easily managed to avoid relegation:

https://i.imgur.com/8oynMDm.png

We got 17 points from my 10 games in charge and it should have been 19 and 7th place instead of 9th but we decided to miss every single chance in our last game against already relegated Fjarðabyggð at home.

I'm thinking of staying with KA for another season and see if we can maybe fight for promotion, but failing that I want to stabilize their position in that division at the very least, staying away from a relegation battle this time around.

[randomlegend]

Just had three of my fullbacks score in one game, getting 4 between them.

That's got to be some sort of record.

[Gray Fox]

FM17 is £11 on Steam right now. Bargain if you've not bought for a few versions and are tempted.

After seeing this I've loaded up my old FM16 save and as I'm near the end of a season I'm going to play on a little. No idea if I'll get back into the save but here's a little backstory:

I'm on the home stretch in season 6(2020/21) as Southampton manager. In the league I've finished 9th, 10th, 1st, 1st, 1st. The first 2 years spend building the club up and then it all clicked in the 3rd season. The 3 league winning years saw us take the title by 1 goal, 15 points and 3 points respectively. Unfortunately this hasn't translated into other competitions. We haven't lifted any other trophy. Only once reaching a final, which was the Champions League. We ended up losing that 2-1 to Man City. The Community Shield has been won 3 times but I don't really count that.

We've achieved the above whilst following the Southampton model of rinsing the elite clubs of their cash and re-investing in youth. However what seems to have gone in is I've had a wedge burning a hole in my pocket and I've bought every regen I like the look of. Therefore I've now a very promising, young squad, but far too many of them for them all to develop.

This season, I'm 29 games in, however well off the pace at the top. I'm still in the Champions League QF stage and the Semi-final of the FA cup, but face Madrid and Chelsea, so I'm not counting those chickens.

https://i.gyazo.com/ea46e70fcef073ab2720d79b0e46c7e3.png

That's how the table looks. Big suprise package Bournemouth are looking on for the top 4, however they face a tough run in. As for us, it's been a disappointing season by the looks of it. Made worse by telling the board we'd win the league. Though hopefully we can push on into 2nd an appease them.
The ground is now a 54,000 seater and there's still 200m in the coffers, despite a £40m transfer still due to arrive. I basically have all of that to spend too. Time for me to crack on and see how I go.

[Gray Fox]

A week after resuming, Bayern have sacked Pep, following 3 years without a league title. I applied but didn't get it. From there we played Madrid, losing 3-1 away. We were repeatedly caught on the counter by Dybala and in truth it could have been more.

Still that gave Madrid the decision. Come and sit back or come and attack. They tried to sit back:

https://i.gyazo.com/2e9fa2ea0e518594ccdbcd5114df1076.png

They got peppered from start to finish. We've drawn Monaco in the Semi with the other side being Bayern v Galatasaray. Now on fire we faced Chelsea in the FA Cup. 2-2 at FT I brought on a few subs and they took over. Running out 4-2 winners. We play Ipswich or Man Utd in the final.

I remember why I like this game :D

EDIT: https://gyazo.com/e365ead409293f6ae048bf032f21b653.png

Bayern in the final. United in the FA cup first. I'll take one of two. Losing both would be harsh.

[Gray Fox]

The agony and the ecstacy.

https://i.gyazo.com/2c9fd74e14b6c4de3c04a256a8f95345.png

https://i.gyazo.com/a00fb1e89dbd43f45aec31f0659c564f.png

https://i.gyazo.com/bfccac402629966d7bd59a4b284d2019.png

Came up just short in the league and in Europe. Still I've £300m in the bank and most of that to spend. I need centre back improvements.

[John Arne]

Has anybody managed in the MLS before? I'm playing a game with Minnesota and the one major issue (apart from the ridiculous contracts/player status) is the fact that all the players coming through the Superdraft are fucking awful, every year. I have the NASL and USL loaded - but I don't think this is affecting it.
Be interested to hear from others.

[ScousePig]

http://i.imgur.com/VnKs64L.png

First season with Norwich. Infuriating really in the end, as I should have at least walked the play offs. It took me a third of the season to find the right tactics, and then we drew 7 in a row before going on a great run and looking like we could pinch second. Then we only managed to win 1 of our last 8 games, and fell out of the play-offs on the last day. This season we really need to be looking at promotion.

This is our transfer activity from last season and this summer:

http://i.imgur.com/YDyT8Q6.png

http://i.imgur.com/l7jV9md.png

[Gray Fox]

Has anybody managed in the MLS before? I'm playing a game with Minnesota and the one major issue (apart from the ridiculous contracts/player status) is the fact that all the players coming through the Superdraft are fucking awful, every year. I have the NASL and USL loaded - but I don't think this is affecting it.
Be interested to hear from others.

The draft is the reason I've never done MLS. I've no idea how the draft works for that and obviously change scares me.

[John Arne]

The draft is the reason I've never done MLS. I've no idea how the draft works for that and obviously change scares me.

The actual draft system is relatively straightforward - though the non-stop trading (and offers) for Draft picks is annoying;



Club X have offered you $80k in General Allocation Funds plus Club Y's 4th pick (2nd round) of the 2018 Superdraft in exchange for player Z


I mean - the fuck. My main issue is just that every draft player is crap - it makes the whole draft things pretty pointless.

[ScousePig]

What's happened to my images?

[Adramelch]

I've powered through quite a few seasons in my Jman save so here's a rather lengthy update:

After saving KA from relegation, the board naturally decided that we should go and get promoted the next season. I decided to stick with my counter-attacking 4-4-2 that had served me well the previous season and it seemed to be paying off. We had a great start to the season reaching the quarter finals of the League cup despite facing multiple first division teams. Our league form was also pretty strong and we looked like we could go on and win the whole thing, achieving the promotion that our board and fans coveted.

And then everything just, imploded. The majority of our players decided they were too big for the club, and demanded transfers. The morale hit rock bottom and results followed suit. Then the transfer window came and we lost no less than 7 key players and we had to rebuild in the middle of the season. Naturally that didn't work and results kept being bad, but thankfully the teams around us didn't fare any better. So with one game remaining the league looked like this:

https://i.imgur.com/ZFdNNdU.png

A win in the last game against 7th placed Prottur would mean promotion, but alas we lost and ended up finishing 6th. And with that disappointment I decided to let my contract expire at the end of the season and look for greener pastures. Not many clubs were keen to appoint a manager that had only managed a 2nd division club from Iceland with mediocre results.

So months went by and eventually Kisvarda, a club playing in the Hungarian 2nd division came calling. They were just 2 points above the relegation zone after 15 games and things looked grim. I thought of employing my counter attacking 4-4-2, but I decided I needed a clean start. Looking at the personnel in the club, I decided to go with a more attacking 4-1-2-2-1. And it worked wonders. We swiftly moved away from the relegation zone and towards the top half were the club was expected to finish. We even threatened for a promotion spot but stupid late goals in the last few games meant we had to be happy with only finishing third. Given our strong showing I was pretty confident of fighting for a promotion spot next season, even though the board only expected a top half finish. I decided to not change much in the team (especially after the horror show that occured in my 2nd season with KA), since the team clearly had what it takes to get promoted. And we did just that, or well a bit more than that:

https://i.imgur.com/sqQknWz.png

The club wanted me to stay on for another 2 seasons, but I had already decided to move. Ruzomberok, a club from the Slovak 1st division had come calling midway through the season and I decided to take their offer, but only if I could see out my season with Kisvarda. Thankfully they agreed. I decided to use the same tactic in my new club, since I had found so much success with it in Hungary. The club was expected to finish in the top half but I believed we could do better and fight for European qualification, especially given the quality of the players at the club, as well as the fact that Slovakia is a country where there's not your standard 2-3 big clubs, so it's easier for smaller clubs to compete. We started off pretty strong, and we soon showed that we could actually challenge for the title. Sadly it wasn't to be however, and much like in my 2nd season at KA, our form started dropping and we ended up even losing the 2nd spot. It wasn't all bad though as we did manage to win the cup. Mind you, we faced a grand total of 0 first division teams (we were actually the only 1st division team in the quarter finals) and we really struggled against the 2nd division ones so I can't say we deserved it. Still, first proper trophy of my career, I'll take it.

Next season came, and with that an opportunity for European football as well as another shot at the title. We started from the very 1st qualifying round in the Europa League, where we easily dispatched Dacia from Moldova and then Aluminij from Slovenia before getting drawn against Hoffenheim. We narrowly lost 2-1 at their place which left us hopeful of an upset in the 2nd leg but it wasn't to be as they kept us at 0-0 and went through. Still a pretty impressive showing on our part. The league didn't start as good and we found ourselves in the middle of the table after 7-8 games. And then suddenly something just clicked. The striker that I had signed that summer decided that we should win the league and so we did, with him scoring 33 goals in 31 league games. The 2nd highest goalscorer in the league had a massive 10 goals. Talk about gulf in class.

https://i.imgur.com/qNCRe0K.png

We were pretty dominant and that was shown by us having 8 players in the Team of the Year. Sadly we couldn't couple that domination with a cup win as we fell short against a 2nd division team in the semis (in a 2-legged tie even). Still, Champions League was in the horizon next season and I couldn't be happier. I kept getting bombarded by interview offers throughout the season but the prospect of champions league football was too much to ignore. I did take a couple of interviews with some interesting clubs like Partizan and Young Boys but they ended up going a different direction. And boy, thank god they did as we exceeded all expectations in the Champions League, beating Ludogorets (2-1 at home, 3-0 away), Rosenborg (1-0 away, 2-2 at home) and Celtic (0-1 away, 4-0 at home) to make it to the group stages where we were awarded a kind group consisting of Juventus, City and RB Leipzig. I am hoping to maybe beat and getting 3rd place but we've already done way better than I expected so I can't complain.


Few things I've noticed so far. I see the trend where the defender makes a hasty clearance but it happens to fall on the feet of the striker 70 yards away who then goes to score is still here, as it was in the last version I played (FM14 I believe). Also I noticed that early goals are a big theme, no? Feels like every other game I have has an early goal (like before 10 mins or so). It's a bit strange.

EDIT: And I've just been offered the Huddersfield job (at the Championship, expected to finish just outside the playoffs). Not sure what to do. Their stature is bigger than Ruzom, but if I stay that's a shot at another title (2 if you include the cup) and I get to finish the CL groups as well (4 losses out of 4 so far as expected). Will be my last season in Slovakia either way, the question is do I leave now or at the end of the season. Decisions need to be made.

[Bernanke]

http://i.imgur.com/EUQsm8A.png?1

What a game that was. :drool: Going to the Euros!

Edit: It was Asoros first goal in the national team. Hero.

[John Arne]

This seems to be a new Brexit outcome...

https://gyazo.com/ae784b65393fe4321c7d64dbf2f4f70f.png

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/abpoZvF.png

I mean, they were the better team on the day no doubt. But losing 0-3 to wondergoals and whatnot while hitting the woodwork 3 times is so annoying.

[Gray Fox]

After pulling up short in both Europe and the league last year. I decided it was change time. I'm only bringing in players that will improve the first team, not just the squad.

The pre-arranged deal I spoke of before sees Arthur Seguin bought for an initial £25m. However there's a fair amount of add ons which, if he stays for a couple of seasons will see that up to £40m.

https://gyazo.com/9751c3e92d68f3dc9aecda2bee1a77b8.png

Next comes what I've done since picking the game up. We were looking a little toothless at the front and back. Plenty of potential without a massive amount of current ability. To that end I sought out a centre back. To be fair there weren't a great deal available that would have improved the team. Eventually we found Luka Corcic. I have him working on that aerial ability. If I can get that jumping into the teens he'll be a very good defender. £44m.

https://gyazo.com/0048cd79237bb231cb2cbc7bade427b9.png

Lastly the one I'm excited for. I wanted a star. The type everyone wants on their shirt. Introducing Philipp Zetterer. By far and away the best forward I found. Originally from Bayern, he went out on loan to Ingolstadt in the 2nd tier scoring 25 in 34. Then on to Betis and scored 21 in 38 games as an 18 year old in La Liga. This prompted RB Leipzig to buy him for £15m. Annoyingly I found him just after he had moved. Fast forward another year he netted 24 in 31 and was 2nd top scorer in the league. The only problem was RBL were sticking to his minimum fee release clause of £65m. In the end I paid it. He then scored 1 minute into the Community shield to properly announce himself.

https://gyazo.com/db57229a0935f3060dc747bb721512bb.png

I've moved on some failed prosepects and fringe players now and brought £95m back in to balance that £130m spend. Though in honesty I've still about £160m to spend.

Squad now looks like so:

https://gyazo.com/2e1373c34bc1efd13975552cbc68055c.png

Now the annoyance is Bayern have just rocked up wanting Hugo, who according to that is my best player. I have no real need to sell, however he's the type to kick up a fuss, so I'm not sure if to sell.

[Reg]

After pulling up short in both Europe and the league last year. I decided it was change time. I'm only bringing in players that will improve the first team, not just the squad.
Probably a good policy if you haven't moved forward the previous season.

Also, your regens don't look like deranged Martians, have you got a facepack for them?

[John]

Zetterer looks class. I'd be doing whatever I could to boost his acceleration, but then that's one of the main things I look for in a striker.

How much room to grow do your coaches give him?

[Dark Soldier]

Probably a good policy if you haven't moved forward the previous season.

Also, your regens don't look like deranged Martians, have you got a facepack for them?

Yeah there's one on FMScout, its much better although a lot of moustache heavy gay porn stars pop up

[Reg]

Cheers, I thought it must be a different one.

[Gray Fox]

I'm still on FM16, hence they look normal.
John he has 1 black star of growth apparently. According to the 20/20 head of youth, he's at 4* CA already. I'm the 10th best team according to reputation too, so that's almost as good as can be.

[Adramelch]

Just faced the following formation:

https://i.imgur.com/qi5uKBx.png

[Gray Fox]

Last week leading up to the deadline saw 2 players leave and 1 come in.

Max Meyer goes to Bayern in a deal that starts at £43m and rises over £50m in time. I want to give Vincent more game time as he's looked good whenever he's started. Andrija Zivkovic is the other. He'd been ravaged by 2 serious injuries in the last 2 seasons, so £12m is good money. Given he's also still 25, his move to Wolves in the Premier League should give him a shot at attracting another move. A 50% of next sale clause means we can take advantage of that.

The incoming is from one of our feeder clubs in Oviedo. My scout returned a report stating he had a £13.75m release clause. So Ruben Calvio is worth a shot at least. He's not perfect and I wanted to loan him back to Spain, but he wouldn't have it. For the price it seemed worth a shot.

https://i.gyazo.com/fb33d154d5c8a61d4bcf7526d4b72664.png

[John]

That Calvio kid will be seriously good. You're looking at a few twenties in important striker stats once he develops. Stick him on poacher training and he'll be the best striker in the world in two seasons.

[Dark Soldier]

I'm using a Chinese strikerless formation, and yeah I'm United, but first season I'm 17-0-0 in the league, one draw in the CL, won every single game across all competitions. Its fucking brutal and the football is wank material.

You'd no doubt get merked 8-0 if you were Cheltenham but holy shit this is up there with Diablo.

[Dark Soldier]

This:

bad man ting (http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-17-tactics/365342-chinese-343-strikerless-finally-its-own-thread.html)

OIs on page 31.

[Dark Soldier]

3500 more passes in the league than any other team :happycry:

[Spikey M]

After pulling up short in both Europe and the league last year. I decided it was change time. I'm only bringing in players that will improve the first team, not just the squad.

The pre-arranged deal I spoke of before sees Arthur Seguin bought for an initial £25m. However there's a fair amount of add ons which, if he stays for a couple of seasons will see that up to £40m.

https://gyazo.com/9751c3e92d68f3dc9aecda2bee1a77b8.png

Next comes what I've done since picking the game up. We were looking a little toothless at the front and back. Plenty of potential without a massive amount of current ability. To that end I sought out a centre back. To be fair there weren't a great deal available that would have improved the team. Eventually we found Luka Corcic. I have him working on that aerial ability. If I can get that jumping into the teens he'll be a very good defender. £44m.

https://gyazo.com/0048cd79237bb231cb2cbc7bade427b9.png

Lastly the one I'm excited for. I wanted a star. The type everyone wants on their shirt. Introducing Philipp Zetterer. By far and away the best forward I found. Originally from Bayern, he went out on loan to Ingolstadt in the 2nd tier scoring 25 in 34. Then on to Betis and scored 21 in 38 games as an 18 year old in La Liga. This prompted RB Leipzig to buy him for £15m. Annoyingly I found him just after he had moved. Fast forward another year he netted 24 in 31 and was 2nd top scorer in the league. The only problem was RBL were sticking to his minimum fee release clause of £65m. In the end I paid it. He then scored 1 minute into the Community shield to properly announce himself.

https://gyazo.com/db57229a0935f3060dc747bb721512bb.png

I've moved on some failed prosepects and fringe players now and brought £95m back in to balance that £130m spend. Though in honesty I've still about £160m to spend.

Squad now looks like so:

https://gyazo.com/2e1373c34bc1efd13975552cbc68055c.png

Now the annoyance is Bayern have just rocked up wanting Hugo, who according to that is my best player. I have no real need to sell, however he's the type to kick up a fuss, so I'm not sure if to sell.

Offer him a new contract

[Raoul Duke]

This:

bad man ting (http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-17-tactics/365342-chinese-343-strikerless-finally-its-own-thread.html)

OIs on page 31.

Mental. I'm starting to get the itch again now :moop:

Why are people calling it "strikerless" when it has three up top?

Also - any ideas where I can find a decent "future save" thread? I kinda prefer playing with a bunch of regens as I don't fall into the trap of buying the same people every time then.

[Giggles]

Mental. I'm starting to get the itch again now :moop:

Why are people calling it "strikerless" when it has three up top?

Also - any ideas where I can find a decent "future save" thread? I kinda prefer playing with a bunch of regens as I don't fall into the trap of buying the same people every time then.

I normally start a new game by firing it up and holidaying for a couple of seasons, then adding a manager to take over who I want and retire the original. Mixes it up a bit, just do it for longer.

[phonics]

Deciding to give this a bash with DS' tactic. Absolutely hammered them, didn't score and then Stewart Downing scored a 35 yarder to beat us 1-0. FM never changes.

[Adramelch]

I was drawn against Steaua in the CL playoff and was annoyed as they were the strongest of the unseeded teams and then this happened:

https://i.imgur.com/1tKyUWF.png

Leao replaced Larsson in the 65th minute so that the latter gets a standing ovation and went and grabbed a hat-trick in the next 5 minutes.

[Dark Soldier]

Deciding to give this a bash with DS' tactic. Absolutely hammered them, didn't score and then Stewart Downing scored a 35 yarder to beat us 1-0. FM never changes.

Let it gel lad. All 3 slots, training in match tactics.

https://i.gyazo.com/55e784f0f479dd3d6df7317c69faa940.jpg

:drool:

[Dark Soldier]

Didn't lose a single game in any competition, and won every single trophy.

I haven't done that since CM01/02 :drool:

[Adam]

Didn't lose a single game in any competition, and won every single trophy.

I haven't done that since CM01/02 :drool:

Boring as fuck though.

[Dark Soldier]

Boring as fuck though.

Yup already bored with the save. Won the Charity Shield 7-1 and quit.

[Adam]

http://i67.tinypic.com/ztucyh.png

Look at the state of that salary per annum difference.

[wullie]

Tried the Chinese tactic DS posted as a test, put Motherwell on autopilot and sat on the beach all season. First time round it saw a league cup victory, second season the cup was retained and then this happened:

http://i.imgur.com/GpIuixs.jpg

Seems to be pretty effective then.

[Adam]

In the midst of a cracking save with Marseille. I've managed to power through 6 seasons so far and we have won 2 league titles, 1 french fa cup, 1 Europa league and 3 league cup's. PSG have started to dominate the league in the last 2 seasons there squad is absolutely insane, they've also won the Champions League twice which is great for the French leagues coefficients as we now sit second behind the Premier League. My major gripe so far is that I lose a major star every summer when the big boys come sniffing around.

[ScousePig]

My second season with Norwich turned into a pretty good one:

http://i.imgur.com/9S0J0mz.png

http://i.imgur.com/Ncpvagp.png

http://i.imgur.com/cJ94nTg.png

http://i.imgur.com/LLXcZBA.png

Our FA cup run was great, outplaying Chelsea at their place in the Quarter-Final, beating Stoke in the Semi before almost beating champions Arsenal in the final. They won it in the last minute of extra time. In the league we found ourselves something like seven points adrift with five games to go, but clawed it back to win the play-offs.

[Adramelch]

So I've been using the same tactic for 2 seasons now and mid-way through my 3rd the familiarity dropped from like 90+ to 5% or something, for no apparent reason. Pretty annoying and it might be confirmation bias but it seems that indeed the players are not familiar with it, doing unusual passes and whatnot. Played over a season since and it's not going back up (even though the squad is relatively unchanged). Pretty damn annoying.

Funny thing is that most of the new players I sign are significantly more familiar with the tactic than the old ones.

[phonics]

That DS tactic is so broken. I won the league with Stoke in my first season despite buying no-one and selling half the team.

[wullie]

I let Nuneaton run with it on autopilot for years and from 2017 in the sixth tier, by 2030 they were a top half Premier League team with a Europa League to their name and a 30000-seater stadium they didn't even consider naming in my honour.

[nsd]

That DS tactic is so broken. I won the league with Stoke in my first season despite buying no-one and selling half the team.

Who'd you sell, out of interest?

[Adramelch]

Noticed a relatively high amount of missed penalties and took a look at the league as a whole. 66% conversion ratio, surely that's too low?

[Reg]

66% off the price of the current FM on Steam, for anyone who hasn't got it.

[phonics]

Who'd you sell, out of interest?

http://i.imgur.com/QPAJEQc.png

Shaqiri was injured for 8 months so I had to rely on Diouf a bit prior to that. Pieters demanded a move and was replaced by Duarte for his release clause. Butland didn't play a game all season.

Current squad due to Shaqiri leaving to City for 50 million, replaced by Siggurdson for 20. Currently in a state of flux because Stoke don't have a single player trained by them for the CL. I've bought a load of 16 year olds to try fix this. Shenton looks good though.

http://i.imgur.com/fnIRr8X.png

http://i.imgur.com/PWQ3Nek.png

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/gFgFYLR.png

Games between us were both 1-1 draws so we ended up qualifying courtesy of our coefficient. Deserved!

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/SspzGSr.png

You know you had a good game when you completed 108% of your passes.

[phonics]

Harry Redknapp was in charge of the OPTA that day.

[Adramelch]

So in my Jman save I've ended up at Monaco. In the 5 years I am here, I've won the league 5 times, the cup 4 times, the league cup 3 times, the CL 3 times (getting to the final one more time) and the Europa League once. And despite all that I'm still not even an icon of the club. But more importantly, I've spent a net total of 15m on players across the five players, have managed to maintain a wage budget less than most big teams (for example PSG spent 50% more than us) and we're still losing something like 50m euros per season. How is that possible?

[Gray Fox]

Prize money and TV deals in France will be quite shit. Attendences to games will probably be the same. The top 2 there only have enough money due to their ownership.

It's almost the same in Spain. The top 2 there get a large majority of the TV money and the rest get a tiny percentage between them. I'm sure this is about to change in real life though.

You'll likely only be making money through sales and your success in Europe.

[Raoul Duke]

FM (Sega) have acquired rights for the Bundesliga: https://www.dfl.de/en/home/dfl-announces-match-dates-until-end-of-september-bundesliga-fixtures.html

No more Gelsenkirchen!

[Yevrah]

Have we a video of Miles in a fetching t-shirt promoting FM18 yet?

[Gray Fox]

None yet Yevrah but you can have this picture. It comes complete with a whole load of smug.

829659419004825600

[Yevrah]

Ah, there's the sexy bastard.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Only that goon would actually wear a grey jacket, navy shirt and black tie to the Palace.

[Disco]

Services to databases.

[Adramelch]

Noticed that Ruzomberok, the Slovak team with which I won 2 league titles during my reign there, have gone on to win the next 20 as well. Guess that CL money were well invested.

[Adramelch]

So my winger is at the far post and my striker at the penalty spot, cross comes in, striker gets it and scores. Goal gets ruled out as apparently the winger was offside, even though he didn't contribute to the goal whatsoever. Funny thing being he wasn't offside anyway. Yet I complain in my press conference and I get a touchline ban. It's silly that we get stuff like that in this age and day.

And in terms of grievances, it's about time SI pull their finger out and fix the issue with crosses and goalkeepers not coming out for them. I just scored a goal where the ball passed 1 foot above the opposition goalkeeper and he didn't stretch his hands to get it.

[Mike]

Hadn't played FM in a while and normally do a save like this on each game towards the end of its run.

I made a side, with no players (well three youth players, you'll know them well ;)) a big bag of money and owners willing to spend. They're in the Championship so you can't sign super megastars right away, but I feel that adds to the challenge.
It's on the workshop too. It won't work, I don't think, if you have a third party data update.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1100082463

http://i.imgur.com/ACQxnDt.png
http://i.imgur.com/PHseUrS.png

[Reg]

FM18 will be out Friday, November 10th.


Fans who pre-purchase Football Manager 2018 before Monday, October 9th and have Football Manager 2017 in their Steam Library will receive a 'Contract Extension Bonus'
discount of 25%.

Full price on the FM site is £37.99.

No new features announced yet, they'll come in September.

I'll probably get it, partly to manage Brighton in the Premier League.

[John Arne]

My board have just sold my best youth prospect (a 17yr old current first teamer), on transfer deadline day, without a sell on clause for $900k. Cunts.

https://gyazo.com/c8d0db3c9bf169125ca83db14e73eae1.png

[Giggles]

When's 18 out?

[John Arne]

November 10th.

[Mike]

https://i.imgur.com/oHfINfU.png

:moop:

[Shindig]

Must've been an intense three minutes.

[Giggles]

:face:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_1gPUeY0EY

[Adramelch]

That legitimately looks like a parody video.

[wullie]

Don't know if it's on that video as it looks too much of a load of arse to watch, but cliques within the squad are a new thing this year.

[Adramelch]

Don't know if it's on that video as it looks too much of a load of arse to watch, but cliques within the squad are a new thing this year.

Ye that's apparently the main feature.

[phonics]

Don't know if it's on that video as it looks too much of a load of arse to watch, but cliques within the squad are a new thing this year.

Ah more random morale management. Just what I wanted.

[bruhnaldo]

For real, i just wanna manage the club, or even the cool shit like building stadiums blah blah blah.

I can't be bothered with "Jesse Lingard is unhappy with Henrikh Mkhitaryan because his dabs aren't clean enough"

[phonics]

I'm just looking forward to the press conferences, I'm sure they'll overhaul the system this year. lol.

[wullie]

The thing where half your squad throws a strop because you won't sell the star player for 50p is the one I hate most.

[Giggles]

Ye that's apparently the main feature.

In other words it'll have far too much bearing on things and fuck up everything else.

[Gray Fox]

Edinson Cavani is unhappy that Neymar jr has been placed on Penalties.

Assertively "Here's €1m now get out of my office"

Aggressively "I can't believe how badly you've handled this. I'm going to make sure my team mates hear about this."

[Boydy]

Is it not about time someone else had a go at making a football management game again to give them a bit of competition?

[Disco]

Someone else? They're the only ones who've ever actually done it.

[Spikey M]

The thing where half your squad throws a strop because you won't sell the star player for 50p is the one I hate most.

I asked one of my players if a pay rise would convince him to to stay the other day, he was fucking OUTRAGED that I bought money in to it. Then he explained that PSG would pay more than my Sunderland side did.

[John Arne]

Is it me or does that "Headline Features" video not actually describe any features? New scouting! DYNAMICS!!... what does this involve???

[Shindig]

Why does the man at Creative Assembly not know about the game he's working on?

[ScousePig]

I've really enjoyed this version, it's got me back into it. It's not perfect of course but it's the only game I play. It might be because it's the first time I've used the 2d pitch with extended highlights so I can actually see what's going on.

I'm still with Norwich. I did start updating my progress on here but it was a while back. I got promoted in my second season and have spent about seven years in the Premier League. We were mid table for a few seasons, then qualified for the Champions League and have been around Europe in either competition for the last few seasons. We also won the Europa League last season, have won the league cup twice I think, and got to a couple of FA Cup finals.

I've been mainly using a 4-3-1-2 formation. There's one called gamebreaker which is very good (It's not actually a gamebreaker, just a good solid tactic I think), and I tweaked that to suit my team. Then I came across another tactic which someone had also tweaked from the gamebreaker and was fairly similar to mine, only with some amazing results so I've started using pretty much that this season as it's perfect for my team.

[Adramelch]

Is it me or does that "Headline Features" video not actually describe any features? New scouting! DYNAMICS!!... what does this involve???

This "dynamics" thing is the feature wullie mentioned about the player cliques as far as I underrstand.

Match engine still needs quite a bit of work. It's ridiculous how dominant crosses have been for quite some time now. Goalkeepers in particular need a lot of fixing.

[John Arne]

I'm not very up to speed on the making of games - but how hard would it be to use the graphics from something like PES 2017, and just stick the FM engine behind it? I'm commentary only, so don't care for graphics - but I seems strange that FM uses such crappy 3D modelling.

[ScousePig]

This "dynamics" thing is the feature wullie mentioned about the player cliques as far as I underrstand.

Match engine still needs quite a bit of work. It's ridiculous how dominant crosses have been for quite some time now. Goalkeepers in particular need a lot of fixing.

My full backs are one of my most important positions attacking wise, so much so that I haven't needed to use wingers or inside forwards. I did experiment with them but had mixed success really.

As it happens my current tactic doesn't really require much crossing like my old one did. It's very narrow and focuses on lots of men together compact in the middle. Even the full backs come narrow.

[Adramelch]

My full backs are one of my most important positions attacking wise, so much so that I haven't needed to use wingers or inside forwards. I did experiment with them but had mixed success really.

As it happens my current tactic doesn't really require much crossing like my old one did. It's very narrow and focuses on lots of men together compact in the middle. Even the full backs come narrow.

There's ways to play without crosses but crosses are undoubtedly ridiculously strong and that's mostly down to the keepers. Either they don't come out to collect very easy far crosses (to the extend that the ball goes straight above the keeper and he doesn't bother or it's a near cross and the goalkeeper gets defeated at his near post. That being in stark contrast with how powerful goalkeepers are at 1-on-1 situations.

And to add to that you have the whole direct free kick/penalty shenanigans this version. Direct free kicks that go straight to the keeper yet he makes a mess of it, while at the same time they save penalties that for intents and purposes should be unsaveable (although it's often the takers that mess it up).

[Shindig]

I'm not very up to speed on the making of games - but how hard would it be to use the graphics from something like PES 2017, and just stick the FM engine behind it? I'm commentary only, so don't care for graphics - but I seems strange that FM uses such crappy 3D modelling.

They probably want to keep something simple to allow more machines to run it. Plus, combining better graphics with whatever's going on under the hood might be pretty CPU intensive. I'm a commentary only guy as well. Tells you the tale of the match enough. All you could really pick up from a match engine is if someone's letting their man go too often or losing out. Hell, you get plenty of feedback to decipher conclusions from match ratings and such.

There's a lot about modern FM that just feels like fluff.

[ScousePig]

Scoring direct free kicks is what propelled me into the Champions League. Sigurdsson was he man. That and Charlie Taylor as my marauding full back. I've got quote a few world class players now but he's been my poty every season.

[ScousePig]

They probably want to keep something simple to allow more machines to run it. Plus, combining better graphics with whatever's going on under the hood might be pretty CPU intensive. I'm a commentary only guy as well. Tells you the tale of the match enough. All you could really pick up from a match engine is if someone's letting their man go too often or losing out. Hell, you get plenty of feedback to decipher conclusions from match ratings and such.

There's a lot about modern FM that just feels like fluff.

I've always been a commentary only person, but as I say I've really liked watching the 2d pitch this time around.

[Adramelch]

Scoring direct free kicks is what propelled me into the Champions League. Sigurdsson was he man. That and Charlie Taylor as my marauding full back. I've got quote a few world class players now but he's been my poty every season.

I've had mediocre free kick takers (with like 10-12) get 7-8 goals a season from direct free kicks. At the same time, I've had competent penalty takers (15-16) miss about 30-40% of their penalties. It's pretty silly.

[ScousePig]

Another thing I've noticed, and this is largely due to my tactics, but my ball winning midfielder, Havard Nordtvelt scores a lot of long range shots, despite only being something like 11. Other players I've played in that position don't do It, despite similar stats.

[Adramelch]

Another thing I've noticed, and this is largely due to my tactics, but my ball winning midfielder, Havard Nordtvelt scores a lot of long range shots, despite only being something like 11. Other players I've played in that position don't do It, despite similar stats.

Does he maybe have a preferred move to attempt them? On that note, I hate how they've essentially hidden the preferred moves (or am I just dumb and can't see them, apart from the recommended move thingy?).

[Boydy]

Someone else? They're the only ones who've ever actually done it.

What? There used to be loads of different management games around.

[Giggles]

Championship Manager went on for a year or two after the split off with FM. It was steaming though.

[Boydy]

I'm talking about before that. Like way back in the day, there used to be stuff like LMA, Player Manager, Premier Manager, FIFA Manager etc. I mean, it was probably a lot cheaper to produce games back in those days as there wasn't as much you could put in but given FM has basically had a monopoly now for quite a few years and seems to get a load of criticism, I'm surprised someone else hasn't had a go.

[Giggles]

Tracksuit Manager :drool:

There's loads of mobile ones still but they're all in-app purchase driven shite.

[John]

Anyone trying to make a rival game now would be hobbled by the expectation of scope. You could probably put together a Premier League only game easily enough, but who's buying it when the big name in the genre has that plus a million other leagues? To make a game close to as big you'd need to either spend a billion quid putting a scouting network together yourself or give SI a billion quid for access to theirs. Then people will go for the name they know anyway.

[Disco]

None of the others actually worked though, say what you like and Champ/FM (and no, we aren't counting the shambling corpse of Champ Man after everyone left to make FM) but the database and simulation lasted more than five seasons without falling over. Premier Manager ran out of players, USM 'suffered' from tremendous inflation making it impossible to buy anyone. Champ/FM is the only game to be more than a few simple mechanics with some football painted over the top, it's a legitimate strategy game at this point with a reasonable following amongst people who aren't interested in football in the slightest. Nothing else has ever really done it in the same way.

[Giggles]

They're doing their best to ruin it though in an effort to bring in the FIFA LAD crowd with all this clique bollocks though. They won't have the attention span for it anyway but unfortunately they can afford to mess about like this because there's zero competition.

[Dark Soldier]

The editor always saves the day, as it did with that Brexit bollocks.

[John]

I'm not sure you could devise a more effective way to turn off the FIFA crowd than by having them defuse a fight between the Spaniards and the Frenchies at Arsenal via a series of badly worded menus.

[Disco]

I don't think there can be a great many avenues of development open to them at this point, especially when it comes to selling a new version. The match engine has some quirks but is otherwise ok, the database can't really get any better, off pitch bollocks is the area most lacking in mechanics.

I can't see any major changes happening unless a new competitor enters the market with some new approach that makes FM look old fashioned. Fuck knows who or how that would come about though, as John said the bar to entry seems too high.

[wullie]

I like the idea of the squad dynamics thing, I just don't trust their execution of it.

I remember having Premier Manager on PS1, rocketing through seasons in a matter of hours.

[Disco]

The editor always saves the day, as it did with that Brexit bollocks.

I think this is important too, SI haven't dropped a ton of bricks onto people making editors or finding ways to fuck with their database. That would be a good way to alienate part of your audience and inspire competition.

[Disco]

I like the idea of the squad dynamics thing, I just don't trust their execution of it.

I remember having Premier Manager on PS1, rocketing through seasons in a matter of hours.

I had PM2 on my first ever PC, it was a lottery because every now and again the fax machine secretly turned into the exit game button.

[Giggles]

I like the idea of the squad dynamics thing, I just don't trust their execution of it.

I remember having Premier Manager on PS1, rocketing through seasons in a matter of hours.

That's going to be the problem. Fine in theory but they'll go balls deep because it's about the only visible difference that might make a new version worth buying, and it'll become the single biggest factor in winning and losing games. Then they'll throw strops for a few months while people complain about it before fixing it early next year.

[Adramelch]

Anyone trying to make a rival game now would be hobbled by the expectation of scope. You could probably put together a Premier League only game easily enough, but who's buying it when the big name in the genre has that plus a million other leagues? To make a game close to as big you'd need to either spend a billion quid putting a scouting network together yourself or give SI a billion quid for access to theirs. Then people will go for the name they know anyway.

It's not even just the scouting network. Team/league rights is a big thing too. When CM went on after the split with FM most competitions/clubs for the most part had different names (much like it is with German clubs in the current FM and whatnot).

[Smiffy]

The video was bollocks, the new 'features' are bollocks, the game itself is bollocks but like a muppet, I'll get it regardless.

It's definitely stalled for a good number of years although I can't complain too much given the number of hours I get out of it.

[wullie]

Same, even though the price has crept up towards console game prices the amount of time I get out of each makes it incredible value all the same.

With 17 it was only really Brexit that I really didn't like, it nobbled my Cov game when I was properly motoring and then suddenly couldn't sign anyone. That fix to disable it was perfect, hopefully there's another for 18 ready to go.

[Disco]

I buy one every 2-3 years so I might get this one. Still only on my first FM15 save :cool:

[Giggles]

What I want is some sort of quick start assistance. All those meetings and expectations, hiring coaches, etc at the very start of a save is a pain in the pipe. Only reason I can only ever be bothered doing a single proper save per version.

[Shindig]

I'm not sure you could devise a more effective way to turn off the FIFA crowd than by having them defuse a fight between the Spaniards and the Frenchies at Arsenal via a series of badly worded menus.

"Team morale is dipping. Your assistant suggests a Paella night."

[Adramelch]

I'm managing my local team AEK in my latest save, and 14 seasons in, I have a transfer budget of 320 million euros with like 250m in the bank. It's ridiculously easy to buy people at like less than a million and sell them for 30 after a few years.

[Adramelch]

How did they manage to fuck up Jman games that much? Apart from not being able to set reputation at that of the lowest loaded league anymore, I'm now finding myself with a 1-star reputation for myself and 3-star reputation clubs offering me interviews.

[John Arne]

Bunch of cunts....

https://gyazo.com/83214d69495d365dc17da34db41bddd1.png

[Jimmy Floyd]

I assume each seat has a built in mini-bar and masturbating cushion.

[John Arne]

I'd expect a Vietnamese whore to give me a halftime hand job for that money.

[John Arne]

Instead of fucking around with the UI, can SI not fix wage demands for youngsters.

An 18yr old striker playing in South Africa wants $65k-a-week, currently earning $1.1k. $65k to leave Mamelodi Sundowns, with 2 caps for South Africa... he's barely known outside of his own fucking house.

[Adramelch]

I haven't had much problems in that department to big honest.

[John Arne]

I hadn't early on in the game, but now (2022), it's pretty rampant.

[Adramelch]

I hadn't early on in the game, but now (2022), it's pretty rampant.

I've played up to 2040-ish in my previous Jman game and I can't recall noticing anything like that. Even in my latest save where I was at 2030 I actually had youngsters that were in the first 11 for my team and they were still asking for surprisingly low wages.

[Spikey M]

Isn’t that tied to the average you are paying to similar players for your team?

[Adramelch]

Isn’t that tied to the average you are paying to similar players for your team?

It is for the most part yeah, but I haven't personally had it even in big clubs, where the youngster asks for money comparable to what the seniors are getting.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you are playing as a rich English team or a rich team from a top league, I could see a youngster who is already a full international asking for £50k a week, assuming those are US dollars.

[Spikey M]

It is for the most part yeah, but I haven't personally had it even in big clubs, where the youngster asks for money comparable to what the seniors are getting.

No, but if you are playing your youngsters 40-50k thane new youngsters will want the same. That’s how I thought it worked, anyway.

[Adramelch]

No, but if you are playing your youngsters 40-50k thane new youngsters will want the same. That’s how I thought it worked, anyway.

Ye it depends on that and also obviously what the profile of the player and so on. I'm assuming John Arne is complaining because the rest of his youngsters are not paid anywhere near that close.

In any case, I've managed clubs like Monaco and whatnot and I never had that in this version. You get the odd player that asks for more than you'd think his worth but nothing too unrealistic.

[John Arne]

I've played up to 2040-ish in my previous Jman game and I can't recall noticing anything like that. Even in my latest save where I was at 2030 I actually had youngsters that were in the first 11 for my team and they were still asking for surprisingly low wages.

I must be particularly unlucky, then.

[Adramelch]

I must be particularly unlucky, then.

Or I might be lucky. In any case though I'd say it's not a prominent problem of the game.

[Adramelch]

So in the tactic I have created and have been using for most of fm17 I had the instruction to mixed crosses. I noticed in the team I'm managing now that we're useless on the air and never score that way so I changed it to low crosses a few months ago. Made 0 difference whatsoever. They will still go for a high cross more often than not.

As a sidenote, there's nothing like being 1st place with a team predicted to fight against relegation and losing the penultimate game against a team that got relegated with 6 games to go and have like 20 points from 36 games, which ends up costing you the title.

[Giggles]

Still though, none of those things will annoy you next year because you've DYNAMICS to play with. Or they could actually fix them :uhoh:

[Dark Soldier]

Well then

https://i.gyazo.com/ceaeba2299d35d732f84ebf99e6b8f9f.png

It is a greyed out player gk on celtic's side tbf :happycry:

[ScousePig]

Decided to start a new game a little while back, with the updated transfers from the summer. I started unemployed but got the Oldham job pretty much straight away. 2/3rds into the season I was around the play-offs, and I got sacked for failing to rule myself out of another job. I didn't declare interest in it or anything, so I thought it was a bit harsh. In the end, I applied for the Millwall job but didn't get it. In the close season Charlton's manager went somewhere in the Championship, and I got that job.

Half-way through the season:

https://i.imgur.com/9Y2gWyB.jpg