The Football Manager 2017 Thread - Sponsored by Brexit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's one of my favourite FM transfer stories ever.

[Shindig]

I don't think anything will match David Prutton's 14 failed medicals.

[Dark Soldier]

Heh yeah that's glorious.

[Raoul Duke]

Embolo is boss. Very highly-rated youngster.

Everton being shite is amusing - they always used to be massively overrated

[Mazuuurk]

Embolo is boss. Very highly-rated youngster.

Everton being shite is amusing - they always used to be massively overrated

And since he has a 33M Relegation release clause, he might be at Man Utd next year :cool:

Though I don't really need any more strikers now I suppose, so long as Zlatan is still alive and kicking.

[mugbull]

Question: I'm on break for the next 3 weeks and am thinking of buying FM17 to tide me over when i'm not doing school/music/etc. Is FM17 better than 16 or 15? Specifically with match engine stuff, AI teambuilding, etc. Should I get the new version, basically. Also, how far can I get in a save in 3 weeks, because I'm probably not gonna play once school starts again.

[Smiffy]

Athletic America is coming to an end if you want to upload your save, John. It's a bit tedious winning by a cricket score each week. We made the group stages of the Champions League for a third successive season which really puts us out of sight from the other two, the rest of the league has no hope.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/nx4XhPD.png

Seething.

Our run of league games without a defeat is snapped at 86.

My second best in FM history after my Atlanta streak.

[Adamski]

Just as well. I was close to calling shenanigans on the entire save.

[Mazuuurk]

Question: I'm on break for the next 3 weeks and am thinking of buying FM17 to tide me over when i'm not doing school/music/etc. Is FM17 better than 16 or 15? Specifically with match engine stuff, AI teambuilding, etc. Should I get the new version, basically. Also, how far can I get in a save in 3 weeks, because I'm probably not gonna play once school starts again.

I think it's better yeah. The engine definitely seems a little more... dynamic somehow.

Before I always felt like it was just stats against stats at the end of the day, the engine was a bit more "for show" but it feels a tad more like the tactics make a difference, and I kind of feel like I see the difference in how players react when I change their instructions more.


Of course, it could all just be - and damn well probably is - placebo. But if so - who cares, right? :)

[mugbull]

Word. I'm gonna try and acquire it. Valencia CF omwww

[Manc]

Season 3 witnessed a 4th place finish, a piss up in the cups, and another Europa league quarter final exit. Consistency. :cool:

Fearing another Europa campaign, the summer would prove to be important and the window came up trumps.

Out went Diaby, Diarra, Debuchy, Pele and other shite.

Arriving were Ben Arfa, Nzonzi, Mendy, Boucher, Knockaert, Masuaku, Rami and Fulgini for £15m.

I'm aware our average age is that of an Italian club in the 90's, but alas we have depth and quality.

[Smiffy]

http://s20.postimg.org/5hglp0zct/screenshot_605.pngIt starts. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Christ, the Checkatrade Trophy. It's remarkable somebody came up with a competition as shit as this. A fucking group stage of Luton Town, Ebbsfleet and the Fulham under 23s.

Ended up using this formation, really doubt it'll work but we're getting loads of possession so it should be fun.

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

[Smiffy]

Man City U23's romped it a few times in my saves when doing lower league. It's an absolute joke of a competition.

[John]

Fucking mug. They'll be raging in 3 years time when there's no stadium to do interviews in.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's probably right though, imagine how hard it must be for a Scottish accent to be understood in Serbia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has anyone managed to do anything with a back three on this? I just can't get them to defend properly. Everything goes round the side because the wide players don't track back and the centre backs don't cover.

I have to create three or four chances for every one the opposition get because they're absolutely lethal against a back three. But back fours are so boring and full backs are overrated.

[Dark Soldier]

Why not build a back 6 with a libero, three across the middle and one up front and shit your way to victory?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I did reasonably well with a back three, wing backs and a DM but didn't score any goals. I think I'll have to start a new game with a top team to do it though as these people are just 4-4-2 monkeys.

[Reg]

I did reasonably well with a back three, wing backs and a DM but didn't score any goals. I think I'll have to start a new game with a top team to do it though as these people are just 4-4-2 monkeys.
Try moving the MR+L back to the WB slots, and make one or both of the DM's roles more attacking (or move them up to CM).

[Shindig]

DS already has Zvomomir Boban's child. He's won.

[Smiffy]

OFK Beograd - 2022/23 - A New Era.After replacing John I had hoped to hit the ground running so as to appease those who felt it was a mistake getting rid of the Scot and preseason did just that as we were fairly decent and I got a look at the lads first hand. Belic exciting me from the get go.http://s20.postimg.org/fzu30v01p/screenshot_605.pngHowever unlike the former manager I was much more keen to dip into the transfer market whilst at the same time not wanting to undo too much too soon. With that in mind we brought in a trio of players, two of whom were old boys of the club.http://s20.postimg.org/ka8qwg54t/screenshot_605.pnghttp://s20.postimg.org/bghufci65/screenshot_605.pnghttp://s20.postimg.org/jn9u6x88t/screenshot_605.pngSeason SummaryOur first competitive game of the season was to be the Super Kup final against Partizan. I've not always been a fan of early season cups as I figure most players are still a few weeks away from peak condition and that's exactly the excuse I used as we came unstuck.http://s20.postimg.org/ubdl5ri7x/screenshot_605.pngIf there was to be a reminder of the Jock leaving for pastures new then this was as quick as they were going to come given Beograd had won the cup the previous two seasons.Nonetheless we bounced back days later by winning our opening game of the season 1-0 away to Macva but something wasn't quite right. We slipped up against Radnicki to lose by two goals, a 0-0 draw at home to Sturm Graz in the Europa was followed by a 1-1 draw to Red Star to make it just one win in five which put me under pressure after just two months. Losing the return leg to Sturm Graz just brought unneeded attention to a poor start. Europe gone in a heartbeat.Thankfully we followed this up with a tactic change and that in itself brought a 4-0 victory at home to Mlados and things started changing for the better. We would go on to lose just two more times in the Super Liga Prelim's thus leaving us in a decent position going into the next stage.https://s20.postimg.org/h5thlwyyl/screenshot_605.pngAfter the maths had been done we would still remain top and still had a fighting chance of reclaiming the league title which would have been the perfect response to those suggesting the club had signed a dud as manager. Financially liable I was considered. Fools.https://s20.postimg.org/42xv2n8ql/screenshot_605.pngResults - Prelim.http://s20.postimg.org/zbb1dpnul/screenshot_605.pnghttp://s20.postimg.org/ps1ck90cd/screenshot_605.pngSeven games in which to prove ourselves and capture our first trophy. Pleasantly surprised that that's exactly how it turned out too.http://s20.postimg.org/tpom9nn5p/screenshot_605.pngA few days after capturing the league title we continued to rewrite history at the club by capturing the domestic cup also.http://s20.postimg.org/rz5l865ml/screenshot_605.pngNew records set for most points in a season, most wins, most clean sheets, most games won in a row, most games without losing whilst breaking the club record transfer with the return of Luka Belic. John who?! ;)Belic perhaps benefited more than most but I might be being unfair on John given he's only recently been starting out for him anyway, definitely a player to go up top as opposed to on the wing though. His partnership with his namesake plundered 59 goals between them whilst both IIija Marjanovic and Dragoslav Stanisavljevic pitched in with 12 and 0 respectively.Take note. I reckon Belic's £35K a week was John's monthly wage budget for everyone. 41% of the clubs wage bill but I feel he'll be worth it. I'm hoping I can keep a few of the talented youngsters together over the summer but not overly fussed if that's not the case. I'm looking to splash out a bit more on some defensive reinforcements as that's where we're lacking the most.Sasa Salipur the only defender we got in the youth intake worth bothering with.http://s20.postimg.org/tuwyx2jul/screenshot_605.pngNot a bad first season considering I thought I'd cocked up within the first few weeks.

[Smiffy]

I don't even have a clue what's going on here. That's all bent out of shape, I have 'advanced' settings and I keep having to double click then press back to get on a page on this forum. :cab:

[Giggles]

This has been popping up for months. Attacking has no less stars than any other area, so what the fuck will get rid of it?

http://i.imgur.com/Pn5JG6O.png

[John]

I'd posted about Luka Belic before. He scored six against me in the second season, and is still Beograd's youngest ever player, the fucking shithouse. Thirty five grand a week is my weekly wage bill. Well done, Smiff. Corking season. What system are you playing?

What's the 'coaches workload' for attacking?

[Smiffy]

I feared the worse at the start given it was such a bad one but that's when I made the switch from 4-3-3 to 5-3-2 and didn't really look back. The front two have definitely benefited from it I found it interesting that Javor were my main challengers given they've not done a great deal on this save. Your man Milos Zivic made a move as well, to AC Milan. :moop: I missed that.This upcoming season I hope to give game time to Sasa Salipur who came through my intake and Danko Radovanovic who I'm hoping to retrain as a wingback but then I was debating that with Rundic too given he's not really done much in as my centre mid.

[Smiffy]

Well that was an interesting couple of days. :uhoh:https://s20.postimg.org/40n67ajul/screenshot_605.pngAfter some bitching and moaning.http://s20.postimg.org/h7cm6tfjx/screenshot_605.pngThen I reject an offer from PSG as they aren't Benfica then tell a small white lie to Nemanja Blagojevic.http://s20.postimg.org/sz0hhma65/screenshot_605.pngYes....

[Shindig]

I can't see that backfiring. :D

[John]

:D

I just tell players to fuck off when they turn up moaning about a move. Their morale takes a bit of a hit, but the lesser teams in that league are crap so I invariably boff some no hopers six nil within a couple of weeks and their morale jumps up. There's a bit of a developing theme with right sided players emerging. With that bloke you've had through that's three right wingers and three right backs who've come through as players who look capable of becoming something. I'm retraining Danko as a playmaker but his tackling and positioning are high enough at that age that you could definitely turn him into a more defensive player. Rundic is bobbins as a central midfielder, the only position I've had joy with him is behind the striker as an attacking midfielder, but what joy it was. Have a look at his history and see if you can tell which season we won the league.

Interesting that the board are back to accepting offers on your behalf. I've been turning down fifteen million quid offers for a couple of players without a peep. You murdered the bank balance already?

Throw up a screen of Slobodan Belic if you don't mind. Interested to see how he's developed with a full season of first team football behind him. I've been easing him in for about two seasons now but he's at the point in terms of ability where he basically has to play.

[Smiffy]

http://s20.postimg.org/q8vqy62v1/screenshot_605.pngI've had a job keeping him but even if he doesn't want to talk to me that doesn't change the fact he has over two years left on his contract. He's doing great which is just as well as Luka Belic is still a few weeks away from returning after straining his knee ligaments. I can't remember what the bank balance was but I think I may have improved it by qualifying for the Champions League.As of right now....http://s20.postimg.org/hf4uh2fwd/screenshot_605.pnghttp://s20.postimg.org/b2pp78cu5/screenshot_605.pngI lost Milovan Zlatic and Milos Maksimovic whilst Branko Cokulov has gone to Milan on loan as I brought in someone else.http://s20.postimg.org/qcpkef8cd/screenshot_605.pngTwelve clean sheets already.I think Europe is definitely having an effect domestically however.http://s20.postimg.org/eovijvj7h/screenshot_605.png

[John]

Maksimovic is good but he's one I wouldn't mind losing either. Milosevic is miles better and there's enough cover there without him. Europe murders me far more than it ever has done and I'm not sure why. I finished third the year after I won the league because the first ten games of the season were a write off.

Belic looks fucking quality there. Two point increases all over the place.

[Giggles]

This piece of shit is hanging every ten minutes or so now. Have to save the game every day and try again after force closing and restarting.

If I get this season finished I may leave it so.

[Shindig]

Pulled the plug on Leeds. Too many 90-minute winners were pissing me off and the media were after my lovely midfielders. Still got Chinese duties to attend to, I guess. Plus a spreadsheet. I need to discover trends from the last 15 years of this save. Spain is fucked.

[Giggles]

Finally got 2017/18 finished. Not sure where to go now. Either try win a CL in a few seasons, try use some of the youth at the club, or jump ship (Chelsea are sniffing).


Season:
http://i.imgur.com/k6fa2E1.png

Transfers in (nobody out bar lots of loans and Stuart Taylors retirement). Would have been so frugal bar wasting that much on King:

http://i.imgur.com/iRpLz9B.png

Team Stats:

http://i.imgur.com/W5yy6Ik.png

[John]

Did Alena pick up a bad injury or something. Looks like he dropped off big time from the screen you posted during the season.

[Giggles]

Yeah he missed a good bit of time and was sketchy enough after his return. I'd still love to buy though, if he was fit for the season he'd have easily been ranked highest.

[Giggles]

Fuck, I've only just noticed that he has a release clause of €24m :drool:

EDIT: He's only asked for €58k a week too.

[Dquincy]

Keep up the good posts chaps. Lovely reading.

[Giggles]

Decided to do a small bit of a clear out and just brought in three. Joshua King is also out on loan to Ligue 1, not shown in the pic as it's too far down the list. Few youngsters brought into the first team squad with Jack Stephens and Matt Targett looking like they'll see most time as cover.

Taken over as Italian national manager also.

http://i.imgur.com/CjvzQ0f.png

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


http://i.imgur.com/i9JKKsR.png


http://i.imgur.com/baJl10I.png

[Manc]

15 games into the new season, Lyon, Monaco & PSG all beaten and we remain undefeated. Invincible. :drool:

[Giggles]

I'm off to a storming start. Team is definitely coming together more into what I want, though I'd still like to lose a CM or two and bring in a good striker.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

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

http://i.imgur.com/ct2bpWj.png

What a strike force :cool:

[Manc]

Get yourself Hervin Ongenda. 71 goals n 128 games for me. Great leader as well.

[phonics]

Starting a new game at Swansea. All my players weren't right for their positions so everyone was just a bit, hit and miss and everyone who was any good was furious that they were still there. It was miserable.

Going to try settle on something rather than just buying whatever young good'uns I can get my hands on. Are there any 'must haves' for lower Premier League teams in this one?

[P_3]

Cheap Swedish LB at Copenhagen who can compete with Taylor.

[Yevrah]

Has anyone had a go in China in FM17 yet? If so, how well does it model the crazy shit going on in real life there?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Seems that my player values are finally normal.

My monster AMC has gone from £3.2m to £33.5m.

[Smiffy]

Has the new patch stopped anyone's saves from working? It can't find mine but it's in the 'games' folder.

[Giggles]

Mancini has left this Liverpool squad in some state.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

2027/28 Season:

http://i.imgur.com/auOZ3aP.png

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

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

Pointless posting the league, we won it at a canter scoring 141 goals in 37 total games whilst only conceding 128.

Before the split we had a 32 point lead, won it after the split by 24 which is our record. Legia finished 5th so they're getting worse.

http://i.imgur.com/dw9rj5w.png

First time we met PSG and they went bonkers on us. It was fucking horrible. I wanted to cry but semi final is decent.

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

Melih was fucking brilliant from MC, I thought he might be wasted but the geezer was golden.

He added a lot to our team by constantly pushing forward.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Found someone I want to buy, scouts say he is extremely interested but when I get a bid accepted he doesn't even want to talk because he only just joined his current team.

Then you're not fucking interested you tease.

[Manc]

It's the cam girl all over again.

[Yevrah]

I'm tempted by a Man Utd YNWAWK game.

[Adamski]

http://thesetpieces.com/gaming/fm17-project-celtic-v-rangers-episode-1

Anyone following this? The author, Alex has done a few FM style blogs focused around Moneyball with Bristol Rovers and Rangers on previous versions. Really good read.

Iain Macintosh is the Guardian journo and has played FM since the early days but is thoroughly hopeless at it.

Quite entertaining so far.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/RVp8Hwq.png

Another year and another midfielder is sold to Atletico as they made me another offer I couldn't refuse. £49m (the extra £7.5m is after a certain number of internationals) with 50% of the next sale is nuts.

In terms of players joining we had just two:

http://i.imgur.com/kkGkGB1.png

£525k and I've already loaned him out for a total of £1.4m to Braga. Scouts think very highly of him and I think we've got a steal.

http://i.imgur.com/Ng2jkjJ.png

£15m and another player from Swansea for me. He's got some glaring holes (fuck that passing) but my scouts absolutely love him. Already capped by Wales so he must have high potential. He'll also be my fourth/fifth choice this year so he could get some decent game time.

[Mazuuurk]

OK. OK.

Fucking OK.

Have been comfortably top of the league since X-mas. Spurs who are 2nd have never been closer than 5 points.

Now, three games to go, all I had to was win ONE of those games. I draw the first one, against Crystal fucking Palace.

Second game, 3-0 up against Burnely, who are 19th. This is at home. I get a red card, and they end up scoring 3 goals, 2 in the last 10 minutes. Another draw.

One game remains, away against Leicester which is considerably harder.
I'm at 83 points and Spurs are at 81.

If I end up fucking this up because of that Burnely game :mad:

[Mazuuurk]

Phew :)

Champions.

[Mazuuurk]

And Zlatan finally got to win the Champions League :)

Fucking destroyed Real Madrid in the final.

https://snag.gy/jVIQYp.jpg

[wullie]

http://i.imgur.com/4y99hH6.png

http://i.imgur.com/zpykipf.gif

[Dark Soldier]

Mazuuurk Is that using the mental tactic?

[Panda Bear]

My first, second, and third choice strikers all injured for three months or more within the span of a week. :drool:

[Pen]

I'm in a bit of a pickle after Brexit in my save with Bolton. Stormed League one and the Championship with over 100 points and had a decent enough team to survive in the Prem. I ended up finishing 8th and winning the League cup, but it seems I was s bit hesitant selling my squad players as I'm having serious trouble replacing them as none of the budget options will get a work permit. My squad is s bit of a mess because of this and I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy next season much. I've started terribly, although against top teans I should be losing to anyway. 4 games in I have two points but at least I'm in the Europa League group stage after tumbling past Rosenborg and AIK.

[Giggles]

I'm back at Southampton after yet another crash ruined my whole revamp of Liverpools coaching staff and 1st team/U23's and took me back to the day I resigned.

[Giggles]

I knew you didn't get subs when doing Instant Result, but I've just copped after a '10-man Southampton' match report and waiting to see who was sent off that you don't even get a sub if someone is injured :|

[Mazuuurk]

Mazuuurk Is that using the mental tactic?

Kind of, yeah. I had my own 4-3-3 set up so I kind of tweaked that so it's almost like that other one. The front 3 are the same roles, but not individual instructions. The midfield is a bit different, it's:

Roaming Playmaker (S) - Ball Winning Midfielder (D) - Advanced Playmaker (S)

instead of the setup they had. That's mainly because it seems to suit the players I have better, but my goal is to move away from having people like Mata and Mktihtikitarian (whatever) in midfield and get more two-way players like Pogba is. Renato Sanchez is top target at the moment.

Apart from that I don't have the Opposition instructions set up at all, and I have some tweaked Player instructions, like telling Pogba to shoot as much as possible, etc.


I'm in a bit of a pickle after Brexit in my save with Bolton.

When does this actually happen, and what exactly does it mean for your squads? Does it mean all EU players also need work permits, or?

[John Arne]

For fuck's sake. I only really do one big save per game - currently 4th season with Crewe in the Championship and I get this...

https://gyazo.com/b607d3ebee623cf547b3d2a815022bd6.png

[John Arne]

Actually considering reloading from previous save,

[John Arne]

Urgh. Just loaded up an old save and it happened again. I thought it was random, or is it hardcoded into each save?

EDIT: Just tried a third time - this time no message. Yippie.

[Mazuuurk]

If it does happen "randomly", my bet is that they either trigger it by random at the start when the game itself is set up, or that they randomize whether to trigger it at the end of each season the 30th of June.

But my bet would be the former, meaning each save created will be predestined to end up one way or the other, so to speak.
Perhaps you can see this in the Editor somehow.

[John Arne]

I believe it's at a random date, up-to 10 years in the game. I'm on 19th Nov, 2019.

[Giggles]

I forgot about that happening :uhoh:

If I get the one where they're running all the forrins out of the country, does that mean I could get the boot due to it too?

[Giggles]

:mad: cuntshovels.

http://i.imgur.com/jYeR04l.png

[Dark Soldier]

Brexit outcome is decided on game creation so you'll still get the same outcome eventually John Arne.

[John Arne]

Really? That's genuinely fucking annoying. Hey ho.

[Pen]

When does this actually happen, and what exactly does it mean for your squads? Does it mean all EU players also need work permits, or?

I think I got the worst kind of Brexit where only the foreign playing in UK will get a(n undeserved) work permit. I did manage to get two big money transfers in. Both for players who would've gotten a work permit as non EU players under the current rules. Happened during the Spring of 2019.

I think I will continue with the save though. Seems like a decent challenge. I did win the Champions league with Lecce in my last save so a challenge should make this save last longer.

[Giggles]

:mad: cuntshovels.

http://i.imgur.com/jYeR04l.png



:moop:


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

[Jimmy Floyd]

Starting a Chelsea game to see if I can do anything with decent players. Is this some sort of bug or just a weird feature?

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

Also Giggles, did Matt Targett ever do anything for you? I've just signed him as a sort of backup-cum-future-cum-quotas left back.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Never seen that before.

Eidur :cool:

[John]

It'll be a bug. They'll have them listed in the database as previous captains or something and the code that creates that list isn't robust enough.

[Giggles]

Starting a Chelsea game to see if I can do anything with decent players. Is this some sort of bug or just a weird feature?

Also Giggles, did Matt Targett ever do anything for you? I've just signed him as a sort of backup-cum-future-cum-quotas left back.

I have him rotating in the team now in season 3 and he's easily performing as well as Erkin or Jonny do. I'll stick up his stats when I'm on it again.

[Reg]

Jimmy Floyd: I happen to have just started a save with Atlanta and am aiming to replicate Conte's 3-4-3, ish. (Whether I properly get into it or just play about two friendlies is another matter.) Are you planning on going with 3-4-3/something with 3 at the back?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jimmy Floyd: I happen to have just started a save with Atlanta and am aiming to replicate Conte's 3-4-3, ish. (Whether I properly get into it or just play about two friendlies is another matter.) Are you planning on going with 3-4-3/something with 3 at the back?

I'm going even more adventurous and turning David Luiz into a libero. So it's a sort of 3-4-3 or perhaps 5-2-3. If it works then the main fun will be trying to scout out other libero converts, because there are precisely 0 players in the game with that role as natural, let alone Chelsea standard ones. Ginter at Dortmund might be an option if I have the money next season.

[Reg]

Interesting. That could be great fun if you can get it to click. I just did a search for "Is Competent At" Sweeper and it throws up some good players: Busquets, Blind, Bonucci, Pique.

[wullie]

2020/21

After getting close to the playoffs again I was still predicted to struggle with 16th being the bookie's choice.

Transfers weren't quite as desperate as the season before, largely with Pennington's £9m release clause allowing the club to exist for a year without having to sellotape over cracks in the team

http://i.imgur.com/QGNU4JR.png

Only after looking at that did I remember I had Nathan Dyer. Didn't get a sniff.



After a slightly ropey start things stabilised and from around a dozen games in we stayed in and around (copyright Andy Townsend) the danger area Clive, until a very late run of results saw us hit the automatic spot at a very opportune time

http://i.imgur.com/HR3NTDm.png



Having to play at Craven Cottage for the next game made it unlikely we'd stay there, but then fate conspired to lend a hand

http://i.imgur.com/3qrstru.png



Next game was at home to 16th place Rotherham, which should have spelt disaster, but instead...

http://i.imgur.com/aN4D3iR.png

http://i.imgur.com/85HBVoP.png

http://i.imgur.com/Bzh6Rfn.png

Strong finish.



The best players were the young guns, having some fun

http://i.imgur.com/y2k8Xuv.png



Crazy ladies keep 'em on the run

http://i.imgur.com/b1zY2c7.png



Wise guys realise there's danger in emotion ties

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



Bigi wins Player of the Year again, he's becoming Notorious for it ho ho ho. Jakubiak wining the signing of the season confirms that loan players don't count in the running, as he did nothing.

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

A provisional transfer budget of £20m doesn't seem like a lot, but if I can get Bordas, Nhaga and Jorginho on permanents and a few shrewd loan players it might be ok. Absolutely no idea what to expect from a Premier League campaign, just hopefully it's better than the last one and we don't get relegated at Villa Park again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

So far the libero system has yielded 4 goals for and 1 against, in five matches. It's like being back in early 1990s Italy.

http://i.imgur.com/2Sf4AkR.png

In truth we're getting a bit outnumbered in midfield on those occasions when Sideshow Bob hasn't just finished one of his wanders into the centre of the park, so I'm thinking about sacrificing one of the wingers, or making it assymetrical, or something.

[John]

Pull Willian back to RM and make him a defensive winger and he should chase inside without forcing you to sacrifice too much width with the ball.

[Panda Bear]

I've never had a work permit rejected after Brexit, which means I'm ahead when it comes to Africans.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, so with the libero I was 9th, bottom of the league for possession at 42% average, and was thrashed by Bournemouth 4-1 to have me insecure by the end of September. I take the step of moving David Luiz from sweeper to DM and in the first match we thrash Palace 3-0 with 58% possession, and David Luiz is man of the match.

I think in this engine you simply have to have bodies in midfield, and lots of them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm counting down the days until Kylian Mbappe fucking retires.

His record against us is ludicrous, he always shits on us.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I really don't know why they feel they have to ruin the game with all the complaining about first team football from people who are on backup contracts and/or getting decent game time anyway.

About to be sacked due to morale going because of all the moaning so I'll knock it on the head I think. Incredibly frustrating game.

[Dark Soldier]

I really don't know why they feel they have to ruin the game with all the complaining about first team football from people who are on backup contracts and/or getting decent game time anyway.

About to be sacked due to morale going because of all the moaning so I'll knock it on the head I think. Incredibly frustrating game.

A lot can come down to your manager attributes too. Roughly 3-4 seasons in I get barely a complaint, have some squad players playing 5 games a season and they don't kick off.

[Raoul Duke]

Manager stats plus rep.

[Panda Bear]

I have a self-imposed rule to never sign South American players because they're like a cheat code for building a quality squad on the cheap.

I am so tempted to break it over this Brazilian with phenomenal stats who is a natural centre midfielder, but is also a brilliant leftback. But I won't. I am strong.

[Panda Bear]

A lot can come down to your manager attributes too. Roughly 3-4 seasons in I get barely a complaint, have some squad players playing 5 games a season and they don't kick off.


Manager stats plus rep.This.

It also helps to have a brilliant captain in your camp.

[Yevrah]

Started a game with Man Utd, a few months in and we're doing ok and it's quite fun after slumming it in Finland for so long.

Couldn't resist signing Ronaldinho on a free transfer. :harold:

[Panda Bear]

think I'm done with this edition now. I took Portsmouth (renamed Crescentwood) from League Two to the Premier League in four seasons.

I've now reached the point after three Premier League seasons where I can generate 30m+ in sales per year to go along with my annual 30m+ Premier League transfer kitty. Wages are tight, lots of nigh-unachievable bonuses are signed with players, and I make money every month.

End game is that, like every other edition, I'll end up conquering Europe within three seasons through wheeling and dealing regens. I already avoid all South Americans and Eastern Europeans. I impose a minimum of sixteen Brits in the first team for me, but still. Too easy.

Maybe I need to try the John approach.

[Giggles]

Do West Ham turn into a powerhouse in anyone elses game? The finished top 4 last year (2018), they're sitting 2nd this year and have just done Shakhtar 7-0 (10-1 on agg) in the first knockout round of the Champions League.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah they were regular top four contenders on the game I got through to season 5.

[Mazuuurk]

Started a game with Man Utd, a few months in and we're doing ok and it's quite fun after slumming it in Finland for so long.

Couldn't resist signing Ronaldinho on a free transfer. :harold:


Nice, what lineup/tactics will you play?

[P_3]

I'm currently playing as Bologna on FM16 using a flat 442. We've finished 3rd in the first season racking up the most goals with Godfred Donsah picking up 21 of them from RM bagging him the Golden Boot. Is he any good on FM17?

[Mazuuurk]

think I'm done with this edition now. I took Portsmouth (renamed Crescentwood) from League Two to the Premier League in four seasons.

I've now reached the point after three Premier League seasons where I can generate 30m+ in sales per year to go along with my annual 30m+ Premier League transfer kitty. Wages are tight, lots of nigh-unachievable bonuses are signed with players, and I make money every month.

End game is that, like every other edition, I'll end up conquering Europe within three seasons through wheeling and dealing regens. I already avoid all South Americans and Eastern Europeans. I impose a minimum of sixteen Brits in the first team for me, but still. Too easy.

Maybe I need to try the John approach.

That's like the whole point of the game for me, doing stuff like that. By the time you're a complete powerhouse, it's usually time for the next version anyway (I don't advance very quickly in my saves - if I manage two per version then that's good).

[Giggles]

This is getting fucking ridiculous now.

http://i.imgur.com/uKY99ej.png

[Mazuuurk]

It's always all of them at the same time. Then you go and think Fuck I need more depth, and nobody get's injured and you have too many players.

It's like as if FM as a game is based on how Arsenal functions in real life, in most aspects.

[Adamski]

Second season with Lyngby has gone appallingly. I finished dead last at the split with 2 wins and 7 draws from 26 games :D.

Thankfully, the ridiculous relegation play offs mean I may still avoid relegation.

The bottom 8 teams in the league split into two groups of 4 and play each other twice with the bottom two from each group playing off against each other at the end. The losing team from each of these play offs then goes into a relegation play off and there's also another play off for the winners. The team who loses the relegation play off is relegated in last place, and the team who wins the other stays up. (Still with me?)

The winning team from the relegation play off and the losing team from the 'stays up' play off then go into a play off with 2 teams from the First Division to determine who takes the final Superliga spot.

I finished last in my group, lost the first play off, but won the relegation play off so I now go into the final set of play off games with the loser of the 'stays up' play off and the two First Division teams to see who stays up.

Absolute madness.

[Giggles]

Yeah they were regular top four contenders on the game I got through to season 5.

They've since slipped to 6th in the league, but


http://i.imgur.com/6PnpIlR.png

[phonics]

Watford always absolutely dominate on mine and I have no idea why. The team is full of absolute shithouses.

[Giggles]

Watford always absolutely dominate on mine and I have no idea why. The team is full of absolute shithouses.

They were really good on mine too until Mazzari got the England job.

[phonics]

Fuck Mazzari, he always calls me a cunt.

[Giggles]

Fuck Mazzari, he always calls me a cunt.

:D he's the main one I always got into wars with.

[phonics]

They've got to find a way to remove press conferences though. I think it's the one thing holding this game back from being good again. It's an awful, awful, awful, system.

[Giggles]

They've got to find a way to remove press conferences though. I think it's the one thing holding this game back from being good again. It's an awful, awful, awful, system.

I've found myself doing 'send assistant' more and more now instead of answering the same things over and over and over again. It's wretched.

[phonics]

Every time I've done that on a previous version he's said something that's annoyed my entire team and we proceed to lose for 3 weeks.

[Reg]

Every time I've done that on a previous version he's said something that's annoyed my entire team and we proceed to lose for 3 weeks.
I haven't tried it but you could hire an assman who has 'media friendly' as his media handling style.

[Bam]

Finally got this today. Its £25 in Game.

[Mike]

Splashed all my money on Joe Hart in an attempt to stop leaking goals and avoid relegation.

[Bam]

School boy error, Mike.

[wullie]

http://i.imgur.com/jm01CGy.png

Bit of a rude awakening in the Premier League. Scoring goals ok but leaking like a bastard. Restored wingers rather than a proper front three and made the team a little less gung-ho and then the next two results were big surprises

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

http://i.imgur.com/HYawpA2.png

Bigi's going to win player of the year every season until he dies.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I let the assman do all media duties. Sometimes he decides to go off on one and say things like 'We'll be looking to sell *my best player* as soon as possible', but it's worth it not to have to click through myself.

[mugbull]

So I've deleted all the fake files, replaced them with name fixes (for stuff like INTER and BMG instead of Gladbach), and I can see if I open the name-fixes that they're fixed, but when I start a game they're still the old, un-fixed names. No idea how this is possible, since the game is pulling its data directly from the folder I just edited. Has anyone encountered this? Do they sync files with Steam or something? On a Mac too btw.

[Adamski]

Finally got this today. Its £25 in Game.

£18 on Amazon.

Schoolboy error, Bam.

[Bam]

:moody:

I'd can't be fucked with waiting for stuff to be delivered. ;)

[Giggles]

Jimmy Floyd, I'd forgot all about this.


http://i.imgur.com/XKTX3TZ.png

[Spikey M]

:moody:

I'd can't be fucked with waiting for stuff to be delivered. ;)

18 quid in Tesco too me auld fruit.

[Bam]

Well I don't shop in Tesco were pikey buys his best clothes. :dust:

[Giggles]

Third season.

Competitions:

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


Transfers:

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


Squad Stats:

http://i.imgur.com/YqPg5Z2.jpg

[Spikey M]

Well I don't shop in Tesco were pikey buys his best clothes. :dust:

I just wait for the textile recycling bags to be on the curbs, Bam.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jimmy Floyd, I'd forgot all about this.

Thanks, he possibly ticks more of the wing back boxes than he does full back.

[Giggles]

He's one of those that outperforms the numbers, though I was hoping he'd improve more by now. Caner Erkin wants out and I don;t know if I'd trust him if Jonny went down for months.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Transfers in:

http://i.imgur.com/9l5W27h.png

£17.5m but he looks quite tasty, I also like that I can use him in 3 positions (I don't play DM) so he's a nice backup option until he becomes, hopefully, mega.

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

£6.5m. He'll get most of his game time in MC as AMC is locked down by Van Den Boogaard but I have high hopes for him.

Domestic:

http://i.imgur.com/9ARoTn6.png
http://i.imgur.com/Y6h81G5.png

http://i.imgur.com/g28BMeq.png

Didn't get to our record points total but it was still a breeze with no losses in the league.

Europe:

http://i.imgur.com/DC2cG0j.png

Did really well in the groups but I was seething when we got drawn against United (bastard Mourinho clearly came second in his group for a laugh) and we got battered in Manchester. They're still the only team that can beat us 8 or 9 times out of 10. Mbappe keeps shitting on us.

Angry that we went out so quickly but it was almost inevitable when we drew United. Second leg did provide some encouragement though as we schooled them despite only winning by a goal.

Squad stats:

http://i.imgur.com/nfGZW1k.png

Our 4 main attacking threats in Ndiaye, Goosens, Van Den Boogaard and Ayaz is just so damn brilliant.

Bank balance is sitting at -£3.7m right now but we're projected to go into MASSIVE debt although I'm questioning the figures of the projection. We're expected to lose another £181m by the end of the season which officially ends in like a week or two. That would be some going even for me and Smiffy combined.

It might be because my board have, despite being £3.7m in the hole, given me a £104m transfer budget and £822k free in wages.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/y4tJe0M.png

http://i.imgur.com/IvnY1EW.png

Didn't plan on selling him this year but I couldn't say no. I'm going to miss him :(

Leaves the club 1 short of 200 club goals which is a bit shit.

[Raoul Duke]

Seems fairly likely that you'll get the full payout though. Bonkers money, even though he's awesome.

Are you still sticking around in Poland? Not looking to move on somewhere else?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah, unless he gets a career ending injury pretty soon we've got it all.

Not until I turn them into the best club in the world at the very least.

I like the team too much.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/XhY3x62.png

:drool:

Only £73m in the bank so fuck knows why they're giving me that much the mental fucks.

[Raoul Duke]

Polish accounting :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I tried to tell my Mum not to hire a Polish accountant when she told me that she was getting one the other day.

[Shindig]

He might be Jewish. Or Female.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Female, unsure if she's a Jew though.

So at least it's not completely mental on my Mum's part.

[Manc]

http://i.imgur.com/8CQjFxr.jpg

Fucking have it.

[Bam]

I'm unsure where to start this game. West Ham is pulling me but I keep feeling that Southend would be a more enjoyable challenge, getting the legendary Carlton Cole on a free. :drool:

[Bam]

Or maybe brining Leeds back to the top tier. Hmmm decisions, decisions.

[Bam]

Or maybe try getting Burton in the Prem. Fuck knows.

[Bam]

Manc, that skin is horrible. :sick:

[Boydy]

It's Football Manager Handheld.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Transfers out:

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

£186m which I think might be a record for me.

Biggest transfers out being 3 strikers. Our first choice in Ndiaye as well as our 3rd and 4th choices (who made about 10 starts each) in Bogunovic who we bought for £325k and Ahamada who we bought for £1.7m. I'm going to miss Bogunovic, he also made me another £10m in loan fees over the years.

Time for the ins:

http://i.imgur.com/Jv0onVs.png

£800k and one of the best looking Polish youth prospects in quite some time, my scouts think he could be pretty special. I'll need to re-train him though as we don't play with wingers.

http://i.imgur.com/2VmKdnb.png

Our biggest transfer in this year at £30m potentially rising to £36.5m. Geezer is going to be damn good, he's only one of 3 who have a definite 4 stars for potential in my squad.

http://i.imgur.com/Ryuk37n.png

£23.5m, I think I could have gotten him for less but Atletico seem to hate me. No matter what bid I make on whatever player they say they're pissed off and wont negotiate so I had to take him at his release. Not sure where he'll end up playing eventually though.

£80m in the bank, FFP is currently at £117m (it's been touch and go the last 2 seasons) but we're still predicted to be £100m in debt by the end of next season and £200m in the hole the season after. Christ knows why it's so bad.

[Panda Bear]

Do cost projections include TV and match revenues or competition prize money?

As for Jose Ramon, I'd make that kid into high-pressurising complete forward. He could be a 15+ in all the right spots.

[Raoul Duke]

That Senel is going to be awesome sauce.

[John]

That Senel is going to be awesome sauce.

:nodd: Intensive passing training required though.

[Mike]

After a bad start I've started to get Brighton to play well in the Premiership.
https://i.imgur.com/RhQ3z3L.png

[John]

https://i.gyazo.com/ba8ae510b0756c6847928f26c9b015f8.png

Slobodan Belic has had a decent week. Maybe dropping people as a vague, unspecified punishment for underperformance actually works.

[John]

https://i.gyazo.com/e0753058007db23d787eaba22825dbdd.png

In season seven and if that goes through it'll be the second board takeover of the save. Who'd have thought the third biggest club in Belgrade would be such a magnet for businessmen?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Presumably Novak needs to focus on his upcoming trial in The Hague.

[John]

:D Based on that picture I was thinking he might have to concentrate on his Monaco investment under the name Rybolovlev, but I prefer that.

Smiffy I've just renewed Slobodan Belic's contract at Christmas in the season you've played of this save, and while he hasn't had as much football as you gave him he's had plenty and has signed on a £3.5k a week deal as a first teamer. Did you offer him that mental deal just to be seen reverting to type?

[Reg]

[image]

Slobodan Belic has had a decent week. Maybe dropping people as a vague, unspecified punishment for underperformance actually works.
I'd like to know if this is true. You definitely benefit from continuity in team selections defence-wise, so there may be other things like the above.

[Smiffy]

:D Based on that picture I was thinking he might have to concentrate on his Monaco investment under the name Rybolovlev, but I prefer that.

@Smiffy (http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=142) I've just renewed Slobodan Belic's contract at Christmas in the season you've played of this save, and while he hasn't had as much football as you gave him he's had plenty and has signed on a £3.5k a week deal as a first teamer. Did you offer him that mental deal just to be seen reverting to type?

I don't think the deal I offered was mental, was it? I can't even check as I haven't been able to locate any of my saves since the last update. They are in the 'games' folder but they don't show when the games actually loaded. I was going to start again but playing the season you just completed is a bit shit. Currently got a new save on the go but only into my third season with Tranmere of all people. Sunday League rep and they're the first to offer a job? Get outta it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

£35k you offered him, that's pretty mad considering the league and the fact that John got him for 10 times less.

[Smiffy]

Man City put a bid in for him at the time I think so maybe that has something to do with it? I wouldn't be overly surprised if it was entirely me though.

[Giggles]

Happy days.


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

[Giggles]

:cool:

http://i.imgur.com/olTkS4e.png

[wullie]

My Brexit announcement confirmed the end of the Bosman ruling, but it's January and I can offer pre-contracts to anyone outside England as usual.

[Baz]

I've got FM17.

Starting with Liverpool because why the heck not.

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

Made a tactic without strikers and training Studge to be an SS ASAP.

[Mike]

I'd have a CM on support and one on defend then your wing backs on attack.

[Giggles]

Where can you find rules and windows for other leagues? I've just signed an Argentinian youngster but I need to loan him out for Work Permit purposes. I've Rayo as an affiliate but when I try to loan him I'm told that Rayo can't loan outside the window. It's Jan 2nd, do all the leagues not have a window?

[John Arne]

You have to have the league loaded - if so, click on the main league table page, then general>rules or something like that. It has the transfer window dates listed.

[Giggles]

Seems to open a week or so later. He's there now, not sure how long it'll take but hopefully it's worth it. The next Jorge Valdano apparently and was €9m from Boca.


http://i.imgur.com/gvG67o6.png

[Mazuuurk]

I can never ever manage to get kids properly developed. I don't know what it is.

I'm leaving training setup to my Assistant, is that stupid? I'm always at good clubs though and my assistants are always ace. And I tend to assign them the role/position I want them in myself anyway.

I just seem to struggle to find enough space to rotate in a 16- or 18-year-old in my Team. The fringe spots for my squad, those that get 15-20 games a year tops, is usally reserved for 20-21 somethings (like Borthwick Johnsson or Ze Gomes right now), or the aging fuckers who are a little too good to just drop (like Mata).

I mean I still have to win games as well.

[Baz]

I'd have a CM on support and one on defend then your wing backs on attack.We'll see. I wanna play like Klopp gets them playing, where the front five do everything.

[Byron]

Okay lads, this was the first year I was going to miss but the wife bought it as a present.

What's the verdict, any good?

[Smiffy]

Just look at the two FM threads running. This one will surpass the other little over two months after coming out.

Also, we've answered the question about ten times to ten different people.

[Smiffy]

I got hard Brexit again. FML.

[Dark Soldier]

I can never ever manage to get kids properly developed. I don't know what it is.

I'm leaving training setup to my Assistant, is that stupid? I'm always at good clubs though and my assistants are always ace. And I tend to assign them the role/position I want them in myself anyway.

I just seem to struggle to find enough space to rotate in a 16- or 18-year-old in my Team. The fringe spots for my squad, those that get 15-20 games a year tops, is usally reserved for 20-21 somethings (like Borthwick Johnsson or Ze Gomes right now), or the aging fuckers who are a little too good to just drop (like Mata).

I mean I still have to win games as well.

Train them in a role from an early age. So CB is a Central Defender or a Ball Playing Defender, CM with whatever specific role your first team uses etc. Get them tutored by high determination seniors. Play them in the League Cup, even if its off the bench, or shit tier FA Cup games. Youth can get a solid attribute bonus just from a small sub appearance, you'll notice their info will say 'delighted to break into the match day squad' after a debut. This seems to make them work harder.

Then, when 18 or 19, if they're not set for even a back-up role in your squad, loan them to clubs in leagues you have loaded. Check out the facilities of the clubs you're gonna loan them to. As an example I loaned my Serbian CM/AMC to West Ham for two seasons as he wasn't good enough for my side. Came back at 22 years old as a world beater:

https://i.gyazo.com/3eb688705a235644e7ea53137772c056.jpg

[Giggles]

Okay lads, this was the first year I was going to miss but the wife bought it as a present.

What's the verdict, any good?

Not worth it over FM16. Very little has changed, some things are worse.

Only saving grace is how coach suggestions are done now.

[Mazuuurk]

Train them in a role from an early age. So CB is a Central Defender or a Ball Playing Defender, CM with whatever specific role your first team uses etc. Get them tutored by high determination seniors. Play them in the League Cup, even if its off the bench, or shit tier FA Cup games. Youth can get a solid attribute bonus just from a small sub appearance, you'll notice their info will say 'delighted to break into the match day squad' after a debut. This seems to make them work harder.

Then, when 18 or 19, if they're not set for even a back-up role in your squad, loan them to clubs in leagues you have loaded. Check out the facilities of the clubs you're gonna loan them to. As an example I loaned my Serbian CM/AMC to West Ham for two seasons as he wasn't good enough for my side. Came back at 22 years old as a world beater:



Cheers thats helpful. I guess often my squad is a bit too big and full with actual stars, so league cup appearances are often used to keep some of the divas pleased. I do loan out my players all the time but they never seem to develop all that much when I do.

[igor_balis]

Determination don't actually do dick for training, does it?

[Dark Soldier]

Determination don't actually do dick for training, does it?

It can. I had an 8 determination striker who barely developed for two seasons, whilst my 20 determination striker is an absolute fucking beast in that same time frame. Hidden stats are VERY important though, Ambition especially. Low determination and low ambition and they may never hit that potential.

[Giggles]

That all sounds like too much hassle. Can letting the Assman do it all and just picking a different focus each month keep it ticking over ok?

[Dark Soldier]

Dunno,I only let my assman manage friendlies, and some press conferences, nothing more. Its literally a case of making sure every category in the u18s training is 4 star if you can, then setting them to train a role. Once that's done you can leave it be, takes about ten minutes tops.

[Giggles]

Dunno,I only let my assman manage friendlies, and some press conferences, nothing more. Its literally a case of making sure every category in the u18s training is 4 star if you can, then setting them to train a role. Once that's done you can leave it be, takes about ten minutes tops.

No way does it take 10 minutes if you've to try fire and hire the coaches in the first place. I don't know either what attributes I need for each coach or how you train roles. My training seems to be set up by 2 Fitness categories, 5 General, and 2 Goalkeeping, none of them are 'roles'.

EDIT: I can't even actually see the U18 training anywhere. I can see the coaches from the Staff screen but that's about it.

[Dark Soldier]

Jesus Christ lad

[Smiffy]

Click on your U18 squad and it says training right at the top.

[Giggles]

Jesus Christ lad

Tell me then. Where's the roles here and where do you get to the U18's? Or is all the training for all the players?

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

[Danny]

Go the 18s squad and then training drop down

[Giggles]

Go the 18s squad and then training drop down

Cheers, I see it now. It's a bit poorly designed that you can't get to training for all squads from the big Training tab in the left menu.

[Dark Soldier]

Here ya go ya daft wee spastic:

https://i.gyazo.com/89850afa802dc2f0621260e4e9ab8df4.png
Under 18s screen > Training drop down menu > coaches.

Leads to this:

https://i.gyazo.com/17841335893662cbd049059de8a8277b.png

Back on training drop down menu > individual:

https://i.gyazo.com/9f373ef9a4096ee894bb4ae2f5b194d1.png

Notice position/role column. All my top youths are trained in a role, so CF etc. My shit youths are just left as is. If you think its gonna be a chore to set each one individually, if you have say seven CDs you want to train as a Ball Playing defender, use control plus click on each defender and you can change all seven to BPD training at the same time. It'll look like this, five players all highlighted, so I can set their training to the same if I require:

https://i.gyazo.com/dec63d3075ed96ff0c9158f4f01678bf.png

It takes feck all time. As for knowing what stats are right for coaches, there's drop down menus on their profile screens. For example, David Villa is my u18 4 star shooting coach:

https://i.gyazo.com/6f82207a0f08f55ce4e097db46c4611f.png

So setting the little drop down menu next to Coaching on his profile to Shooting highlights the stats needed for that style of training.

[Giggles]

So the players are set to be trained in the roles rather than the coaches being set to coach the roles?

And I still stand by the way you find U18 (and U23) training is stupid in that you have one overall umbrella Training tab on the left and only senior training is included there.

[Dark Soldier]

Yes, my centre forwards training as Complete Forwards will find their stat boosts scattered primarily between the important attributes for that role, whereas training as just a SC will see slower growth and a more scattershot approach as to what attributes are improved. Training by role allows a more focused style of training, and lets your youths develop into the roles your first team uses.

Also make sure the youth teams play the same formation as your senior squad so as/if the youth break through, they'll understand the tactics.

[Giggles]

I didn't even know I could set the U18 tactics. To be honest that's the first time I've seen the U18 squad in about 2 seasons. I normally just renew/not renew their deals based on the stars on the list for renewals. Then let them auto promote to the U23's based on age and then give them a chance in the first team squad if a big club has ever loaned them. There's too many attributes to get a handle on if they're actually good or not at quick glance, requires too much study and time.

[Dark Soldier]

It's second nature to me now but I've been doing the same for years so it's almost automatic. Youths may still not develop as there's many factors involved but I've found setting it up that way gives them the best possible chance.

[Giggles]

It's second nature to me now but I've been doing the same for years so it's almost automatic. Youths may still not develop as there's many factors involved but I've found setting it up that way gives them the best possible chance.

How accurate are the six star coach reports on your own squad?

[Dark Soldier]

Very accurate now. With new signings it takes a while but if you have a player for three years or so your coaches will know them inside out and give fully accurate reports. I find the odd youth fluctuates between potential stars sometimes.

Always get the reports from your best coach and/or scout. You can change staff member on the report screen of each player, there's a drop down menu.

Your team's rep getting stronger, or squad improving will see stars change too, as the potential of a youth will be against current team members, or the calibre of player you can attract. Hence you make United the best team in the world, it's rare to find four or five star potential youths as they'd have to be Messi level.

[Mike]

Finally finished my second season with Brighton.

https://i.imgur.com/UDg6Jnv.png
https://i.imgur.com/UNra0MB.png
Delighted with that!

The Squad:
https://i.imgur.com/YdPMIjL.png

Fixtures:
https://i.imgur.com/Xoj6kbu.png
https://i.imgur.com/VAVqPJX.png

Transfers: (went all in on spending that Premiership cash.
https://i.imgur.com/JjNldrt.png

[Yevrah]

John, or anyone else for that matter. Fancy doing the Queen's Park save?

I'm tempted, but could do with the morale support of others joining in for the early slog.

[Smiffy]

What do you mean? A pass the parcel game with Queens Park?

[Yevrah]

No, just all start separate games with them and see how we do.

[Smiffy]

I'm game. I assume the same set up/save for all?

[Giggles]

Speaking of youths, this has just came up. I always hear you lot say about youth intakes, so how do I go now and see them for other teams now? Also, is there a quick way to see what other teams ones are good?

http://i.imgur.com/7AAWNiP.png

[P_3]

https://i.gyazo.com/16437a34db6708be412f4de66dc877ee.png

Lost 2-1. :cab:

[Baz]

£40m and Mignolet for Donnarumma? :uhoh:

[Adamski]

Speaking of youths, this has just came up. I always hear you lot say about youth intakes, so how do I go now and see them for other teams now? Also, is there a quick way to see what other teams ones are good?

http://i.imgur.com/7AAWNiP.png

I'm not sure what your first question is but for the second question if you click the world icon then transfers then filter by youth intake you can see the recently generated players that month around the world.

[Smiffy]

You can also click on the country/club/league > Transfers > Youth Intake to see for specific places.

[Giggles]

I'm not sure what your first question is but for the second question if you click the world icon then transfers then filter by youth intake you can see the recently generated players that month around the world.

Cheers. That said, I've already demonstrated that I can't look after my own youths so I probably should stay away from everyone elses :D

[Giggles]

Another fucking freeze crash. Is nobody else ever getting them? I must need a better laptop.

[Smiffy]

http://s30.postimg.org/sfz7c7a4h/screenshot_666.png

We were five points clear at one point but four defeats in five cost us in February. Twelve months ago Portsmouth finished top of League Two with ourselves in second place. Bristol Rovers ended up winning the play offs after finishing third. We're on for a repeat (almost)?

[Smiffy]

https://s30.postimg.org/70g9h8e81/screenshot_667.png

http://s30.postimg.org/v9kfq1zpd/screenshot_668.png

http://s30.postimg.org/ady5et3i9/screenshot_669.png

http://s30.postimg.org/riav3qm0x/screenshot_670.png

http://s30.postimg.org/6nyilwrnl/screenshot_671.png

:drool:

http://s30.postimg.org/k65ey73sx/screenshot_672.png

I had expected to have been long gone from Tranmere by now so if there's an offer for a bigger club then I imagine I'll end up going for it. It's been a solid rise however given the club were struggling when I took the reigns, we narrowly missed out on promotion in 2016/2017 before landing the title the following year setting numerous records along the way. Portsmouth finished top the year later but we were right behind them as the next best. League One predictions looked grim initially with us being tipped to finish 19th but we surpassed that and then some. In truth we should have done so weeks beforehand but we threatened to undo our work, pulled it together by virtue of having 4 home games in our final six and in the end that proved to be enough.

Despite the rise I'm just not feeling it with Tranmere.

[Smiffy]

:moop:

http://s30.postimg.org/lt3tawum9/screenshot_673.png

I have an idea. Let's build a smaller stadium than the one we occupy...

[Giggles]

That's just lost me the title on goal difference to Spurs on the final day of the season :moop:


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

[Mazuuurk]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO :cry:

https://snag.gy/QlOcy1.jpg

[Giggles]

2019/20.

Competitions:

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


Transfers:

http://i.imgur.com/AOEyd4x.png


Player/Finance summary:

http://i.imgur.com/7Ln3SYW.png


Squad Stats:

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

[Mazuuurk]

Giggles what's your lineup / tactic?

[Mike]

Berahino is trying to force a move to Man City and as he has a release fee of £27mil I can't do much about it :(

[Giggles]

Giggles what's your lineup / tactic?

I'll upload a pic of both later but it's basically rotating between a narrow 4-2-3-1 and a variation of DS' mad tactic into a 4-3-1-2.

Back 5 is nearly always Forster, Jonny, Dedoncker, Van Dijk, Cedric, and up front is always Berahino. Everything in between rotates.

[ScousePig]

Do you lot have a hard copy or use Steam for this? I'm going to get it.

[Giggles]

Do you lot have a hard copy or use Steam for this? I'm going to get it.

I bought through CDKeys and activated through Steam. I think someone mentioned earlier that Tesco have it as cheap now though.

[Mazuuurk]

Welcome on the wagon, Scouse :cool:

FM this year if fucking rocking it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've finally got into a game playing as Dortmund (needed some good players under me I think). Mass moaning is still a bit of an issue, there are some people starting more than half the games who are asking to leave for first team football. I managed to offload Papastathopolous, Castro and Schmelzer in January and went to Southampton for a DOUBLE SWOOP of Virgil van Dijk and my old mate Targett, and I also brought in Josip Drmic for what seemed a snip at £10 million, as we have no cover for Aubameyang, and also Bazoer from Ajax.

We're in 2nd place about 5 points off Bayern, who will probably win it but we're improving as the season goes on, which makes a nice change, and also 1-0 up going back to Arsenal in the CL knockout round. Germany is quite a fun league, some pretty friendly teams in the league and open football.

Team is at full strength:

GK Burki
DR Passlack
DL Guerreiro (who is amazing, my best player really)
DC van Dijk
DC Ginter
MC Weigl
MC Bender / Bazoer
AMR Dembele
AML Reus
ST Aubameyang

Think we should be able to challenge Bayern at some stage with this sort of side, unless they embark on some PSG spending antics.

[Mazuuurk]

Bazooer is great. Though he's moaning about not making enough. He's on a 90k / week wage at 21, which I think is damn well sufficient. To I told him to GTF.

[Mike]

Do you lot have a hard copy or use Steam for this? I'm going to get it.

The hard copy still uses steam. It just installs rather than downloading the files.

[ScousePig]

Welcome on the wagon, Scouse :cool:

FM this year if fucking rocking it.

If I had the time I imagine I'd still play it quite religiously, and I've been getting the itch recently.

[ScousePig]

The hard copy still uses steam. It just installs rather than downloading the files.

I'm going to be switching laptops at some point so probably best getting the CD. Or do you just download it to your steam account and then you can access it across systems?

[Smiffy]

Stick with steam I reckon, CD's are pointless these days given how many updates follow. You can save games to the cloud and access it on another system Scouse but you'll still need steam regardless.

[Raoul Duke]

Steam Cloud saves FTW (although you'll need to duplicate the badges/kits etc. to the new machine).

[Dark Soldier]

AFAIK the CD release is just a steam installer on the disc. I'm sure my disc copy of FM2015 was like that.

[Smiffy]

How did you do the non Brexit thing again, DS? I've had the hard one again and tbh it's ruined this save for me. Stuck at Tranmere and hating every second of it but I figured if I powered on I'd hit the "zone" again. It hasn't come. League One was a right slog just to save starting again.

[Dark Soldier]

Edit the agreement in the advanced editor, then just change the settings. I set it to happen in 2100, or you can change percentage odds, the whole agreement, when it kicks in etc.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What's the hardest Brexit anyone's seen? I'd love to see what happens long term in a Nick Griffin 4 PM type scenario.

[Pen]

I had a 'hard Brexit' I think. Getting rid of squad players became very easy though as the available pool became much smaller. The whole world is like South America pre Brexit when it becomes to signing new players. I have managed to get a few dubious transfers through though. I think hey must qualify for that 'special talent' rule or what ever it is. I thought it was shit at first, but I'm quite enjoying it. Would have been shit if had still been in the lower leagues when it hit though as my core didn't include that many internationals.

edit: One of my best players is called Matheus Perreira I luckily managed to get in before Brexit and he has averaged an assist or a goal a game since joining me in January 2018. Still no caps for him with Brazil at 25 despite being PoF last year in the Premier league. He cost 4 million from Sporting. Don't think I've ever got a winger to perform with such consistency.

[Pen]

Life with Bolton has been pretty great. League 1 and Championship titles were followed by a League cup title and an Europa League title before I finally finished a season without a trophy in 2020/2021 (I did have an odd bug that was fixed for this season where I missed the domestic cups last season and the FA-cup for two seasons. They just never started or claimed I had taken part but I couldn't access any game data). I'm now in 2021/2022 and this is finally the year it seems I will be able to mount a serious title challenge. I am struggling with similar problems to P3 where I absolutely hammer teams and then lose 2-1 with them scoring with every shot. Luckily it has still been within reason and doesn't happen every week, but when you hit run of those kind of games murdering everyone seems like a valid option.

[ScousePig]

Are there any patches/packs or anything that I need to download at first? Obviously anything official and then I'd like the badges, proper league and cup names, face packs etc. I assume the lower leagues in England are already done but the Premier League ones will need downloading.

[Raoul Duke]

Are there any patches/packs or anything that I need to download at first? Obviously anything official and then I'd like the badges, proper league and cup names, face packs etc. I assume the lower leagues in England are already done but the Premier League ones will need downloading.

Go on https://sortitoutsi.net and fill your boots

[Giggles]

Worth paying a sub too as downloading there is awful if you don't.

[ScousePig]

Yeah I've been a member at sort it out si for yonks. Not sure I've ever paid though.

[P_3]

https://i.gyazo.com/ed84db7c6d189b776110713ee8d9d904.png

Words were had at half time.

[Manc]

Bebe & Pato. What a front line.

[wullie]

New favourite player

http://i.imgur.com/520Lxj0.png

[Giggles]

New favourite player

http://i.imgur.com/520Lxj0.png

Him and Benny would be some pair of wingers.

[Baz]

Worth paying a sub too as downloading there is awful if you don't.My "lifetime" premium account is no longer premium so screw em.

For team badges you can download the Metallic Logos Megapack here: https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AKM%2DUJCl9M9mXMw&id=EECCDF4766F9CD3A%211121527&cid=EECCDF4766F9CD3A

(Download everything except the TCM17 one, as they're another type of [inferior] logos.

Couldn't find a mirror for the facepack though, soz.

[Smiffy]

I've finally left Tranmere but it took loading Scotland's SPL to find a viable move. On offer was Everton who had just been relegated from the Premier League (too big a jump imo and not a club I could build on), Portsmouth who lost out in the League One playoffs (but that would have meant another season at in FL1 which is a grind), Birmgingham and Leeds both finished just above the Championship relegation zone but I've managed both fairly recently so I wasn't feeling it, a move abroad after limited success with Rovers didn't seem plausable either.

So it's off to Glasgow for a couple of years in a bid to dethrone Celtic with Rangers who have finished 4th, 3rd, 4th and last seasons calamatous 9th place finish since returning to the SPL. I've been handed a three year deal so I'm hopeful we can end Celtic's dominance but it may take some going to stop them reaching a perfect ten league titles by the end of this season.

Season 16/7 - Finished 7th in Vanarama.
Season 17/8 - Finished 1st in Vanarama and lifted the Buildbase FA Trophy
Season 18/9 - Finished 2nd in League Two
Season 19/0 - Finished 1st in League One

Tranmere return to the Championship for the first time in twenty years but I don't expect them to last more than a season given the state I left them in. I wanted to leave in 2019 but stuck it out another year without investing in the future. The club blatantly isn't ready for the division and I'd be surprised if they don't finish last.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

2029/30 season:

Transfers in:

http://i.imgur.com/Lg4ehmB.png

£2.2m.

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

£925k.

I can't see either of them getting anywhere close to the first team but I think I can make some money on them through loans and eventual transfer fees out. Second one looks pretty trash (I don't know why I bought him) but I'm sure I'll make decent money on him.

Domestic:

http://i.imgur.com/8ZjsKEL.png

http://i.imgur.com/hxSMn19.png

http://i.imgur.com/bZTMrX4.png

Easy again, just like always.

Europe:

http://i.imgur.com/8CcLizk.png

Thought we were fucked when we drew United in the first knockout round but we just sneaked past them (and City) in a bit of an up and down showing in the Champions League. I thought we had it in the bag when we drew Benfica, we had never played them but I thought we'd be able to dominate the game as they're only really powered by two amazing strikers. Sadly their strikers (who both got 14 goals in the Champions League this year) were too much for us to handle.

A bit disappointing that we've won 1 and lost twice in the final now as we're so much better.

Squad stats:

http://i.imgur.com/GlS4jvd.png

Kone and Zimmer did well filling in for the recently departed Ndiaye but neither really took that position for themselves. Hopefully that will change next season.

[Giggles]

Never did this work permit thing before. Am I completely wasting my time with Colidio loaning him to the Spanish league? Is it only international games that have a bearing?

[Smiffy]

I think it takes two years for South American's in Spain. Colidio is definitely worth the bother though, I only wish I kept the save I had him on to see what he turned out like.

[Adamski]

Anyone know how to get rid of the pre match video?

[John]

Never did this work permit thing before. Am I completely wasting my time with Colidio loaning him to the Spanish league? Is it only international games that have a bearing?

Go into his player information and it'll tell you how long he needs to spend there to get a passport. He's also more likely to play international games and get a permit that way if he's getting club football, so either way he's better off on loan.

[Giggles]

Go into his player information and it'll tell you how long he needs to spend there to get a passport. He's also more likely to play international games and get a permit that way if he's getting club football, so either way he's better off on loan.

531 days to go. I think I might have a year of his deal left then.

Also, Sterling preseason broken leg. 7 months :moop:

[Adamski]

Started a new game with El Eljido in Segunda B.

Going well so far, we were predicted 18th as just promoted. Sitting about 3 points off the playoffs with 15 games to go. Never properly managed in Spain before, can attract a surprisingly decent level of talent that far down.

[Baz]

Anyone know how to get rid of the pre match video?+1

Sick of clicking skip when they're walking out and shaking hands.

[Smiffy]

I wonder at times if you all play a different game to me. :cab:

Go to preferences > match > in-match > untick "show pre-match introducton".

[Smiffy]

Started a new game with El Eljido in Segunda B.

Going well so far, we were predicted 18th as just promoted. Sitting about 3 points off the playoffs with 15 games to go. Never properly managed in Spain before, can attract a surprisingly decent level of talent that far down.

Spain would be my 'go to' country if you didn't have to have release clauses in every contract. You have the big boys, Madrid, Atletico and Barcalona, the not so big but big enough in Valencia, Villareal, Sevilla then there's the middling clubs. All is fine until Toledo make it big. Right up there with Slough that shithouse of a club. Slough? Yes. It matters not what management game, what save or what club I manage, if I ever face Slough, I know I've lost. It started on the Amiga game, can't remember which but results came through on a fax machine I think, straight through from PM98 and onwards.

[Adamski]

I wonder at times if you all play a different game to me. :cab:

Go to preferences > match > in-match > untick "show pre-match introducton".

We do, yours has the pre match introduction button unticked.

[Adamski]

Spain would be my 'go to' country if you didn't have to have release clauses in every contract. You have the big boys, Madrid, Atletico and Barcalona, the not so big but big enough in Valencia, Villareal, Sevilla then there's the middling clubs. All is fine until Toledo make it big. Right up there with Slough that shithouse of a club. Slough? Yes. It matters not what management game, what save or what club I manage, if I ever face Slough, I know I've lost. It started on the Amiga game, can't remember which but results came through on a fax machine I think, straight through from PM98 and onwards.

I've just been sticking in 5m release clauses, they ask for an extra 5% pay rise or £100 more wages but well worth it.

[Smiffy]

The benefits of setting up properly before you lose yourself. :nodd: Mahow's save would do my tits in without changing the German clubs for example. The Brazilian clubs reverting to three letters is enough to start over for me.