Football Manager 2018

[Raoul Duke]

Good write-ups chaps

[Adramelch]

We're punching teams left and right in Europe, yet can't buy a win in the league to save our lives.

Edit: Olivari has 11 goals and 19 assists in 22 games, but apparently he's a fraud:

https://i.imgur.com/BZ7MwKi.png

Such a quality feature, that.

[SvN]

I'm currently a few games into the 2021-22 season with FC United. I've been promoted every season so far, last year through the playoffs. Every season without fail the bookies have me as favourites to go down, yet the exact opposite happens. I've just started in the Championship and the bookies have us at 1/4 to go down!

Does this happen to anyone else?

[Adramelch]

I'm currently a few games into the 2021-22 season with FC United. I've been promoted every season so far, last year through the playoffs. Every season without fail the bookies have me as favourites to go down, yet the exact opposite happens. I've just started in the Championship and the bookies have us at 1/4 to go down!

Does this happen to anyone else?

It's very common. The bookies predictions are based on the club reputations which don't grow as fast as you get promoted.

To air my grievances, we were the best defence 7 games ago, and have proceeded to concede 20 goals in those 7 games, for no apparent reason. Nothing changed in the team whatsoever and the games weren't particularly difficult either. Just feels completely random.

[Shindig]

What's your board expectations, SvN?

[SvN]

The expectation is that we don't get involved in a relegation battle - which I chose at the start of the season, as it gave me more transfer funds. Not that they've been used - Brexit has made signing cheap foreign players impossible.

[John Arne]

Brexit ruined my long term Crewe game.

[Adramelch]

Finished my second season at Bremen. It was successful by all means, but incredibly frustrating at the same time. Even with the new signings, the quality of the defence is really subpar and it shows. We had a relatively horrible start to the season, but I did some tactical changes that seemed to work wonders. And then, out from nowhere, our defence turned to shit again. Anyway, enough with my ranting.

https://i.imgur.com/ete9PPA.png

3rd place with 60 points? Are you having a laugh? It turns out we weren't the only ones that were horrible this season. Especially RBL with their massive budget really underperformed. That said, it all came down to the very last game where the table looked like that:

https://i.imgur.com/0Lr6feW.png

We had to travel to Borussia MG, RBL were hosting Hertha and Leverkusen were hosting Dortmund, while Hoffenheim went to Wolfsburg. So by all means, it felt that the whole thing was on our hands. It turns out RBL decided to shit the bed, and the other two also lost, while we won and we clinched a very lucky (and probably undeserved) 3rd place, which means we're going to be straight through to the group stages of the Champions League. That's a big deal, since our low coefficient would have meant we would face a big team in the qualifiers, had we finished 4th. I was actually thinking of resigning in the summer, but us getting 3rd means I'll probably stay, unless something better comes along.

We also had a rather successful run in the Europa League:

https://i.imgur.com/DoLfA8O.png

Going out to Gladbach was really annoying, as we're a better team than them really, but they scraped a 1-0 at their place (in what was an even game for the most part) and then successfully shut us down in the return fixture, so they probably deserved it more.

Here's the squad stats:

https://i.imgur.com/rD5NrVE.png

It's pretty evident really that our attack is the only thing that works. I want to try and overhaul the rest of the team, but honestly our board really doesn't want to spend any money whatsoever (we have 120 million in the bank and they gave me a provisional budget of 18million for the next season, paired a massive 30k increase in the wage budget, so I don't really know.

I'm actually surprised that my reputation hasn't grown whatsoever in the 2 years I'm at Bremen. In addition, I applied for Shakhtar and Leverkusen midway through the season and got rejected by both because I didn't want to commit to making the most out of set-pieces (former) or playing defensive football (latter). Is that something that teams want in reality?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/E7yI8gd.png

We want one hundred!

[Adramelch]

Does anyone play the offside trap? I want to try it but I've always had bad experiences with it in previous versions.

Edit: We've kept 22 clean sheets in my 100 official games at Werder. Don't think I've had such a low record even in relegation battles.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/2HICV4k.png

:eyemouth:

[Dark Soldier]

523 is in no way broken

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/k3uxcrb.png

\0/.

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/k3uxcrb.png

\0/.

Meanwhile my board refuses to give me more money whatsoever. Apparently if we have a transfer budget higher than 18 million we will go bankrupt somehow.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Usually I don't bother asking as they just tell me to fuck off so I was stunned that they came to me to ask (what's the point of asking to increase budgets?).

[Adramelch]

Usually I don't bother asking as they just tell me to fuck off so I was stunned that they came to me to ask (what's the point of asking to increase budgets?).

"Do you feel you can win the league by 30 points instead of 25 if we shower you with money?"

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/lfD06TG.png

Lost 3-0.

[Mike]

https://i.imgur.com/3jUV8Lr.png
With 5 games left to play!

[igor_balis]

Is there fixed regen faces for this anywhere?

[Mike]

I don't think so. The guy who used to do the hair cried off doing them last year as they changed the size of the heads in a patch slightly.

It's a new way doing them this year, they're 3D models shown in 2D or something, and look pretty rubbish. :(

someone made a pack of pictures of random faces, that will come through as the regens, if you want that.
https://fmfan.ru/board/index.php?/topic/61531-agp-regens-megapack-fm18/

This is the download link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8nBBv67Cz_nvH8awWo3frVFmBEBah52/view

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/Ov8MFEN.png

Could legitimately be anyone's title at this point. 9 games to go. That said, I'm the leading candidate for the Bayern post. :yn:

[Mike]

Season's done.

https://i.imgur.com/4B0aM2Y.png

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

https://i.imgur.com/leRcnZt.png
https://i.imgur.com/0lwSY6t.png

https://i.imgur.com/MUq9I2G.png
https://i.imgur.com/eEcvGs8.png

[Adramelch]

You can tell by the average rating of your strikers that they scored 2-3 goals one game and then missed every single chance the next 2 or something.

[phonics]

Who are the cheaty way too cheap young players that are brillo of this one? I'm playing a Swansea game and I've got 2 million quid to get this bunch of shite into mid-table.

[Spikey M]

We're punching teams left and right in Europe, yet can't buy a win in the league to save our lives.

Edit: Olivari has 11 goals and 19 assists in 22 games, but apparently he's a fraud:

https://i.imgur.com/BZ7MwKi.png



Such a quality feature, that.

Have you ever been on Twitter? It’s pretty accurate.

[Adramelch]

Have you ever been on Twitter? It’s pretty accurate.

:D Fair enough.

[Adramelch]

In the end, I got approached by Bayern (with 9 games left for the season, as per the league table in my previous post). There's not much to say here, a massive club so if I fail to do well here, I suck. I was only expected to achieve CL qualification (based on the massive failure that the previous manager was), but in the end we had the easiest run of games you could imagine (only top-half team we had to play was Wolfsburg away, which was the only game we didn't win), and coupled with RBL stumbling at Bochum and Frankfurt, this has to be the easiest title I've ever won:

https://i.imgur.com/G2wDkyc.png

Frings took over at Bremen and almost fucked everything up (1 point in his first 5 games), but 2 wins after that meant they at least secured European football for next season. As for my season at Werder, it was a pretty decent one. I left them at 4th place, just 3 points off the top, and we also qualified from the group stages of the Champions League (finished 2nd in a group consisting of Roma, Tottenham and Sporting) and then went out to Monaco 3-2 on aggregate (due to a late goal, which felt bad, but it was ultimately the fair result).

As for Bayern, here's the 3 best players at the club:

https://i.imgur.com/JV6wvA9.png

https://i.imgur.com/5bdMd9B.png

https://i.imgur.com/L4VrL4g.png

That keeper has to be one of the best I've seen in the game. Bit strange that he's only worth 18 million.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Transfers out:

https://i.imgur.com/djc9T0U.png

Transfers in:

https://i.imgur.com/9IAmbfv.png

£1.1m.

https://i.imgur.com/DpC8Trr.png

£6.75m

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

£5m.

https://i.imgur.com/L7CshDZ.png

£2.5m.

https://i.imgur.com/B8gyQQv.png

£12m.

https://i.imgur.com/kmUx6Pg.png

£9m.

Went a bit crazy but I like what I've bought.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/GPA4Q1G.png

Would you sell him?

I resisted in this window but Guangzhou did offer £50m total (most up front with some in instalments) with 50% next sale. Was a bit hard for me to say no to that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

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

Stomped.

[Adramelch]

Shipped my desktop to Greece and I'm left playing the game on a 5-year old laptop and it goes like at 1/3 the speed. The struggles!
Sir Andy Mahowry: Wesley only scored 2 of the 11 goals so you should definitely get rid.

[phonics]

Did a full season yesterday, was good fun. I have a feeling I'm completely screwed but I'll post an update later.

[SvN]

The finances are the biggest issue for me right now. I've nearly finished my first season in the Championship and I'm in the playoff positions. Despite being well under my wage budget, I'm over a million pounds in debt. The tiny ground doesn't help, and I simply can't seem to raise any sort of money. Perhaps getting promoted to the Premier League would help, but if I do, I'll get absolutely demolished as my team is nowhere near good enough. I've still got players from the Conference in my starting line up.

[igor_balis]

Pretty sure the guy who made my level 10 database didn't do the finances very well, because in one and a half seasons (first in level 9 second in level 8, i.e. 3 and 2 divisions below conf norf/south) I've built up a WARCHEST, i'll have easily built up a bank balance of about 400 grand by the end of the season. I'd like to say I'm just running the club really well, but it seems fucked. This season I have loads of players on ~300 quid a week, total wage bill of about 6 grand and I'm still easily making money.

[phonics]

You'd definitely not enjoy it now then. About 30 reports, which are really badly laid out, landing together into your inbox every few days that you've to 'OK' or 'Discard'. God knows why they just don't go into a list of your scouted players without discarding anything.

This is an absolute mess. I genuinely don't understand what's going on so I just look at my phone while hovering over a place that will most likely hit the moving acknowledge button and click until it goes away.



Did a full season yesterday, was good fun. I have a feeling I'm completely screwed but I'll post an update later.

After my calls for cheat players went unheeded so my only purchase was this scrawny Portuguese lad called Xadas who wasn't a natural in any of the positions I was playing on the pitch but my scouts said was 86 good because I really know what I'm doing but I wasn't sure about because my scouts are all shit.

The plan was to play 3 central midfielders with the Ayew brothers on either wing and Abraham/Bony up front. I kind of needed that to work because everyone else was shit. My only other right winger was Narsingh who didn't look that good and my most attacking left winger was Sam Clucas. So Xadas would understudy for either side. Let the season roll.

The season kicked off with a morale boosting destruction of my team by Tottenham, City and Chelsea in my first 3 games. I'd hoped the 6-0 win against Plymouth would have helped. Nah. Chelsea put 4 past us and Martin Ollson two-footed someone in the 89th minute. It would be a recurring theme throughout the season when Sanches two footed someone so badly he got a 5 game ban for it in a 6-1 loss to Liverpool.

On the player front, it turns out my plan was total dog shit as the Ayew brothers who I placed all my faith in severely let me down. Andre Ayew racked up 18 starts and 6 decent sub appearances as in Inside Forward with a return of 3 goals. That return has earned himself a one way trip to Bournemouth which I'll return to later. I'm no longer on speaking terms with Jordan Ayew and apparently his agent isn't with any other club either. Awful. Towards Christmas, Tammy Abraham has been carrying us on his shoulders with Sanches chipping in occasionally as I give up on the Ayew brothers. Luciano Narsingh who I'd written off as a bloke who could just run quite fast starts scoring left and right and my man, Xardoz, is popping up too even though I'm playing him in a position he's rated at 2 stars because I can't bare to write Jordan Ayews name.

All this negativity and I haven't even mentioned we finished 7th. Somehow. We drew one less game than we won all season in the dullest race to the Europa but a accurate reflection of the real life Premier League. Everyone from 13th down within 4 points of relegation and the top 6 in a league of their own and Arsenal at the bottom of it.

https://i.imgur.com/ru298jC.png

Full schedule:
https://i.imgur.com/e7AtdCu.png
https://i.imgur.com/37eUQm6.png


Now onto next year, instead of the three million I was given last year I now have 56 million quid. Good old TV money. I also have Jordi Amat, Roque Mesa and Borja Baston returning from awful seasons. I don't particularly want to keep any of them but we'll see.

I've splurged loads of it on to have the brothers that shall no longer be named never darken my door again. Most of that went on Ryan Sessegnon who seems to have the same kind of strengths as Narsingh does but from the other side and a few youngsters who's stats stood out to replace the outgoing Angel Rangel and loan players Sanches, Andy King and poor Tammy. I'm going to try to get him again but he's so good I assume Chelsea will let him rot in the reserves instead.

I'm looking at getting Ben Mee in for four million thanks to Burnley going down. I considered going for Sakho who's available for nine million but I don't want to start paying people a 100k a week. Another reason for Ben Mee is the dilemna I mentioned at the top of the post. The Europa League. They want an amount of players trained by Swansea. I've got none. They want a large amount of players trained in England. I've got 1 less than that. So I'm either qualifying for the Europa with a squad of 15 and a few 12 year olds or I'm going out early.

edit: @SvN (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=8) spoilers don't work with images.

edit2: nearly forgot. Xadas :cool:

https://i.imgur.com/C7dwP4x.png

[Giggles]

This is an absolute mess. I genuinely don't understand what's going on so I just look at my phone while hovering over a place that will most likely hit the moving acknowledge button and click until it goes away.

That's exactly what I used to do too. Ended up just putting it through the chief scout then.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dinamo 2024/25 review:

League:

https://i.imgur.com/RXM4klZ.png
https://i.imgur.com/1PiJOKD.png

https://i.imgur.com/do8v6i4.png

Absolutely pissed it, second straight undefeated league but with an even better showing. I also didn't start my main 3 strikers for most games (Makarun only got 14 and Big Wes got 20 with Camus getting 19) so it was a bigger pisstake really.

We've now gone 81 games without losing (last loss was on 19th March 2023) and we're on a 31 game winning streak.

Domestic cup:

https://i.imgur.com/7T84B5b.png

The Osjek second leg was nervy as fuck but we only lost because everyone was injured/suspended/on internationals apart from Krecak, Lowry and Galli.

European Super Cup:

https://i.imgur.com/tbYMdW0.png

Feels good to stick the boot into them after going out in their group (and them being the only ones to actually beat us) last season.

Champions League:

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

An absolute horror show. I thought we had a real chance after the Super Cup but the team just didn't click in the group stage. I really don't want us to lose again next year.

Europa:

https://i.imgur.com/Hos3Cmo.png

Our third consecutive final and our second loss. 29 year old Dele 'Wanker' Alli and 31 year old Harry Kane fucked us, we were better in the first half but just couldn't get near them in the second.

Team stats:

https://i.imgur.com/q3Tu0rY.png

For the first time since joining Wesley Alex wasn't our player of the season although I'm not sure how he managed the young player seeing as Krecak is only 17.

https://i.imgur.com/SSMxdY2.png

Also, for the first time Wesley Alex wasn't our top scorer. He only played in 38 games this year but was supplying them more than scoring them, Makarun though only played 31 games. Oh and ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING RED CARDS \0/.

https://i.imgur.com/8agIia1.png

Got to give some of the outsider youth some real games this year which was nice.

I also liked that Makarun was top scorer in the league despite only playing in what, 39% of the games? Hero:

https://i.imgur.com/fs5A9Fi.png

I've also had my first scare with finances as we went to -£9m at one point but we've started the season with £19m in the bank.

I'm still staying here but Juventus and Atletico have already offered me job interviews.

[SvN]

phonics what doesn't work about them? The one posted seems fine for me?

[Adramelch]

I don't understand players in FM sometimes. I go after a player (as Bayern), that West Ham are also after.

- Premier League and Bundesliga have similar reputations in my save (PL being slightly higher though)
- Bayern have a bigger reputation than West Ham
- I am offering him double the money, plus a lot in agent fees etc
- I am offering him a first team role, while West Ham offer a rotation role

He chooses West Ham. :moop:

[SvN]

Yeah it's frustrating, even at lower levels. I tried signing some reserve Premier League players on loan while in the Championship and they refused, but then went on loan to League 2 teams.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

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

I think we're finally going to get out of the groups.

The worst 1st, 2nd and 4th seeds by coefficient.

[wullie]

Roma lose so much money it's unreal. Finished the first season third and then sold the cash cow triple threat of Nainggolan, Strootman and Manolas to give me any kind of transfer budget. That and the TV money means I'm doing well in the second season but the team runs at a loss and I don't think a stadium move is possible as you don't seem to be able to request to build a nice smaller ground that actually makes sense.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Transfers out:

https://i.imgur.com/Fj4OtS6.png
https://i.imgur.com/82B1knj.png

£23m just from loans isn't too shabby. I did try to sell Fabrice Kone but I didn't get any decent offers, I was also surprised that Guangzhou didn't come back in for Wesley as I was hoping as I would have sold him. I imagine they will come in for him in January though.

Transfers in:

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

£7.25m and another one to add to my striker collection. I think he's going to be a special speedy striker.

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

£2m. I had been chasing Orlowski for about 9 months or so but he was such a dick and kept wanting to stay, he then signed a new contract so I couldn't sign him for absolute peanuts. I like him a lot (and he's a fellow Pole) but he will find games hard to come by with Krecak ahead of him, although if last season is anything to go by he'll have plenty of league games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/AgVKNP7.png

:rave:

[SvN]

So I got promoted from the Championship and I'm going to get absolutely slaughtered in the Premier League. However, on the bright side, the board have decided that my 8k stadium needed upgrading, so I'm using Old Trafford for the season, and gate receipts are through the roof. So even if I come straight back down, I should make a fortune.

1 point in 3 games so far, including a collapse from 2-0 up against Brentford. It's not going to be pretty.

I do find that my scouts are absolutely useless though. They keep recommending players that would be "Well suited to League 2 football".

[Shindig]

You've just got to hope they keep you in the seat beyond the relegation, then. Or you could go big in January with your evil Glazerbucks.

[igor_balis]

This super lower league mod is definitely broken but in a fun way. My mighty Rugby Town side are currently pissing level 8 after getting promoted from level 9 last season, and most of our first team players are good conference north/south players according to the coaches, and our only losses this season are against Conference Tranmere in the fa cup and Conference leaders Wrexham in the fa trophy, and we didn't get smashed in either.

Will win the division this season and should really be aiming to win a 3rd consecutive title next season. I imagine it'll only start to get remotely challenging when we get to Conf north/south.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

In my experience it takes until league two to start becoming a challenge.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/qdbDQ6o.png

https://i.imgur.com/JR13Wcs.png

I genuinely have no idea how we're going to lose a game whilst I'm still here.

Edit: https://i.imgur.com/rmfTYhM.png

Dumping the dickheads out :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/Ra608m5.png

I've never seen a manager scout more than 2 players before.

Midseason awards:

https://i.imgur.com/0m6k4HL.png

https://i.imgur.com/W03ZHkz.png

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

https://i.imgur.com/9NAj5jG.png

Edit: https://i.imgur.com/PI1B1V1.png

:( He had a £12.75m release clause and just wouldn't sign a new contract.

[SvN]

So my prediction about getting bummed senseless in the Premier League isn't far off so far. Here's my start to the season:

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

2 wins in the last 2 games have taken me out of the drop zone though, but I suspect it won't be the last time I'm in danger.

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

[Adramelch]

Lots of one goal losses though. You're not getting demolished often (scorewise at least).

[SvN]

True. I was also 2-0 up against Brentford and Brighton and 3-1 up against City before crumbling in the second half. If I can hang on for this season I reckon I'll be well away next year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/UsTl5Nb.png

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

Big Wes GONE.

I bought him for Olimpia for just £26k and then took him to Croatia for £1.9m.

116 league goals in 139 games with 70 assists. I'm going to miss the bastard.

[Dark Soldier]

City have just signed Firmino for £158m on mine. Game is fucked.

[Baz]

50% of Wes’ next sale could be obscene. :drool:

Unless he gets FOUND OUT and you end up buying him back for under £10m, aged 28. Win/win, really.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm hoping it's obscene, I rejected slightly more from Dortmund as they would only offer 20% of the profit.

Transfers out:

https://i.imgur.com/csbv4Fv.png

In:

https://i.imgur.com/7kqMLgs.png

Only £350k.

https://i.imgur.com/O4ogdib.png

£35m which is a bit hefty but I felt that I needed an MC.

Future transfers:

https://i.imgur.com/2Gz1Tt3.png

I don't really need him as I have a keeper to replace Nieto but I quite like him and he was only £5.5m.

https://i.imgur.com/DWSFv9Q.png

I've been after him for a good 2 years now but he was always priced way too high so when Alex was gone I felt that I'd grab him. £38m but I think he's going to be great. I'd have loved to bring him in now but sadly he's already played for his parent club (Milan) and Sassuolo so it made sense to leave him there.

[Adramelch]

I don't know how they have botched the player stuff so massively for so many years in a row. My goalkeeper wants to move to City (lower reputation), in order to win trophies. I guess the fact that they have won nothing (not even a League cup) in the last 6 years and the last time they even came close to winning something was more than 3 years ago doesn't bother him. We've won 5 leagues in the meantime.

[igor_balis]

My third choice keeper in level 8 of the football league pyramid rejected a contract offer from notts county.

[phonics]

1) Can someone explain the scout meeting stuff?

Do I need to hit acknowledge on all these things or can I press clear all? What is the difference between a scout and an analyst report (I have player attribute masking turned off)?

If I hand it over to AI, what are the potential negatives if, in a normal game, I never do anything that isn't hit 'Get Scout Report' from the player search/bio screen.

2) How do I find people that want to be youth coaches in this version. I can't find the option for 'unrealistic' anywhere.

[Dark Soldier]

I filter them to only show 70+ in rating, and sort by highest first, plus set it to every month, or until 100 reports. Then just spam acknowledge, go into search > scouted players, bring up scout reports on the view and sort.

If you want Youth coaches, sort by working with youngsters, then change view to contract and any that are under 18/19/20 coaches (and a few who are out of contract) will normally sign for ya youth teams unless your club is shite. I've found actual training stats mean less compared to the working with youngsters stat.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We've failed to win for the first time this season, not in the league though but in the Champions League.

We were on a 43 games (combined) winning streak with our last non-win (also a loss) being in the Europa League final.

Felt a bit strange winning all games until the 8th of April.

Still on a 60 game winning streak/110 without losing in the league though.

[SvN]

I somehow managed to stay up, despite only hitting 35 points:

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

I'm fortunate that we had a great run of form around Christmas, because everything post February was absolutely horrendous.

https://i.imgur.com/jHahBPn.png
1 win in the last 13, and that was against Swansea who finished bottom of the league. I need to replace about 8 of the first team this summer.

[SvN]

The board have also announced further plans to expand the stadium! WOO! Another season at Old Trafford awaits! Oh, hold on...

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

[Adramelch]

How's it going in terms of finances now that you got the hefty bonus money (and gate receipts) and whatnot? From experience, your reputation will still be sub-par (like mid-Championship level if I had to guess) but it should be enough to help you consolidate the club as a Premier League club.

Sir Andy Mahowry: Are you not bored of the dominance? Or is it a "here until we win a Champions League" case?

[SvN]

Financially I'm absolutely fine now. I ended the season with about £40million in the bank, then got a £9million prize for my league position. Wages are still fairly low, but with the massive overhaul of the squad I'm planning, I suspect that they'll more than double - a lot of my first team are still on League 1/Championship wages.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How's it going in terms of finances now that you got the hefty bonus money (and gate receipts) and whatnot? From experience, your reputation will still be sub-par (like mid-Championship level if I had to guess) but it should be enough to help you consolidate the club as a Premier League club.

Sir Andy Mahowry: Are you not bored of the dominance? Or is it a "here until we win a Champions League" case?

I am but at the same time I' not sure what to do.

I'm not leaving until the Champions League has been won at the very least but at the same time I really like the players I have so much. I don't want to destroy it all.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I bring on a defender in the 78th minute for one who is on a yellow.

The substitute then goes and gets a yellow in the 83rd minute before picking up his second in the 93rd.

What in the actual fuck? They're on easy tackling but sometimes my players make Joey Barton look like a saint.

[Panda Bear]

I am but at the same time I' not sure what to do.

I'm not leaving until the Champions League has been won at the very least but at the same time I really like the players I have so much. I don't want to destroy it all. You've reached the point where you have to start giving yourself increasingly strict artificial restrictions to continue experiencing a challenge.

First off, no more South or Central Americans. And so on, and so on until you end up with John's "youth team newgens only" save.

[Spikey M]

Setting up the new laptop tonight. What packs do I need to download? I can’t remember. Player packs and team names are a given but I can’t remember where I got them from or if there were any others.

Oh, and extended leagues. Any links?

[Adramelch]

I just had a corner where the ball was played to my AMC outside the area, he passed it back to my left back behind the center, who then passed it to the goalkeeper. 4 passes later and we scored a goal. How about that for a corner routine? :D

[Baz]

Setting up the new laptop tonight. What packs do I need to download? I can’t remember. Player packs and team names are a given but I can’t remember where I got them from or if there were any others.

Oh, and extended leagues. Any links?Everything is on sortitoutsi for the name fixes and player pics/team badges.

If you use the team name fix your steam leaderboards won’t work, in case you’re bothered.

As for the additional leagues, check the editors bit on the sigames forum or check out the steam workshop. Again, using these will affect your leaderboards.

[Mike]

Been shopping ready for a stab at Championship football:
https://i.imgur.com/lDpOcBv.png

More to come though.

[Giggles]

Setting up the new laptop tonight. What packs do I need to download? I can’t remember. Player packs and team names are a given but I can’t remember where I got them from or if there were any others.

Oh, and extended leagues. Any links?

Sortitout SI had anything I needed (name fixes, kits, crests).

[Spikey M]

Cheers geezers

[Smiffy]

I still haven't touched it. There's zero inclination to do so either. I tried the mobile version but it's shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dinamo 2025/26 review:

League:

https://i.imgur.com/qbhpc0c.png
https://i.imgur.com/7fiNpHd.png

https://i.imgur.com/HawHC2B.png

There's absolutely no challenge domestically, this is the first time I've ever won all my games in a league season and we did it easily. We've now gone 117 games without losing and we're on a 67 game winning streak.

Domestic cup:

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

Champions League:

https://i.imgur.com/P5PT2vA.png

https://i.imgur.com/STMDB8J.png

Feared we'd fucked the final when they scored but Makarun went into beast mode. All wins with just 1 loss and 1 draw in the entire season is just stupid though.

Team stats:

https://i.imgur.com/9MyjwEi.png

https://i.imgur.com/NHEQZk8.png

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

Awards:

https://i.imgur.com/24Gh6St.png

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

And here's the squad:

https://i.imgur.com/Dmw1IyL.png

https://i.imgur.com/Yd3yP9G.png

https://i.imgur.com/P3jGmUH.png

https://i.imgur.com/u7UmFAL.png

https://i.imgur.com/Gf03fd4.png

https://i.imgur.com/TXbooS2.png

https://i.imgur.com/qlzL4s9.png

https://i.imgur.com/NWOCY18.png

https://i.imgur.com/4Spp3TJ.png

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

https://i.imgur.com/LR0iH2T.png

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

https://i.imgur.com/8pjxP8V.png

https://i.imgur.com/ZzjU4RI.png

https://i.imgur.com/Tgix3mZ.png

https://i.imgur.com/ohLws6S.png

https://i.imgur.com/wGO3qwU.png

https://i.imgur.com/LDcA5uq.png

Still no idea what I should do, I want to stay but it's far too easy and thus boring. I'm too attached to the team though :\

[Baz]

Get unattached, it’s just a game. Move elsewhere. You’ve nothing left to do at Dinamo.

[Shindig]

Do it on a rainy night in Stoke.

[wullie]

Bloody Dutch.

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

[Dark Soldier]

523 ruins the game 'how, break the shackles from it. Trust me, I used it for a few saves too, after the first season the game just becomes a click simulator.

[Reg]

I don't know why they can't fix the 3 striker systems. They've been broken for the majority of the editions for the past twenty years.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

523 ruins the game 'how, break the shackles from it. Trust me, I used it for a few saves too, after the first season the game just becomes a click simulator.

That's a point.

I was going to stay another season anyway (and then move on) and I might use that now to craft my own tactic which will hopefully make that season more enjoyable. I'm thinking a 4-3-1-2 or a narrow 4-1-2-1-2.

[Dark Soldier]

I don't know why they can't fix the 3 striker systems. They've been broken for the majority of the editions for the past twenty years.

Because we have to have new, not needed guff.

As I've always said they need a new engine but fucked if they'll bother when they're the only relevant game on the market in this genre.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They've OVERHAULED THE ENTIRE SCOUTING SYSTEM though.

[Dark Soldier]

So so moist

[Panda Bear]

I've never understood the point of downloading and using someone else's tactic.

Making one is a core piece of the game.

[Mike]

Snap. I’ve never downloaded one or even looked up how to make a game breaker. I’m aware of the three striker thing because of on here. My tactic has one striker as it’s what I like.

[Spikey M]

Copying tactics that work well for others is part of football, no?

[Reg]

I've never understood the point of downloading and using someone else's tactic.

Making one is a core piece of the game.
Yep. I also avoid.

That said, there is still plenty to be done with transfers, team talks, player selection etc.

[Spikey M]

I often use a downloaded tactic that I tweak to my preferred style. Game breakers though - not for me. I had to restart a game a while back because my team (can’t remember if it was the Derby or the Southend save) were winning everything with ease. We beat Man City 7-0 or something in the FA Cup whilst we were in the Championship. Pointless. No challenge at all.

[Giggles]

I've no interest in tactics, just the transfer side so if there weren't any to download then there wouldn't be any point in playing it for me. As it is, they're doing their best to ruin the recruitment side of things.

[Adramelch]

I was thinking of reverting to a 5-2-3 during my defending woes at Bremen but decided to stick to my 4-2-3-1 (a formation I have been using for like the last 10-15 versions or something).

Anyway my first full season at Bayern is over and it was a successful one:

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

It was easier than the final table implies, but we sort of switched off towards the end. Dortmund were the main challengers for the most part, but they had a horrible ending to the season (17 points from 11 games) so they didn't even manage to finish 2nd in the end.

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

That one was very easy away. Only challenging game was against Dortmund, and even that one was because of our profligacy in front of goal.

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

Onto the more important things, we had a relatively successful showing in the Champions League. Despite the generally harder draws (finishing 1st in the group stage and getting Monaco for example), we made it all the way to the semis, and it felt like we were robbed. United were better at their place and deserved to win, but we demolished them at our place, but yet again, our wastefulness in front of the goal meant we went out on aggregate. Still, it's been 12 years (!) since Bayern made it to the semis, so I'm still pleased with our performance.

The squad stats:

https://i.imgur.com/gRxpI8t.png
https://i.imgur.com/tRf9O14.png

A very balanced squad all things considered, however we are missing depth in the defence, so that will be my priority this summer. All the people that I signed (Uyrange, Gauthier, Illa and Kitic) did very well, especially considering that the last two only cost us a combined 22 million euros. The first 2, however, were our marquee signings (which is one of the philosophies the board imposed on me), costing 70 and 105 million respectively (not everything up front of course). We did sell 170 million worth of players though so in the end it mostly evened out.

[phonics]

Swansea seem to have some insane youth in their team. There's this kid Daniel James you starts the game in your senior squad but looks crap. I've played in in a couple of Europa League matches and the Cups and he's got 5 goals in 3 games. There seems to be some other wunderkind up front as well so the plan is to punt Bony out the door and bring him through instead.

[SvN]

Daniel James is at Colchester in League One in my game.

[Mike]

My new Physio has given up his career as a bad David Brent look-a-like to sign for me.
https://i.imgur.com/paOondw.png

[igor_balis]

Signed this fella for level 8 Rugby Town:

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t35.0-12/29680701_10160126143675384_97297012_o.png?_nc_cat= 0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeFA6k_x4yRiizuErdKv4lcLacsJd3c8ebex 8eO9XRxVfrUknx_ZDIsWm7YKjnz9POPuaVCsrBJhdHKlFDt67V 0ryWBYWoLxHsXtZsPd8_6rqw&oh=c32fc159abe1f75f0c4e34a8823784ff&oe=5ABAC9E9

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t35.0-12/29513704_10160126145575384_1814259399_o.png?_nc_ca t=0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeEZjGwFJdqN52uDeK_0SEj0RYI4vRnjCD0t oL6yQojgZLA1SRwzLSbcGv1A-sJaiiJV2AA55xFxtVLuYTotKnz05VJOk43jlY_-3v33vQtPBg&oh=eaf7df172d1f2b218efaf246cc331260&oe=5AB9E8C0

Alrighty

[Disco]

An inability to leap off the ground. Have you signed Steven Seagal?

[Dark Soldier]

I've never understood the point of downloading and using someone else's tactic.

Making one is a core piece of the game.

For me I made them in every version from CM2 through to FM13. I just play it as a plug and play thing these days, cannot be arsed tweaking constantly and getting it just right so I head to FMBase.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I did it up to 11 or 12 I think and then I just couldn't be arsed anymore.

[Shindig]

I can't play CM 01-02 without WWW1/2. For FM, I usually go with the Assistant Manager's suggestions and just see what gets results. I've never been one for tactics. More the personnel.

[Panda Bear]

Alright, I accept.

I don't know if I've ever done a team talk. I just assign them to whomever has the highest Motivating score.

[igor_balis]

fair play lads but doesn't it all feel a bit empty? surely the only satisfaction in winning the league over and over again with a downloaded tactic would be if you genuinely are fantasizing you're a football management god as some kinda escape from real life? it can't be for the challenge of building a team/playing the transfer market because any idiot can do that better than the AI.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Loanees have come back and I didn't realise just how big the senior squad was:

https://i.imgur.com/OXoeyhO.png
https://i.imgur.com/Lolp8lj.png

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/7z6gcxO.png

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What's that, like £170m? So it breaks Mbappe's record.

The biggest transfer fee on my save thus far is Asensio to Man City for £144m.

[Adramelch]

What's that, like £170m? So it breaks Mbappe's record.

The biggest transfer fee on my save thus far is Asensio to Man City for £144m.

Ye Mbappe was the previous top one at 180 million euros. Dybala moved to Real for 175 in 2019.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Thought the formation that I built (a 4-2-1-3) might be broken too after scoring 17 and conceding 1 in 4 league matches but it's not.

Just lost 4-2 to RBL in the Super Cup and despite dominating Lokomotiva they were awarded a last minute penalty to take a point and to halt our winning streak at 71.

[Adramelch]

So the player Monaco bought for 200 million is a right winger and now they are putting 100 million offers for my right winger. #logic

[Dark Soldier]

fair play lads but doesn't it all feel a bit empty? surely the only satisfaction in winning the league over and over again with a downloaded tactic would be if you genuinely are fantasizing you're a football management god as some kinda escape from real life? it can't be for the challenge of building a team/playing the transfer market because any idiot can do that better than the AI.

I don't play it for achieving anything, its mainly run in the background as I browse the net/listen to music/watch Netflix. It uses so little power on my laptop I can boot it up when I load, play ten games over ten hours and I'm happy.

I'll have the odd save where I start out as a shite team with players that don't suit a system and build it up and get right into it, but 75% of my game time is a rich club, just dicking about. I've played it so long I've, to go The Inbetweeners for a bit, completed it.

Got over 800 hours across most the games but the last five or six years most of that is idling. Started a United save tonight and managed eight games in seven hours. Kinda helps that its the only game I have that requires no sound whatsoever, easy to come home from work and just jump in and out.

[SvN]

Second season in the Premier League is going better so far. I completely overhauled my squad in the Summer and spent about £25million. There's only 2 or 3 players remaining from last season. I was quite sad to see some of them go - I had 2 players from the Conference still playing regularly, and got quite attached. But they just weren't up to it at all. They've ended up at Championship clubs though.

I've signed this youngster from Orlando Pirates who's playing fairly well so far, without being incredible. He's just won European Golden Boy, which did surprise me - I didn't realise he was so highly rated. What do you lot think?

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

[phonics]

I got the Brexit warning that their will 'likely be a limit on foreign players rather than the current work-permit system'

What am I looking at?

[John]

He's excellent SvN, but there's long been a glitch with the Golden Boy award. If a player has torn up trees for some minnows in the first half of the year then you sign him for a bigger club the game seems to behave as though those stats were accrued for your team.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Transfers out:

https://i.imgur.com/r8SzLLP.png
https://i.imgur.com/AO5lmoN.png

Big transfer there is Makarun going to Man United:

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

I'm going to miss him but up to £61m and 50% of his next fee was too much to pass on.

Transfers in:

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

£38m which is hefty as fuck considering we have 3 strong CB's already and I'm only using 2 but I've been after him for a while.

https://i.imgur.com/c9E7cU6.png

I don't need another keeper but my scouts were really high on him and I thought I might as well for £5.5m.

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

£45.5m all upfront which is the highest I've paid for a player. After switching to my formation I felt I needed another quality midfielder and I spotted De Bruijn. His contract is hefty and has a lot of clauses in it (he wanted £220k and I could only go to £160k) but he's class. 6 foot 5 as well so he must look ridiculous when he's lining up next to my midget 5'2 midfielder.

[Dark Soldier]

De Bruijn is erection material.

[Baz]

Aggression 5 though.

[SvN]

Second season in the Premier League is much better so far. I even have an outside chance of Champions League qualification, but in truth I'd be happy with 5th.

https://i.imgur.com/stu5e6t.png

I've got an absolute bastard of a run in though. I just played United away, and I've still got Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Spurs (H) and Liverpool (A) to play in my last 6 games. So it's going to be a tough ask to get anywhere near 4th.

I got knocked out of the League Cup semis by Chelsea after choking the second leg (we drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge) and I have an FA Cup semi final against Man City coming up. I have a fairly decent lineup, but I severely lack depth in defence. Priority this Summer is a new goalkeeper and at least 2 new centre backs, ideally youngsters.

[Adramelch]

Second season in the Premier League is much better so far. I even have an outside chance of Champions League qualification, but in truth I'd be happy with 5th.

I've got an absolute bastard of a run in though. I just played United away, and I've still got Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Spurs (H) and Liverpool (A) to play in my last 6 games. So it's going to be a tough ask to get anywhere near 4th.

I got knocked out of the League Cup semis by Chelsea after choking the second leg (we drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge) and I have an FA Cup semi final against Man City coming up. I have a fairly decent lineup, but I severely lack depth in defence. Priority this Summer is a new goalkeeper and at least 2 new centre backs, ideally youngsters.

How's the Cups looking in general? Getting a European spot in your second season would be pretty sweet. For the most part it will be a distraction (not much money to be made from it) but it means you get to build your coefficient (and the club reputation) for when you enter Europe proper. What place are you predicted to finish at?

That striker looks very good and he's only 19. I am assuming he didn't cost you much money either, no?

[SvN]

How's the Cups looking in general? Getting a European spot in your second season would be pretty sweet. For the most part it will be a distraction (not much money to be made from it) but it means you get to build your coefficient (and the club reputation) for when you enter Europe proper. What place are you predicted to finish at?

That striker looks very good and he's only 19. I am assuming he didn't cost you much money either, no?

I was predicted to finish 20th again, and 1/4 with the Bookies to go down. I'm through to the final of the FA Cup against United, and finished 5th in the League. Liverpool beat me 3-2 away with a 96th minute winner to dash the Champions League dream, but I'll take the Europa League.

https://i.imgur.com/ltQIA4H.png

My young striker was 500k. He really has been a revelation, and won a fair few games for me single handedly. I'm hoping I can hang onto him for a while - hopefully noone comes sniffing this summer.

[SvN]

Gutted.

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

In fairness I got absolutely battered in Extra Time. It could've been 6 or 7 by the end of it.

[Adramelch]

I've found that it's a bit easier to keep players in the last couple versions. They will moan a bit and be unhappy for a while, but they typically get over it. Just make sure he has a long contract. Also I've found that at least the "there's no point discussing it with no bid" and even "you have such a good atmosphere in the squad" works wonders.

[SvN]

Halfway through my third season in the PL now, and having a blazing season. Battered my group in the Europa League and top of the Premier League. Went out of the League Cup in the third round away to Chelsea, but not the end of the world. I had a bit of a nightmare in the summer and signed loads of foreign plebs that my scouts were convinced were Messi's regen. Once they signed, my coaches were much less impressed, and I ended up with 6 or 7 new signings that I couldn't register for the league due to the fact that I had so many.

Obviously, they were understandably livid at not being registered. I managed to loan a few out, but the others are just stuck in my U23s for now. I'm going to try and shift a few in January.

I've got one player who "Wants to join a bigger club" and Bayern are interested, but he's my best defender so he's staying put, unless he really kicks off.

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

West Ham have just won the Championship so they're having a ridiculous first season up. They've got Fred Friday, who my scouts think is shit, raping the league and has scored 20 in 19.

Financially, it's a bit tougher. I've got a few players on 100k+ per week now, and with my tiny stadium (maxed out at 20k), I'm struggling to break even every month. I was projected to fail FFP for a few months, but now I'm looking good. Hopefully, getting a few off my wage bill in January will help in that regard.

[Adramelch]

Topped my group in the Champions League group stages the last two seasons and I've been paired against Monaco and PSG in the first knockout round. Between them they have won the whole thing 3 times in the last 3 seasons. :moop:

[Baz]

is sortitoutsi (http://www.sortitoutsi.net)down?

[Giggles]

is sortitoutsi.com (http://www.sortitoutsi.com)down?


It's sortitoutsi.net, and yes. Good old cloudflares.



.

[Adramelch]

Finished my second full season at Bayern and it was essentially a repeat of the previous one.

https://i.imgur.com/GNqE5y6.png

A very easy league title with both Dortmund and Wolfsburg underperforming compared to previous seasons. We even switched off a bit towards the end of the season with the title all but won but they still couldn't catch up. The league win was once again coupled with a cup win:

https://i.imgur.com/Rx4CCZk.png

Very favourable draws all the way to the final meant that even my second string squad had more than enough to go through. The final was the only difficult game in the whole run, but we outplayed Dortmund in every single aspect of the game and if it wasn't for 2 long shots (and our main keeper getting injured the day before the final), the scoreline would be embarassing for them.

Sadly, things didn't turn out that well in Europe:

https://i.imgur.com/K5EhzNE.png

As I complained in my previous post, easily topping the group and being rewarded with the title holders (for two consecutive seasons even) felt really shitty. We did manage to go through, even though it was probably a bit closer than the final aggregate scoreline suggests (they were clearly better at their place and we were clearly better at ours). Much like Manchester United the season before, the tie against West Ham was a very annoying one. We were better than them in both games, but, as is typical behaviour now, we squandered our chances and they didn't. It's a bit annoying how many 1-on-1s are missed and how many goals from silly angles are scored instead. Feels a bit unrealistic.

Enough rambling. Here's the squad stats:

https://i.imgur.com/kXVaaw6.png
https://i.imgur.com/E6mWQdk.png

Gauthier was once again magnificent on the number 10 role, scoring very important goals and creating just as many. Kitic also won us some games on his own, despite being a vastly inferior winger to Zwartjens. To think Dortmund agreed to sell him to us for just 15 million. Crazy.

Anyway, that's it for now. I think I'm done with Germany after spending 5 seasons here, so the next chance that comes my way, I'll be jumping ship. I am a tad disillusioned with the game to be honest, but it's the only game that I can sort of enjoy in the limited amount of time I have free so I might as well keep going.

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/IEuQ9dx.png

Ended 0-0. And that's 7 actual proper chances, not those weird ones that FM thinks are good for whatever reason. This happens so often and, even though I'll usually win the games, it's incredibly annoying. That result alone might have pushed me over the edge with just not bothering with the game any more really.

[SvN]

Interesting that West Ham ended up becoming a top team in your game too. I wonder how common that is.

[Adramelch]

I did end up finishing another season. As much as I complain about the stuff that annoys me in the game, the truth is that there's no better alternative, and there's not really any other game that can be played in such a manner (for me that is, doing other things simultaneously), so I guess I'm stuck with it. :D

I ended up leaving Bayern and moving to West Ham, which had a tycoon takeover in 2019 and since then they've become a top team, although not a TOP TOP team I would say. They have won a few trophies since then (1 league title, 2 FA cups, 2 League Cups and most notably a Europa League title), but other than that they're still not really a very big team (although they do have a considerable reputation that stems from the tycoon money). Still, it would be considered a downgrade compared to Bayern, but it's a bigger league and I'd been in Germany for 5 years so I was looking for a change.

I will start with the star players in the squad:


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

https://i.imgur.com/KsuM962.png

https://i.imgur.com/O0NEGn4.png

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

https://i.imgur.com/B1rrP2k.png

https://i.imgur.com/rRx8Yu1.png


With the last 3 being some of the best players in the world.
The squad in general was very complete, so I mostly got rid of people I would never use, and signed/promoted a few youngsters to provide some cover. The only problem is that most of the squad is on their late 20s/early 30s, so if I am to stay here for long, I'll have to gradually replace them (although the squad is good to go as is for the next couple of years).

The league proved to be quite easy in the end:

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

We ended up with the best attacking record in the league (111 goals) and 3rd best defensive (43 goals), but I'm a little disappointed at our defence, as there were games where they just went AWOL and we dearly paid for it (notably a 5-0 humiliation at Old Trafford with Mbappe creating all 5 goals, a 3-0 loss at Leicester and a 4-2 defeat against lowly Southampton). Still, there's only so much I can complain as we were clearly the best team in the league, with some impressive wins (5-2 against United, 4-1 against City, 6-2 against Chelsea at home, as well as a 7-3 win over Chelsea at their place - Chelsea clearly didn't have a good time against us), and a very impressive home record (18-1-0). I also got to rotate a lot and the 2nd string players didn't disappoint either.

We coupled that with an easy FA cup win:

https://i.imgur.com/knxyf3d.png

There's really not much to say here. We had the luckiest draws possible and the only relatively difficult match was at the final, where Leicester got us to extra time, but Auffret decided that enough is enough and scored a hat-trick to make sure we completed the double.

Things didn't go as well in the League cup:

https://i.imgur.com/VwVWDB5.png

I would like to blame the game or the match engine or whatever, but the truth is that Liverpool were just flat out better over the two legs and deservedly went through to the final (where they beat City).

And now to the bigger things:

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

All in all, a very successful campaign. Monaco deservedly came out on top in the semis, but I would argue it was us letting ourselves down (on all 4 goals we condeded), rather than them being to strong for us. We also had some very crucial injuries, which didn't help.

The squad stats:

https://i.imgur.com/IP8QiPT.png

Auffret was quite clearly our top performer with a massive 14 PoM awards in 49 appearances. I can't recall the last time I had a player be that influential in one of my teams (especially considering he isn't the striker). Still, honorable mentions go to Krejcik and Veerman who carried the team when Auffret couldn't.

A very successful season altogether, with 2 titles and a strong European campaign. A lot better than City at least, who won nothing and somehow managed to finish dead last in a group of Real, Schalke and Feyenoord. United sacked Zidane at the end of the season and I'm somewhat inclined to apply, but it's a tough decision really. City are also close to sacking Pep. That one is more enticing so we'll have to see.

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/bpkbia7.png

We're the 4th most reputable club in the world. :moop:

[Spikey M]

Most of their fan base think that now.

[Adramelch]

Most of their fan base think that now.

Don't be silly, they're only below Real. The rest just attract better players because they offer stupid money.

[Panda Bear]

I'm in my sixth season with Peterborough. We got promoted straight out of League One, and spent three seasons in the Championship before getting promoted to the Premier League. Last season, we escaped relegation by goal difference at 38 points.

I've continued to overhaul the roster.

And today, I conceded this goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFo1gtXmlCU

Fuck off, SI.

[Panda Bear]

Nevermind, that upload was useless.

My keeper picked up a loose ball. He proceeded to drop it in front of him at the penalty spot, and then jogged backwards while their striker ran in and hammered it home.

[Dark Soldier]

Its allegedly coming to Nintendo Switch

[Shindig]

Hmmm .... do we need a sweepstakes for how many leagues we can load on that?

Actually, it's already on tablets. Easy port, in theory.

[John]

It'll surely be a completely different game than the one available on tablets. The short lived XBox version from about 2004 had more detail than what you get on a tablet now.

[Pepe]

Its allegedly coming to Nintendo Switch

Touch version out. Is it any good? Might have a go.

[Giggles]

It'll surely be a completely different game than the one available on tablets. The short lived XBox version from about 2004 had more detail than what you get on a tablet now.

It's the shitty touch one according to the email about it.

[Panda Bear]

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/2432383702025955357/33DDF08E7B532BE96CC6236DADCC61B72CE68EA6/

I have no idea we, who finished 13th in the Premier League last season, beat out Bayern, who win Bundesligas and are Champions League semi-final regular, for his signature.

What a fucking beast.

[Panda Bear]

And thank you, Steam, for the shit quality screenshot but easy uploading.

[John]

He looks fun but I'd be training him as a full back or fully as a DM in very short order.

[Spikey M]

Does anyone actually use sweepers?

[Baz]

Fullback? His crossing is 10.

[John]

Technical stats are much easier to boost than physical ones, and in the meantime a full back with questionable crossing will cause far fewer problems than a centre back who can't jump.

[wullie]

Game's gone mad. After a middling last season, my team of Popeyes clearly spent the summer filling up on spinach

https://i.imgur.com/OFVvRZj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XQd1oud.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/IIyoIeg.jpg

[Panda Bear]

Does anyone actually use sweepers?I've always wanted to try a libero. I have a 4-3-3 with a DM, and I'll make a sweeper variant moving the DM.


Technical stats are much easier to boost than physical ones, and in the meantime a full back with questionable crossing will cause far fewer problems than a centre back who can't jump.Sweeper or DM for this kid.

[John]

Perfect. He'll be shit hot as a DM.

[John]

https://www.adidas.co.uk/dis/dw/image/v2/aagl_prd/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-adidas-products/default/dwf298b30d/zoom/DA9610_01_standard.jpg


:roflol:

How do you mix up those two threads, you fucking clown?

[Spikey M]

He’d look more like a clown wearing those

[Dark Soldier]

Gonna give this a shot tomorrow:

https://www.fmscout.com/a-season-1995-96-relive-history-fm18.html

[Boydy]

This is just under £13 on Steam at the minute. Haven't tried one since FM15 so bought it to give it a go. I'll probably play for an hour and then decide I can't be arsed but oh well.

[Giggles]

This is just under £13 on Steam at the minute. Haven't tried one since FM15 so bought it to give it a go. I'll probably play for an hour and then decide I can't be arsed but oh well.

Couldn't have just given me the thirteen quid instead of fucking it away.

[Mike]

This is just under £13 on Steam at the minute. Haven't tried one since FM15 so bought it to give it a go. I'll probably play for an hour and then decide I can't be arsed but oh well.

Do yourself a favour while you learn the game again and get use to the layout and be a big side that’ll batter everyone.

[Boydy]

Do yourself a favour while you learn the game again and get use to the layout and be a big side that’ll batter everyone.

I started as Coventry. :(

[wullie]

Description still applies, we just had to drop three divisions first.

[Boydy]

Don't think I like the full game - there seems to be far too much going on. Tried Football Manager Touch though and its seems decent.

[Adramelch]

They spent far too much dev time introducing pointless features really, while the match engine is still heavily flawed.

[randomlegend]

My guess is they haven't got a fucking clue how to make the match engine better/Miles is arrogant enough to think it's perfect which is why all the time is spent on nonsense shiny features.

[Adramelch]

It's definitely more complicated than the other features and while the solutions in the sense of "this shouldn't work like this" are obvious, I'd reckon it's not easy to fix from a programming point of view. So they just take the easy way out and introduce nonsense instead to have something to talk about.

[Disco]

There's no real impetus for it either, why spend that much money on improving the game when it'll sell the same numbers anyway.

[SvN]

I quite enjoyed this year's. I've pretty much got bored with it now, but I still fire it up every now and then.

[Adramelch]

It's not a bad game by any means. It just feels like the important things either get progressively worse or stay still, while they add things that are more of a nuisance rather than an actual feature.

[Clunge]

I genuinely think FM may have peaked with '17. I'm still playing Touch '17. It's flawlessly good.

[Boydy]

FM peaked with 05. Including CM, the peak was 01/02.

[Spikey M]

I doubt CM 01/02 will ever be replaced as my favourite game. I’d love to know how many hours I put into that.

[Adramelch]

I wonder how good it holds up.

[Giggles]

I wonder how good it holds up.

It's basically what FM Mobile is now.

[Baz]

Is there an all-conquering tactic for FM18 yet? Thinking of starting a save with my mates as players on the same team so would just like to download a tactic that makes it likely they’ll win the league.

Dark Soldier

[Adramelch]

Is there an all-conquering tactic for FM18 yet? Thinking of starting a save with my mates as players on the same team so would just like to download a tactic that makes it likely they’ll win the league.

Dark Soldier

I can't tell you which one's the best as I made my own, but presumably 3 strikers is the way to go, if you want to abuse the match engine. DS posted one in this thread if I recall correctly but you'll have to search for it.

[Dark Soldier]

Is there an all-conquering tactic for FM18 yet? Thinking of starting a save with my mates as players on the same team so would just like to download a tactic that makes it likely they’ll win the league.

Dark Soldier

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-18-tactics/368385-5-3-2-played-16-won-16-scored-57-conceded-1-2-strikers-scoring.html

As ever, put it in all three slots, train tactics til 100% and give it a month or two to click. Then rarely ever lose again. Took me to the title with Bournemouth by 14 points in my first season, took Barnet to the PL in four seasons.

[Baz]

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/share-download-fm-18-tactics/368385-5-3-2-played-16-won-16-scored-57-conceded-1-2-strikers-scoring.html

As ever, put it in all three slots, train tactics til 100% and give it a month or two to click. Then rarely ever lose again. Took me to the title with Bournemouth by 14 points in my first season, took Barnet to the PL in four seasons.:lewis:

Much appreciated.

[Dark Soldier]

Also IFs/Wingers with decent finishing are beastly in the l/r striker slots if you retrain them. Gelson Martins got me 20 goals and 40 assists on a United save.

I mainly use my own adapted from another tactic 4231 these days, right side Ram, left IF. Shit is beastly. Its linked below:

http://www.filedropper.com/parisram

[Boydy]

Why am I so shit at this? :cry:

[phonics]

Everyone is and then you import the cheat tactic and never play again.

[Boydy]

What's the point then?

[Adramelch]

It's not too difficult, you just have to get a hang of the tactics really.

[Boydy]

Playing as Liverpool. Struggled past some shitmunchers in friendlies and then beat AC Milan 3-1 in my final friendly of the pre-season. First league game against Arsenal ended 6-5 to them with Aubameyang scoring the winner from a freekick in injury time. :moop:

[Dark Soldier]

First 5-15 games is no indicator, tactics gotta bed in, morale, fitness, match sharpness, new signings etc.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm playing as Guatemala and it really is the business doing the single game stuff without the relentless grind of news items/other bollocks in club football. Finding ways to set the same bunch of shithouses up against Mexico and then 4 days later against St Kitts & Nevis.

[Adramelch]

Thinking of starting a new Journeyman save myself. Had one going a few months back where I won the Premier League with West Ham after 3 league titles at Bayern but I don't think I can get back to it. Thinking of going outside Europe for starters which I never really do.

[Adramelch]

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

[randomlegend]

I always make my own tactics. I don't really understand the enjoyment out of using a 'cheat' tactic you've downloaded. I could probably learn to code something myself that just tells me I've won over and over again whilst only having to click 'next'.

Each to their own though.

[Adramelch]

I would say the same, but then again, I make the one tactic, I perfect it (to my liking) and then use it everywhere. So from that point onwards I'm basically doing the exact same thing as people who download a tactic. I guess I might still do the occasional tweak but there's been versions where I didn't need to.

[randomlegend]

But if I do that I at least feel the satisfaction of 'beating' the match engine myself.

[Dark Soldier]

I do it because I've been playing this shit since CM2 and I'm at the point I can't be arsed dicking around with a tactic for hours until its just right and/or fails. I hammed the fuck out of building my own way back, up to the point of FM08 (won TD's tactics contest lads touch me, plus my 01/02 tactics still exist on the new) so I'd probably knock one up that does the job in a few hours, but I'm an addict to the game. I generally use the cheat ones for a couple of saves and grow bored, then download a properly realistic one and add some tweaks to suit whoever I'm managing. Hence the 4231 I posted up thread (changed a few roles, switched wingers to IF and Ram, switched AMC to a second AP and adjusted defensive line and tempo).

Its well known full backs are shit and constant pressing wins anyway, been that way for years.

[Adramelch]

Full backs and goalkeeper exits. So basically anything you do from the wings will just win eventually.

I don't get that much joy from creating my own tactic. Where it wins for me is that I get to decide what type of players I want and it makes the scouting all that more enjoyable.

[Giggles]

But if I do that I at least feel the satisfaction of 'beating' the match engine myself.

The match engine is a flaming can of shite at this stage. Just generic and bears no resemblance to anything set up beforehand.

[Adramelch]

I did end up starting a new Journeyman save, loading up all the available leagues (not custom ones) outside Europe plus some big European ones. I ended up at the 2nd division of China, taking charge of a team that barely avoided relegation the previous season with only 27 points in 30 games. We ended up massively improving in my first season, breaking club records for points won, games won and goals scored. That still wasn't enough to get promoted though:

https://i.imgur.com/TpXa3di.png

Undoubtedly, drawing so many games is what held us behind, but at the same time we only mustered 4 points in the 8 games against the teams that finished above us so we didn't really deserve to finish any higher.

It's refreshing to manage in a non-European league, seeing as I haven't done that for like 10 years.

[Adramelch]

What a joyful 4 minutes.

https://i.imgur.com/k9thhmN.png.

Essentially he tripped himself on his way out of the doctor's office.

[Spikey M]

My Billericay Town will be in League 2 next season. It’s a pretty good save as they’re pretty well off (£9 million in the bank to start with) but it’s still a long climb.

[Adramelch]

https://i.imgur.com/Nt9P6Km.png

I've never won a league title on penalties in the 20 years or so I'm playing this game.

[Bam]

My Billericay Town will be in League 2 next season. It’s a pretty good save as they’re pretty well off (£9 million in the bank to start with) but it’s still a long climb.

Never thought of being them, might have to give that ago. Watched the Sweden game in the club house last Saturday so I feel some loyalty.

[Spikey M]

Never thought of being them, might have to give that ago. Watched the Sweden game in the club house last Saturday so I feel some loyalty.

I had to download an extra league pack to do it, but it’s decent. Fairly easy but takes 3 seasons just to get to League 2.

[Adramelch]

Classic FM stuff:

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

We drew the game of course.

[John]

I had to download an extra league pack to do it, but it’s decent. Fairly easy but takes 3 seasons just to get to League 2.

Link to the pack? I'd definitely be up for that.

[Spikey M]

Link to the pack? I'd definitely be up for that.

Here’s the English one -

https://www.fmscout.com/a-fm18-database-england-lower-leagues-to-level-22.html

But you can do it with pretty much any country in the world too -

https://www.fmscout.com/c-fm18-leagues.html