Football Manager 2021 [Archive] - Page 3

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 02:32 PM

2024 LAFC - Mid Season Update

After winning the cup last season, but missing the playoffs we narrowly held onto our job and set about sorting things in pre-season. Out went a couple of moaning wankers and we started the season strong in the CONCACAFCACAF Champions League.

https://i.postimg.cc/P5GtKQNx/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/nCkbh74b)

Unfortunately two things happened after the semi's. Firstly Diego Rossi got injured in a league game and out for 4 months and in the final itself the curse of the binman struck. Leading 4-1 in the second half of the fist leg we should have shut up shop and I didn't. Conceding two goals in the last 20 minutes kept the tie in the balance, Pachuca came out as fast as any team I've ever seen in the second leg and that was it. I've now reached the African and North American club finals and lost them both. Annoying.

On the plus side, we are comfortably the best team in the MLS, being pre-season 4/11 favourites and after the clusferfuck fixture congestion died down we hit our stride and are leading our conference and the supporters shield going into the July transfer window.

https://i.postimg.cc/hvp2vrw0/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/N226P1Qy)

I think I get some Hall of Fame points for winning the Supporter's Shield (for the uninitiated that's having the best regular season record in all of the MLS) and I might also get some points for winning my conference. Rossi is back soon so we should be well placed to do those things. MLS is a bit more of a crapshoot as it'll basically come down to a one off game and we're not that good at those. Also still in the US Open, having beaten some donut shop owners to make it t the quarters.

The international transfer window opens soon and I need a top quality centre back. I have three designated players already, but you can sort of frig that if I can get someone on the £15k wages mark, as you complete the deal for them as designated and the game forces the contract to be a regular senior one. I can then buy some of that down using general allocation monies to stay under the wage cap. Bigger problem is I already have 9 forriners and will need to get rid of one before I can complete any deal. They're all quite good so it's a difficult choice and an annoying balancing act as I'll have to do it before I've actually secured the deal for any new player.

In terms of the future my contract ends at the end of this season, but depending on how things go I may well stay for another year to have one more crack at Europe. Once you get a vague grip on the wank rules the MLS is actually alright. But it does hammer home how much worse US national footballers were than I thought. They may be able to cobble a decent international side together but beyond that it's a sea of shite and good yanks are like gold dust.

Sir Andy Mahowry

08-09-2021, 02:48 PM

Like the look of this fella. Worth bringing him to Utd?
Not whilst I have this lad:

https://i.imgur.com/Jmx5shQ.png

He actually came out of the Leverkusen side and was sold to Barca for £67m and then United for £115m before I even got to Leverkusen.

Fucking aida!

His wages as well. :shocked:

Is he your top earner?
He is not.

Another Summer signing (another reunion) is on 375k a week, then Iggy above is on 325k and Matty along with 2 others are joint third.

Right now there are 12 players (there were another 2/3 but they've been sold) on 200k a week or higher.

Bernanke

08-09-2021, 02:54 PM

Iggy. :drool:

Sir Andy Mahowry

08-09-2021, 03:09 PM

I found a keeper I liked and made some bids for him but his club (Norwich) kept rejecting the offers so I went and signed another keeper. He is nowhere near as good but a lot cheaper than what I was willing to give Norwich.

He's now handed in a transfer request and they've listed him for less than what I offered :moop:

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 03:12 PM

LA have just offered me a new deal. 4 years on £15k a week, more than three times what I joined for.

John Arne

08-09-2021, 04:25 PM

Turn it down.

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 04:26 PM

Tried to push for a year extension only and they weren't having any of it so I withdrew from negotiations.

John Arne

08-09-2021, 04:27 PM

Good lad :)

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 05:11 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/TP6q5JHm/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Cunts. I'd brought cakes in as well.

thommo

08-09-2021, 06:23 PM

Enjoying the revival of updates in this thread, so I'll add some contributions of my own shortly.

Still plodding on with Slough Town in FM19, at the back end of my 7th season. It's slow but enjoyable progress.

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 06:54 PM

Playoff place secured.

https://i.postimg.cc/ht8RHxhs/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Just need to win the conference and hopefully the supporter's shield with it. Veering towards leaving after this season either way now.

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 09:07 PM

We did it, won the Supporter's Shield and with it the Western Conference.

https://i.postimg.cc/LXrTFm4p/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/0M0mpRJW)

Straight into the semi's of the Western Conference.

https://i.postimg.cc/zBWhWKNs/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/sQj1CBvm)

Would rather avoid Houston as they always see to give us a tough time.

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 09:39 PM

And my time in the US is done.

https://i.postimg.cc/wTKkMxXy/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

From 3-1 up we lost 5-3. Time to go job hunting.

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 09:42 PM

Tale of the tape so far.

https://i.postimg.cc/Dyd1zrfH/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Ln5JCZ13)

My cone-tract has another 2 months to run, so genuinely don't know whether it's best to resign now or apply for roles while I run it down.

Yevrah

08-09-2021, 10:12 PM

Decided to leave immediately and got another job that week. It's a bit left field, but I'm excited.

https://i.postimg.cc/9FJK7qJg/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Dquincy

08-09-2021, 10:20 PM

MLS just seems like a headache with it's player rosters and weird tournament formats.

With that said, I'd stick with them until you find another club. Being unemployed doesn't sit right with me.

I'm nearly at mid-season on my game, so will post an update tomorrow.

Dquincy

08-09-2021, 10:22 PM

Not whilst I have this lad:

https://i.imgur.com/Jmx5shQ.png

He actually came out of the Leverkusen side and was sold to Barca for £67m and then United for £115m before I even got to Leverkusen.

He is not.

Another Summer signing (another reunion) is on 375k a week, then Iggy above is on 325k and Matty along with 2 others are joint third.

Right now there are 12 players (there were another 2/3 but they've been sold) on 200k a week or higher.
That winger looks insanely good, but I tend to avoid having any 30+ yr old players. Heck if they get to late twenties with me they'll be lucky.

On the wage side of things, as long as you're recouping the money (which I presume you are) then fair play on spending those wages.

Sir Andy Mahowry

08-09-2021, 10:46 PM

That winger looks insanely good, but I tend to avoid having any 30+ yr old players. Heck if they get to late twenties with me they'll be lucky.

On the wage side of things, as long as you're recouping the money (which I presume you are) then fair play on spending those wages.

I also tend to throw 30+ year olds out the door but when it's my first season I have to keep some as I just can't shift everyone that I'd like.

He wont be here for next season.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 12:12 AM

African Nations Draw.

https://i.postimg.cc/9F1ZB78v/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Not interested in staying beyond this tournament as I find international management a chore, but the timing was perfect so had to give it a crack.

Sir Andy Mahowry

09-09-2021, 12:25 AM

Mon the Doctors.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 12:30 AM

Squad and likely first 11 for the tournament.

https://i.postimg.cc/qMdHGthX/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/z3pQzGkV)

Some tasty players in there, but our keeper is shite and we lack a quality striker.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 12:54 AM

I've applied for the Ghangzhou job three times now, they've interviewed me twice and every time they don't give me the job. Bastards. This time I've lost out to some chap who's been slumming it in the Brazilian second tier. A 1 and a half star rep manager no less.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 01:14 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/SKQgQ4XM/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Just been relegated to the Chinese second tier, but they have a tycoon in charge and he's given me a £54m transfer budget and £735k wage budget.

Baz

09-09-2021, 06:49 AM

Sign some Ivorians.

And bring that South African defender over.

John Arne

09-09-2021, 07:30 AM

'Mon the Longmen!

Gray Fox

09-09-2021, 07:59 AM

"The Gambia"

..?

wullie

09-09-2021, 08:10 AM

MLS has 28 teams now? Get rid of the conference playoff bollocks and get two divisions of 14 with relegation, introduce Americans to some proper jeopardy.

thommo

09-09-2021, 08:28 AM

Quick recap on my first five seasons at Slough Town:

https://i.ibb.co/zskChT2/First-5.png

It took 3 seasons to get out of the National League South; two disappointing play-off losses, followed by a really impressive title winning season where we led the league for virtually the entire season. At this level, I was able to use fairly one-dimensional players, focusing mainly on physical attributes in the wingers and striker to get the goals, but there was a noticeable step up to the National League, where we were one of only 5 or 6 semi-pro clubs in the league.

Our first season in tier 5 was one of consolidation and goals at either end - I was happy with the mid-table finish considering our miniscule wage bill but we needed to sort out the defence. In came Callum Carpenter, a free signing from Spurs who immediately became the top earner on a whopping £750 p/w. He was markedly better and was the main reason for our much improved finish in 2022/23. Paul Ryan, a loanee striker came back for a second spell and scored 18 league goals to help us sneak into the playoffs.

The nature of the National League playoffs is brutal, however. After 7 games in 4 weeks to finish the season, we had to play Boreham Wood away on the Wednesday immediately after the end of the season.

https://i.ibb.co/RHGtzLq/Boreham.png

A topsy-turvy battle that we somehow edged, but importantly 120 minutes and penalties for my weary semi-professionals who were immediately summoned to play away at Wrexham at lunchtime on the Saturday. Their manager, Graham Westley, gave it large to the press that we didn't deserve to be there (and he has continued to be a cunt since), and the fact of the matter was we were not equipped to face them at such short notice with a team markedly worse in ability. We were spanked 5-0 and consigned to another season in the National League. :moop:

Manc

09-09-2021, 08:43 AM

Yev missing a trick not calling up the trio from Nordsjaelland.

Nice to someone who isn't pissing the game, thommo.

thommo

09-09-2021, 08:51 AM

Unfortunately, with a solid performance throughout the season, a few clubs came sniffing around my players. Callum Carpenter was snapped up after only one season with us, for £110k, and our young striker Patrick Sekyere went north of the border to Queen of the South for approximately £40k. Thankfully Paul Ryan returned for a third loan spell, and I was able to actually improve at centre-back, with the signing of Oisin McEntee on a free from Coventry City. He went onto the bumper contract of £900 p/w.

Our third season in the National League began with the general aim of making the playoffs again. Despite the transfer income, and a dream run to the FA Cup 3rd round the previous season (where we eventually lost to Arsenal), the board were not willing at any point to consider professional status. It was going to be a battle considering the majority of the league were able to bring in a better quality of player.

However, the season started very well. Our defence was rock solid, and while we weren't scoring a great deal, we were grinding out wins. We reached the turn of the year top of the league, with only 3 losses, but we had a number of games postponed at home, which was going to cause some fixture congestion through the 2nd half of the season. It turned out to not be a problem as we lost just 1 of our last 18 games of the season, finding our scoring boots in the process

https://i.ibb.co/dcryVn6/2nd-half.png

Morecambe appeared to be our closest challenger through the winter, but as the season progressed, they dropped off the pace and it was Wrexham (they'd lost the Playoff Final to Crewe) who came from nowhere to put the pressure on. We travelled to play them with 5 games left of the season, at which point they hadn't conceded in 11 league games. I was 5 points clear having played a game more and we set up to park the bus. It paid off - we converted an early penalty to break their clean sheet streak and hung on for a draw after they equalised in the 2nd half. An extremely satisfying result considering their squad and how we ended our season last time against them and from that point, we cruised to the title with the 6-2 win at Salford confirming the promotion to the Football League.

https://i.ibb.co/yRnZ7Jd/2023-24.png

Wrexham romped the Playoffs to join us nevertheless, and so began the mighty job of going professional, sorting out the contracts and improving the squad for 2024-25 in League Two.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 09:21 AM

Cracking effort Thommo. I find it so tedious managing non-professional clubs, but it must be so satisfying taking them pro. Planning to take them all the way to the top?

Jimmy Floyd

09-09-2021, 09:24 AM

I hope you play this before every home game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKTvAP06ECM

SvN

09-09-2021, 09:28 AM

My favourite games over the years have been taking a side like Bath to the top of Europe.

wullie

09-09-2021, 09:34 AM

Just think of all the potential local derbies you've got playing as Slough. There’s Reading, Aldershot, Bracknell. Didcot, Yateley. You know. Winnersh. Taplow.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 10:06 AM

African Cup of Nations 2025 - Ivory Coast

After bombing out of the MLS playoffs at the first hurdle we only had two months in the new role before our first international tournament, with Côte d'Ivoire (that one's for you Jim).

We would face The Gambia, Cameroon and Zambia and as expected managed to navigate our way through the group fairly comfortably.

https://i.postimg.cc/RhQqh7tX/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/64qB1GYv)[/url]

Up next in the second round we faced Doctor Congo:

https://i.postimg.cc/152bXk97/Leagues.jpg (https://ralphrobertspersonaltrainer.com/short-term-fitness-goals-vs-long-term-fitness-goals)

This must be one of those fine margin games James talks about as I thought we were out. Twice. Firstly after going 2-0 down to a brace from Silas and secondly when Arthur Masuaku (he of West Ham fame) stepped up to take the penalty that would see the Doctor though. But we rallied both times with Kessie (who is an absolute monster) giving us hope, which ultimately led to Wilfried Singo smashing home the winning penalty. I was off the sofa when they missed and again when we won it. Unbelievable.

Next up in the Quarter-Finals, Tunisia:

https://i.postimg.cc/pr4x2yGq/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Before the game I dropped Christian Kouame, opting instead for the experience of the ageing Wilfried Zaha, who paid me back in spades with a match winning turn to take us into the semi's. On the downside, Kessie picked up a yellow to see him banned for the Semi with a mere two minutes to go (more binman management there with him still being on the pitch).

Standing between us and the final, Nigeria.

[url=https://postimages.org/]https://i.postimg.cc/MpT6y2R7/Leagues.jpg (https://ralphrobertspersonaltrainer.com/short-term-fitness-goals-vs-long-term-fitness-goals)

Typing this and looking at the stats it appears as though it was fairly comfortable, but it felt anything but at the time. Victor Osimhen seemed to run riot every time he got the ball and Nigeria had quality throughout the team, including in Onana the best keeper in the tournament by a country mile. Still, we found the breakthrough through Kouame (back in the team due to Kessie's suspension) and sealed it with another Zaha special. By this point I'm genuinely nervous in games.

Can we do it once more, this time as massive favourites against Mali in the final.

https://i.postimg.cc/vHvc8rFc/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

As is often the case for me in finals my team did nothing for ages, in fact the first highlight I remember was in the 53rd minute when one of our centre backs, Sinaly Diomande decided to physically assault a Malian with a two footed lunge near the halfway line, for reasons I'm still not quite sure of. Utterly livid we moved to a 4-2-2-1 formation and cautiously tried to stay in the game. Mali had a couple of chances, but convinced the game was going into extra time and with all my players dying we somehow broke clear deep into injury time and Kouame slotted the winner into the net with literally the penultimate kick of the game. Delightful.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 10:20 AM

Sign some Ivorians.

And bring that South African defender over.

That is the plan, however there are some problems with that, at least in the short term. Firstly nobody wants to come to the Chinese second tier, not even players who play for Supersport United and secondly I'm only allowed two foreigners in that league and I already have about eight, all of whom are miserable as they don't want to play in the Chinese second tier either. I'd forgotten about this too, but China now imposes a 100% tax on foreign transfers over £2.3m. No idea whether that tax comes out of my transfer budget or the chairman's ludicrously deep Swiss pockets, but it appears the days of singing journeyman wank for ludicrously inflated prices are over. If I can eventually sign some non native talent, even in the top tier I'm only allowed four foreigners on the pitch at any one time.

So, I'm going to game the shit out of it. It takes five years to get Chinese nationality and I have a couple of players who're less than two years away from achieving that (Joris Gnagnon and Irfan Kahveci) who I plan to do everything to keep hold of, I'll then add to that any players in the same boat that I can get from other Chinese clubs (it's a remarkably tedious process to find these players sadly) and augment it with actual foreigners. We have a year slumming it in the Chinese second tier so that'll eat up some time and give me a chance to blood some Chinese talent as it seems with these odds, even a binman could get Henan back up.

https://i.postimg.cc/hv2wtZSS/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I don't think I've ever seen that before.

Here's my best Chinese player.

https://i.postimg.cc/RCWb7dVn/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/QVrbsp7X)

Who might actually be the best or at least most promising Chinese player playing in China. Is there a way to train that awful trait out of him or do I just try and convert him to an AMC?

Manc

09-09-2021, 10:20 AM

I hope you wore a blindingly white crisp shirt for the tournament.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 10:24 AM

Absolutely. It went splendidly with my now permanent tan.

thommo

09-09-2021, 10:29 AM

Cracking effort Thommo. I find it so tedious managing non-professional clubs, but it must be so satisfying taking them pro. Planning to take them all the way to the top?
It was a bit of a slog, especially in those first two seasons. Going pro should hopefully open up the opportunities for development now, but firstly I need to make sure the finances don't go down the toilet in the first season up. Ultimately though, as you say, Champions League will be the aim.

My favourite games over the years have been taking a side like Bath to the top of Europe.
I love this style of save but I always find it tough to get to the ultimate aim, simply because of the time it takes. I also want to try out a "Building a Nation" style save for FM 22, if I decide on getting it.

I hope you play this before every home game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKTvAP06ECM
:D Unfortunately, we're groundsharing with Barnet right now so it's not as appropriate. Once we get our own stadium back in Slough, I'll get them walking out to it.

Jimmy Floyd

09-09-2021, 10:39 AM

Absolutely. It went splendidly with my now permanent tan.

All you have to do now is get grey hair, a 'lived in' face and manage 5 different teams of decaying quality to the next 5 editions, and you will have full Claude Le Roy credentials.

igor_balis

09-09-2021, 11:17 AM

"The Gambia"

..?

Yes?

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 11:27 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/yx4L4BjR/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Forgone a chance at managing them in next year's World Cup by doing that but it just feels wrong having a club and international job now the Chinese league is about to get going again.

Baz

09-09-2021, 11:35 AM

Did you not fancy a crack at the World Cup?

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 11:36 AM

I did, but running a club job and an international one is too immersion breaking for me.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 11:40 AM

OMG, just seen that I can make one player exempt from foreigner limits in the second Chinese tier and two in the first. Boom.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 11:42 AM

Scrap that, they have to be from Hong Kong, Macau or Chinese Tapei. Seems like I have to have one as well. How utterly bizarre.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 12:22 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/CL8Xg5br/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/FHDZ5XCn/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

:uhoh:

thommo

09-09-2021, 12:46 PM

:D

Was the last manager at this club Slavisa Jokanovic? I'm sure Cesarini follows him around everywhere.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 12:55 PM

Not on this occasion.

https://i.postimg.cc/15f8vhhK/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Tpv2PsPy)

Be nice if I last longer than 150 days.

Bernanke

09-09-2021, 01:11 PM

thommo

09-09-2021, 01:31 PM

Ah, Javi Pereira is a favourite of Slav too, makes sense.

On those odds, I feel like anything other than complete domination of the second division sees you out the door.

Gray Fox

09-09-2021, 01:41 PM

On the topic of older players, is there some established dynamic for "routine" in the game? Hidden stats usually developing in a certain way as they age or so? The usual is that mental stats go up as physical ones go down generally, right?

Mental stats will always go up over the course of a career. You can sometimes get a message saying "due to off field incident X, Player Y has suddenly gained/lost a lot of determination" but I find those to be rare. Long term injuries will also set mentals back a bit for obvious reasons.

Physicals will also go up assuming the player doesn't have big injury problems. However at a certain point they then get old and their physicals start to plummet. This is set by their natural fitness. Perfect example of 20 natural fitness is Cristiano Ronaldo. He's in godly shape and hasn't missed much of a beat since his 20's. Meanwhile a player with 1 natural fitness will start to drop as soon as they hit the other side of their defined peak. For most players in the game this is 30/31. Goalkeepers are different.

As for the hiddens, I don't think they can change too much after the player has generated. I think tutoring is the best way with this, but game time always helps too.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 01:41 PM

Ah, Javi Pereira is a favourite of Slav too, makes sense.

On those odds, I feel like anything other than complete domination of the second division sees you out the door.

Indeed. The board also expect me to reach the cup final (which is mental), so even just nailing the league might not be enough.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 01:43 PM

I noticed Ronaldo had 20 for natural fitness in my save, which made me think he'd carry on into his 40s, but he's already retired. Gutting. Would have loved to bring him to China.

Sir Andy Mahowry

09-09-2021, 04:51 PM

https://i.imgur.com/ubq50Xg.png

Long time no see chaps.

Danny

09-09-2021, 05:34 PM

New one is out Nov 9th apparently.

Danny

09-09-2021, 05:34 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/CL8Xg5br/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/FHDZ5XCn/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

:uhoh:

I expected the next screenshot to be "Yev Bin Man resigns".

thommo

09-09-2021, 05:38 PM

And so onto my 7th season in charge, and Slough Town's first in the Football League in their history. A busy summer was in order, and it was very hard to get all of the players onto full-time contracts without causing the wage budget to get out of control. My hopes at the start of the season was simply survival through any means possible. I revamped the team more drastically than in any season before, and although it really wasn't easy to attract players of high enough quality, I was able to get into contract talks with a number of shortlisted players for the first time in years. However, with a wage budget of approximately £17k p/w, it was tough to get all the business done without breaking the bank.

https://i.ibb.co/P4xY3xc/transfers.png

Teddy Jenks and Luke Dreher were brought in to be the first-choice midfield pair, Jenks as Mezzala and Dreher as the ball winner. I was a little sceptical about paying a fee for Jenks but he's more than justified it with some really important performances. Both have chipped in with goals throughout and they've barely missed a game. Oliver Denham was a player I had shortlisted for 18 months before I was finally granted the option to open contract talks with him. A pacy centre-back, he's been first choice all season and is the highest earner on the team, at £1,200 p/w. Will Dennis came in after a trial to be the first-choice keeper, ahead of our stalwart of the National League, Toni Stahl. Unfortunately he fractured his leg in September, and Stahl has played very well in his place, earning the spot on merit even though Dennis has been back from injury for months.

Three of the loanees have played a pivotal role throughout the campaign. Aaron Jones has been the first-choice striker and is probably a step up on the majority of the squad, ability-wise. Lukas Puntigam was brought in to play on the right wing, and Carl Goodwin has rotated in and out of the left-back spot. And finally, one January signing, courtesy of my scouts. They found Steven Williams playing on a month-to-month contract for Barry in the Welsh Premier League - he's a versatile central midfielder and only 18, with a fair bit of potential. He could be vital for a few seasons.

-------------------------------------------------------

At the halfway point, I couldn't believe how well we'd performed. At this point, I wasn't thinking about the playoffs - a lot could change in half a season. But realistically, relegation would only occur if we had a monumental collapse, and a mid-table finish would be a fantastic result for a first season in League 2.

https://i.ibb.co/3mK91r8/halfway.png

We started the season with 12 points from the opening 10 games - not terrible but things drastically improved once I changed the default starting formation to a flat midfield 3, rather than a 2 with an attacking midfielder ahead of them. We only lost 1 of the next 13 games, and created more goalscoring opportunities, but the defence was still the best thing about the team. McEntee and Denham were very solid in the centre of the backline and it showed, with only Swindon conceding fewer.

Shindig

09-09-2021, 05:38 PM

He can't resign. They'd have locked the place down after 2 cases. :D

Gray Fox

09-09-2021, 05:39 PM

And Yev wont like how they do the tests over there.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 07:33 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/G90H2DXL/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Well I guess I won't be reunited with that legend for a while. He became a wonderkid. I'm so proud.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 07:52 PM

2025 Season Mid Season Update - Henan

Halfway point in the Chinese second tier reached and we're doing ok.

https://i.postimg.cc/wMYkK1DN/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Still in the cup at the quarter-final stage too, with a home tie against Super League Shanghai SIPG coming up next.

thommo

09-09-2021, 08:39 PM

Cup run could be at an end there then Yev.

So at the halfway stage of our first season in the Football League, we were sitting in the playoffs in an admittedly very tight division. It's easy to get carried away after a start like that, but our form continued in the same manner after Christmas, with a number of solid results against teams fighting at the top. Most notably, we comfortably beat table-topping Swindon 3-1 at home, which sparked a run of 8 games unbeaten.

In this run was a lovely encounter with our old friends Wrexham. Graham Westley, who loves to mouth off at every opportunity, was on shaky footing as their boss - they were one of the pre-season favourites for promotion, and incredibly have the highest wage bill in the division, even as a newly-promoted team, and yet they were in about 15th going into our fixture. I was asked about his job status before the game and I took the chance to say he should have been out the door weeks ago and he shouldn't be in a job like that again, to which he bemoaned my "lack of support for a fellow manager". We went out and utterly dominated the match, but couldn't find a way through until the new young Welsh lad Steve Williams hammered in a winner with 10 minutes to go, and by 5:15pm, Graham Westley didn't have a job. :drool:

https://i.ibb.co/PwSx5Pj/Last-10.png

With 10 games to go, I'd begun to believe, and the playoff dream was genuinely on. Since this point, however, we've played very erratically. Going from absolutely hammering teams, to missing a bundle of chances and conceding late winners to relegation-threatened sides.

https://i.ibb.co/PtbCPWY/fixtures.png

The 8-1 win against AFC Wimbledon is the biggest win of my tenure at the club, and it was great to see Aaron Jones score with virtually every effort (he's up to 20 for the season now). But losing those two games to Wycombe (16th) and Gillingham (19th) really hurt our chances and leaves us teetering and needing good results from our final 2 games of the season.

https://i.ibb.co/zRM4H4d/last-2.png

We play Carlisle at home, and Newport County away (currently 12th). If we miss out on the playoffs, it's still been a brilliant first season at this level. But it'd be great to make the top 7, if only for the reputation boost and experience of high-profile games. Wish me luck lads.

Yevrah

09-09-2021, 08:41 PM

Godspeed Thommo, cracking read this.

And you were right, we are indeed out of the cup. Not yet sacked as a result mind, so that's a bonus.

Bernanke

09-09-2021, 09:39 PM

https://i.imgur.com/KfgDLq9.png

Ugh, I might have to cave and give up Zapata. He's completely full on "handing in transfer requests every window" now, and even though he performs he has become pretty inconsistent.

1.5 years left on his contract, and Barca offered me 175M for him. It does feel like I'm setting them up for being unbeatable though.

Dquincy

10-09-2021, 11:28 AM

2082/83 - Mid Season Update - Gillingham

Before the season started, we made some moves in the transfer market, out went some oldies (30+) and some fringe players that were never going to make it. In came some fresh supplies.

https://i.ibb.co/34PbGjW/Gillingham-Transfers-History.jpg

Of the incomers, the main men were Claudio Notari, whom I spent big bucks on (for me anyway as I'm normally tight as a ducks arse when it comes to spending). The other key signing was Nicolas Simo from Palermo who had a minimum release fee clause. Had him as a youngster at Benfica and is a decent prospect. Both go straight into my midfield three.

https://i.ibb.co/pxFyLH7/Claudio-Notari-Profile-Attributes.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/TH3L6Tr/Nicolas-Simo-Profile-Attributes.jpg

The season started well with an 8-0 thrashing of Man City on the opening day (after losing the Community Shield against the invincibles Arsenal). Thought this meant we would go on to storm the league with ease, but then proceeded to not win the next two matches. :moop: Luckily we have been fairly consistent from then on, which also included ending Arsenal's year long unbeaten run with a 7-0 win.

https://i.ibb.co/SX6kL4C/Gillingham-Gillingham-Fixtures.jpg

This is the current league standings at the half-way point. It's very tight. It was ourselves and Liverpool battling it out, but Arsenal have come back into it.

https://i.ibb.co/mBTDH8V/English-Premier-Division-Information-League-Table.jpg

The Champions League run is going ok, got out of the groups in 2nd place behind a very good Real Madrid side. We now have Cannes in the first knock-out stage, which is a shitter as they are 8 points clear at the top in Ligue 1. And they have my old prodigy from Benfica up front who will no doubt stick a hat-trick against us.

https://i.ibb.co/6Fwnj68/European-Champions-Cup-Information-Stages.jpg

We're still in the domestic cups; have a League Cup semi final against Spurs approaching and the FA Cup 3rd round brings an easy tie against Colchester.

This is the first team squad at the end of December.

https://i.ibb.co/NY035Bp/Gillingham-Gillingham-Players.jpg

Not sure if it's a good idea, but I've just transfer listed Nelson Jesus and Salvador Bernal. I brought both over from Benfica, but as you can see they are struggling to put the goals away. I'm planning to replace them with these two lads who have come up through the YTS at Gillingham. It's a bit of a risk not spending money on replacing them with established players for the run in, especially as we're still in all competitions, but our transfer budget is only £17mill.

FYI - I'm training Alan March to be a striker.

https://i.ibb.co/ySrP1QB/Alan-March-Profile-Attributes.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/kx80Wg7/Neil-Reeves-Profile-Attributes.jpg

Mike

10-09-2021, 11:32 AM

Good news boys, they’re making a 2022 game, who’d have guessed it!
https://www.footballmanager.com/games/football-manager-2022

Yevrah

10-09-2021, 02:18 PM

2025 End of Season Review - Henan

Promotion as champions confirmed.

https://i.postimg.cc/j2hFPryn/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Which led to this.

https://i.postimg.cc/4ND9VhNt/Budgets-for-CSL.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Time to find out how that tax works. :drool:

John Arne

10-09-2021, 02:42 PM

2025 End of Season Review - Henan

Which led to this.

https://i.postimg.cc/4ND9VhNt/Budgets-for-CSL.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Time to find out how that tax works. :drool:

time to bring Wu Lei back to China?

John Arne

10-09-2021, 02:42 PM

Baz

10-09-2021, 03:26 PM

time to bring Wu Lei back to China?

Yevrah

10-09-2021, 03:31 PM

time to bring Wu Lei back to China?

He turned me down. :moop:

Yevrah

10-09-2021, 04:18 PM

These chaps didn't though:

https://i.postimg.cc/ZqpG5brP/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/cK19DNk6)

£32m from Jiangsu, with clauses that could take it to £37m. Obscene price, but he has one attribute you can't see on that screen that makes this deal very exciting - Only 387 days left before he's a Chinese national. :chief: He also signed a contract with no release clauses so he'll be here until I leave. Mwahahaha.

https://i.postimg.cc/VsCKyGWM/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/CdwGk4tL)

£8m from CSKA Sofia, potentially rising to £9.5m. His agent's a shit bag though, so he has a £14m minimum fee release clause. Can also play as a AMR, which is nice.

https://i.postimg.cc/vTFkRp1q/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mzj8CpyC)

Signed on a free from Beijing (who seem to have a wealth of young Chinese talent), his speed and aggression could be of benefit.

https://i.postimg.cc/CKMf71mJ/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/18Tt59xN)

This chap will also join from Nacional for £10m when he turns 18.

Not sure what happened with this, but I seem to have only been charged £2.9m in player tax for the above (the rules claim it should be 100% of anything over £2.3m/£5.something, depending on what I'm not sure) and we still have £36m left in the budget. I can only play 4 of the 6 foreigners I'll shortly have at any one time, but three of them will be Chinese nationals next season so if I can bring another one in, I will. If the taxman does ever catch up with us we'll be plunged horrifically into the red, but hey ho.

Baz

10-09-2021, 04:41 PM

First touch and technique 17, dribbling 16. :drool:

Yevrah

10-09-2021, 05:22 PM

Last signing of the window, £5m from Chievo.

https://i.postimg.cc/NMdkq0sf/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/XGyC94BT)

His contact was expiring and he wouldn't sign a new deal with them, so I snuck in with a cheeky £5m bid that was accepted and I offered him £30k a week when he wanted £25k. Then almost all of the top clubs in Europe came in for him so I upped it to £60k a week and after waiting a few days, he joined us. Good lad.

Yevrah

10-09-2021, 05:44 PM

I lied, one more.

https://i.postimg.cc/LXFsVcr9/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GBzrL5LV)

£4.3m minimum fee release clause from our promotion rivals last season, Chengdu.

I have to play a Chinese keeper, so to get one that has 15 handling and reflexes is immense.

He shits on what I have already and may be the final piece to outperform what the board want this year, which is top half, but if the new signings gel I'd like to think we can hit the top 4 and make Europe.

thommo

10-09-2021, 05:47 PM

That money for Guga is incredible. He just looks so decidedly average. :D

Yevrah

10-09-2021, 05:57 PM

That money for Guga is incredible. He just looks so decidedly average. :D

A little bit of sick did escape from my stomatch and into my mouth when the finalise deal screen popped up and I clicked accept, but I figured I need to embrace my surroundings and crack on. Compared to any other Chinese right back I could get he's as good as prime Cafu and in 12 months, he'll be Chinese.

Yevrah

10-09-2021, 08:23 PM

Season's kicked off with a 2-0 win in our new stadium named after our glorious chairman. 41,000 turned up, so very nearly full. We could be a proper giant of Chinese football.

On the downside, I had to leave the Bulgarian out of the CSL squad as I ended up with too many foreigners. He's not happy and now hates me so much he considers me a rival. Will be interesting to see if I can win him over when he's back in the squad next season.

Sir Andy Mahowry

10-09-2021, 11:29 PM

Not whilst I have this lad:

https://i.imgur.com/Jmx5shQ.png

Iggy got injured for a couple of weeks and he's just come back ON FIRE:

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

Both were 7-0 wins.

Panda Bear

11-09-2021, 01:01 AM

Two footed players with seemingly lower stats >> one footed players with seemingly higher stats

Yevrah

11-09-2021, 01:02 AM

2026 Mid-Season Update - Henan

Reached the mid-season break and we've had a cracking start to the season. With a defence comprised of three foreigners and a cracking Chinese keeper we've been very solid and only conceded 8 so far.

https://i.postimg.cc/0jvb3BcP/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

5 week break followed by an away game at Shanghai SIPG. If we can avoid defeat there we could well take the league. Out of the cup already so that'll help too.

John Arne

11-09-2021, 07:25 AM

Cracking start Yev. How does the ACL qualifying work? Top 3 into the group, 4th into pre-qualifying?

Yevrah

11-09-2021, 11:30 AM

Top 2 hit the groups automatically and 3rd and 4th go into a qualifying round.

Minimum target now has to be finishing at least top 4.

Not sure how long I'll stay here, but this is the most fun I've had on a save I've been loving so far anyway, so I could see it being comfortably my longest job to date.

Yevrah

11-09-2021, 11:48 AM

We got humped by Shanghai, who'll now overtake us at the top if they win their game in hand.

Yevrah

11-09-2021, 04:04 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/L5P25MRK/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Shanghai's form has dropped off a bit and we're in pole position to win it with 6 games to go.

https://i.postimg.cc/bYnhQpX4/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Despite spending £60m this season, my chairman has also just advised I've got another £46m to spend over the winter. :drool:

Gray Fox

11-09-2021, 04:12 PM

I do love the pure dodgy nature of Chinese Football.

The current champions in real life no longer exist. Everything was fine, the suddenly one day the staff all went to training to find the place locked up and the club had been dissolved.

Yevrah

11-09-2021, 04:25 PM

That is so fucked up.

Yevrah

11-09-2021, 06:47 PM

Championship secured.

https://i.postimg.cc/FRzPX2Jj/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

My plan has hit a snag though as while searching for other players who were close to being eligible for Chinese citizenship I found one who was but had decided against it. I signed a three year deal to stay recently, but if I can't nationalise the three potential ringers I have I might have to get out at the end of next season.

Yevrah

11-09-2021, 08:52 PM

Only one of my three established in China foreigners has decided to take the nationality of this great nation, so I think I'll be on my way at the end of this season.

Baz

11-09-2021, 08:55 PM

Hahah so much for “muahahah I’ve found an ingenious way to frig the system.”

Yevrah

11-09-2021, 09:33 PM

It get's worse. You're only allowed 3 foreigners (vs. 4 in the league) in the Asian Champions League. :D

Dquincy

12-09-2021, 09:20 PM

2082/83 - End of Season Update - Gillingham

We've reached the season end and it's been good one. Whilst it was very tight at the halfway stage, we managed to maintain consistent form and opened a gap against Arsenal through to the end of the season. Premier League champions.

https://i.ibb.co/4fz8hJ6/English-Premier-Division-Information-League-Table-2.png

FA Cup, we got dumped out by Sheff Utd in the 6th round.

However, the League Cup we proceeded a bit further.

https://i.ibb.co/YZBZtjT/Gillingham-Gillingham-Fixtures-3.png

Into the League Cup final against the swines that knocked us out of the FA Cup.

We beat the bastards with relative ease.

https://i.ibb.co/fkYhmR8/Sheff-Utd-v-Gillingham-Information-Overview.png

The Champions League was a great campaign for us as we managed to get to the final against one of my old clubs, PSG.

https://i.ibb.co/cgmLZ1c/Gillingham-Gillingham-Fixtures-2.png

:joy:

In truth the match was fairly straight forward and we never seemed like we'd lose it.

https://i.ibb.co/nkgfrdJ/Dquincy-News-Inbox.png

https://i.ibb.co/TWCLTGw/Paris-Saint-Germain-v-Gillingham-Post-Match.png

Below is our end of season squad stats and my two star players.

https://i.ibb.co/Nj0MmTt/Gillingham-Gillingham-Players.png

https://i.ibb.co/R2nDCq6/Hugo-Miguel-Santos-Profile-Attributes.png

https://i.ibb.co/DQxhSYC/Michael-O-Brien-Profile-Attributes.png

This brings us to the off season and I did not expect to win both the league title and champions league so soon. I'm now wondering whether to move on to somewhere new rather than build a dynasty here. Food for thought.

Yevrah

12-09-2021, 09:37 PM

2027 Mid-Season (ish) Update - Henan

Season started well with us winning the Chinese Super Cup and nailing the league but it's dropped off at the mid point a bit. Still top, but it's much closer than last year and we're out of the cup too.

https://i.postimg.cc/fL94tsdv/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

We also made it through the Champions League group stages and the second round. Quarter-Final line up below.

https://i.postimg.cc/CK9XV22n/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Mcbd79qz)

Frontale or Shandong should we make the semi's.

Baz

12-09-2021, 09:44 PM

Nice to see dquincy bossing it with an Angolan centrehalf. Funny how much cheaper players are in FM11/12.

Yevrah

12-09-2021, 10:00 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/SxCDMK1R/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/ZWY8kJSz)

Seriously disappointing result there. Something is a bit rancid this season, we're just not clicking anything like we were last.

Yevrah

13-09-2021, 04:40 PM

2027 End of Season Review - Henan

Predictably after that first leg humping we crashed out of the Champions League and things didn't go much better in the league, finishing second.

https://i.postimg.cc/bNHBg8QJ/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GHtK3Wgw)

It came down to the final game and we just needed a point against Beijing to secure the title. All was going swimmingly until our striker lunged two footed at one of their players with half an hour to go, sending us down to 10 men. We held on until the 84th minute and Beijing scored the title winning goal. Probably my worst season so far and if it wasn't for the Super Cup it'd have been my first calendar year without a trophy.

Still, onwards and upwards and it was time to leave. After being unemployed for a month a suitable position finally arose.

https://i.postimg.cc/qMPvssx0/Breaking-News.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Excited about this one and hopefully the last stop before hitting Europe.

John Arne

13-09-2021, 04:50 PM

I got offered a Brazil club job... But the fixtures look mental. Between the national League, state League and continental competition, there was a game every 3 days for about 8 months. Brutal.

Yevrah

13-09-2021, 05:03 PM

It is absolutely insane.

I've joined three games into the state league and we're playing top tier clubs and goat herders in the same tournament. Still, a nice opportunity to get a trophy on the board early doors.

Yevrah

13-09-2021, 07:32 PM

My first signing.

https://i.postimg.cc/Vv4v4Lnj/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/q6hpvrmR)

Yev Bin-Maan has made it!

igor_balis

13-09-2021, 08:10 PM

Yevrah what leagues you got running

Baz

13-09-2021, 08:33 PM

I bet he's posted some good numbers in frickin' Austria. :happycry:

Manc

13-09-2021, 08:42 PM

£13.75k p/w. :happycry:

Yevrah

13-09-2021, 08:46 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/wB9Cm7NV/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Nailing it on his debut against the goat herders. :drool:

Yevrah

13-09-2021, 08:47 PM

Yevrah what leagues you got running

Just these going now.

https://i.postimg.cc/B6PfqRH9/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Binned a few off that I won't go back to.

Yevrah

13-09-2021, 10:11 PM

First trophy in Brazil, beating Internacional to win the state championship.

https://i.postimg.cc/v8z0MZDd/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Within 200 points of Roy Hodgson now.

https://i.postimg.cc/kX2KZJbs/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/tYHsnHDn)

Dquincy

13-09-2021, 10:18 PM

Have always been tempted with a Brazilian save, but as someone here said, the league and cup set up seem a bit mental over there so have shied away so far.

Might give it a ago once I hit 100 next season.

Really tempted to get FM22 when it gets released and finally hang up FM11's boots. But can someone reassure me over the player roles in the formation set up? Is it a ball ache?

Yevrah

13-09-2021, 10:23 PM

The whole game is an utter bloat-fest and tactics are no different, but you do fairly quickly get to grips with what you can ignore and it becomes a pretty good experience as a result. I haven't played this much in 5 or so years mind, so that probably helps.

Baz

13-09-2021, 10:25 PM

I really enjoyed my Corinthians save on FM20, but the foreigner rules were annoying.

John Arne

14-09-2021, 09:43 AM

I'm about to leave Aberdeen. After 10 years, we win everything domestically, and usually reach the quarter's of the UCL. The biggest issue is every pre-season all my good players bitching and moaning because I reject silly low offers from all the big clubs. I inevitably lose a player every year.
Which would be fine if I had great youngsters coming through, but despite have state of the art facilities, the youngsters are crap, both from my academy, and most academies in Scotland.

I was going to stick around to get 12 straight titles just for the record, then leave - but, it's too boring now.

https://gyazo.com/204410f3280bc7bd738131a69305cd60.jpeg

Yevrah

14-09-2021, 07:54 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/HsHLVNH7/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

:eyemouth:

Yevrah

14-09-2021, 11:12 PM

2028 Mid Season Update - Gremio

Halfway point reached and we're doing reasonably well so far. Won the state championship, out of the cup and third in the league:

https://i.postimg.cc/66Y9pf69/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)[/url]

Also in the semi's of the Libertadores.

https://i.postimg.cc/zBqrJV9b/Leagues.jpg (https://keyboardtester.co/)[url=https://keyboardtester.co/]

Managing in Brazil is fun so far, but the constant offers for my players from European clubs is a bit of a ball ache.

Yevrah

15-09-2021, 05:38 PM

2028 End of Season Update - Gremio

Disappointing end to the season on every front really. We finished 5th in the National championship in what must be the lowest points total to win it in all of human history.

https://i.postimg.cc/HL28x9Gm/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

And lost in the final of the Copa Libertadores.

https://i.postimg.cc/WbHQBBhL/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/4mpLtF6B)

That's now three continental club finals we've reached (North & South America and Africa, with Gremio, LAFC and SuperSport Utd) and lost them all. :moop:

thommo

15-09-2021, 08:44 PM

Staying for another crack at it Yev?

Had a week off but jumped back into the Slough save to finish off the season...

https://i.ibb.co/RpTVL0p/Playoffs.png

:cool: Not bad for a first Football League season. We won our final 2 games to comfortably secure the playoffs, and played really well in both games, which bodes well. However, we've got Lincoln City in the playoffs now, who we have played 3 times this season and only managed one draw.

Baz

15-09-2021, 08:59 PM

Do you use instant result Yev?

Yevrah

15-09-2021, 09:01 PM

Will stay thommo, just started the state championship again.

And Baz, I use 2D key highlights.

thommo

16-09-2021, 12:03 AM

So another trip to the playoffs for Slough, but this time in the Football League. And they couldn't have got off to a better start, with Aaron Jones nodding us ahead inside 45 seconds. My joy was short-lived, however, with the equaliser arriving just 5 minutes later. But we were by far the better team, creating more opportunities, and it paid off late on. A deep free-kick found Steven Williams at the back post to side-foot us into the lead, before Jones rifled in a shot in the dying minutes from the edge of the box. Get. In.

https://i.ibb.co/ZLXBqDx/leg-1.png

The return leg was only 3 days later, and saw a Slough record attendance of 6,135. We looked the better team throughout, once again, dominating possession and shots. But it didn't stop us from going behind midway through the 1st half to a breakaway attack. Our young Welsh contingent were determined not to let us lose and Steven Williams was once again on hand to restore the two goal advantage, with a 20 yard volley that flew into the top corner. :drool:

But we went behind again with just 7 minutes to go.... Could we hold on for a place in the final?

https://i.ibb.co/DC8P91m/leg-2.png

Damn right we could. We even managed to draw on the night courtesy of club stalwart, Dennis Ball, notching his 14th of the season.

Now onto Wembley, where Carlisle United await. This would be my first ever back-to-back promotion, IF we pull it off.

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 12:10 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/7Lf0tsb6/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

:cool:

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 04:18 PM

We managed to get a draw with Bayern and could have even won the game, but with both of us beating the Chinese side we went out of the three team group on goal difference. Assessing the situation I decided to apply for my first job in Europe and two weeks later the bags were packed.

https://i.postimg.cc/vZj2yKnC/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Baz

16-09-2021, 04:26 PM

Taking Neymar and his sister with you?

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 04:27 PM

I'm afraid the great man has just retired.

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 04:29 PM

This chap has just come through my academy.

https://i.postimg.cc/zX3SxCcs/League-Table.jpg (https://postimg.cc/dLPy1yv6)

5 star potential (with one silver star) and tackling at 15 for a fifteen year old could make him a monster. Just given him his debut in Champions League qualifying (does your knowledge extend to African Champions League winning Pleb?) against some Liberian goat herders. :drool:

Here's Qaba now by the way:

https://i.postimg.cc/cCgVy84G/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/BP3h2bKm)

Baz

16-09-2021, 06:46 PM

Admit it, you in-game editored him. Seems a big coincidence he came through at your first club, randomly.

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 06:51 PM

I didn't, but if I had I didn't get much use out of him myself...

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 07:18 PM

Decided to take a break from the journeyman save and inspired by thommo have taken over at Oxford City, in the Vanarama South. A part time club with this magnificent stadium.

https://i.postimg.cc/T2zZ4DPq/Oxford-Stadium.png (https://postimg.cc/Cd4PZdkz)

And here's my best player:

https://i.postimg.cc/kX9d5SdM/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/4n80Lmdj)

Financial responsibility will be the watchwords at this stage, which could be tricky as we have five grand in the bank.

Manc

16-09-2021, 07:49 PM

That's a proper Smiffy move. Dropping saves left and right.

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 08:02 PM

Hardly. I'd played almost ten seasons of the last one.

Jimmy Floyd

16-09-2021, 09:37 PM

I have missed Yev bringing his accounts department acumen to FM. The game as it was meant to be played.

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 09:56 PM

:drool: There shall be plenty of that Jim.

My first signing as Oxford City manager, I'd be lying if I didn't admit the £50 a week price point was very attractive.

https://i.postimg.cc/P50hzr7P/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/xXGW9Yn2)

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 09:59 PM

Conference life is brutal.

https://i.postimg.cc/tRcrgZnZ/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

He'll probably never play for me again.

Sir Andy Mahowry

16-09-2021, 10:06 PM

https://i.imgur.com/y3PwxYB.png

:(

Yevrah

16-09-2021, 10:07 PM

The class of 21' incoming.

https://i.postimg.cc/tghTsxgX/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

:(

Sir Andy Mahowry

17-09-2021, 08:55 PM

There's a youth at Man City who I spotted shortly after he was produced at the age of 15 and he's been on my shortlist ever since.

I wanted to buy him at Hertha (I could have had him for £70m-£120m over the years) but I decided to hold off as he still wouldn't have made it to Germany yet as he's still 17. He's not interested in my United side but I thought if I made a bid I might be able to throw some cash at him to persuade him to join.

Man City are REFUSING to sell to me though, the only offer I can make that they will accept is £300m (I even tried £299m and they rejected) which is a shame as I think he could be fucking incredible.

thommo

17-09-2021, 09:18 PM

So the League 2 Playoff Final beckoned, and I got the news article saying that two of my first-teamers were being called up for a Youth Invitational 4 days before the final itself. :moop: I checked the dates and the first game of the Invitational itself was not until 9 days after the final, so it was just a severe case of the game fucking me over. Thankfully, I was able to remove them from the squad just in time, and they both started.

I also went for comprehensive highlights for the game, just to fully ramp up the tension. And just for the hell of it, here's a live-text style report of the game. (Yes, I have too much time on my hands)

13:20
Not many would have predicted this for the League 2 Playoff Final - Slough Town vs Carlisle United. The Berkshire outfit were promoted to the Football League last season as National League Champions, and were expected to drop straight back down, but never once looked like relegation was on the cards. These two teams met in the penultimate matchday when Slough ran out 4-2 victors, courtesy of an Aaron Jones hat-trick. Can they repeat that today and secure back-to-back promotions?

13:25
With kick-off only 5 minutes away, let's run you through the starting line-ups for each side.
Slough Town: (4-3-2-1) Stahl; Goodwin, Denham, McEntee (c), Brownsword; Dreher, Spence, Williams; Ball, Puntigam; Jones. Subs: Buchanan, Webber, Vernon, Jenks, P. Johnson, Middleton-Paterson, Harper.

Carlisle United: (4-4-2) Collins; Mutombo, Laskowski, Gillesphey, Reynolds; Petrovics, Fenn, Glendon (c), Hope; Darcy, Cruz. Subs: Gibson, T. Johnson, Dowling, Hawkins, Belic, Magloire, Webb.

Slough remain unchanged, but see the return of Teddy Jenks to the bench, after 3 weeks out with a hamstring injury. Carlisle's team has a Caribbean feel to it, with Barbadian international and semi-final hero Hallam Hope starting on the wing, and young Jamaican Nickquan Cruz up front.

13:30
KICK OFF
Carlisle get us underway, and we'll find out over the 2 hours who will be in League 1 next season!

5 mins
First chance of the game as Carlisle move the ball well through the midfield, and George Glendon fires wide from the edge of the box. And Carlisle go close again seconds later! Good work down the right hand side sets Hallam Hope free. He lofts the cross in, Darcy rises highest to meet it 8 yards out, but nods the header wide.

7 mins
CLOSE!
A frenetic pace to the opening of this match, and this time it is Slough with the chance. It's a long ball forward from the right-back, and Laskowski completely misjudges the header. Aaron Jones is first to the ball and bearing down on goal, but Reynolds somehow gets back and blocks the shot. Fantastic defending!

9 mins
GREAT SAVE!
Toni Stahl, what a stop! George Glendon is again given too much space on the edge of the box, and his curling strike looks to be arching into the corner of the net, but Stahl sticks out a hand to keep out the Carlisle captain.

13 mins
I'm struggling to keep up with this! It's Aaron Jones again, this time sent through thanks to a lovely slide-rule pass from his compatriot, Sion Spence. He rifles the shot in but it's too close to Collins, who palms it behind for a corner.

18 mins
Jones could have had a hat-trick here. Another long ball finds the young Welshman who beats the centre-backs for pace. Collins is once again on hand to tip the strike away.

37 mins
GOAL - Slough 1-0 Carlisle
Dennis Ball

Oh my, what a free kick this is! The match had settled down after the chaotic opening, and Dennis Ball has now brought the quality to the occasion. A stunning free kick from 25 yards, which curls over the wall into the top corner, giving Collins no chance. Wonderful strike.
-------
Get involved - #bbcfootball
"1-0 Ball" - mahow

"How do I win the Champions League?" - Pleb

"I've been checking local flights and it seems like Dennis Ball has a Cessna booked to Italy after game! ITK ITK ITK" - randomlegend
-------

45+2 mins
HALF TIME
Slough Town are just 45 minutes away from League 1. But Carlisle aren't done yet, and they showed they had some attacking threat in that half. George Glendon in particular looks dangerous breaking from that central midfield role.

56 mins
GOAL - Slough 1-1 Carlisle
Toni Stahl og

Carlisle have started the second half much the better team and they get the goal their pressure has deserved, albeit in bizarre circumstances! A series of corners led to nothing, but Slough couldn't clear the lines and Carlisle kept the ball alive well. It was that man George Glendon who created the chance, with a neat pass through to Ronan Darcy. He fired a shot in from the edge of the box which rattled the crossbar, bouncing into the back of the Slough goalkeeper Toni Stahl, and over the line. And with that, Carlisle are level! Game on.

78 mins
GREAT SAVE!
Wonderful stop from Collins once again, this time from a Dennis Ball header. The last 20 minutes had been cagey but Slough opened up the space on the right, which allowed Brownsword to whip the cross in. Ball's header was going to find the bottom corner, until Collins clawed it round the post.

90+4 mins
FULL TIME
We're going to extra time! As time ticked by, both sides went into their shell and didn't want to risk the game by throwing players forward. But both teams look leggy. Who will find the spark in extra time?

95 mins
GOAL - Slough 2-1 Carlisle
Dennis Ball

Would you believe it?! He's done it again! A second free kick from Dennis Ball that has found the net! Collins might be a little bit disappointed about this one though. Ball went for placement rather than power, curling it over the wall and dipping it towards the bottom corner. Collins got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out, and the talismanic winger has done it again! His 16th goal of the season and the most important, by far.

105 mins
EXTRA TIME - HALF TIME
The nerves must be kicking in now, not to mention the tiredness. Carlisle need something special in this final quarter of an hour. Slough just need to keep the ball and protect this lead.

106 mins
GOAL - Slough 3-1 Carlisle
Aaron Jones

Surely Slough have done it, and straight from the kick-off! And this time Dennis Ball has turned creator, lofting a lovely cross in behind the defence for Aaron Jones to meet with a sumptuous side-footed volley. Collins was given no chance there, and Jones sprints away to celebrate his 27th goal of this campaign with the fans. What a loan signing he's turned out to be!

120+1 mins
FULL TIME
Slough Town are promoted!
It's all over at Wembley and Slough Town, incredibly, will be playing League 1 football next season! Carlisle just offered nothing in extra time and Slough managed the game perfectly as time ran out. Dennis Ball has to take the accolades for a stunning final performance, with 2 goals and an assist. But a word for Tyler Brownsword - the Slough right-back was a constant threat with his passing and created a number of great opportunities in the attacking third.

Tonight will be a night of celebration for all at the club. Nobody could have seen this coming at the start of the season!

https://i.ibb.co/gFxxxHF/final.png

:rave:

Yevrah

17-09-2021, 09:39 PM

Cracking read thommo!

Yevrah

18-09-2021, 10:09 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/52QjL2Rn/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I don't know what sort of fucked up shit this is, but people local to Oxford now have an hour and a half round trip to get to home games and it's costing the club £7k per annum. :nono:

Yevrah

18-09-2021, 10:43 AM

Oxford City 2020/21 End of Season Update

A successful season as unlike many cowboys operating at this level, we managed to turn a profit:

https://i.postimg.cc/3xyqjs7K/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

A couple of things jump out there. Firstly I've no idea how our Staff Wages are so high, given we don't really have any and without the grants we'd have posted a whopping £80k loss, which just won't do. However, thanks to them and a modicum of financial responsibility the board have increased the wage budget by 17.5% to £4,700, which is probably necessary as we've had a fair few departures.

On the less important football side of things we finished a solid 12th in the league, hanging off the top half's coat tails.

https://i.postimg.cc/7hhhY3JY/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

The cups saw us go straight out of the FA Trophy, but we did make the first round proper of the FA Cup.

My players can't handle the truth, so I had to lie to them, but I'm hoping for a playoff spot for season 2.

Yevrah

18-09-2021, 12:16 PM

Pre-season has gone swimmingly. Along with utterly abusing the loan system, we've signed a few players, two of which are properly exciting:

https://i.postimg.cc/YqDxz76h/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/56vvfZkV)

A former Arsenal man no less.

https://i.postimg.cc/hPmGpbxT/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bsz8vnmw)

And this chap from Wolves' reject pile who already looks excellent.

On the finances, we have thirty-grand in the bank now too. :chief:

Yevrah

18-09-2021, 12:37 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/wjybt2ty/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Bugarin!!!!!!!!!!

Scored in the 94th minute too.

John Arne

18-09-2021, 01:27 PM

I've just sealed the signing of this 16 year old geezer. A snip at $41m

https://gyazo.com/bd1771ad633962aa24b643d798af77e6.jpeg

thommo

18-09-2021, 01:29 PM

Eliot Richards, striker from Merthyr? He always seems to do well in tier 6. Joseph Hungbo is one that I've seen a lot, think he was with Billericay and Bristol Rovers on my save.

How much is your contract? I think that comes out of the staff wages. Good to see Slough sneaking into the playoffs too, I presume they were immediately dumped out but it's nice to see.

Yevrah

18-09-2021, 01:36 PM

I've got Richards at CAM, but he's definitely played for Merthyr.

It is my contract, I started with no badges or experience yet somehow I'm on £850 a week. Nuts.

Slough went straight out sadly, but it was to eventual playoff champions Dartford.

Yevrah

18-09-2021, 01:45 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/Sj0gmHWf/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

10 games in and we're unbeaten and doing very well, but of course this would be the year where a CPU team decides to make a charge for 100+ points. Havant's only loss is to us so far.

Ashford away in the FA cup 2nd qualifying round and £27k in the bank still, so definitely progress.

Bernanke

19-09-2021, 06:45 AM

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

WC runners up Albania. :cab: Happened without any real regen starpower as well.

Boadu has bossed it for NL twice in a row.

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 09:57 AM

End of Season 2021/22 Update - Oxford City

Footballing achievements have surpassed the finances this season, so we start with those.

https://i.postimg.cc/bYGCBrwQ/4-League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Honestly, more satisfying than anything in the journeyman game. We led the league for most of the season but surrendered top spot with about 8 games to go after a horrible run of form, only to get it back and secure promotion with one game left. 46 game seasons are absolutely brutal and had we shat the bed I'd have genuinely cried.

And here are the heroes that did it:

https://i.postimg.cc/v897nVmS/2-Team.jpg (https://postimg.cc/rzVtXzxS)

I'd question how ready any of them are for the conference, well bar Bugarin, who was absolutely the difference in getting us there. So pleased he's tied with us until 2024. I guess for the rest I'll treat them as reserves and set about building a new first team in the off-season, introducing them piecemeal when we get to the games.

Our chairman has also realised it's lunacy playing in Maidenhead.

https://i.postimg.cc/MKnStqh4/3-New-Stadium.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

On the finances front, we turned a profit again.

https://i.postimg.cc/4yMjjHr0/5-Finances.jpg (https://postimg.cc/D4rCX0fQ)

Not much movement from last year, although it oddly does seem cheaper to rent a stadium than own one. SI really should introduce depreciation and a balance sheet into things.

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 10:01 AM

Huge transfer BREAKING news:

https://i.postimg.cc/Y0mdGnsX/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Difficult decision to sell, but he wasn't at this stage better than Owusu or Roberts so I pushed the button. Gives us our first transfer budget (of £36k) to go with our wage budget of £7,400.

We also now have £132k in the bank. :chief:

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 11:25 AM

thommo, did you notice anything weird with promotion wage increase clauses? I've got loads in my squad and not a single one seems to have kicked in since reaching the Vanarama conference and I'm now mid-July.

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 11:39 AM

Annoying pre-season so far really. Being promoted doesn't seem to have done much for my pulling power and I even lost out on signing some of the players I had on loan last season. As an example, this is the best CAM I could find and he cost me £6k. :moop:

https://i.postimg.cc/Y0mY68Wj/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/N2BKY6bw)

First actual cash money signing mind.

thommo

19-09-2021, 01:03 PM

It all seemed to work fine for me with the wages. I normally get the news article in the inbox on the 1st July detailing who got the wage rises. Did you resign contracts after your promotion was confirmed? That would cancel out any promotion increase clause.

Great promotion, that was a real battle with 3 clubs on 94+ points. Promotion from the two non-league divisions is so tough with only the one automatic spot. It is a real drag to go fail in the playoffs and have to do it all again! Owen-Evans doesn't look awful for the level, quite well-rounded so he will do a job, especially if you have a decent tactic.

Also, the big money sale is really good. Just helps with running the club and allows you to maybe push towards facility upgrades earlier (although it depends how they're funding this new stadium of yours!).

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 01:08 PM

Nailed it again thommo, it'll be because I renewed most of the contracts.

And agreed, it's absolute brutal. 46 games is a proper marathon anyway, so to get that close and miss out would have hurt. A lot.

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 01:19 PM

Cracking start to the season, driven by Bugarin who has 9 in the 10 games.

https://i.postimg.cc/DfPhrNsX/Leagues.jpg (https://postimages.org/)l (https://bettafishcaretaker.com/)

Doesn't seem a huge step up from tier 6, well apart from against the pro clubs in the division, so if we can keep players fit I'm now hoping for a playoff spot.

John Arne

19-09-2021, 01:32 PM

I decided to stay at Aberdeen, but also take the reigns at Scotland. Somehow, managed to reach the final of Euro 2032 against Italy.

3-0 up after 35 minutes, Italy were all of the place, with 33yr old Donnarumma having a nightmare in his 167th appereance for the Azzurri.

Italy then proceed to score in the 59th, 82nd and 86th minute to take it to extra-time. 2 goals in extra-time give them a 5-3 win :/

https://gyazo.com/bb66d7c1cb4e690c3262ea7c73b96de9.jpeg

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 02:00 PM

We then lost the next two games 3-0 and 5-1. :moop:

So I ventured into the market and picked up one of your lads thommo.

https://i.postimg.cc/nchp2tvD/Leagues.jpg (https://postimg.cc/DmH9fHpv)

igor_balis

19-09-2021, 04:08 PM

Inspired by my trip to Belfast and the football game we spoke about but didn't actually go to yesterday, I think I'm gonna start a Norn Iron league game this week. Either a second tier team, or Dungannon Swifts in honour of the drunk bloke in Laverys who told us he watched Cov City win the FA cup at their club bar. Decisions.

igor_balis

19-09-2021, 04:10 PM

As in, he watched it on the telly in their bar, he wasn't so drunk that he thought the 1987 fa cup final was held in Stangmore Park, Tyrone.

Giggles

19-09-2021, 04:22 PM

Used to go to a few of their games years ago.

Sir Andy Mahowry

19-09-2021, 05:53 PM

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

Just spotted this beast after my youth candidates (all shit) came in.

Not buying him for United as I wont be here when he's 18.

Manc

19-09-2021, 06:52 PM

Get his passport checked.

igor_balis

19-09-2021, 07:13 PM

Used to go to a few of their games years ago.

Shite?

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 08:39 PM

Giggles

19-09-2021, 09:02 PM

Shite?

Extremely.

thommo

19-09-2021, 09:30 PM

So after a decent start to the season in tier 5 in Oxford, we're in absolute freefall and there's seemingly nothing I can do to stop it - we're going to get relegated. Gutting and I really can't be arsed to try and get back up again.

What's the current situation? Can you just park the bus for draws until the end?

Jayden Harris is funnily enough someone I looked to buy when I got promoted to League 2, but he of course turned me down as he wanted wages that we couldn't even offer.

Yevrah

19-09-2021, 09:34 PM

Just coming up to Christmas time and we're fourth from bottom, but on a horrible run and the morale is all shot to shit. I've parked it for now.

Browning

20-09-2021, 11:57 AM

Same thing happened to me in my most recent save that I was posting about, albeit in my second season in the National after the first one was safe mid-table. Nothing I changed or did seemed to make the blindest bit of difference.

I reckon with the promotion on your CV you'll probably be able to get another National League job even if you do go down though.

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 12:09 PM

I'm persevering and we're just above the drop zone having at least temporarily stopped the rot. Things I've learnt:

Parking the bus definitely helps when you're getting roundly humped (thanks Thommo!)
Morale is so key - get everyone out of the team with poor morale or you'll seemingly continue to spiral
Going hard on team talks when you're expected to bravely fight relegation is a bad idea, it only compounds the above.

I don't know if we'll stay up (I've no interest in the save if we don't), but things are looking slightly better than they were a month ago.

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 12:47 PM

Three huge games against King's Lynn, Woking and Guiseley saw us secure a massive 7 points and move well clear of relegation:

https://i.postimg.cc/KzQXpJPv/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 01:45 PM

And 1 point from 5 games puts us back in the shit again.

https://i.postimg.cc/sXgPtQTy/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

We play Darlington at home in the penultimate game. :eyemouth:

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 02:14 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/tg2mcVht/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/3JxjLbt6/League-Table.jpg (https://postimg.cc/xqBb8gDy)

:drool:

Baz

20-09-2021, 02:16 PM

I presume he's replacing that awful "this was the best AMC I could find" player with immediate effect?

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 02:23 PM

On the bench for the next game. :cool:

thommo

20-09-2021, 02:27 PM

Annoyingly he looks better than any youth player I've had through so far at Slough! Those mentals are brilliant for this level too. You need to go pro as soon as possible now to get youth like him into full-time training, otherwise he might stagnate.

Looks like it's going down to the wire, that Darlington game will be massive.

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 02:29 PM

Is there anyway I can force going pro or is it simply a case of getting promoted to League 2?

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 02:35 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/QxV9KBN9/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Barnet (A)
Darlington (H)
Eastleigh (H)

I reckon we need two wins. :eek:

thommo

20-09-2021, 02:40 PM

Is there anyway I can force going pro or is it simply a case of getting promoted to League 2?

You can ask (I did every 6 weeks for a couple of seasons to which the board just flat out refused), but promotion to League 2 enforces the change. You need a lot of money in the bank to go pro as my board were still rejecting me when we had approximately half a million in finances.

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 02:42 PM

Instant hero!

https://i.postimg.cc/0yBL5BWK/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I've not smiled as much for two years as I did when Dunne got sent off.

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 02:46 PM

You can ask (I did every 6 weeks for a couple of seasons to which the board just flat out refused), but promotion to League 2 enforces the change. You need a lot of money in the bank to go pro as my board were still rejecting me when we had approximately half a million in finances.

Might as well give it a shot.

Oh, hello.

https://i.postimg.cc/85H4cFpX/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

They refused. Bastards

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 02:59 PM

Bugarin!!!!!!!!!

https://i.postimg.cc/3x67dRSB/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

thommo

20-09-2021, 03:00 PM

89th minute. :drool:

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 03:01 PM

:D Nearly knocked the laptop off the table.

Raoul Duke

20-09-2021, 04:04 PM

Banger of a result. That youngster looks mega or that level too

Baz

20-09-2021, 04:09 PM

You better not bin off Bugarin when you get in the big leagues.

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 04:35 PM

Oxford City 2022/23 - Season Review

A tough one this, that nearly had me binning it, but glad I persevered.

https://i.postimg.cc/BnSFpq0H/League-Table.jpg (https://postimg.cc/xcZqTVq1)

A quick look at the professional status of those clubs shows that the top 9 are all operating full time, with Havant the highest placing semi-pro club.

https://i.postimg.cc/4N57mr9d/1-Line-Up.jpg (https://postimg.cc/BXjQz7N9)

Bugarin is good enough for this level, but unconvinced by the rest. I have too many 2.5/3 star players who're in the first team and I must improve that over the window.

https://i.postimg.cc/v87DNpXz/2-Budgets.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Thankfully the board have recognised more excellent financial stewardship and increased the wage budget by £4k and given me a transfer WARCHEST of £33k.

They've also done this:

https://i.postimg.cc/FHw9RZDz/3-New-Stadium.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Back in Oxford and with a very doable 10 year loan at £16k to repay per month.

The financing of the stadium has messed the comparability of BAU up somewhat (and like fuck am I restating it), but suffice to say, we made an underlying profit again.

https://i.postimg.cc/8PbzPM6g/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 05:00 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/TPSR4XKt/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Wipe out debts (from the stadium build) good, cannot sign any players bad.

thommo

20-09-2021, 06:32 PM

We had the same issue as you Yev - after 1 season playing in Slough, we've been out on the road ever since. We spent 5 years at Wealdstone, before moving to The Hive in Harrow for our first Football League season. But our chairman has finally decided we need to go home.

https://i.ibb.co/5xH5jgn/stadium.png

Peter Griffin (:D) has also recognised the need to upgrade some facilities, so we're using some of our prize money, £150k of it, to upgrade the training facilities. Unfortunately it's going to take 7 months, but it's much needed now we're in League 1.

And finally, one last look at the lads that made this promotion possible.

https://i.ibb.co/X7GRQQd/the-lads.png

I really, really, REALLY need to get Aaron Jones back on loan. He improved massively throughout the season, so much so that he has shifted all of the star ratings down a notch for the squad. Unfortunately, any approach to Swansea to extend the loan is met with "We would rather he played with higher quality players." :moop:

Otherwise, Dennis Ball is the club hero. He's been here for 4 seasons now and has just pulled out his best returns yet. Sion Spence became the assist king ever since I dropped him back into a midfield 3, and Lukas Puntigam is another loanee I would like to have back - he was chipping in with goals and assists constantly throughout the 2nd half of the season.

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 06:52 PM

How long did it take you to reach League 2? At the moment it feels like that's the hardest part of this. Port Vale got relegated to the conference last season. I'm playing Port Vale. With one automatic promotion spot. Port Vale.

Baz

20-09-2021, 06:56 PM

TQ Addy is definitely a BLM Baller.

thommo

20-09-2021, 06:57 PM

It took 3 seasons in the National League. It was genuinely ridiculous the number of professional clubs I was facing, I think there were 17 out of the 24?

I was lower midtable in the first season, snuck into 7th and the playoffs in the second season, champions in the third. By that point I could keep the morale forever high, the tactic was familiar and I had a core of players who were improving just enough. Sprinkle a few loans in (whatever you can get for the depth due to the crazy scheduling) and it just about did it. Not to mention a fair bit of luck!

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 06:57 PM

He's real and at Luton in my game. :D

thommo

20-09-2021, 07:46 PM

TQ Addy is definitely a BLM Baller.

:D

Tetteh-Quaye Addy is a proud Ghanaian youth international (in my save), for your information.

He’s actually someone I brought in for the title-winning season on big money (£650 p/w!) and he contributed pretty well. Unfortunately he didn’t have much of an impact in League 2 - he may be a player who becomes surplus to requirements.

Bam

20-09-2021, 07:46 PM

He's real and at Luton in my game. :D

Thats his real life club.

These non league games Thommo and yourself are playing sound like good fun, just don't think I'd have the patience for it.

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 08:04 PM

It can be immensely frustrating as the whole set-up in the Conference national league is so stacked against you and it does take patience (a virtue I wouldn't say I was blessed with) but many things are so rewarding that just wouldn't be anywhere near as much in other saves.

niko_cee

20-09-2021, 08:16 PM

Wait, does the current version of FM give you tabulated accounts for your club in excel?

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 08:17 PM

And on that note, it's going to be another long season for me.

https://i.postimg.cc/5tnYR4Tc/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

We've been competitive in 8 of the 10 games, but the amount of worldy's I'm conceding is unreal. Bugarin only has three goals so far this season too. On the plus side, we've made some serious money in the window.

https://i.postimg.cc/P5d13RJw/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Mitchell was trousered from Arsenal's youth rejects and has pushed our bank balance up to over half a million a mere 13 months later. :drool:

Yevrah

20-09-2021, 08:21 PM

Wait, does the current version of FM give you tabulated accounts for your club in excel?

Nah, I'm knocking it into a spreadsheet every time a season rolls over.

Sir Andy Mahowry

20-09-2021, 11:17 PM

Manchester United 2043/44 Season Update:

Transfers Out:

https://i.imgur.com/2HLL8TT.png
https://i.imgur.com/cC3TR58.png

The squad was fucking massive (and still is) and I tried to get rid of as many old lads/youths that don't look like they'll cut the mustard.

Transfers In:

https://i.imgur.com/SAEh6tR.png

https://i.imgur.com/cirsm2H.png

Both were former players of mine at Hertha (and who I didn't have enough funds to take to Leverkusen) so I brought them to England and they were my two biggest signings. £103m for Morice and £175m rising to £225m for Matias.

https://i.imgur.com/6yz3g6J.png

I wanted a GK from Norwich but they rejected my top offer of £40m and the former United number 1 so I bought this lad for £7.75m. The week after Norwich transfer listed the guy I tried to sign for £25m... This guy spent most of the season pissed off as I signed him as a "Star Player" but it turns out I didn't inspect the United squad enough as there was a better, younger GK in the team. His value has boomed though.

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

Signed by the caretaker manager before I joined but he arrived after I came in. He was bought for £5.25m rising to £11.5m which isn't too shabby.

https://i.imgur.com/8WY3oY6.png

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

I went back to Leverkusen for these two. £105m for Andrade and £79m for Thelen. I wanted Andrade for CM but like at Leverkusen I ended up playing him at CB and he thrived. Thelen was good at Leverkusen but he raised his game massively after I signed him. When Iggy went down injured he started more and became a beast.

https://i.imgur.com/0L6gPm7.png

£11.5m which might be a little on the high side but I didn't have any decent youth RB's and he did well whenever I gave him minutes.

https://i.imgur.com/yVXkyM8.png

He's been on my shortlist for a couple of years now but I decided not to buy him at Leverkusen so I could bring him here. £55m.

https://i.imgur.com/aaX1LTm.png

£40m and he was also on the shortlist.

League:

https://i.imgur.com/euqayi2.png

https://i.imgur.com/3rEawiH.png
https://i.imgur.com/7Ht4SBr.png

We won it easily and seemed to have a 12 point buffer for most of the season. Almost all of our dropped points came from matches where I used the youth (especially on the second set of fixtures).

Cup:

https://i.imgur.com/ieT7rsV.png

All youth side in the Burnley match and we were 2-0 down. However we came back and then had two men sent off before 90 minutes had finished.

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

Pretty easy but I was sure we'd lose to Chelsea as we really struggled to score goals.

Europe:

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

Awful. Really annoying that we still can't cross this off the list.

https://i.imgur.com/Yhr9QAT.png

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

All in all a relatively easy treble. We also got to play Leverkusen (who have annoyingly won the league the moment I left) and a reunion with Hertha.

Squad:

https://i.imgur.com/I5aOlgu.png
https://i.imgur.com/TO1ZvlK.png

Future:

Well nothing crossed off the list (although the European Championship with France is up next so I could be done internationally) but I restored United to the top. I've given them their first PL title since 2028 and I've also defended the Champions League for them.

Really there's nothing more for me here and I'd like to jump to a Europa League team to knock that off the list. So far the only job that fits right now is Marseille.

Sir Andy Mahowry

20-09-2021, 11:24 PM

Also, the bank balance at United was just under £100m when I came in. I leave with it at £300m and with the last of the debts paid off.

Sir Andy Mahowry

20-09-2021, 11:46 PM

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

:drool:

Baz

21-09-2021, 07:18 AM

Losing one game all season and it’s at Carrow Road :D

Yevrah

21-09-2021, 10:14 AM

A cracking run of form sees us move into the top half of the Conference, hopefully establishing us as a Conference National side.

https://i.postimg.cc/MTx01qHM/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Whisper it, but a playoff spot is actually achievable too. Bugarin now has 79 in 117 league games, the little legend.

wullie

21-09-2021, 11:13 AM

Virgil Morice has a hell of a hairline for 26.

Yevrah

21-09-2021, 12:35 PM

4 for Bugarin in a 5-2 home win over Aldershot and we hit the playoff spots.

https://i.postimg.cc/Z5bwRjmm/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Not a bad run in for the final 7 games either.

https://i.postimg.cc/zDwwgW0G/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Yevrah

21-09-2021, 01:48 PM

Fantastic finish to the season, with two cracking late winners. Thought we'd fucked 3rd when we surrendered a 2-0 lead in the penultimate game, but Chesterfield shat the bed in their final game.

https://i.postimg.cc/vHym42mc/Fixtures.jpg (https://postimg.cc/LhyS7TLp)

https://i.postimg.cc/k4t5bk8t/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Third takes us straight through to the semi's, with a single leg tie at home to make the playoff final.

Yevrah

21-09-2021, 01:52 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/JnBNPrSr/League-Table.jpg (https://postimg.cc/dkwZ0Yqp)

I'm shitting it.

thommo

21-09-2021, 01:55 PM

What a run to finish the season. Having the week off by finishing in 2nd or 3rd is so key, especially as a semi-pro team. Seems like your formation and dynamics have really clicked this season.

That heroic 94th minute winner from Bugarin. :drool:

Yevrah

21-09-2021, 02:12 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/vBz0WHn4/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Hold me.

Yevrah

21-09-2021, 02:38 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/g2rhkc4Y/League-Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
:jayjay:

I need a lie down.

Manc

21-09-2021, 04:16 PM

Talk about leaving it late.

Yevrah

21-09-2021, 04:25 PM

Some things that have happened since.

https://i.postimg.cc/SR7hpngQ/1-Transfer-Budget.png (https://postimages.org/)

That seems remarkably low and doesn't even appear to be enough to give my current players full time contracts, let alone recruit some more. :sherlock:

https://i.postimg.cc/wjrnZ59c/2-Professional-Status.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Finally. Four years in the making and we are finally a pro club. I then looked at the finances and saw this:

https://i.postimg.cc/SNsT4XTZ/3-Ground-Maintenance-Charges.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I've no idea what this is for and I can see no news article in relation to it. It has utterly fucked us though.

https://i.postimg.cc/6QdzcCqQ/4-Balance.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

New stadium complete.

https://i.postimg.cc/FFPpTrr0/5-New-Stadium.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Maybe the obscene ground maintenance charges were related to getting the new stadium up to league standard, but if so, why not build it like that in the first place and include that in the loan.

Baz

21-09-2021, 04:56 PM

Maybe League Two stadium requirements are different to the league you were in when the plans were made. Although maybe it is the loan, cos it’s the same value?

Good job though!

Yevrah

21-09-2021, 05:06 PM

Cheers! Definitely not the loan as we're still paying that back.

Smjffy

21-09-2021, 05:52 PM

I started a YDWAWK save with *insert team here* a number of weeks ago but I have been delaying updating as I want to get further in. I'll start off with our European adventure though as last season we won the EFL Cup. :drool:

The Man United match was madness. 4-2 down on aggregate, Rashford scoring a 95th winner at Old Trafford in the first leg, 3 minutes to go and then....

https://i.imgur.com/0cik8uT.png

Bam

21-09-2021, 05:55 PM

Whats a YDWAWK game?

Shindig

21-09-2021, 05:56 PM

You Don't Win Anything With Kids (tm)

Bam

21-09-2021, 06:03 PM

Ok.

Baz

21-09-2021, 08:14 PM

Forest?

Sir Andy Mahowry

21-09-2021, 08:44 PM

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

Son of a fucking bitch. Another 4 years wait to cross it off my list now :(

Also, I have a new club in Marseille. Here is the squad:

https://i.imgur.com/l2Di6xF.png

Key player:

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

Hot Prospect:

https://i.imgur.com/P0uGYj9.png

There is £35m in the bank and I've been given a £24m transfer budget and there's currently £287k p/w free in wages. I've already started trying to sell players and I already have a bid accepted for the mental 15 year old French CB I posted on the last page.

Smjffy

21-09-2021, 08:55 PM

Wrexham - Season 2028/29 - Uefa Conference League

Although a relatively new competition, the recent winners were all clubs of decent pedigree with Everton being the first to lift the cup followed by Atalanta, Tottenham, Sevilla, Feyenoord, Lazio and Real Betis. We'd retained our Premier League status, lifted a domestic cup and risen from the 'other' Conference League but I had no idea what to expect.

We started in the fourth qualifying round against Hungarian side MTK Budapest and despite taking a while to get going, romped to a 3-0 home win in the first leg. Craig Cummings, Gus Levitt and Will Hannen all getting their names on the scoresheet. Nothing unfamiliar for Cummings, a current Welsh international and at time of writing is closing in on Tommy Bamford's long held record of most league goals. Bamford has 172, Cummings, 147.

The return in Hungary wasn't such a formality but Levitt again got himself in amongst it and fired in the only goal of the game to send us into the group stage.

Our 'group of death' was Gornik Zabrze, RSC Anderlecht and Mladost Lucani, six wins out of six and just one goal conceded tells its own story.

Russian outfit Ural were drawn in the second knockout round, we bypassed the first by virtue of finishing 1st, I assume(?), I also assumed we'd sail through given the ease in which we'd done so to date but we found ourselves 2-0 down until Cummings and Kian Williams struck on 88 and 94 minutes to salvage the tie and perhaps keep us in the competition. Cummings ensured there was no repeat in the return fixture as he netted an 8 minute hatrick, Sam Davies scoring a rare goal too.

Willem II were the quarter final opponents and proved a little troublesome until Cummings dispatched a pen to make it 1-0. Danny Evans scoring a solo effort to take a solid lead to Holland. Perhaps it was the fumes in the air but Sam Davies again found himself in the right place at the right time to score the games only goal. Not so rare goal now but still unsure why he was so high up.

To France for the semi finals as Reims lay in wait, it was almost a given that RB Leipzig would be the team to face in the final but first we had to say Au Revoir to Reims. Gus Levitt's early hit in the first leg gave us a slender lead, a lead cancelled out in the second leg until Osian Gray bundled one in over the line. A second successive final.

Wow. Winner would take a group spot in the Europa League and given we'd (at this point) again secured our Premier League survival, a win would be the icing on the cake. It's fair to say the German side were big favourites and had been from the offset.

Were.

https://i.imgur.com/qskGJ2x.png

Craig Cummings.

https://i.imgur.com/XAe2Ulx.png

https://i.imgur.com/huAY1XT.png

https://i.imgur.com/L7ekdDR.png

https://i.imgur.com/H5xYgUZ.png

Background.

When Ryan Reynolds took over the club, many expected there to be wholesale changes, a bit of a splurge and a return to League Two at the least but instead they got a state of the art youth academy and sod all else.

Yevrah

22-09-2021, 07:14 AM

Oxford City Season 24/25 Transfers

As our debut season in the football league sees us in an utterly fucked financial position transfers were somewhat restricted. Once I'd let the shit go I had about £3k to £4k wage budget to play with so once again we hammered the loan system, leaving the below as actual signings.

https://i.postimg.cc/zvywwZ6n/Carroll.jpg (https://postimg.cc/wRdsHP6v)

Former Everton LAD, who according to our AM is now our best player.

https://i.postimg.cc/zBcKG2v3/Cartwright.jpg (https://postimg.cc/62CyH0dN)[/url]

Had this chap on loan for the last couple of seasons and he loves me, so when his contract expired we swooped in.

https://i.postimg.cc/NM5bDHr9/Georgiou.jpg (https://banks-nearme.com/bank-of-america-near-me)

This one is actually a loan (no idea what National League Stockport are doing loaning him to me) but he played an instrumental part in promotion last year and his contract expires at the end of this season. Would love to make it permanent.

[url=https://postimg.cc/7bx2BFQs]https://i.postimg.cc/ZYNxqZPS/Laly.jpg (https://banks-nearme.com/citibank-near-me)

Can't actually play this guy yet as his WP application was rejected, but given he's our only player playing regular international football I'm hoping I can change that on appeal in November.

https://i.postimg.cc/kgTxH5Cx/Roberts.jpg (https://postimg.cc/4Yh77smd)

This is the first of two players who joined partway through last season, who have come on leaps and bounds since we went professional.

https://i.postimg.cc/rs2W40GL/Uzoka.jpg (https://postimg.cc/YG8hKSyX)

And here's the other one.

In terms of targets for this season, stay up just about covers it, with the bigger ambition being working out how the hell we clear this massive debt we find ourselves lumbered with. I'd assumed the new board would have restructured it, but they don't seem to care. Tossers.

Yevrah

22-09-2021, 07:22 AM

And here's how we've started.

https://i.postimg.cc/Vkqh0njz/Results.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Only really been two league games we were outclassed in (vs Oldham and Mansfield). Bugarin's been out injured, but when he has played with Georgiou I've liked what I've seen a lot. The Cypriot's 10 goals put him second in the league two scoring charts.

https://i.postimg.cc/8cTR3f7m/Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

And all that leaves us mid-table, with a very pleasing seven point buffer from relegation.

Yevrah

22-09-2021, 12:37 PM

Oxford City 2024/25 Season (League Two) - Mid Season Update

https://i.postimg.cc/9fKMPnSZ/Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Really pleasing first half of the season with a solid mid-table performance so far. A push for the playoffs would be brilliant, but that we're all but guaranteed to stay up already is brilliant.

Financial situation has improved slightly, with a couple of investments from the directors taking us up to £700k in the red, but still no idea how I clear that.

Browning

22-09-2021, 01:10 PM

A big FA Cup away draw would go a long way to fixing that.

Yevrah

22-09-2021, 01:18 PM

Fair point. Will have to wait until next season to try as we got knocked out in the first round by Non-League Ebbsfleet this season. :moop:

Sir Andy Mahowry

22-09-2021, 02:26 PM

Marseille 2044/45 Summer Update:

I don't usually do any updates other than one at the end of the season but I've been busy this window.

Transfers Out:

https://i.imgur.com/yi712hJ.png

Wasn't able to sell everyone I wanted but overall I'm pretty happy.

Transfers In:

https://i.imgur.com/lK6gmzM.png

Very busy Summer and a lot of it will be paid in instalments. I also wanted to flood the team with youth.

https://i.imgur.com/VYA9Rbi.png

Part of the reason I wanted to come to France was because of this lad. When I saw him, I needed to bring him to one of my teams pronto.

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

Wanted to sign him at Leverkusen but he wouldn't have been able to join until now. I then wanted to buy him at United but City wouldn't accepted anything less than £300m.

https://i.imgur.com/p04Sgeu.png

Cheap but his potential is great.

https://i.imgur.com/9OLY0ho.png

Due to sales he's already starting for me and he's already stepping up big.

https://i.imgur.com/PTuN4J8.png

He's going to be a godly finisher if he hits his potential.

https://i.imgur.com/6PBcMRg.png

One of the few I decided to send out on loan but part of me wishes I hadn't.

https://i.imgur.com/gWj9ejU.png

I needed a decent keeper and I feel I've got one for a decent price. I found an even better keeper (albeit a lot more expensive) but he was at Aston Villa thus wouldn't have been able to join for 2 years.

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

Doubt he'll ever really make it in my team as he isn't my sort of player but I bought him to sell eventually.

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

Another that went out on loan instantly and I'm happy I did as he wont get minutes for me this season due to the amount of CM's in the team.

https://i.imgur.com/QU59heL.png

I chucked a lot of wages at him as so many TOP clubs were after him and I had already lost out on a lot of players to said clubs.

https://i.imgur.com/Ha88meV.png

I probably wasn't going to go for him but my best CB fucked his ACL so I thought I'd go big.

https://i.imgur.com/IoXPja0.png

A hefty price, especially as he's a little slow for me, but I feel he's going to be a Worldie.

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

https://i.imgur.com/GuR20PS.png

Going to lump these both together as they're both very cheap and at worst I feel like I'll be able to make quite a decent chunk on them.

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

A reunion. I bought him for £22m at Leverkusen from Schalke (Leverkusen are fools for accepting £24m now) as he was one of the better German youths that were produced at the time. He's hardly played for the senior team in the years I was gone but I still feel like he's going to be quality.

As an aside here is one match that we've played so far:

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

:cool:

SvN

22-09-2021, 02:43 PM

Enjoying following your game Yev, which is probably a first for me. Do you have a real life job though? I'm curious how you manage to fly through seasons so quickly.

Yevrah

22-09-2021, 03:03 PM

I do indeed, but at the moment am doing literally nothing outside of that bar playing this. Haven't been this addicted to a save since the Eibar one.

Yevrah

22-09-2021, 03:52 PM

6 games to go and as last year in the conference we're in with a chance at the League 2 playoffs.

https://i.postimg.cc/m22RCmpj/Table.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Cambridge (a)
Port Vale (h)
Scunthorpe (h)
Walsall (a)
Tranmere (a)
Accrington (h)

SvN

22-09-2021, 03:59 PM

Do you think there's a danger of going up too quickly? I remember scraping in the playoffs for the Championship on my Dover save a few years ago, then getting absolutely battered and finishing bottom by about 10 points the following season.

Yevrah

22-09-2021, 04:03 PM

Very much so. We're in no way ready for League One and we need to sort these finances first.

Yevrah

22-09-2021, 06:25 PM

Oxford City End of Season Update 2024/25 - League Two

https://i.postimg.cc/J0gDgxxB/League.jpg (https://postimages.org/)[/url]

After being in with a shout of the playoffs with six games to go we didn't make it and fell to 12th. Still, to finish top half in our first season of League football is pretty pleasing, with one caveat and potential huge problem.

https://i.postimg.cc/3NDJyTjd/1-Line-Up.jpg (https://gasstation-nearme.com/shell)

And that potential problem is our best player, by a country mile is a loan one. If we weren't so fucked financially we could buy Georgiou from Conference side Stockport, who clearly ran mad loaning him to me in the first place, but as it is the only hope we have of getting him back is via another loan. If we don't get him we have to replace 33 goals just to stand still. Bugarin might score more admittedly, but he's not gonna weigh in with 51.

[url=https://postimages.org/]https://i.postimg.cc/yNBPv6kC/2-Wage-Budget.jpg (https://gasstation-nearme.com/)

A decent increase in wages there, up from £13.5k last year and closing in on the £1m per annum wage bill allowance. :drool: However, I then noticed that we're currently spending £15k p/w on wages and I hadn't a clue why. The first team squad can't add up to that and then it hit me, it's fucking youth prospects in my under 18 squad. My DoF has been signing them up on £150 p/w deals and there are 27 of the buggers! Now admittedly this was at my request when the summary landed in my inbox, but fuck me, rookie city as far as mistakes go that. £4k p/w of my wage expenditure was going on kids, £200k a year. I can release a fair few this summer, but the remaining are on deals up to 2027 and at this stage, we simply can't afford a youth team.

Which takes me on nicely to the finances.

https://i.postimg.cc/j5vtLjJx/4-Finances.jpg (https://postimg.cc/dk7zfwBp)

We're in trouble. If it hadn't been for the club injecting three lump sums of £400k each time we'd be utterly screwed. As it is we're still £400k in the red, but a decent sale or cup run could get us out of that. Bigger problem now is that we don't really make money on the underlying business. Take out the investments and we'd have lost £250k this season. You could argue the loan is temporary, but that runs for another 8 years (with £1.5m still to pay on it) and even if I didn't have a youth team we'd have still not made it into the black.