Football Manager 2020

[Manc]

I'm having a cracking time managing Braga this year. The challenge is obviously to compete and eventually surpass the big three and it's proving challenging. The first three seasons saw us swat away Sporting and consistently finish third. With Benfica & Porto exchanging titles we have closed the initial 20 point gap in half to just ten however, our results against the established powers have been woeful winning just 3 games from 19. With such form it's no surprise that our only domestic silverware was the Portuguese Carabao in 2022. Our adventures on European shores have been relentless. Dynamo Minsk, Luzern, BATE, Manchester United, LASK, Getafe, Valencia, Napoli, Galatasaray, Sevilla, Strasbourg, Ludogorets, Sion, Lazio, & Portimonense. We have yet to progress past the Europa League quarter final.

With my tactical nous nothing to shout about (some variation of 3-5-2), player acquisition is were the the Liga NOS may be won and lost in the years to come. The board quickly established a sell before you buy culture which is par for the course in Portugal.

Season 1 - Diego Rolan (£8.5m) - Pablo Mari (£2.2m) - Willian Arao (£5.5m)
Season 2 - Nikola Jambor (£6m) - Ruben Semedo (£9m) - Ezequiel Avila (£5.5m)
Season 3 - Romain Correia (£1m) - Luis Suarez - (£15m)
Season 4 - Leandro Balerdi (£4m) - Exequiel Palacios (£10m) - Angel Gomes (£2m) - Cristiano Ronaldo (Bosman)

Perhaps the only failing in the four years has been Avila which is strong going. A bigger plus is our ability to retain the likes of the Horta brothers, Xadas, Galeno & Trinaco. The investment from Porto & Sporting has been lacking, Benfica on the other hand have heavily invested in the likes of James Rodriguez, Maxwel Cornet, Goretzka, Anton Miranchuk & Ritsu Doan. Perhaps their most impressive arrival is the addition of PEP (m8) Guardiola who replaced Lage after he took charge of the national side after the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The Catalan wasn't first choice and neither was Luis Castro as both Benfica & Porto offered me the the vacancies first. Ronald Koeman heads up Sporting.

[randomlegend]

How's the match engine update?

[Spikey M]

I'm not having that Ronaldo is released on a free in 2022 and signed for fucking Braga.

[John Arne]

I've just realised that my physio is Goring's granddaughter.

[Manc]

How's the match engine update?

It's improved, but remains unbalanced.

I'm not having that Ronaldo is released on a free in 2022 and signed for fucking Braga.

It's not beyond the realms of possibility that a 37/38 year old Ronaldo ends his playing days in Portugal.



Season four was by all accounts bang average. We once again finished third in the league this time amassing our lowest points tally and scoring a miserable 46 goals. We limped out of both domestic competitions in the semi finals and a Griezmann led Barcelona taught us a lesson in the last 16 of the Champions League. Elsewhere Koeman won the Taca de Portugal with Sporting and led them to a second place league finish, leaving Pep M8 to land the title and Porto to languish in fourth. On to the summer...

Season 5: Martinelli (Bosman) - Ronald Araujo (£4.2m) - Fede Valverde (£9.25m) - Juan Hernandez (£7.5m)

A phenomenal window by all accounts and performances on the pitch followed suit. We finally broke our streak of 3rd place finishes going one better behind a rejuvenated Porto. We were never able to keep pace with the Champions, but should be encouraged by our 78 point total (9 adrift). It was in the cups were we really shone collecting both trophies and putting both Benfica and Porto to the sword. Europe remained flat as we fell to Leipzig in the last 16 now managed by Ronald Koeman. Wim Jonk replaced him at Sporting.

With £103m spent (£1m net) in the five years our squad is incredibly solid. I'd argue we are only a top shot stopper away from challenging for the title.

[The Merse]

I've gone Dulwich Hamlet again this year, and have taken them up to 6th in League One by Xmas 2023 with the usual mix of youths released from big clubs and non-league talents.

One of the most polished editions I've found. Really enjoying it.

[Luca]

I brought in Bruno Fernandes, Federico Chiesa, Alex Telles, and Michael Bradley on a free () and pissed the league/Europa League in season 1 with United.

1:1s are still fucking broken.

[bruhnaldo]

Fuck you for taking Michael Bradley to United tbqh

[Luca]

As a TFC Season Ticket Holder from day 1, I feel that I was well within my rights.

[bruhnaldo]

Lmao that's fair I guess. Were/are you in Inebriatti ?

[Luca]

Lmao that's fair I guess. Were/are you in Inebriatti ?

Nah. Was loosely affiliated with the Red Patch Boys for a while but never a full-fledged member. I’ve always thought the ‘Ultra culture’ in MLS is full of sad wankers trying to emulate the worst parts of European ultras without understanding the context of what they are emulating.

In more FM news, I’m going full Wolves and just building a team of Portu(geezers). Bruno Fernandes, Fernando Luis, and Ruben Dias are all starters. Trincao is trying to fight for a place in the squad. Bunch of Portuguese youth in the ranks. Expanding it out to the Lusitanian world more broadly, Alex Telles is a starter as well.

[bruhnaldo]

I’ve always thought the ‘Ultra culture’ in MLS is full of sad wankers trying to emulate the worst parts of European ultras without understanding the context of what they are emulating.

Can't say i disagree brother.

[Bam]

Yank hooligans. /

[Spikey M]

Green Street was cringey enough and there was only one of them in it.

[Bam]

Two.

[bruhnaldo]

I could tell ya'll some stories about these fuckin hOoLiGaNs but trust me when I say basically none of these boys are about that life and I've tried very hard to see if they'd match the energy they had online with what they had in person.

[bruhnaldo]

Green Street is the problem. They all LIKE the idea of organized fights and shit like that but when it comes down to it all the wanna do is talk shit on North American Casual on facebook lmfao

[Spikey M]

Two.

Wood was one, who was the other one? I'd look to find out, but it's been about 15 years since I saw it and I can't face it again.

[Bam]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP7FNTP_RKc

[Bam]

Wood was one, who was the other one? I'd look to find out, but it's been about 15 years since I saw it and I can't face it again.

Charlie Hunnam and his dodgy accent.

[Bam]

Actually, I just googled him and it says his from Newcastle.

[Spikey M]

That's a dodgy accent too tbf.

[Shindig]

Eurgh. It's transatlantic enough to get on my nerves.

[Manc]

After securing the cup double in my fifth year as manager I fully expected us to push on, but we had a shocker both on and off the pitch. 64 points our lowest tally to date saw us place 4th missing out on the Champions League via goal difference to a rejuvenated Sporting. Porto comfortably retained the title leaving newly appointed Benfica coach Thomas Tuchel to secure both domestic cups. The German didn't last long as he was replaced by the formidable Antonio Conte the following summer. Roger Schmidt saw the continuation of the carousel at Sporting.

Off the pitch we were dealt a few hammer blows. Xadas walked away at the start of the season sighting bigger and better things and club captain Ricardo Horta follow suit at the end of the season. They moved to Bordeaux & Rennes respectively.

With the Europa league awaiting us and the task of returning to the top three we needed investment. Calvin Stengs (Bosman) was picked up from Manchester United and former La Masia graduate Carlos Alena (£15m) arrived from Aston Villa to bolster my midfield. Following his brother out the door was Andre Horta to Betis for (£25m). The band has well and truly broken up.

Fast forward to May 2026 and somehow we were Liga NOS Champions! December witnessed the start of a 22 game unbeaten which included a 15 game winning streak. Our performance in Europe was equally as strong as only Manchester United and away goals prevented a final appearance. The secret to our success lied with our attacking force with Hernandez (32), Suarez (19), Galeno (21) all putting up their best numbers.

During the summer the board announced we would soon depart the beautiful Estadio Municipal de Braga for a new 45,000 seater home, a move which could usher in a new era of domestic dominance.

[Mike]

Off to League Two!

Playoffs secured at the first time of asking!

[igor_balis]

Managing Rugby Town (level 9) on FM19, just had my season 1 youth intake.

[mugbull]

Do the new FMs still have the co op version where you play with friends?

[Mike]

They do

[mugbull]

Fireeee

You were who i was thinking of when i remembered that feature

[The Merse]

Managing Rugby Town (level 9) on FM19, just had my season 1 youth intake.

Captained their U-14 side, back in the days when VS and Town were seperate. Age groups were a shambles as they just picked up Villa and Cov rejects at 16 and stuck them in the U19s.

[Giggles]

It might be time to buy this shit.

Touch is 22 euro for the iPad, presumably I could buy the full one for around the same for the PC though. Is the full one as convoluted to set up (training, staff, etc) as it was?

[John Arne]

My current save :
Bayern Munich II > PEC Zwolle > Athletic Bilbao
Just applied for the Barca job - but don't think ill get it.

[Pepe]

It might be time to buy this shit.

Agreed. Really hoping for a sale.

[Gray Fox]

Real world clubs are running full simulations of their postponed games on this, in the absence of something to do. Some even pausing and holding polls to let the crowd decide tactical changes.

It's proving quite popular so I'd assume a sale will follow soon.

[John Arne]

My current save :
Bayern Munich II > PEC Zwolle > Athletic Bilbao
Just applied for the Barca job - but don't think ill get it.

Barca said no, but Inter Milano came a-calling.... $198m transfer kitty and the ability to sign non-Basque players

[igor_balis]

Captained their U-14 side, back in the days when VS and Town were seperate. Age groups were a shambles as they just picked up Villa and Cov rejects at 16 and stuck them in the U19s.

No shit! My old colleague played for their u-18s and occasionally got on the 1st team bench, but sacked off football entirely to do law at Sheffield Hallam. By sacked off I mean he didn't even bother doing 5-a-side, he just got mad into DJing, drinking, smoking and illegal drugs. He has zero regrets.

[igor_balis]

ALSO:

[Mike]

Got the mighty Southport to League One, sit second after 10 games. Man United came calling, turned them down and told the press I’d never work for such a soulless organisation.

Agreed. Really hoping for a sale.

It’s £23 on cd keys. Dunno if that’s good for you though.
https://www.cdkeys.com/pc/games/foot...c-steam-cd-key

[Gray Fox]

According to Miles there were 84k people playing at once today, which is a record for this version.

[mugbull]

I've just found this very active Youtube channel of a middle-aged American woman playing FM



Surprisingly it's better content than most of the banshees that play football manager on Youtube

[Spikey M]

I don't believe you

[mugbull]

I didn't believe my dad when he explained how sex happened but now I love it

[Shindig]

You shag your dad?

[phonics]

[phonics]

I am bottom of the league after 3 games.

[Spikey M]

#EntwistleIn

[phonics]

#EntwistleIn

Going from strength to strength.

[Spikey M]

Where did you get that skin from?

[Giggles]

Where did you get that skin from?

It’s 01/02 with a data update isn’t it?

[Spikey M]

Oh