Football Manager - Your Career

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Brighton 4-0 Blackpool.


Welcome to the Championship.

 

[Luke Imp]

'Umming and ahhing' about who to go with.

Brighton - A PL set-up with new youth and training facilities plus a new Stadium.

Leeds - An absolute basket-case of a Club, a serious amount of work needed particularly on the finance side of things but a bit of sleeping giant.

Man Utd - I've not done a this type of game in years and although it'll be easier than the other two, I do enjoy buying youngsters on the cheap and developing them. I suppose it's a game that's probably 10 years in front of the two above in that sense. Seen as they never move from OT, I wonder what capacity I could get their Stadium to?

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I've always considered Leeds, but they just seem like so much bloody work. Brighton, don't know if you could bring them to the same level as the Leeds or United, United is just dull, when a team is already there before you have had your own personal influence it's never as fun imo.

Brighton I suppose have potential, but will be a bit more long term. Leeds, if you can get it right, you'll be well up there, and as I said, Man United are just a bit too easy. With the kind of game you're trying to play, I'd try and bring Huddersfield back to past glories, or someone of that ilk.

 

[Luke Imp]

Yeah, that's my only reservation about Man Utd. I've never really done 'easy' games so I'm not sure the enjoyment would be there. I'm more intrigued by how much money I could make per year and get their Stadium to a stupid capacity.

Leeds or Brighton it is, then! I'm probably more drawn towards Leeds because no-one's managed to get hold of them by the scruff of the neck since relegation from the PL but Brighton's all set-up off the pitch.

Going to have a look through both of their squads and finances properly tonight I think and decide from there.

 

[SUTSS]

I'm playing as Leeds at the moment. Almost got sacked around December and then got Jack Grealish in on loan who was the best player in the team by a country mile. Ended up winning nearly every game in the second half of the season and went top with 5 minutes of the season left to snatch the title (but was only 2 points ahead of 5th!). Finished 8th first season in the prem and won the FA Cup as well. Really easy route to the FA Cup, Newcastle the only prem team that I faced the whole competition and that was in the semis with Championship Cardiff in the final. Europa League is killing me in the third season, my squad just isn't big enough for all the games.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I'm playing as Leeds at the moment. Almost got sacked around December and then got Jack Grealish in on loan who was the best player in the team by a country mile. Ended up winning nearly every game in the second half of the season and went top with 5 minutes of the season left to snatch the title (but was only 2 points ahead of 5th!). Finished 8th first season in the prem and won the FA Cup as well. Really easy route to the FA Cup, Newcastle the only prem team that I faced the whole competition and that was in the semis with Championship Cardiff in the final. Europa League is killing me in the third season, my squad just isn't big enough for all the games.

Grealish is a monster on 14 too, took over Villa in the second season after they got relegated and he absolutely destroyed the Championship, he's still in my squad 5 seasons, two premier league titles, and a champions league win later.

 

[SUTSS]

I wanted to get him back but Villa wanted £41m which I obviously couldn't do. Villa did end up getting relegated second season and I still couldn't get him away.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I can't say anything, Man United wanted him off me, and I told them to stump up £91million or fuck off. They fucked off.

 

[Luke Imp]

Going to go with Brighton I think.

Given the amount of time I spend getting everything set-up i.e. tactics, training, staff etc, I could do without Cellino sacking me after 5 games at Leeds tbh.

 

[smat]

Spent £40m on another striker and I've switched to an attacking diamond. My team is a bit top heavy and I don't really have a viable long term defensive midfielder (like the real Arsenal) so I'm scoring loads of goals but conceding a few too (like the real Arsenal). Recent results in the defence of our two titles have included 7-1 vs Newcastle, 7-0 vs Slovan Bratislava, 1-2 vs Man United, 5-3 vs Ipswich and 4-3 vs Milan. It's fun but I doubt we'll win anything like this.

 

[Gulliball]

I have just finished a season with Man Utd, though it was part of the British Steel Challenge (win all 35 trophies in UK and Ireland using only UK and Irish players). Picked up where I left off about 6 months ago, which was having won the domestic treble in Scotland with Celtic - the only trophies available with them, so time to move on.

The Man Utd job was available, so I applied. This is May 2021 and my previous experience is Shelbourne, Stockport (went from Conference North to L1 Winners) and Celtic (one single season at a 'big side'). I asked them to take a gamble on me, and they did.

Was a crazy season. There are only certain UK players who are good enough for Man Utd, and a lot are at rival clubs. Foreign players are pretty much worthless, but I had to get good deals for them to fund the new signings. Two I had to literally give away for nothing as no-one wanted them and it was August. Spurs got them both, but it was £300k off the wage bill and they aren't a direct rival. The rest went for a combined £393m, and that includes a lot were given away in trades (I gave Spurs Jesse [worth about £30m] plus £15m for Nathan Redmond just because no-one would pay a decent price for him and I needed a back up winger).

I spent £710m (a lot over 48 months, and 50% of next sales as I won't be around long term) on an entire new squad. Only Phil Jones and Luke Shaw were first team material. Ended up with a squad of

2 Regen GK, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, 2 Regen CB, John Stones, John Souttar, Diego Poyet, Will Hughes, James Ward-Prowse, Ryan Gauld, Gareth Bale, Patrick Roberts, Ross Barkley, Dele Alli, James Wilson, Cauley Woodrow & Regen ST.

You have to pay stupid fees to sign good players from rival teams. I was always in the £60m - £100m zone to sign Ward-Prowse and Roberts from Liverpool, Stones and Wilson from Chelsea, and the two regens from Man City. Arsenal only gave up Barkley for £58m + Lukaku and wouldn't budge on either Ramsey or the Ox. The easier ones were the ones at mid-table sides and abroad, who could be signed for a fair price.

My very first game was a chance to win one of the 4 trophies you need to be at a big club to win, but we lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the Community Shield.

We led the Premiership for a lot of the season, having an 8 point lead at one stage. It ended up going to the final game, after a bad run of form in April, but we won the league title on the last day. The hardest of the 35 trophies ticked off in only 2022.

The League Cup was won with a victory over Tottenham, after a hard fought 3-2 aet win over Man City in the semis. The FA Cup was thrown away to Watford in the Quarter Final, trying to get away with a weakened team and losing 2-1. I had already knocked out Arsenal and Liverpool. Stupid.

I really, really want to win the Community Shield and FA Cup this season so I can move on. I don't think I'll ever get another chance to manage a team like this and win those two trophies and I could be fired for one bad season.

I am actually weighing up a £50m + 150m over 48 months + 50% next fee bid for Raheem Sterling as he's the only player good enough to get into my side that I don't own. Man City won't take less to sell their best player to their City rivals. Liverpool fans might really hate him. Arsenal won't sell a 32 year old Ramsey even for £100m+.

Man City will be my Community Shield opponents too. One bad game there, or in the FA Cup and the whole season is meaningless, no matter what else we do.

 

[Techno Natch]

Going to go with Brighton I think.

Given the amount of time I spend getting everything set-up i.e. tactics, training, staff etc, I could do without Cellino sacking me after 5 games at Leeds tbh.

I've just started a game with Sheffield Wednesday. It's been quite interesting so far. Skint but good ground and facilities are decent with potential to progress.

My travels around Europe have ended in complete failure.

 

[Techno Natch]

Going to go with Brighton I think.

Given the amount of time I spend getting everything set-up i.e. tactics, training, staff etc, I could do without Cellino sacking me after 5 games at Leeds tbh.

I've just started a game with Sheffield Wednesday. It's been quite interesting so far. Skint but good ground and facilities are decent with potential to progress.

My travels around Europe have ended in complete failure.

 

[Cas]

I don't really want to lose in the playoffs again

 

[JJH]

Championship campaign in my 3rd season at Barnet inbound...

 

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I've just started a game with Sheffield Wednesday. It's been quite interesting so far. Skint but good ground and facilities are decent with potential to progress.

My travels around Europe have ended in complete failure.

Where did you try?

 

[Luke Imp]

I've never managed a foreign Club on any FM or CM.

Anyway, started with Brighton although I've not hit the space bar yet and got into my second day! Did some of what I need to do, but still got training and staff to sort.

 

[Techno Natch]

Where did you try?

Portugal - Had limited success. One promotion and relegation.

Sweden - Lyngby P16 W2 D0 L14 (LOL)

Czech Republic : Prague (Ive only done pre season think I'll come back to it at some point but with a lower league team.)

I like going abroad but maybe I need to look into tactics more.

 

[Libertadores FC]

I'm playing as Bayreuth at the moment. I brought them up from the 4th tier to a top-half 3rd division team.

 

[Cas]

Lost 3-1 to Rotherham in the playoff final. Fuck off Steve Evans.

 

[yellow]

That Lyngby record takes some doing!

 

[Cas]

I've resigned as manager of Stevenage. No ambition that club.

 

[Techno Natch]

That Lyngby record takes some doing!

I lost ten on the bounce, I think my good cup run kept me in a job. It was getting to the point where I was just clicking continue waiting for them to sack me for the last 3 games.

 

[Cas]

I've joined Grimsby as manager. Shit, what have I done?! They're bottom after 12 games. Won 0, scored 5. I'm screwed.

 

[Cas]

Screw this. I'm starting over. Every single Grimsby player is average for the division below them. I'm not up for that kinda challenge.

 

[Techno Natch]

I had an awful run at Grimsby so good luck.

My Sheffield Wednesday game is going a lot better than planned. I am top after 25 games at the moment but I am waiting for that bad run that always comes on these games. With the 17th lowest budget in the division though I am very happy. I signed Obika for 75k expecting him to be back up but he's leading the score charts for me by some distance.

Enjoyable so far.

 

[Mr Elmo]

So after 12 games in L1 I have 15 points, 3 above the drop zone. Doing alright at the moment but Christ no matter which defenders I put in we do awful. 27 conceded in 12 including a 3 goal collapse against Doncaster

 

[Cas]

I loaded my save the day before I took the Grimsby job. Job interview from Kiddminster....

 

[Techno Natch]

So after 12 games in L1 I have 15 points, 3 above the drop zone. Doing alright at the moment but Christ no matter which defenders I put in we do awful. 27 conceded in 12 including a 3 goal collapse against Doncaster

I have an awful goals against record unless I play with 3CB's. In the season just gone I was hanging outside the playoffs with the 2nd worst defence in the league, I switched it to a back 3 and had 8 clean sheets in about 15 games and gone top.

 

[Cas]

Rejected at Yeovil, Kidderminster and now Cambridge. Is there a Jobcentre in this game?