Football Manager - Your Career

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Juanmi has done ok since I signed him tbf

 

[City169]

I've got myself into a difficult situation.

After loads of speculation around Gomis leaving (23 goals before the turn of the year) I bought van Wolfswinkel from Norwich, meaning that I had 2 strikers with a combined 53 goals from 28 games (28 from Gomis, van Wolfswinkel got 2 since joining and had scored 23 before joining)

2 in form strikers isn't something I'd normally complain about, but I play with a lone striker so one will be unhappy unless I change from a formation that saw me get 50 points in half a season

 

[joethegill]

On my Gills save I managed to get safe with about a month of the season left, only to be told that I needed to sell pretty much everyone to pay off debts. At the same time, QPR came calling and offered a contract. They were bottom of the league by 6 points with 5 games left, so pretty much down, but I figured that I could have a proper clear out of players in the summer and have a decent wedge to mount a promotion charge. I took the job, got 1 point from my final 5 games (the squad was terrible, I could barely fill the bench most games).

Come the end of the season, I was able to release a load of big contracts and save myself 400k a week - Ferdinand, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Henry, Faurlin, Dunne and several reserve/youth players who were never gonna make it, plus selling off Caulker, Sandro, Taarabt and Oviedo for a combined £22 million. It gave me plenty of scope to build a squad, so I set about improving pretty much all areas of the side. In came Thomas Kraft (Hertha - GK), Sebastien Langkamp (Hertha - CB), Anthony Stokes (Celtic - AMC/ST), Alex Pritchard (Spurs - AMC), Per Cilian Skjelbred (Hertha - CM) and Adam Forshaw (Boro - CM) for a pretty reasonable £14.5.million. Added a few season long loans in Dele Alli (CM), Patrick Bamford (ST), Yaya Sanogo (ST), Carl Jenkinson (CB/RB) and picked up John Guidetti (ST) on a free to complete my squad. It's a bit top heavy, but I was counting on having to sell Charlie Austin to raise a few quid which never happened.

Started the season pretty well, 4 wins and 4 draws from my first 8, before a top of the table showdown with Southampton. I was 2-1 up with 10 minutes left and ended up losing 3-2. Gutted. Still confident about promotion this year though, currently sit 4th.

 

[Womble98]

Only £10 on steam so I snapped it up. Kwesi Appiah on loan for the season, James Rowe on a free, Esteban Lopez on a free, and Michael Hoganson. Quite a solid team, 5th in the league 10 games in. David Connolly starting shit when I tried to mutually terminate his contract, he is 37 and shit but on 1k a week wages...

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Good to see he found his level

 

[Womble98]

/I'm confused, I just played Man United in the cup away, but got no added income from it? Seriously? Ticket sales would get me a shit ton, where is it!

 

[Mr Elmo]

So I started with a new career, with Watford. Target this year is PO's. Goal is eventually getting them to the top of the prem, signing youngsters mainly who have a lot of potential - Good that they allow scouting of Europe. I was presented with a pretty good squad, with 2 very strong wing backs but not many wide options up forward, meaning I took a 5-2-1-2 formation. My current usual team is below (Although Ighalo was getting 7.5's until he got injured for 3 months...)

Tactics is to play a passing, but narrow game so I have my midfield running at the defence threading through to the attack, and when the WB's get on the ball they should whip early crosses in.

I have a transfer budget of 2M and a wage of 275k, of which i was spending 250k. I actually made no summer transfers as I was pretty happy with the squad, although next summer a pre-done transfer for a 3 star right back called Juanfran is coming in for 1.1M. Although, Gabriel Angella goes and tells me he wants to leave for Prem football to which I say we are going for, so he agrees to wait to see if we go up. 9 games into the season, he complains the promise is broken. Are you joking? Apprently I can get promoted in 9 games

We agree a deal for him to go sadly as he has lost it, but he is going for £6M. 2.7 is upfront, 1.7 over 12 months and the rest if he plays a certain amount of league games so we got a good deal. I have a replacement called Jesus Rueda in January for 650k, who is half a star worse but considering he cost 1 tenth of what I'm selling Angella, it's a good deal.

My preseason went pretty well, games were spent learning tactics to get it as high known as I could for the season. Results were...

Some massively scoring games for us, scoring a total 25 goals during pre-season. Only loss was Arsenal, but that was pretty expected really.

Now, the main season....

Amazing so far, only 2 losses in 21 games and we are 7 points clear of 3rd placed Norwich. Another thing to notice our goals scored and GD. In just 21 games we have scored a huge 45 goals, the tactic is working perfectly. Even better I have only conceded 17 in 21, because I'm still playing 5 at the back, but because my WB's have the freedom they can both create havoc upfront. You can see Miquel Layun is amazing, 7.4 average for the full season. Another bonus is that our transfer budget went up to 3M, so I'm looking at a few good youngsters from Germany to bring in potentially during January

So with just under half the season gone, things are looking up but my team need to keep focus, if we can do that then we'll get this promotion easy.

 

[JJH]

I've found 3-5-2 works a treat on FM 15, but the problem is assembling the squad to play it, as not enough clubs have the right depth, and first team players to be able to carry it out.

For my Barnet save, I just loaned a hell of a lot of players that fit into that system, and with that came success.

And JoeJoeJoeJoe ffs

 

[City169]

Finished my first season at Swansea, winning the championship after 42 games and finishing on 95 points, 10 more than 2nd place.

I did have a pretty high expenditure over the season, and that will probably continue as I'm rebuilding the squad competely. When I took over it was all players in their early 30's and morale couldn't get any lower, over the season I have brought in players in their early 20's to mix in to the team and got rid of most of the players creating trouble, although there are still 1 or 2 left. Jeff hendrick has probably been one of the best signings, playing either as a CM or DM and scoring 10 goals, getting 9 assists and averaging a 7.39 in 38 games.

In the FA cup my target was to reach the 5th round, which wasn't managed, going out in the 4th round after a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

In the league cup my target was to reach the 4th round and I failed this too, going out in the 3rd round after a 2-4 defeat to Tottenham.

My plan is to continue rebuilding the squad and aim for midtable next season, then try to push for Europe in the season after, but that will be affected by budget, although once I have another CB, DL and DR I think my squad will be fine for a few seasons although Serge Gnabry will be hard to replace I have someone lined up and hopefully the work permit will finally be allowed.

3 seasons into the game with 2 league titles and a JPT win, expecting a few years of nothing now.

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Well my last season was dull so I can't be bothered to screen shot a load of random stuff from it. Finished 7th but go straight into the group stage of the europa league as Liverpool won the champions league and Chelsea won the europa league.

My squad for the upcoming season. Once again my aim is to make it to the champions league. Only big transfer new is I sold Jose Gimenez to Liverpool for £17.5m and bought Banggaard and El Ghazi with the money.

 

[Luke Imp]

Not been FM for about a week!

Got the day off tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get a couple of hours in.

 

[Techno Natch]

Having a frustrating second season with Wednesday, sat in 13th after 25 games and we are really inconsistent. Scored 51 and Conceded 51! My attempts to sort out the defence didn't work and so I've just gone all out attack.

 

[joethegill]

Finished my first full season with QPR. I was 8 points clear of Southampton with 10 games left but a run of only 3 wins in the rest of the season saw me fuck it up spectacularly and finish 2nd. Austin finished top scorer in the league with 34 (36 overall), and Guidetti also hit 23. Still, mission achieved in terms of promotion so it's not all bad. Managed to get to the quarters of the FA Cup, beating Everton (2-0) and Liverpool (4-1!) on the way, eventually losing to Chelsea (3-0). The board are being fuckers though and saying they're only satisfied with my performance in competitions this season, and also only allowing me 10% of any transfer fees received to go into my transfer pot.

Austin is out of contract and point blank refuses to sign a new one which is shit, but I've agreed a deal to sign Assombalonga to replace him - he finished 2nd in the Championship scoring charts. I've also agreed deals to sign Patrick Bamford (£3.3 million) and Nick Powell (Free) on permanent deals, as well as securing Dele Alli and John Flanagan on season long loans. I've got a few deals that I hope will come off - Dede (CB - Dortmund), Diame (CM - Hull (Just relegated)) and another CB who I can't recall the name of right now but is pretty highly rated. Not sure I have the depth defensively to cope with next season against the better teams, but I've still got a while til the window shuts.

 

[SF_]

Managed to finish 3rd with PNE and reached the quarter finals of the Europa League, losing on penalties to PSG. This was despite me selling £80m+ worth of players and replacing them with a younger crop who cost less than £25m.

GK: Osman Hadzikic (£5m from Austria Vienna)
GK: Freddie Sands (Regen, academy product)
DR: Loris Nery (£1.5m+ from Saint Etienne)
DR: Medhi Tran (Regen on-loan from Atletico)
DC: Jason Denayer (£5m from Sunderland)
DC: Mark Ramirez (Regen, £2m from Juventus)
DC: Miguel Fernandez (Regen, £350k from Deportivo)
DL: Luke Garbutt (Free from Everton)
DL: Jules Schoofs (Regen, £1m from STVV)
RW: Callum McManaman (£700k from Wigan)
RW: Bard Finne (£2m from Karlsruhe)
CM: Marcos Llorente (£5m from Almeria)
CM: Oasim Bouy (£600k from Juventus)
CM: Josh Brownhill (Only remaining player from League One)
CM: Oliver Ntcham (£2.6m from Man City)
LW: Sinan Kurt (£1.1m from Bayern Leverkusen)
LW: Bertrand Traore (£3.5m from Chelsea)
ST: Sandro Ramirez (£1.9m from Barcelona)
ST: Nikos Karelis (£4m from Panathinaikos)
ST: Danny Wall (£8k from Bishop's Stortford)

Hadzikic
Nery, Ramirez, Denayer, Garbutt
Llorente, Bouy
McManaman, Brownhill, Karelis
Sandro

Sands, Tran, Schoofs, Ntcham, Traore, Kurt, Wall​

 

[Womble98]

I need a L1 level striker. Got promoted in my first season, budget of 1 million. I need quite a few all round replacements also, released quite a lot of players. Any advice for v. cheap l1 standard players who will slot right in?

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

I need a L1 level striker. Got promoted in my first season, budget of 1 million. I need quite a few all round replacements also, released quite a lot of players. Any advice for v. cheap l1 standard players who will slot right in?

Simeon Jackson scored 38 goals in the championship for me

 

[Womble98]

I'm in a pretty decent position. I got Man U away in the 3rd round of the cup, 1 million transfer budget, won the league and the JPT.

Annoyingly Akinfenwa is still out from his leg break last year.

 

[joethegill]

Cody McDonald is out of contract after one season in the game, depends whether or not he's signed a new one I guess!

 

[ATV]

Just started as Kidderminster Harriers.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Why would you subject yourself to that?

 

[Womble98]

Shit ton of change this season.

• Ground extension, playing at the Boro Arena or some random made up stadium for 7 months.
• Loads of players in out:

Out:

Kennedy
Bulman
Pretty much all the youth players
Connolly (retired)
Worner
Shea
Fuller
Fitzpatrick


In
Ian Harte (37 yrs old) LB/Academy coach
Scott Hogan from Brentford for 300k
Callum Harriott from Charlton on loan for the season
Ian Evatt from Chesterfield for 17k, a bargain.
Matt Watson on a free
Oshilaja resigns permanently after last seasons loan, free transfer
Alfie Mawson from Brentford on a free
Kwesi Appiah resigns permanently after last seasons loan, free transfer.
Jorge Pombo from some random Spanish club. Might have fucked up here, he doesn't speak English and only 1 guy in ym squad speaks spanish..
Mitchell Beeney on a free, GK from chelsea. Had 17 clubs in for him, including Villa, Reading and a host of other higher teams but chose me!

 

[ATV]

Why would you subject yourself to that?

They're my local side since I moved house.

 

[Womble98]

Won first friendly 4-1 vs Charlton who were newly relegated. No idea why they put Harriott out on loan, he is quality.

 

[Luke Imp]

Mid-Feb in mid-table and I abandoned the passing, possession based style that the Board wanted me to play and switched from 4-1-3-2 to a direct, high tempo 4-1-2-3 to make the most of the 5 decent strikers I had (Chris O'Grady (24), Dwight Gayle (21), Jerome Sinclair (14 on a season loan from Liverpool), Will Grigg (11) and Sam Vokes (6 on loan from Burley for 3 months)).

Ended up in the PO's, beat Reading 8-2 on aggregate and won the Final 2-0.

The Board are not happy with the style of play, but who cares, eh?!

Hoping they've give me a bit more flexibility now and I can kick on.

 

[City169]

Started my second season at Swansea, and first season in the prem, 7 league games played so far but I foolishly set my target as qualifying for Europe.

So far this is how I've done:
Fulham (H) 5-3- went 0-2 down but van Wolfswinkel scored 4 and got an assist in an impressive turnaround
Burnley (A) 5-2- behind from the start and a defensive collapse cost me this game
Stevenage (A) [Capital One Cup 2nd round] 0-4- a comfortable win
Stoke (H) 0-0
Aston Villa (H) 0-0
Southampton (A) 0-1- dominated by Southampton who had 29 shots, but a late goal from Castro sealed the win
Crystal Palace (H) [Capital One Cup 3rd round] 2-0- 2 first half goals booked a place in the 4th round
Man City (A) 2-1- outplayed for the whole game and deservedly beaten by Man City scoring the first goal against me in over 450 minutes
Wolves (H) 1-0- a very dull game

 

[Paddy]

My Waterford United save died just before I finished the next season ... I did have a back up save file from half a season earlier but couldn't be arsed to go re do all & we were cannon fodder in the League of Ireland Premier Division anyway.

I decided to go back to my FM heritage & try my hand at another LLM save in England. Started unemployed, first job offered was at AFC Telford United in the Conference North & currently trying to polish the turd. I've removed my Waterford United career blog from https://kingstontilidie.wordpress.com/ & have started blogging the new one thus far.

 

[Womble98]

I'm dreading that happening, does it happen a lot?

 

[joethegill]

I've lost a couple of saves recently - pissing annoying. Doesn't feel the same going over the same matches again so I usually just quit and start a new save.

 

[Paddy]

I'm dreading that happening, does it happen a lot?

First time it's happened to me on FM14 (Been playing copious saves on 14 since it came out, never upgraded to 15). Bloody annoying as I was in my 5th season.

 

[Paddy]

Things are not going too well with Telford... I could get sacked fairly soon in to my reign here.

https://kingstontilidie.wordpress.com/2015/06/10/a-buck-short/