Gaming Football Manager 2020 (PC, Mac, Switch, Android, iOS, Stadia)

[Maluco]

Spoiler: Season

Season finished, another domestic double and finished runners up in the CL. Price turned out to be a great signing, the guy assisted 2 goals in our 3-2 win over Porto in the home leg (finished 3-2 over all), then set up 2 and scored 1 in a 3-0 away win against Dortmund (3-0 overall) and topped it off with a strong dribble past 2 A-Madrid players to then smash the ball into the back of the net giving us a 2-1 away win in the 1st leg in the CL semis. We went though that tie on away goals after losing 1-0 at home when our keeper decided he'd take charge of a free kick close to our corner flag, he then booted it into the midfield area right to the feet of an opposition players, who scored from about 50 yards. Didn't even have an actual left back for the Knockout stages after I couldn't register the new player I signed in January and kinda sold my other one to a Chinese club after the window closed...
Not even sure I want to talk about the final.

Spoiler: CL Final

Made it to the top of the Greek League hall of fame now, don't think it counts European cups as I actually have just over 1400 points putting me 2nd in English managers.

Spoiler: Hall of Fame

Great season! That is so disappointing about the final. It would have been better to just get beaten 3-0. Penalties are an absolute lottery.

What number season are you in now?

 

[Chipper]

Didn't know the transfer window closes so early in the Championship. Left it much too late to look at everyone I might have wanted.

Did get 5 loans in, they'll all be first choice in their respective positions + 2 freebies and a cheapish signing to be backups.

With time running out I have found a cheapish poacher to take a punt on who was transfer listed, just made a bid /offered a contract. Bit of a panic buy but I am weak up front. The guy who started last season as first choice poacher got demoted to be second choice halfway through the season. He didn't really set League One alight after doing very well for me in League Two the year before. He was going to be back as first pick again in the Championship as all I could find was a back up for him prior to this and not someone better. My Target Man is the same one that has been with me through League Two and One as well and is now 32. We might struggle a little in front of goal but hopefully not.

 

[Maluco]

Finishing January window and still no sign of our expensively assembled (for our level) attack bursting into life. I am now wondering if part of the problem is the uselessness that is Ceballos and van de Beek playing behind them.

After his 4th minor injury since arrival and another poor performance, I offered Ceballos out, six months after he signed on a free. Negotiated £31 million with our nemesis Ajax, and he is gone. Signed Jean Pyerre on a pre-contract and he will come in the summer and looks better for that role. That looks like good business at a time where we are losing money.

It also enabled me to pick up a young DMC from Inter who looks like he could develop into something special. That will let me offer out a 31y.o Fred in the summer and get another transfer fee for him. The young winger we signed from Roma is on the verge of displacing legend Morilla in the team.

Van de Beek was brought in on loan as a genuine star from United but it doesn’t matter where I play him, he just doesn’t perform. He might kick on, and we don’t have many more options ready for CM, so he will be in the team regardless. We will need another Dutch signing in the summer.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been our best player this season, so many important goals and tends to change games when he comes on. At 30 though, I can’t spend the 30 million it would take to get him here permanently (not that I would have that anyway!). My main main at CB, Ayala is also in the news about big money transfers. I can’t afford to let him go unless I find someone really special, but a massive fee would be too good to turn down.

Ajax have revived themselves, bringing in some very good players and spending big cash, so we will have to keep winning in the league while knowing that the cup isn’t a given as long as they are still in it. Feyenoord are out though.

I also forgot that we drop into the preliminaries in the Europa League. We need to beat Everton just to get into the last 16! Lots of games to be played so will just have to rest players against the lesser teams at home and hope we have enough...and that strikers start scoring!!

 

[Maluco]

Didn't know the transfer window closes so early in the Championship. Left it much too late to look at everyone I might have wanted.

Did get 5 loans in, they'll all be first choice in their respective positions + 2 freebies and a cheapish signing to be backups.

With time running out I have found a cheapish poacher to take a punt on who was transfer listed, just made a bid /offered a contract. Bit of a panic buy but I am weak up front. The guy who started last season as first choice poacher got demoted to be second choice halfway through the season. He didn't really set League One alight after doing very well for me in League Two the year before. He was going to be back as first pick again in the Championship as all I could find was a back up for him prior to this and not someone better. My Target Man is the same one that has been with me through League Two and One as well and is now 32. We might struggle a little in front of goal but hopefully not.

What does the media say about your chances? Is there any change to the way you are playing? What are the quality of the loans you got in? Are they from Prem teams?

 

[sebsheep]

That's fecking sickening. I'm trying to use FM to get away from certain occurrences in the world of actual football!

How is the stature of the Greek league doing in your game off the back of your exploits in Europe?

Aye it was a rough way for it all to go down.

The Greek Superleague is currently 6th in the rankings up from 16th when the game starts. It's not all down to us though as there has been 2 Greek winners and 2nd places of the Europa conference league thing.

 

[sebsheep]

Great season! That is so disappointing about the final. It would have been better to just get beaten 3-0. Penalties are an absolute lottery.

What number season are you in now?

It felt worse because we were 1-0 down to a goal scored by the striker they bought from us, only for one of our subs to nick the ball around the half way line and run in to equalise, we then had 2 more CC chances to win the game. I felt pretty confident going to penalties because Somalia has a habit of saving them, went the right way nearly every time but our guy straight up missed the entire goal.

I think that was season 13, not sure if I'm going to continue it at the moment.

 

[sebsheep]

I am now wondering if part of the problem is the uselessness that is Ceballos and van de Beek playing behind them.

Are they playing in the AM position?

 

[Maluco]

It felt worse because we were 1-0 down to a goal scored by the striker they bought from us, only for one of our subs to nick the ball around the half way line and run in to equalise, we then had 2 more CC chances to win the game. I felt pretty confident going to penalties because Somalia has a habit of saving them, went the right way nearly every time but our guy straight up missed the entire goal.

I think that was season 13, not sure if I'm going to continue it at the moment.

I think you have to after that!! Go all out and see if you can do it. That was so close. You can’t stop now.

Are they playing in the AM position?

At home yes, away, plays on the CM line. I know that the AMC position is a problem, but I have still had players score and assist from there and get involved. He does neither.

CM is at least solid, but doesn’t do much of note. I had Reiner on loan last season and he was much better at it. I think the player needs to be quicker, more skillful and have good long shots.

There have been a few signs playing Arezo or Nmecha there, who are much worse players, but more attacking minded, is better for balance, so might give them more home games to see if something clicks.

It just feels crazy dropping a player worth 63 million!

 

[Minkaro]

I dread playing 20th position in the league. Regardless of form, I always seem to lose 1-0. Last time it was Norwich and I played a full strength team. It never goes well for me.

 

[Maluco]

I dread playing 20th position in the league. Regardless of form, I always seem to lose 1-0. Last time it was Norwich and I played a full strength team. It never goes well for me.

I was the same, I ended up pushing my midfield up a line DMC-MC and MC to AMC for a more attacking lineup. Usually able to get early goals which makes the world of difference.

 

[sebsheep]

I think you have to after that!! Go all out and see if you can do it. That was so close. You can’t stop now.



At home yes, away, plays on the CM line. I know that the AMC position is a problem, but I have still had players score and assist from there and get involved. He does neither.

CM is at least solid, but doesn’t do much of note. I had Reiner on loan last season and he was much better at it. I think the player needs to be quicker, more skillful and have good long shots.

There have been a few signs playing Arezo or Nmecha there, who are much worse players, but more attacking minded, is better for balance, so might give them more home games to see if something clicks.

It just feels crazy dropping a player worth 63 million!

Board has just announced a stadium expansion to 49k as well. Just becomes a bit less enjoyable when you're dominating the league as it still takes ages for the season to go through.

Think I've had about 4 different roles for the AM position over the past couple of seasons, nothing seems to work long term. Debating whether to persist with it as it's been working for the team or move to either having a CM or an extra striker.

 

[sebsheep]

Streamer showdown currently happening. DoctorBenjy trying to ring his dad after coming back from 3-0 down after 30 minutes to win 6-4 against Workthespace.

 

[Chipper]

What does the media say about your chances? Is there any change to the way you are playing? What are the quality of the loans you got in? Are they from Prem teams?

Media think we will finish 23rd. Don't want to tempt fate but I think we'll stay up. Somewhere in the middle third, 8th-16th would be my guess.

Bit late to try something else, and I suppose I got married to the system, specifically looking for certain types of players only. Could have played the same 4-4-2 but with different roles for strikers and almost certainly got better players but was so focused on the Target Man and Poacher partnership that has got me this far.

I like the loans, 4 from the Prem, one Serie A.

Spoiler

These are my not so impressive front 2 and the guy I'm trying taking a punt on for £210k at the last minute:

Spoiler

Could always try that Rizzi on loan as a striker too although I've got him marked down for ML mostly, using his cutting inside trait.

 

[Maluco]

Board has just announced a stadium expansion to 49k as well. Just becomes a bit less enjoyable when you're dominating the league as it still takes ages for the season to go through.

Think I've had about 4 different roles for the AM position over the past couple of seasons, nothing seems to work long term. Debating whether to persist with it as it's been working for the team or move to either having a CM or an extra striker.

I had this conversation a while back. You have to stay and enjoy what you built, and especially when you still have an attainable goal

All that work and investment and time put in. Time to enjoy the trophies while aiming for that last prize. Winning is always good when you have earned it

I put so much work into my transfers and summers alone. I am going to enjoy it when it comes off!

Media think we will finish 23rd. Don't want to tempt fate but I think we'll stay up. Somewhere in the middle third, 8th-16th would be my guess.

Bit late to try something else, and I suppose I got married to the system, specifically looking for certain types of players only. Could have played the same 4-4-2 but with different roles for strikers and almost certainly got better players but was so focused on the Target Man and Poacher partnership that has got me this far.

I like the loans, 4 from the Prem, one Serie A.

Spoiler

These are my not so impressive front 2 and the guy I'm trying taking a punt on for £210k at the last minute:

Spoiler

Could always try that Rizzi on loan as a striker too although I've got him marked down for ML mostly, using his cutting inside trait.

Those loans look great, particularly Hackett. They should get better as you go too given game time.

Strikers do look a little on the weak side, but you should be competitive with those loan signings.

I would be scouting from now for young prospect strikers. I don’t know how many times my season has kicked in from January after adding a proper striker. I have lost count.

 

[V.O.]

Polished off the first season back on the save. Managed to get comfortably established as a top half side while introducing La Liga to the kind of shithouse football that would make Tony Pulis blush.

Spoiler: League table

Spoiler: Shithousery table

Spent pretty much the whole season parked in 7th, never really threatening the European spots, but never really threatening to drop down. Not too shabby when the majority of my outfielders were bought based on their ability to run around a lot and/or kick people first, and their ability to play football second... my keeper is bobbins... none of my strikers could score for toffee until the last 10 games or so... and I'm playing a stupid, suicidal system with 2 CBs and wingbacks that should have no right to work.

Scratching my head as to how to get to the next level due to budget constraints stemming from still having a stadium that's barely big enough to host a school play (capacity: 1200). Spent several years in the Segunda which is supposed to force you to move to a bigger stadium after two years if your ground is smaller than 6000, but this never happened outside of a news report that said we were moving from our current stadium... to our current stadium. La Liga has a similar rule with a 15,000 limit, but the same thing will presumably happen again. I can only think that it's because there isn't a stadium in the country big enough to meet either rule, and the game won't consider making you groundshare with a club in another nation.

Probably going to be stuffed as soon as my couple of players who can actually play a bit start wanting wages that are something close to what they're worth.

Spoiler: Actual decent player #1: Roaming playmaker

Spoiler: Actual decent player #2: Ball playing centre half

Another related thing probably unique to this save, is that I can't naturalise anybody, and therefore can't take advantage of the usual 2 years fast track for Latin Americans in Spain. Means I'm very limited by the 3x non-EU rule outside of loaning out players to Spanish clubs for a couple of seasons to get their papers there.

 

[V.O.]

Five minutes after posting, I finally got my answer to the stadium problem!

Spoiler

Will be able to fit about 1/3 of the country into it.

 

[Maluco]

That looks like a really interesting save. Love the sticking to the idea of physical football That card count is amazing!

No Europa Conference League for you?

 

[V.O.]

That looks like a really interesting save. Love the sticking to the idea of physical football That card count is amazing!

No Europa Conference League for you?

Hmm... I'm not sure about that. The rules say that 7th should be in the Conference League but no news has come through.

I'm just hoping there isn't some rule about be not being able to qualify for Europe through the Spanish league system...

A hidden rule like that killed off a similar novelty value save I did with FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein several versions ago where I wasn't allowed to qualify for the CL despite winning the Swiss league (I could play in the EL). I found out that that's supposedly due to Vaduz being able to qualify for Europe via the Liechtenstein Cup, and FC Andorra aren't in the equivalent so I assumed I wouldn't face the same issue.

 

[Maluco]

Hmm... I'm not sure about that. The rules say that 7th should be in the Conference League but no news has come through.

I'm just hoping there isn't some rule about be not being able to qualify for Europe through the Spanish league system...

A hidden rule like that killed off a similar novelty value save I did with FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein several versions ago where I wasn't allowed to qualify for the CL despite winning the Swiss league (I could play in the EL). I found out that that's supposedly due to Vaduz being able to qualify for Europe via the Liechtenstein Cup, and FC Andorra aren't in the equivalent so I assumed I wouldn't face the same issue.

That would be irritating if it was the case? But I see no one is confirmed under you either in the table.

Maybe cup finals still need to be decided before final placings are confirmed

 

[V.O.]

That would be irritating if it was the case? But I see no one is confirmed under you either in the table.

Maybe cup finals still need to be decided before final placings are confirmed

Into the new season now and there are simply no Spanish teams in the Conference League at all. No idea why, but it looks like the same thing happened in 24/25 - Betis finished 7th the season before but didn't get in, and there were no Spanish teams in it that season. Spanish teams have been competing in it in other years.

I can only think that it's a bug or that the Conference League has even more arcane qualification rules than the old Intertoto Cup. At least I can breathe a sigh of relief as far as it being a game-breaker for now.

 

[sebsheep]

Five minutes after posting, I finally got my answer to the stadium problem!

Spoiler

Will be able to fit about 1/3 of the country into it.

That's a pretty big increase. Stadium names are so badly done in FM.

 

[Chipper]

Unexpectedly good start to the Championship so I'm posting now before it all goes wrong. Sitting in 4th after 7 games.

Spoiler: table

So I brought in that cheap poacher I mentioned, Diego Boza. That would have made the pecking order 1. Boza 2. Toporkiewicz (posted his profile in an earlier post) 3. Salim Rachidi, a free I'd already brought in as back up. I don't want 3 guys vying for one position so that meant Toporkiewicz had to go as I'd just signed the other two. So he went from #1 pick before signing Boza to no place in the squad at all. Couldn't sell him and he ended up with a loan deal to the Carlisle in the National League. To think I was going to start him in the Championship too.

Boza gets injured after a couple of matches so Rachidi who I thought was actually slightly worse than even Torpiekiwicz gets his chance and he's been on fire. Fantastic!

Spoiler: Rachidi

In other news I sold who was going to be 4th choice CB on Premier League transfer deadline day for £2.8m + add ons to Crystal Palace which was big money for us. Is it right that the transfer deadline in the PL is end of August? In the Championship it shut on August 1st. I can't remember what eveything is in real life right now. I like to have 4 CBs and still have that many as I was temporarily carrying 5. 5th choice, who I couldn't sell because got injured pre-season is now #4 and we have the squad balance I want.

 

[V.O.]

Well, that's the stadium paid for

Spoiler

I had to do a bit of digging to figure out where the feck a newly promoted Belgian side found 30 million from... turns out they've been taken over by an Indian tycoon and have also spunked away another £14m on a bang average DM who was sitting on Gent's bench.

Used £6m of it to treat myself to a bit more quality to replace one of my wide array of midfield cloggers. Been on Atletico's books for 5 years without getting a game. Has all the physicals and mentals I look for, but can find a pass as well.

Spoiler

 

[Maluco]

Unexpectedly good start to the Championship so I'm posting now before it all goes wrong. Sitting in 4th after 7 games.

Spoiler: table

So I brought in that cheap poacher I mentioned, Diego Boza. That would have made the pecking order 1. Boza 2. Toporkiewicz (posted his profile in an earlier post) 3. Salim Rachidi, a free I'd already brought in as back up. I don't want 3 guys vying for one position so that meant Toporkiewicz had to go as I'd just signed the other two. So he went from #1 pick before signing Boza to no place in the squad at all. Couldn't sell him and he ended up with a loan deal to the Carlisle in the National League. To think I was going to start him in the Championship too.

Boza gets injured after a couple of matches so Rachidi who I thought was actually slightly worse than even Torpiekiwicz gets his chance and he's been on fire. Fantastic!

Spoiler: Rachidi

In other news I sold who was going to be 4th choice CB on Premier League transfer deadline day for £2.8m + add ons to Crystal Palace which was big money for us. Is it right that the transfer deadline in the PL is end of August? In the Championship it shut on August 1st. I can't remember what eveything is in real life right now. I like to have 4 CBs and still have that many as I was temporarily carrying 5. 5th choice, who I couldn't sell because got injured pre-season is now #4 and we have the squad balance I want.

I love how particular you are because I am the same way. Aesthetics and having the right number of players is a constant bother to me

You are doing really well, and that striker looks like a nothing player to me. Just goes to show you that there are all sorts of hidden stats that obviously matter. I wouldn’t have played him in League One though and there he is, banging them in in the Cha

Well, that's the stadium paid for

Spoiler

I had to do a bit of digging to figure out where the feck a newly promoted Belgian side found 30 million from... turns out they've been taken over by an Indian tycoon and have also spunked away another £14m on a bang average DM who was sitting on Gent's bench.

Used £6m of it to treat myself to a bit more quality to replace one of my wide array of midfield cloggers. Been on Atletico's books for 5 years without getting a game. Has all the physicals and mentals I look for, but can find a pass as well.

Spoiler

That’s a great signing, he looks like he could be a difference maker! You might have to play some football now

 

[sebsheep]

Unexpectedly good start to the Championship so I'm posting now before it all goes wrong. Sitting in 4th after 7 games.

Spoiler: table

So I brought in that cheap poacher I mentioned, Diego Boza. That would have made the pecking order 1. Boza 2. Toporkiewicz (posted his profile in an earlier post) 3. Salim Rachidi, a free I'd already brought in as back up. I don't want 3 guys vying for one position so that meant Toporkiewicz had to go as I'd just signed the other two. So he went from #1 pick before signing Boza to no place in the squad at all. Couldn't sell him and he ended up with a loan deal to the Carlisle in the National League. To think I was going to start him in the Championship too.

Boza gets injured after a couple of matches so Rachidi who I thought was actually slightly worse than even Torpiekiwicz gets his chance and he's been on fire. Fantastic!

Spoiler: Rachidi

In other news I sold who was going to be 4th choice CB on Premier League transfer deadline day for £2.8m + add ons to Crystal Palace which was big money for us. Is it right that the transfer deadline in the PL is end of August? In the Championship it shut on August 1st. I can't remember what eveything is in real life right now. I like to have 4 CBs and still have that many as I was temporarily carrying 5. 5th choice, who I couldn't sell because got injured pre-season is now #4 and we have the squad balance I want.

Good start to life in the Championship. The PL transfer window ends before the start of the season now so should be near the end of July/start of August.

 

[sebsheep]

Well, that's the stadium paid for

Spoiler

I had to do a bit of digging to figure out where the feck a newly promoted Belgian side found 30 million from... turns out they've been taken over by an Indian tycoon and have also spunked away another £14m on a bang average DM who was sitting on Gent's bench.

Used £6m of it to treat myself to a bit more quality to replace one of my wide array of midfield cloggers. Been on Atletico's books for 5 years without getting a game. Has all the physicals and mentals I look for, but can find a pass as well.

Spoiler

6'4" as well.

Did your club take out a loan for the stadium? I'm sure you used to be able to play they back early, or maybe that was a different game.

 

[sebsheep]

Quiet transfer window this year

Spoiler: Transfers

Don't think we're really in a position to go all the way in the CL this year after it all tbh.

Will now line up like this, less instructions for now as well.

Spoiler: Formation

 

[Maluco]

Quiet transfer window this year

Spoiler: Transfers

Don't think we're really in a position to go all the way in the CL this year after it all tbh.

Will now line up like this, less instructions for now as well.

Spoiler: Formation

That’s an interesting set-up. How does the roaming playmaker and Mezzala work together? Do you find that it can leave the midfield open at any stage?

 

[V.O.]

6'4" as well.

Did your club take out a loan for the stadium? I'm sure you used to be able to play they back early, or maybe that was a different game.

There's a loan, yeah. I also seem to vaguely remember an option for this - something similar to the option to sell transfer clauses etc, but I can't find it. I guess I'll just have to stash the money and let nature take its course.

Quiet transfer window this year

Spoiler: Transfers

Don't think we're really in a position to go all the way in the CL this year after it all tbh.

Will now line up like this, less instructions for now as well.

Spoiler: Formation

Always find it very difficult to keep a save going in a small league when your team gets that good. Feels like the CL games are the only ones that present any challenge, and it only takes one off night for that to be curtains for the year as well. Good luck sticking to it and getting your CL pot!

 

[Maluco]

Season 5 wrapped up!

Erdivisie

As well as city rivals Feyenoord, Ajax have re-emerged as a force in Dutch football after a slow 18 months, and they pushed us until the last few games. After a few poor results, we went to NEC and won 8-0 to confirm the league title before the last day. Ajax are looking very dangerous again and have made some good signings in January, so fully expect a big challenge next year.

Our strikers never really came back into form. Our top scorer in the league, Osimhen, only getting 12 goals, despite some very easy teams to play against near the bottom. It’s worrying, and something we need to look at in the summer.

Brewster, who scored 25 goals after arriving on loan last January to take his tally to 96 goals for the club, only got 6 in the league and 15 overall all season.

Dutch Cup

We ever so nearly went out to Ajax in the semi final stage. They were better than us at this stage of the season, but Ferran Torres squeezed in what turned out to be the only goal of the game, setting up a final against Vitesse.

The final came only 3 days after a punishing game in the Europa, so we rotated as much as we could to keep things fresh. The result was a tense affair, finishing 0-0, before my player of the season Oxlade-Chamberlain blasted in a loose ball in extra time. An OG five minutes later killed off the game before penalties.

Our third Dutch Cup in a row. I wish I could say it was a formality, but there are still several teams that can beat us on a given day. So delighted to win it again.

Europa League

The board, disappointed at our CL exit, asked that we made the semi-finals here, so this competition became our priority in the second half of the season. We scraped past Everton and got drawn against Tottenham in the last 16.

We won 2-0 in London, our best performance of the season up to that stage. Brewster with what would be his last contribution to the European campaign for the season. We drew 1-1 at home and got given Shakhtar in the quarter final.

We had beaten more or less the same lineup last year in the CL, but it was a tight game, and it proved to be again. We came away with a 1-1 draw in the Ukraine. Bizarrely, our DMC, Valverde got a hat trick for a 3-0 win at home in what were his only European goals of the season.

Onto the semi final, and by this stage, we were resting our entire eleven in the league as things finish early in Holland before the playoffs. We were drawn against Atletico Madrid.

With a rested eleven, we turned it on and absolutely destroyed them in the away leg, winning 5-1. I completely changed the corner routine two weeks before and it paid dividends here with two headed goals from Ayala, our best defender. No contribution from our strikers once again.

I didn’t want to take any risks so fielded a full team in the home leg and we won 2-0. Full of confidence going into the final against a very strong Napoli side.

Again, the new corner routine paid dividends, Ayala putting us 1-0 up, but Napoli came back strong and equalised and were bossing the game.

Something I had done before the game was to give out new contracts before the tie to boost morale, and it was one of those two contract signees, Ferran Torres, who smashed home in the second half. We held out, and after the disappointment of our group stage exit, we won the Europa League to complete an unlikely treble.

Summer Plans

Our new stadium has been announced, a 31,000 seater, The Excelsior Stadium will take three years to build against a loan of 63 million. 32 million will be covered by stadium sponsorship.

The bank is empty now, and our wage bill is high, so the era of big loan signings might be done. We will need to sell any players on the fringes to build up our bank balance.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was phenomenal for us, will only come back if it’s a loan. 30 million for a 30 year old wouldn’t make sense. Valverde, the other I would like to bring back, is far too expensive and I will be looking at a long time scouted target to replace him.

Ayala, our 5 star CB, wants to go to Chelsea, who are aggressively pursuing him and have almost met his release clause of 71 million. Negligence on my part not to have remembered it, and there is no one available who is close to being as good. So that’s an issue.

The biggest issue, however, are the strikers. Kean and Brewster, after being phenomenal and instrumental in a Champions League win, were awful this season. 18 and 15 goals respectively, and most of those came against poor sides. Osimhen wasn’t much better. Do I keep them together and try to recapture the magic? Or do I accept that I have brought them in permanently and somehow made them worse?

It’s a big summer with a lot of changeover. We have to come back with a lower wage bill and a younger, fresher side, and still compete at the top of the league and in Europe.

Martial and Jean Pyerre come in on free transfers, which can go some way to reshaping the squad. This could take a while...

 

[sebsheep]

That’s an interesting set-up. How does the roaming playmaker and Mezzala work together? Do you find that it can leave the midfield open at any stage?

I only changed that after our last game as I'm not set on what to do with that position yet. It's more because I'm having my DLP sit now so I wanted someone to float a bit and supply balls for the front 3. We have actually conceded 3 goals in our first 2 games, but they just game from our RB still mentally being on holiday.

 

[sebsheep]

There's a loan, yeah. I also seem to vaguely remember an option for this - something similar to the option to sell transfer clauses etc, but I can't find it. I guess I'll just have to stash the money and let nature take its course.



Always find it very difficult to keep a save going in a small league when your team gets that good. Feels like the CL games are the only ones that present any challenge, and it only takes one off night for that to be curtains for the year as well. Good luck sticking to it and getting your CL pot!

Ended up with United, Benfica and Galatasaray. Not the easiest of groups but we'll need to beat some top teams to have a chance anyway.

 

[sebsheep]

Season 5 wrapped up!

Erdivisie

As well as city rivals Feyenoord, Ajax have re-emerged as a force in Dutch football after a slow 18 months, and they pushed us until the last few games. After a few poor results, we went to NEC and won 8-0 to confirm the league title before the last day. Ajax are looking very dangerous again and have made some good signings in January, so fully expect a big challenge next year.

Our strikers never really came back into form. Our top scorer in the league, Osimhen, only getting 12 goals, despite some very easy teams to play against near the bottom. It’s worrying, and something we need to look at in the summer.

Brewster, who scored 25 goals after arriving on loan last January to take his tally to 96 goals for the club, only got 6 in the league and 15 overall all season.

Dutch Cup

We ever so nearly went out to Ajax in the semi final stage. They were better than us at this stage of the season, but Ferran Torres squeezed in what turned out to be the only goal of the game, setting up a final against Vitesse.

The final came only 3 days after a punishing game in the Europa, so we rotated as much as we could to keep things fresh. The result was a tense affair, finishing 0-0, before my player of the season Oxlade-Chamberlain blasted in a loose ball in extra time. An OG five minutes later killed off the game before penalties.

Our third Dutch Cup in a row. I wish I could say it was a formality, but there are still several teams that can beat us on a given day. So delighted to win it again.

Europa League

The board, disappointed at our CL exit, asked that we made the semi-finals here, so this competition became our priority in the second half of the season. We scraped past Everton and got drawn against Tottenham in the last 16.

We won 2-0 in London, our best performance of the season up to that stage. Brewster with what would be his last contribution to the European campaign for the season. We drew 1-1 at home and got given Shakhtar in the quarter final.

We had beaten more or less the same lineup last year in the CL, but it was a tight game, and it proved to be again. We came away with a 1-1 draw in the Ukraine. Bizarrely, our DMC, Valverde got a hat trick for a 3-0 win at home in what were his only European goals of the season.

Onto the semi final, and by this stage, we were resting our entire eleven in the league as things finish early in Holland before the playoffs. We were drawn against Atletico Madrid.

With a rested eleven, we turned it on and absolutely destroyed them in the away leg, winning 5-1. I completely changed the corner routine two weeks before and it paid dividends here with two headed goals from Ayala, our best defender. No contribution from our strikers once again.

I didn’t want to take any risks so fielded a full team in the home leg and we won 2-0. Full of confidence going into the final against a very strong Napoli side.

Again, the new corner routine paid dividends, Ayala putting us 1-0 up, but Napoli came back strong and equalised and were bossing the game.

Something I had done before the game was to give out new contracts before the tie to boost morale, and it was one of those two contract signees, Ferran Torres, who smashed home in the second half. We held out, and after the disappointment of our group stage exit, we won the Europa League to complete an unlikely treble.

Summer Plans

Our new stadium has been announced, a 31,000 seater, The Excelsior Stadium will take three years to build against a loan of 63 million. 32 million will be covered by stadium sponsorship.

The bank is empty now, and our wage bill is high, so the era of big loan signings might be done. We will need to sell any players on the fringes to build up our bank balance.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was phenomenal for us, will only come back if it’s a loan. 30 million for a 30 year old wouldn’t make sense. Valverde, the other I would like to bring back, is far too expensive and I will be looking at a long time scouted target to replace him.

Ayala, our 5 star CB, wants to go to Chelsea, who are aggressively pursuing him and have almost met his release clause of 71 million. Negligence on my part not to have remembered it, and there is no one available who is close to being as good. So that’s an issue.

The biggest issue, however, are the strikers. Kean and Brewster, after being phenomenal and instrumental in a Champions League win, were awful this season. 18 and 15 goals respectively, and most of those came against poor sides. Osimhen wasn’t much better. Do I keep them together and try to recapture the magic? Or do I accept that I have brought them in permanently and somehow made them worse?

It’s a big summer with a lot of changeover. We have to come back with a lower wage bill and a younger, fresher side, and still compete at the top of the league and in Europe.

Martial and Jean Pyerre come in on free transfers, which can go some way to reshaping the squad. This could take a while...

Another great season, congratulations!

71m is quite a lot for a CB, but they can be difficult and expensive to replace yeah especially if you initially had time to let them grow to that level. What sort of money are you potentially looking at with Kean and Brewster?

 

[Maluco]

Another great season, congratulations!

71m is quite a lot for a CB, but they can be difficult and expensive to replace yeah especially if you initially had time to let them grow to that level. What sort of money are you potentially looking at with Kean and Brewster?

Thanks mate. This is a crazy save, but am really enjoying it. Couldn’t believe the CL win and can’t believe we turned this season around. Europa League is a marathon.

I am worried that Ayala has probably been the reason for so much cup success. Teams were all over us at times and we stayed in games. He is legit 5 star and only 23. It would be a real pity to lose him and have to downgrade the backline.

The strikers have both dropped to around 20 million value which is really disappointing. Brewster only rated as two and a half stars now. I am thinking the sensible thing to do would be to try and get 30 each and try and bring in someone elite.

Have messed up saves over much less in the past

 

[Chipper]

Season 5 wrapped up!

Erdivisie

As well as city rivals Feyenoord, Ajax have re-emerged as a force in Dutch football after a slow 18 months, and they pushed us until the last few games. After a few poor results, we went to NEC and won 8-0 to confirm the league title before the last day. Ajax are looking very dangerous again and have made some good signings in January, so fully expect a big challenge next year.

Our strikers never really came back into form. Our top scorer in the league, Osimhen, only getting 12 goals, despite some very easy teams to play against near the bottom. It’s worrying, and something we need to look at in the summer.

Brewster, who scored 25 goals after arriving on loan last January to take his tally to 96 goals for the club, only got 6 in the league and 15 overall all season.

Dutch Cup

We ever so nearly went out to Ajax in the semi final stage. They were better than us at this stage of the season, but Ferran Torres squeezed in what turned out to be the only goal of the game, setting up a final against Vitesse.

The final came only 3 days after a punishing game in the Europa, so we rotated as much as we could to keep things fresh. The result was a tense affair, finishing 0-0, before my player of the season Oxlade-Chamberlain blasted in a loose ball in extra time. An OG five minutes later killed off the game before penalties.

Our third Dutch Cup in a row. I wish I could say it was a formality, but there are still several teams that can beat us on a given day. So delighted to win it again.

Europa League

The board, disappointed at our CL exit, asked that we made the semi-finals here, so this competition became our priority in the second half of the season. We scraped past Everton and got drawn against Tottenham in the last 16.

We won 2-0 in London, our best performance of the season up to that stage. Brewster with what would be his last contribution to the European campaign for the season. We drew 1-1 at home and got given Shakhtar in the quarter final.

We had beaten more or less the same lineup last year in the CL, but it was a tight game, and it proved to be again. We came away with a 1-1 draw in the Ukraine. Bizarrely, our DMC, Valverde got a hat trick for a 3-0 win at home in what were his only European goals of the season.

Onto the semi final, and by this stage, we were resting our entire eleven in the league as things finish early in Holland before the playoffs. We were drawn against Atletico Madrid.

With a rested eleven, we turned it on and absolutely destroyed them in the away leg, winning 5-1. I completely changed the corner routine two weeks before and it paid dividends here with two headed goals from Ayala, our best defender. No contribution from our strikers once again.

I didn’t want to take any risks so fielded a full team in the home leg and we won 2-0. Full of confidence going into the final against a very strong Napoli side.

Again, the new corner routine paid dividends, Ayala putting us 1-0 up, but Napoli came back strong and equalised and were bossing the game.

Something I had done before the game was to give out new contracts before the tie to boost morale, and it was one of those two contract signees, Ferran Torres, who smashed home in the second half. We held out, and after the disappointment of our group stage exit, we won the Europa League to complete an unlikely treble.

Summer Plans

Our new stadium has been announced, a 31,000 seater, The Excelsior Stadium will take three years to build against a loan of 63 million. 32 million will be covered by stadium sponsorship.

The bank is empty now, and our wage bill is high, so the era of big loan signings might be done. We will need to sell any players on the fringes to build up our bank balance.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was phenomenal for us, will only come back if it’s a loan. 30 million for a 30 year old wouldn’t make sense. Valverde, the other I would like to bring back, is far too expensive and I will be looking at a long time scouted target to replace him.

Ayala, our 5 star CB, wants to go to Chelsea, who are aggressively pursuing him and have almost met his release clause of 71 million. Negligence on my part not to have remembered it, and there is no one available who is close to being as good. So that’s an issue.

The biggest issue, however, are the strikers. Kean and Brewster, after being phenomenal and instrumental in a Champions League win, were awful this season. 18 and 15 goals respectively, and most of those came against poor sides. Osimhen wasn’t much better. Do I keep them together and try to recapture the magic? Or do I accept that I have brought them in permanently and somehow made them worse?

It’s a big summer with a lot of changeover. We have to come back with a lower wage bill and a younger, fresher side, and still compete at the top of the league and in Europe.

Martial and Jean Pyerre come in on free transfers, which can go some way to reshaping the squad. This could take a while...

Well done on the EL win, keeps you nicely in the limelight of European competition. With your strikers not firing the way you wanted to as well, can't be that bad.

Congrats on the new stadium too.

 

[Chipper]

20 in games in to the Championship season and we sit in a competitive 4th. Very pleased with that. If we make the playoffs I'd be delighted and we still could even come top 2 yet.

Spoiler: table and squad stats

Stuck up some squad stats sorted by goals. Rachidi continuing to fire them in although I did put Boza back in the last 2 games and he got his first 4 goals for the club in them. Rachidi's form isn't too hot on the ratings for the last 5 but that's just a coincedence, put Boza back in more because he was getting concerned about his playing time having not started a game since he got injured and Rachidi started scoring lots. I do find it a little hard to rotate strikers, CMs too, they don't seem to get as tired or injured as often as FBs, CBs and wide players in my tactical set up.

The big veteran target man Eaves is still getting his head on a few things and everyone is chipping in nicely. I did change the corner routine for this season as I thought the central defenders were scoring too many for it to be realistic but it hasn't really stopped and I'm now glad it hasn't.

Hackett is an absolute assist machine, he's on a lot of our set pieces and takes long throw-ins from his side of the pitch. A couple of Eaves' goals came that way.

In early December now and I'll be doing my usual scour of potential Bosman signings on January 1st, don't usually do any other business at that time but will have a look.

I did get my board to agree to go up a youth level, building on that won't start until next summer. Think that means I'll finally be able to enter the U18/23 leagues instead of just playing friendlies but I'm not completely sure.

Will play Leeds away in the FA Cup 3rd round, quite tricky.

And for a bit of fun, some salary details:

Spoiler: £££

 

[Maluco]

Well done on the EL win, keeps you nicely in the limelight of European competition. With your strikers not firing the way you wanted to as well, can't be that bad.

Congrats on the new stadium too.

It’s a crazy game. Don’t think I have ever won two European trophies back to back on any save, nevermind this early in with Excelsior. Fast becoming my favourite save that I’ve done.

I have to stay to see in the new stadium now. I don’t think I have ever past 10 seasons on any version, so am going to aim for that and see what else we can do.

20 in games in to the Championship season and we sit in a competitive 4th. Very pleased with that. If we make the playoffs I'd be delighted and we still could even come top 2 yet.

Spoiler: table and squad stats

Stuck up some squad stats sorted by goals. Rachidi continuing to fire them in although I did put Boza back in the last 2 games and he got his first 4 goals for the club in them. Rachidi's form isn't too hot on the ratings for the last 5 but that's just a coincedence, put Boza back in more because he was getting concerned about his playing time having not started a game since he got injured and Rachidi started scoring lots. I do find it a little hard to rotate strikers, CMs too, they don't seem to get as tired or injured as often as FBs, CBs and wide players in my tactical set up.

The big veteran target man Eaves is still getting his head on a few things and everyone is chipping in nicely. I did change the corner routine for this season as I thought the central defenders were scoring too many for it to be realistic but it hasn't really stopped and I'm now glad it hasn't.

Hackett is an absolute assist machine, he's on a lot of our set pieces and takes long throw-ins from his side of the pitch. A couple of Eaves' goals came that way.

In early December now and I'll be doing my usual scour of potential Bosman signings on January 1st, don't usually do any other business at that time but will have a look.

I did get my board to agree to go up a youth level, building on that won't start until next summer. Think that means I'll finally be able to enter the U18/23 leagues instead of just playing friendlies but I'm not completely sure.

Will play Leeds away in the FA Cup 3rd round, quite tricky.

And for a bit of fun, some salary details:

Spoiler: £££

That’s phenomenal going on that salary. You could actually push for automatic promotion if you made a signing or two in January.

Hackett did look like a monster when you showed him. Are you still sticking to the 4-4-2 with big man small man? Any alterations from game to game?

 

[Chipper]

Anyone know what "How we can be left behind by [INSERT CLUB]" means on the social feed? Seen 2 or 3 times now and I can't say I get it.

Spoiler: left behind

Guess would be that they think Luton Town are making better signings than us.

Don't know why all things considered but is that it?

This player is only supposed to be a prospect for the U23s. He was a free agent Canadian with a Spanish passport that we agreed a deal on ages ago but he couldn't sign officially until his 18th Birthday. He's been with us a long time but sort of an trial period until his contract started officially just now.

Luton haven't signed anyone for ages anyway as it's Christmas Day in the game, this lad's birthday, so the transfer window has been shut for months anyway. Looking at it Luton did sign someone on Transfer on deadline day over 4 1/2 months ago for £3.6m, so I think they're comparing it to that?

 

[sebsheep]

Anyone know what "How we can be left behind by [INSERT CLUB]" means on the social feed? Seen 2 or 3 times now and I can't say I get it.

Spoiler: left behind

Guess would be that they think Luton Town are making better signings than us.

Don't know why all things considered but is that it?

This player is only supposed to be a prospect for the U23s. He was a free agent Canadian with a Spanish passport that we agreed a deal on ages ago but he couldn't sign officially until his 18th Birthday. He's been with us a long time but sort of an trial period until his contract started officially just now.

Luton haven't signed anyone for ages anyway as it's Christmas Day in the game, this lad's birthday, so the transfer window has been shut for months anyway. Looking at it Luton did sign someone on Transfer on deadline day over 4 1/2 months ago for £3.6m, so I think they're comparing it to that?

Who knows? It's social media, the game is just replicating the sort of rubbish that fans post.

 

[sebsheep]

It’s a crazy game. Don’t think I have ever won two European trophies back to back on any save, nevermind this early in with Excelsior. Fast becoming my favourite save that I’ve done.

I have to stay to see in the new stadium now. I don’t think I have ever past 10 seasons on any version, so am going to aim for that and see what else we can do.



That’s phenomenal going on that salary. You could actually push for automatic promotion if you made a signing or two in January.

Hackett did look like a monster when you showed him. Are you still sticking to the 4-4-2 with big man small man? Any alterations from game to game?

You've managed to do it the wrong way round as well.
I suppose if you're winning things then you can probably afford to give them another year to see if they just had an off season. I flogged my main striker after he dropped off last season just after getting a new contract. It's worked pretty well though.