Football Manager 2020

[Dan LCFC]

Almeria and Villarreal both fall at our new place. I'm actually pretty confident we'll survive comfortably.

[HowardsBulletHeader]

Adventure resumed and bloody hell I've put some hours in today. So here's your not so brief round up, grab yourself a beer, you'll need it.

 

I've been top of the league since a few weeks after the Gateshead debacle. Got the lead up to 7 points, the lads were on fire, loving it. Then FM bit back, with a fixture pile up. 

 

Injuries galore, fixtures galore, replays galore and my players were regularly starting games at 85%. Poor old Marvin Elliott, the boards favourite scapegoat and my "do a job specialist", doesn't suit the high pressing game I've deployed so 14 games into the season (of which he missed 3 as I hadn't signed him), he's resorted to chopping people and he's  picked up 5 yellows and contributed nicely to the Sandgrounders Christmas bash. Skeggy away, cheers Marv.

 

Anyway, the fitness issue took me until mid December to figure out that my training regime, which doesn't give the lads a day off and my high press game was heavily contributing to this. I know, who'd have thought it eh?! That being said, what a ride we had. I'd been playing players out of position just because they actually had some level of fitness, when my managerial genius struck, my new 18 year old left back at left wing Gareth Bale style for him to stick two in the onion bag and get himself some extra positional training for AML. What a lad. 

 

Then let's talk about the Brazilian attacking midfielder, if anyone is still reading at this point (of course you are if you're anything like me reading everyone's exploits, you're hooked), called Denilson Carvalho who only does penalties or screamers. The Brazilian Paul Gallagher. 14 penalties or screamers for the season. Lovely. 

 

My team loves scoring from crosses, corners, set pieces like a non league Tony Pulis Stoke. The key cog in the wheel there is the big fat centre half who gives Steve McNulty a run for his money, Ryan Astles. He might be a sumo, but he loves a nod home at the back stick let me tell you. Probably as it's nearer to the burger van. 

 

A few other highlights for you, a 12 game unbeaten run in the league and inbetween that we headed to Harrogate from the league above in the FA Cup, being the savvy bastard that I am, I thought I'd change from my attacking 4-2-3-1 to my cautious 4-4-1-1, only for the lads to dust Harrogate 4-0 on their own turf. Love that kind of cautious mentality. On we sailed to Sixfields and got a replay, where in the home leg after a gruelling 120 minutes the lads came through on penalties despite only 4 of my takers having a penalty rating of 4 or higher. The magic of the cup (and my keeper)! Eventually we were dumped out in the 2nd round by the mighty Chesterfield, tough to take as despite my 3 shots to their 25, I thought we at least deserved a replay. 

 

Meanwhile, back in the league, form had taken a downturn, not many defeats but just too many draws. Thankfully at that time Kidderminster, Gloucester and York couldn't really work out which one of them actually wanted to try and knock me off top spot, so the end result is none of them have, so far. York have now decided that they're capable though and are certainly pushing me all the way. 

 

35 games played, 75 points. York have 74. 7 games to go (I think). York away next. 

 

To be continued!

[foxfanazer]

So I resigned at Brentford as nothing I was trying was working. The squad was just too inexperienced for the prem. I take over Watford with 6 games to go, 6 points from safety. We pull off 3 wins but it goes down to the last day, us and Sheff United level on points, same goal difference. They're at home to Chelsea, we're away to Spurs. 3rd minute in and one of my defenders tries to play it back to the keeper and goes straight to Mr dribble himself. Slots it away, Spurs go on to beat us 4-1, Sheff United lose 1-0 and stay up on gosl difference. Bugger!

 

Obviously the board don't blame me for the demise of the Hornets so I'm tasked with the challenge of taking them back up. Only problem is every player has a relegation release clause in their contracts which the Premier league vultures were all too keen to activate. Ended up accumulating £200m in sales and a completely non existent squad. Got in some decent players including Dennis Praet which was a bit of a surprise. Also managed to keep Sarr which was a massive bonus. Most players are now all my signings so no excuses! 

[jammie82uk]

well I’m 16 games into my first ever season on the recent game, not played an FM title since 2017 so starting with us in the premier league thought I would at least give myself a chance, I’m currently 10th having a bit of yo-yoing form 

Wanted a new striker so I could play two up front so signed William Jose from Real Sociedad for £15 mil, didn’t get off to the best of starts got red carded on debut and got a 3 game ban but since, him and Vardy are enjoying their partnership Jose has played 13 games 9 goals and 3 assists so far, Vardy’s 13 games returned 8 goals 3 assists but he has also developed a serious yellow card addiction hence why he’s only managed 13 games as well 

 

a few stats so far 

 

We have scored in all 16 games, 32 in total putting me tied 2nd with Arsenal and behind Man City for most goals scored 

We are 1st for shot conversion Man City and Arsenal are 7th and 10th 

Defensively We are not that great Soyuncu and Evans don’t play well together conceding 37 goals 

at least the neutral fans will enjoy our games with an average of 4 goals a game 

It’s apparent we love a tackle as well as we are top in the most tackles won but also top in the most fouls conceded 

surprise of the season so far Chilwell is currently top of the leagues assists chart 

 

so a bit of a dodgy start to the season but hopefully can get a bit of form together and push for Europe 

[Beliall]

im at a cross roads. done 7 seasons here at worcester, and they keep refusing me coaching courses ( SI really need to fix that so we can pay for our own) but im starting to think i should move abroad and get the pentagon started

[Stinkenzo]

On 19/04/2020 at 14:21, Matt_Lcfc said:

Managing Hajduk Split in Croatia and I’m now in the third season. The actual league itself is pretty easy, apart from Zagreb and Osjeik everybody is awful, so I’ve managed to win back to back league titles and domestic cups. I’ve got some quality young players but clubs bigger than myself end up putting in offers off 3 million and then when they leave, they are valued at 20 million ish so it makes it hard to compete in Europe. I’ve tried to sign them on contracts without release clauses, but the Croatian First League clearly isn’t prestigious enough 

What happened to Rijeka?

[Stadt]

Because of those ridiculous qualifying results (the next round we only won 23-0 on aggregate)  

[Beliall]

watching Netflix and staring at this for the past hour or so. 

6 years here, 1 coaching course. want to crack on with my challenge but at the same time, new owners are pouring money in and building a new stadium. think i could take these guys all the way tbh. tough call 

I took an interview with Wimbledon and applied for a job with Supersport utd too. contract ran out today

Edited 20 April 2020 by Beliall

[Dan LCFC]

How have they still not sorted out the ****ing fixture lists? Four home games, then four away, then four home etc... we're underdogs in every away game without fail this season. There is only so many games in a row I can get away with saying there's no pressure and letting them off losing 3-0 to some shit like Levante or Almeria.

 

It's so basic but it can actually skew a season slightly I think. This season's been a bit of a nonsense although I'm doing fine.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Haven't been on it for a few days, fancied a North American save so loaded up the Canadian league and started a save with the team predicted to finish bottom, HFX Wanderers (also have a decent kit) - only three games in and coming off it for the night but 3 wins from 3, salary cap is tight so hoping I can build up some great youths, the side doesn't have an U-18s or ressies currently.

Looks like their domestic cup competition will be impossible to win given all the Canadian MLS sides join later on, no chance I'll be able to beat any of them - bit more hopeful for the second rate North American continental competition which looks like a load of sides from Panama, Guatemala etc, no US sides. 

[foxfanazer]

3 seasons into my save and Leicester have stopped putting Vardy in their squads. Actually depressed me a little bit

[Beliall]

22 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

3 seasons into my save and Leicester have stopped putting Vardy in their squads. Actually depressed me a little bit

Hes the assistant manager at salford in my save

[Beliall]

 

[Beliall]

turns out winning the league a few times does count for something. Took the job at huddersfield in the championship. was looking at other places too including southampton in the premier league, but even if they offered me the job after the interview, there's nowhere to go with southampton. hopefully, i can put a couple of good seasons in here , get some courses done and move abroad finally to a continental champions league club

[HowardsBulletHeader]

Strap yourselves in again here goes: 

 

The big day arrives, 7 games to go, York Away. Big game, big decisions, time for big game players. Went for the 4-4-1-1 cautious that saw off the mighty Harrogate from the league above. Boy did it not work a treat, went behind after 13 minutes and it was just wave after wave of York attack. Managed to get through the half, it was a grim watch. Second half it changed, it was our half, chance after chance missed, fans on edge, even the manager changed his nappy after about 75 minutes. Ended up going 3-2-5 as the game calls it to try and salvage the draw. Cue Southport's answer to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the super sub Jack Sampson, 93rd minute to rescue the Sandgrounders. 1-1 and still 1 point clear, we'll take that. 

 

On we sailed past Darlington and after a pathetic 1-1 draw at Kettering we were finally knocked off top spot. We then compounded the misery further with a 1-0 reverse at Altrincham. Thankfully the troubles spread to York too, who after 3 wins on the bounce following the 1-1 with us, they were dismantled by Spennymoor 3-0 and Kettering took points off them too. Position rectified, one game to go and back to 1 point clear. The final day sees us at home to Chester and early doors York are cruising, 0-0 at our place. I fire the lads up at half time, 45 minutes to seal the deal and clinch a place in the National League. Well, Connor Woods (now dubbed Woodsinho) heard me alright, 47 seconds into the second half and he rifles a 25 yard rocket into the bottom corner sending the Sandgrounders faithful into raptures. And that's how it finished, we were up. 

 

Now you're probably thinking of course it has a typically happy ending, well not so fast there sports fans. Denilson Carvalho, The Brazilian Paul Gallagher,  is now doing his best impression of my other half and is furious that I've not kept the promise I made to upgrade the coaching staff. Blip 1. Then the boards favourite scapegoat, Marvin Elliott, comes charging into the office with a similar problem unhappy with the fact I've not kept another promise and upgraded the attacking quality in the squad. Blip 2. My goalkeeper, Brad Watkins, also decides he doesn't like broken promises either and takes the side of the scapegoat. Blip 3. Meanwhile, the board are unhappy that I've blown the wage budget and plunged us into £250k worth of debt. Blip 4. You win the feckin league and this is the treatment you get?! Christ I'd have hated to have seen it round here if we'd have drew on the final day. 

 

Tough negotiations begin, in an attempt to build some bridges, Denilson is asked to recommend a coach, says he can't and then similarly says he can't to a new contract. Bridge sufficiently burnt and au revoir to our best player. Great. Marvin Elliott decides he's had enough as well, he moves on, perhaps improving my image with the board at the same time. So long Marv. Brad Watkins is far more reasonable with me and decides he's happy to stay, as I'll sort it ASAP, what a gent. I won't. 

 

The moral of the story, don't make promises, particularly to your other half or pixelated footballers. Both end really badly if you don't keep them. 

 

No time for sentiment, so 7 new signings for the new season thus far, no plans at this stage to make any more as much to the boards delight I'm actually in budget this time thanks to a few big earners off the books. Sad to see Marv go to be fair. He was different gravy on the Karaoke at the Skeggy Christmas bash. 

 

Game 1 Eastleigh at home and the lads pick up where they left off and dish out a 4-0 dismantling. New signings Anderson (no not that one), Aransibia and Souza all amongst the goals. With last season's 21 goal leading scorer George Newell getting the other. Easy game, right?

 

Sutton away next, 0-0 half time. Win your home games, draw your away and you'll be there or there abouts lads, eez-eh. 80th minute the position remains, until my goalkeeper decides that he's had enough of bad coaching staff again and thinks the best way to make me realise is to dive the complete opposite fecking direction to the ball. 1-0 Sutton, joy. Not even Woodsinho can save us this time. 

 

Night sufficiently ruined I'm off to keep a promise to the missus not to be on the game past midnight. If you're going to pick one, pick the one that will actually kill you if you break the promise. Not a pixelated angry Brazilian. 

Edited 21 April 2020 by HowardsBulletHeader

[CosbehFox]

I’m currently Newcastle boss. 
 

Telford to Plymouth to Newcastle in the Championship. Developed more grey in the one and half seasons in the division than ever watching Leicester.

 

The PL has been okay so far but it’s ****ing annoying playing the top clubs. Lost 7-0 and 5-1 to Man U. Eagerly awaiting the transfer budget for next season and whether the rumoured takeover will eventually pull through 

[Cal]

Decided to buy this and start a pentagon challenge couple days ago. Currently Royal Eagles in South Africa 😎.

[SemperEadem]

On 03/04/2020 at 09:41, SemperEadem said:

Got Bochum up easily, got peanuts to play with in terms of keeping them up. Three games in, started to lose interest so looking to start a save with Plymouth.

Hit the glass ceiling with Plymouth. Now trying to keep Birmingham City in the top flight.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Things are going well in Canada, topped the table after the first part of the season (meaning I've made the naff 'play-off' to win the title that the nonces in North America and rugby union seem to get rod ons over) and I'm cruising the second half of it. Went out to Toronto of MLS over two-legs in the domestic cup quarters but won the first tie, which is insane really given the disparity in quality and cash. Really hammering the board to improve the scouting network so I can get the Ivorian cavalry in but they're refusing, won't even stretch themselves to the Caribbean - they have bought the ground though, a sweet ass 7,000 seater, absolute cauldron.

Absolutely jimmy nailed on to save the worst performance of the season for that title deciding play-off.

[Dan LCFC]

This Ivorian cavalry never seems to appear on mine this time. It always used to on old FMs but this one it just churns out rubbish. I'm definitely finding it a bit harder to pluck these wonderkids than before although I've just landed a very decent 16 year old Belgian centre half on a free, so maybe Belgium is the one this year.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Ivory Coast and North Africa, absolute HOTBEDS

[Toddybad]

Bought this last night after reading this thread.

Early hours of playing but still annoyed about having to use scouting to find out the exact quality of premier League footballers. 

Is it not the done thing to play with all the numbers showing for everybody from the start like it used to be?

And also modern FM really suffers from low League teams having no money.

[foxfanazer]

3 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

This Ivorian cavalry never seems to appear on mine this time. It always used to on old FMs but this one it just churns out rubbish. I'm definitely finding it a bit harder to pluck these wonderkids than before although I've just landed a very decent 16 year old Belgian centre half on a free, so maybe Belgium is the one this year.

I'm finding some decent youngsters from Scandinavia. Really consistent performers 

[Stadt]

Won the league and African CL. Took them over last season about 3/4 of the way through and bottled the CL semis. Will do one more season with these before moving to Korea then Mexico, ideally.

[Stadt]

Somehow missed out on this fella who moved to Saudi Arabia

Will be one of the best n the world surely