Football Manager 2014

[ExmouthExile]

you can only play classic mode on the vita though

That's ok, I can live with that

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

JC Denton always brings out the worst in me. Every year I promise not to play the Albion as its just to much stress and I can never find a wing-play tactic Im happy with. But then JC does his overview and Im tempted to try again. So I took over as an ex-professional and made the following transfers


So far this season its been grand.. my best ever start with the Albion


And now its Chelsea in the cup and Im not fielding my absolute best team but tactics are:

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Before the game Mourinho said:



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Up Yours Jose!!!





Will post again after Xmas in-game

 

[shaolinpunk]

I've dipped my toe into the FM waters for the first time in a couple of years...

Not far into it at all but so far went unbeaten in preseason (spanked a full strength Liverpool 4-0) and have 6 points from the first three games in the league (Annoyingly I had won all three but then my game crashed and I hadn't saved)

I've been very quiet in the transfer market. My only signing has been Lee Barnard, although I've just sold SD for £1m to S'land so am looking to reinvest a bit of that in a cheap midfielder. Bridcutt wants to leave but is satisfied I'm doing my bit for that to happen - been offering him to clubs for £6m but no takers so far. Trying to offload Upson as his wages are too high for my liking but no luck so far

 

[Seagull1989]

Ive found it a lot more difficult to loan players this year. Clubs either want a fee or a proportion of the players wages paid.
And then the half decent players I want to sign have no interest on coming on loan. For example Noone.

 

[willyfantastic]

Ive found it a lot more difficult to loan players this year. Clubs either want a fee or a proportion of the players wages paid.
And then the half decent players I want to sign have no interest on coming on loan. For example Noone.

to be fair it was far too easy to loan players for nothing last year

unfortunately you may be right in the fact the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction.

however, i have no idea of the details on a lot of the loans - maybe SIGames know more than we do...

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

I think its is harder to loan but more realistic. I got Matt Doherty on loan for Wolves for 50% wages. Its rare in real life in the top divisions that you get a loan for nothıng.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Tempted to buy tomorrow...... will probably do the same as usual, Eastbourne (or maybe this year Whitehawk since they up now) till January update then do a Brighton career with updated squads

 

[Seagull1989]

Agree that loaning was too easy on last years game but is too difficult imo this year especially when lower league teams. But we didn't pay Bridge his full wages when we had him here did we

having said that now on my Brighton game in Feb 16 points clear and only lost once too easy

 

[WhingForPresident]

So much for Europa League... It's never usually this difficult.

 

[jcdenton08]

JC Denton always brings out the worst in me. Every year I promise not to play the Albion as its just to much stress and I can never find a wing-play tactic Im happy with. But then JC does his overview and Im tempted to try again. So I took over as an ex-professional and made the following transfers
View attachment 48847

So far this season its been grand.. my best ever start with the Albion
View attachment 48848

And now its Chelsea in the cup and Im not fielding my absolute best team but tactics are:

View attachment 48849

Loving your attacking set up mate. I tend to go 4-2-4 when really struggling to create chances, go slightly more direct and push Buckley/Orlandi on. Creates chances, but also leaves us wide open against better sides on the break. Keep the updates a-comin'!

 

[jcdenton08]

So much for Europa League... It's never usually this difficult.

Looks a pretty decent season to me, that. You're beating the teams around and below you and only losing to the top sides - a hiccup or two aside!

I think I'm going to play second XI's for games I'm almost certain to lose (Man City/Man Utd/Liverpool/Chelsea/Arsenal away!). Can't remember who did that in real life a few seasons ago but they got absolutely slated for it... luckily I'm "untouchable" sooo

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

So THATS IT! 8 games to go and promotion assured:



Slightly marred by the last game but as Reading blew it thats ok. Good runs in the cups too.



I chopped and changed more than Ranieri mostly because I play a high press and always because of injuries:



Tony gave me a new contract and then followed it up by giving me and the fam a hol for the rest of the season. Even Nathan couldnt balls up the title could he?

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Here are the transfer... only one loan and two regens fts added

 

[WhingForPresident]

Appointed Dougie Freedman as my assistant manager just for the amusement of being his boss. He's actually helped turn things around to his credit:



Europa League attempt is back on.



Also made a pretty good free transfer for next season:

 

[sten_super]

Appointed Dougie Freedman as my assistant manager just for the amusement of being his boss. He's actually helped turn things around to his credit:

I did something similar, although I appointed him as the manager of the U18s. He only hung around for 3/4 of a season though, before he was poached to become manager of the Japan national team! I agreed terms with Poyet to be his replacement, only to then cancel the deal at the last minute, for similarly maniacal reasons. It is just me or is it relatively easy to get very good staff as soon as you get promoted to the Premier League? I hired Ralf Ragnick and a whole host of excellent assistant manager, coaches, physios and scouts in the off season before my first season in the Prem. Talking of which...

...it's gone far better than I could have expected, or indeed than any of my attempts in previous games. Major signings were Danny Batth and Sam Byram from relegated Leeds, Sebastien Coates from Liverpool, Danny Husband from Doncastor, Emmanuel Frimpong from Arsenal and, in January, Gael Kakuta from Chelsea, Rory Donnelly from Swansea and Charlie Mulgrew from Celtic. The only signing from the first season still first choice is Jordi Gomez (Wigan). My first choice team is (4-1-2-2-1);

----------------Ulloa--------------
Lua Lua-------------------Buckley
----------Gomez--Augustien-------
-------------Frimpong-------------
Husband-Coates---Batth---Byram
--------------Kuszczak------------

We started with a couple of scrappy wins against teams also fighting relegation (Hudds and Palace away) and it all snowballed from there. I'm playing attacking football so have quite a lot of high scoring games. Ulloa has been consistently very good (20 league goals with 4 games left in the league season), while Lua Lua (13 goals, 8 assists) and Buckley (10 goals, 14 assists) have both had purple patches at different times and my full backs (playing as complete wing backs) have been fantastic going forwards. With 4 games to go we are currently 3rd in the league, miles behind Man Utd (who have already secured the title), with Spurs, Chelsea and Man City all just behind us with games in hand (and Arsenal in front). Highlights have been beating Liverpool home and away and a recent away win at Stamford Bridge 2-3 despite only having four shots on target the entire game! In the cups, we went out of the League Cup to Man City in the fourth round, but have had a nice easy draw in the FA Cup a couple of Championship clubs, Fulham and West Ham at home and have beaten them all, due to play Palace (who, despite being 19th in the league, somehow scraped past Man City in the semi final) in the final in a couple of weeks.

I've got no idea how we're going to fare next season - I haven't been able to attract any decent overseas Bosmans due to our low reputation, and it's going to be a massive struggle to bring in enough quality to compete effectively in the Champions League if we make it. Part of me would rather we don't (I wouldn't mind the Europa League) so that I can concentrate on the league again next season and build up the squad strength and depth more organically. I've bought in a few young players (three from Ireland, a couple from other english clubs) who are highly rated and who, given time, could become first team regulars, and I don't want to outgrow that potential too quickly.

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

All of you with your 'big' signings are missing out on the real fun: signing 'names' to play in the lower leagues.

I've managed to get Boa Morte to Wrexham (BSP) and Zamora and Murray (yes, him) to Grimsby (L2).

The two strikers are soon to follow me to Exeter (BSP). Good times!

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

I did something similar, although I appointed him as the manager of the U18s. He only hung around for 3/4 of a season though, before he was poached to become manager of the Japan national team! I agreed terms with Poyet to be his replacement, only to then cancel the deal at the last minute, for similarly maniacal reasons. It is just me or is it relatively easy to get very good staff as soon as you get promoted to the Premier League? I hired Ralf Ragnick and a whole host of excellent assistant manager, coaches, physios and scouts in the off season before my first season in the Prem. Talking of which...

...it's gone far better than I could have expected, or indeed than any of my attempts in previous games. Major signings were Danny Batth and Sam Byram from relegated Leeds, Sebastien Coates from Liverpool, Danny Husband from Doncastor, Emmanuel Frimpong from Arsenal and, in January, Gael Kakuta from Chelsea, Rory Donnelly from Swansea and Charlie Mulgrew from Celtic. The only signing from the first season still first choice is Jordi Gomez (Wigan). My first choice team is (4-1-2-2-1);

----------------Ulloa--------------
Lua Lua-------------------Buckley
----------Gomez--Augustien-------
-------------Frimpong-------------
Husband-Coates---Batth---Byram
--------------Kuszczak------------

We started with a couple of scrappy wins against teams also fighting relegation (Hudds and Palace away) and it all snowballed from there. I'm playing attacking football so have quite a lot of high scoring games. Ulloa has been consistently very good (20 league goals with 4 games left in the league season), while Lua Lua (13 goals, 8 assists) and Buckley (10 goals, 14 assists) have both had purple patches at different times and my full backs (playing as complete wing backs) have been fantastic going forwards. With 4 games to go we are currently 3rd in the league, miles behind Man Utd (who have already secured the title), with Spurs, Chelsea and Man City all just behind us with games in hand (and Arsenal in front). Highlights have been beating Liverpool home and away and a recent away win at Stamford Bridge 2-3 despite only having four shots on target the entire game! In the cups, we went out of the League Cup to Man City in the fourth round, but have had a nice easy draw in the FA Cup a couple of Championship clubs, Fulham and West Ham at home and have beaten them all, due to play Palace (who, despite being 19th in the league, somehow scraped past Man City in the semi final) in the final in a couple of weeks.

I've got no idea how we're going to fare next season - I haven't been able to attract any decent overseas Bosmans due to our low reputation, and it's going to be a massive struggle to bring in enough quality to compete effectively in the Champions League if we make it. Part of me would rather we don't (I wouldn't mind the Europa League) so that I can concentrate on the league again next season and build up the squad strength and depth more organically. I've bought in a few young players (three from Ireland, a couple from other english clubs) who are highly rated and who, given time, could become first team regulars, and I don't want to outgrow that potential too quickly.

So youve managed to get to third in your firsts eason in the Prem? Bloody hell that IS good.

Back from my hols to find Nathan did a pretty good job and wrapped up the title at a romp with 107 pts, 17 clear of Reading.

Now Im started to consider the rebuilding of my team for the Prem. Ive always believed you should have two first teamers for each position and one under 21 potential for each position. With my squad as it is now it will be probably:

GK: Kuszczak and Keita but may need another esp as Keita is under 21
DR Bruno has gone on an ft and Calderon will follow. I have an ft coming in July (Ximo) but will need one more.
DC Dunk will be first choice and have an Argentinean ft coming in July (Vertiginos?). Will keep Greer and Upson as back-up but will release El Abd. May need two potential under-21s
LB Insua will stay and Ward will go back. Need at least one more.
MCs Crofts, Bridcutt, Agustien and JFC (under21) to stay. Andrews to go and Ince gone ft to Falkirk. Need at least one more 1st teamer and one under-21.
AMR Lopex and Buckley to stay but need one high poptential u21
AML With Orlandi and LuaLua as AMR. Dont think March and Dickinson will be enough
SC Oldoni, Ulloa and Burgui to stay. CMS to go and Barnes not sure... depends on what I can get. Need one first team and two high potential under 21.

Have got 3 or 4 very promising regens who may fill in the u21 positions but now we wait to see what Tony gives me to spend..... Will probably get three cheap but quality foriegners and end up paying double the worth for two home-growns.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

All of you with your 'big' signings are missing out on the real fun: signing 'names' to play in the lower leagues.

I've managed to get Boa Morte to Wrexham (BSP) and Zamora and Murray (yes, him) to Grimsby (L2).

The two strikers are soon to follow me to Exeter (BSP). Good times!

I agree... I love playing non-league and trying to get them up and will return to Whitehawk in a while but for the first time in a few years Im feeling quite confident about my Albion save.

 

[sten_super]

So youve managed to get to third in your firsts eason in the Prem? Bloody hell that IS good.

I'd love to say it's all skill and I'm a tactical genius but it isn't and I'm not. I played around, found a formation/tactics that worked and have stuck with it. We play attacking fluid football with a defensive midfield, one or two playmakers, a target man and plenty of width. My experiences of the match engine are that:

- marauding fullbacks are relatively seldomly exposed up-field, while adding a lot in an attacking sense. Where fullbacks have been at fault for goals it's tended to be because they're defending far too narrow (often when a winger has drifted inside and the overlapping full back is exploting the space) rather than people running in behind them
- altering player roles to suit particular players pays huge dividends - so for example Kakuta plays on the left wing as a winger, but Lua Lua plays there as an inside forward
- both wingers and inside forwards have a tendancy to drift inside when the ball is on the opposite wing - my wide players score a lot (IMHO at least, an unrealistic amount) of headers or tap ins at the far post - meaning that playing a single striker can often end up with at least two bodies in the box (unlike in previous versions)

I still think I'll end up 6th or 7th as I have a few tricky games to come, but I'm very happy with the season nonetheless.