Football Manager - "Who should I manage?" Megathread

"Who should I manage?" Megathread
I turned Millwall into the most aggressive team in the world - Part IV
I'm proud of my team
Don't cheap out on data analysts!
Under 23/18 Management
Feyenoord: Club of the People | Moneyball Part I
You know the table's close when you can lose 2 games and drop 8 places
Ummmmm has anyone else noticed Neil Baths stats on FM???????
What lower league management in Sweden looks like
The story of Esaú - From on loan in a relegation battle to scoring in the Champions League final within 6 months.
I fear one of my regens might be a Sith Lord
Grassroots Soccer League
I'm having a poor season, 5th after 23 games, but goals like this gives me hope...
Guess i got another son
FM'd harder than I've ever been FM'd before...
You've got bald 16 year olds, I present you the 17 year old with a gray beard
My best regen so far
1 decisions, 20 vision
New to FM need some help.
Is this a good, bad or indifferent Brexit outcome?
Regen on fm20
Heart attack SZN
ok.... didnt want to go on a Cup run anyway
Southampton will be playing European Football whilst also being in the Championship ��

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 01:15 PM PST

If you're looking for a team to manage, a challenge to do, or you yourself have suggestions for teams/challenges for other people to do, use this thread to discuss.

^{This is to seperate these kinds of questions from the Help Thread, which is more for gameplay/tactics questions}

submitted by /u/ApuFromTechSupport
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I turned Millwall into the most aggressive team in the world - Part IV

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 04:09 AM PST

Link to Part I

Link to Part II

Link to Part III

We go again, for a second season of football played the true Millwall way. Can we better last season's playoff position? And, more importantly, can we increase our foul count?

Millwall | Season II | Foul Targets

Our defeat in the Championship playoffs consigns us to another season chasing the promised land of the Premier League. But there is a silver lining – there are eight more fixtures in the Championship every year, so it gives us an opportunity to better last year's impressive tallies. This is what we are aiming for, at a minimum, this season:

Yellow Cards: 156 → new target 165+

Red Cards: 6 → new target 10+

Fouls: 1118 → new target 1200+

I once again set our code of conduct to omit any fines for cards, and refuse to back down when the players again complain about it. They should be delighted; the club would've probably made at least six figures in fines last year had I left it standard.

Friendlies

The board give me a shortlist of places to hold the pre-season training camp. I don't even need to look at it. We're having our training camp here in London, the greatest city in the world.

https://preview.redd.it/emj56hmz7z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3da9a4ab0c74c61d51efd3344e7cd51e13735fd0

I had planned to arrange something of a cricket test series against Leeds in pre-season, to add a bit of bite to our friendly fixtures. Unfortunately Leeds don't seem to understand, and refuse to play us seven times in short succession. Instead, I arrange a gruelling nine game pre-season against every one of our club rivals (excluding West Ham, who refuse to play a friendly against their arch rivals…!), and two of our new feeder teams.

The plan just about works. We manage to get at least two bookings a game, committing around 20 fouls in the process, which is a marked improvement on last year's pre-season. The high comes against Shrewsbury, with seven yellows in a dire goalless draw, and I learn that FA disciplinary fines don't apply to friendlies.

Summer Transfer Setbacks

Our failure to gain promotion hits us harder than I'd expected. Our club reputation hasn't changed since last year, and our key targets again refuse to talk to us. Lee Cattermole seems to be loving life in Venlo, if that's even a real place, and once again ignores our approach. Other key targets follow suit.

https://preview.redd.it/t4sgoei18z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50aa6d39379859e1d3fbb02b9b04a4feb43bc40d

My scouts on the continent bring me grave news. Pepe has announced his retirement. He won't even stay on in a non-playing role. The footballing world will lose one of the all-time greats, and the Millwall faithful will never get to see him line up alongside Shaun Hutchinson and Sonny Bradley at the heart of our defence.

https://preview.redd.it/53k38mx28z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8a3e5ddba4febbb61dda9418312213e38100c82

Despite these setbacks we do make some progress. To my delight Liverpool agree to loan us their shithouse goalkeeper Kamil Grabara. I will deal with the problem of signing him on a permanent deal another year, but for now, at least, we have solved our goalkeeping issue. Since he already argues with officials and winds up opponents there's not much he can learn, but I decide to try to teach him to take free kicks too.

For backup, I sign Jojo Wollacott from Bristol City for a hefty potential £5m fee. He's way overpriced, but his wages are low, he's happy to be a backup, and he has 20 aggression. If I can somehow get him arguing with referees he'll be a star.

The main deal of the summer drags on right until transfer deadline day. Ben Pearson. We somehow avoid starting a bidding war with the likes of Leicester by waiting until late on in the window. He wants £20k a week, way above any other Millwall player. I manage to negotiate him down to £18k, still expensive, but if you want this level of shithousery you have to pay good money.

https://preview.redd.it/ksur1yf68z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ed29ba277ab1bdd43455517aa0d5e343fc62fb8

In other business, we sign centre back Jack Fitzwater on a free transfer, last year's loanee Phil Ofosu-Ayeh for £60k, and striker Ivan Toney from Peterborough for £250k. He hasn't scored in 26 hours of football, which concerns the fans, but he does wind up opponents, which in my book is far more important.

Outgoings are fairly standard. I sell or loan everyone who isn't a bastard (or a bastard in the making). The most notable outgoings are squad midfielder Ryan Leonard for £750k, and striker Tom Bradshaw for £5m. I'd already agreed the Bradshaw deal last year, after he failed to dive into tackles. Not only did he then go on to learn that trait at the second attempt, he also learned to wind up opponents from his mentoring group. Realising my mistake, I immediately ask to loan him back. For some strange reason Burnley agree.

https://preview.redd.it/wtoiujz8az541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed78a39204e141d3fdb5a7d77a7a7a9b7f77ba3f

Pearson Dreams of Relegation

The season starts poorly. We lose our first four games, finally ending the run with a 3-3 draw. We're leaking way too many goals. Grabara is at fault for a number of them, but more concerningly we concede loads from free kicks to the far post. This is exacerbated by the fact that we give away a lot of free kicks. If we can't defend them, we're doomed.

I'd trialled a more open 5-2-3 in pre-season, hoping to force my players into last ditch fouls and up our booking count. It failed on all aspects, and I am forced to return to the tried and tested 5-3-2 to try and get us winning again.

We do eventually win some games, but our form on the whole remains poor, and any hopes of promotion turn to worries about relegation. Weirdly we look fantastic in the League Cup, reaching the quarter finals, though I attribute this to us employing the Man City tactic of getting easy draws every round.

https://preview.redd.it/qsk8y2ln8z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=93eae09fbffee5d5949397f702a97a7b75609798

Our card count, our raison d'être, is exceptional. Our first seven games see us receive three disciplinary fines, the high coming at Nottingham Forest in a repeat of last year – eight yellows and a red. We're up on last year already. I just need to turn these fouls into points somehow.

Ben Pearson is deserving of special mention. In just three matches he gets a suspension for five yellow cards (after investigating I discover it's because he played twice for Preston before joining us, getting booked in both games). He will go on to get eight bookings and a red card in his first ten games for us. His performances are terrible otherwise, and he may be a reason for our league position. But it's £5.5m well spent.

The Beginning of the End?

We slip towards the relegation zone. Our performances do improve – and we continue our solid card count – but our strikers have seemingly forgotten how to score goals. Injuries to Matt Smith and Ivan Toney, our only forwards in any semblance of form, have compounded matters. Joe Garner hasn't scored all season. Ryan Edmondson's highlight reel consists of him consistently heading crosses over from six yards. Tom Bradshaw dribbles into excellent positions only to put his shots straight at the goalkeeper every time.

Two very winnable games at Blackpool and Blackburn end up 1-1 draws. This is followed by two 1-0 losses, the second a last-minute defeat after we go down to ten men. Last year we'd have won all four games. I'm not surprised to be summoned to a board meeting, where I'm given a lifeline – get nine points from the next five games or lose my job.

https://preview.redd.it/ipai3lzo8z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b372b0f5062e5af9310932f557da885e0630e16

This is a tall order. It's made even more difficult with yet another suspension for Ben Pearson, and with Ofosu-Ayeh also out for three games after his straight red. But the fixtures are winnable. We just need to score some actual goals.

The first game is probably the easiest, at home to newly-promoted Ipswich. We hammer at the gate but cannot break it down, picking up another five bookings but eventually having to settle for a nil-nil draw. It's not good enough. Edmondson had the cheek to ask for an improved contract a few weeks back, yet he somehow scores fewer goals than Oumar Niasse.

Thankfully Smith and Toney both return from injury for our next game, a tough fixture away at local rivals Charlton. It's a tight affair, before Shane Ferguson volleys in a worldie from outside the box just before half-time. We injure two players, and with them down to ten men through no fault of their own Smith seals the win in the final seconds. A crucial victory, Millwall-style.

We go away to Rotherham next, another promoted side, and scrape a 1-0 win thanks to an excellent finish from Toney. I even bring in fan-scapegoat Richie Smallwood for his first start in months. Back to basics.

I need two points from our next games to save my job. Unfortunately they're against the top two sides in the division. Against Aston Villa we take an early lead thanks to Pearson's first goal for the club, on his return from his third suspension of the year, but are under pressure from then on, eventually conceding an equaliser in the 74th minute, but somehow hanging on for the draw.

It all comes down to the fifth and final game. I need a point, but it's against rivals Brentford, who'd beaten us in the playoffs last year. I build my players up for the game by slagging off Brentford's manager in the press. I've come too far for this project to fail now.

https://preview.redd.it/1xm9t5029z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8f31f5cd8b22705d23473b0a882cf6d0480c37e

The game is a gruelling slog. We pick up three bookings early on, and to my dismay Molumby gives away a penalty, luckily escaping a second yellow for doing so. But it's Grabara's time to shine – he finally does something worthwhile, saving the shot low to his right-hand side! And on the stroke of half-time Matt Smith puts us ahead with an uncharacteristic powerful strike from the edge of the area. Are we actually doing this?! We sit back and disrupt any rhythm all second half, reaching seven bookings and keeping the score to 1-0. My job is safe, for now, and the ensuing FA fine caps a wonderful five-game run!

Season II – The Half-Way Point

And with my job safe, we reach the half-way point in the season. We've improved our fouls and cards from last year (we're on course for an exceptional 170 bookings even without playoff games), but our league form has been poor. I do think that performances have been better than our results, and that if we can take our chances the 12 point gap to the playoff positions isn't completely out of the question.

https://preview.redd.it/x64bt2fd9z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1cd9db1790c05d0e38b62a38817676cdbddd4aef

https://preview.redd.it/ux8s8s4e9z541.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=471821f30d92fa6c2f9d8f994ccf7a11aed9c90b

submitted by /u/Hurball
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I'm proud of my team

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 05:21 PM PST

submitted by /u/Radical_X75
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Don't cheap out on data analysts!

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 07:41 AM PST

submitted by /u/daniiel048
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Under 23/18 Management

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 02:10 PM PST

How great would it be if FM added opportunities to manage Under 23/18 sides at club level to help journeyman saves? Imagine being able for example to move from the likes of Crewe first team to a Prem Under 23's that gave opportunities for interim charge etc. Would especially be useful given the greater managerial identity this year that you are given when applying for jobs on FM20 (great addition imo).

submitted by /u/JackOulton1
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Feyenoord: Club of the People | Moneyball Part I

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 10:09 AM PST

Hello all,

After being inspired by Alex Stewart's Bristol City using a Moneyball system, I've decided to do the same. The ideals are inspired by Kuper and Szymanski's excellent football analytics book Soccernomics. The rules, broadly, are as follows.

The system never changes - you pick a formation and tactics, and you swear by it. Build your team around your system, not the other way around.
Spend less than what you're getting - the players you bring in should be worth more than you spend for them. Whether you get them on a free or they've been transfer listed, they should be a bargain for what they present.
Don't spend money necessarily - If you don't use number 10's, don't sign Eriksen on a pre-contract just because he's fallen out with Levy.
Improve the areas where you are weak, don't overload where you are strong - If you have one left-back and he's losing you games, replace him but keep him as a back-up. You still need two players for every position.
No player is irreplaceable - don't build your system around a winger at the expense of your defence. Everywhere counts, and can win and lose your points.
"Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles" - according to The Number's Game, another excellent book, Sir Alex's quote is true. Each clean sheet is apparently worth two goals scored in terms of points over the season. A good defence is a priority.
The backroom counts - You need an efficient team behind you if you want your work to show. To get the players, you need good scouts and to train them, good coaches. Instilling your own backroom is essential.

-----

But who am I managing? And why? Where would this system work?

Feyenoord. The club is, by their standards, underachieving this season by sitting in the sixth position of the Eredivise, so they need someone to renovate them. They have money, but not on the same scope as Ajax and PSV Eindhoven. Despite this, they're the third biggest club in the league, so an ultra-defensive strategy won't work for them like in most Moneyball scenarios. They've had financial issues before, and don't want to fall into this again. They want to become the best... but on a budget.

The Plan

At Feyenoord we're going to play with 4-3-3, very dutch. They'll be a defensive midfielder to control the play from the back in front of two ball-playing defenders. They'll be accompanied by two marauding wingbacks which will overlap my inverted wingers that flank the supporting complete striker. Very Klopp-esque. The pitch will surround my box-to-box midfielder and my carrilero, after all, someone has to do the dirty work of getting the ball from one end to the other.

https://preview.redd.it/1x9h3lh6z0641.png?width=603&format=png&auto=webp&s=510536cc96e8df0b6d71da5aa95a0ed6ecddf23c

Transfer Market

Obviously, before the January window I won't be able to see players' statistics and ratings, so market usage will be scarce. Despite this, a dip into the scouting pool will be necessary. Jorgensen, my sole striker, is injured for two months. He'll need replacing. A complete forward will be my only purchase though, we're not made of money... or scouting right now.

-----

All feedback is massively appreciated, as I'll be making a new post twice a season. Thanks for reading, part two to come shortly.

submitted by /u/jamesdavidms
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You know the table's close when you can lose 2 games and drop 8 places

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 04:02 PM PST

submitted by /u/FluffyZebras
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Ummmmm has anyone else noticed Neil Baths stats on FM???????

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 06:25 PM PST

submitted by /u/shabalala151
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What lower league management in Sweden looks like

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 11:20 AM PST

submitted by /u/edit_life
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The story of Esaú - From on loan in a relegation battle to scoring in the Champions League final within 6 months.

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 12:40 PM PST

I'm playing as Athletic Bilbao, which means that you cannot sign players that aren't from Basque. The game just does not let you.

Because of this, you really have to plan for the future as you can't rely on other Basque clubs to produce world class talent.

I'm in the 2027/28 season. I have a problem at right wing. Inaki Williams (who was world class at one point) got a 9 month injury in the 25/26 season after scoring 17 in 21 in the league.

What do I do? I can't sign anyone as there are no right wingers that are available.

I look at my squad and re-train my second choice striker who at one point won the Golden Boy, Roberto Alonso.. I give him about 1.5 seasons at right wing to prove his quality.. but he wasn't good enough.

It's January in my save, and I need to win the Champions League, I'm losing my sanity trying to get this club to win it. Alonso is underperforming, and probably can't get me there.

I look at the academy.. not much there. I look at my on loan players.. hmm, Esaú looks decent for a 19 year old. He's fighting for relegation with Zaragoza and has 1 goal, 3 assists in 19 games. His stats are fairly average as well.

I decide to take a punt with him. Recall him from loan, he's starting my next league game.

12 league games later, he's got 10 goals, 4 assists.. 7.98 average rating.

Big game is coming up.. Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao in the CL final. Played them 2 years prior in the final and we lost.

The decision is, play Esaú who has quite mediocre stats compared to Alonso (here's a comparison) or play Alonso who is very good in his own right.

I decide to play Esaú.. and he does it. He scores a lovely chipped header over De Gea.

The final result, 1-2 for Bilbao with an incredible 90+3 winner from Arrieta.. who at 20 is quite remarkable as well.

submitted by /u/SimonFOOTBALL
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I fear one of my regens might be a Sith Lord

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 08:30 PM PST

submitted by /u/srv340mike
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Grassroots Soccer League

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 01:37 PM PST

(I would like to thank the subreddit Mods for permission to post)

Hello Football Manager fans! Have you ever wanted to live the life of your favorite professional football player? To sign for a team and fight for titles? Now is the time! Create your own Football superstar in the Grassroots Soccer League! The League was just created last week, so new players are signing up from all over the World.

In this league, you control only one player and after creation you pretty much start with all your stats at 1. Did you ever sign a player with every stat as 1 on your glorious FM saves? You are given some Skill Points to spend in the beginning, so that you can start building the player you want to be. Every position is available, so choose the one you want to break records with. Do you want to be next Messi or Ronaldo? Or you prefer to play defense, as a Virgil Van Dijk type of player? Maybe Pirlo needs to make a comeback… Buffon even? It's entirely up to you.

You then go through an entire career with your player. Since the league just started, we are also looking for suggestions for team names for their creation, which means… you can also apply to be the owner/GM/Co-GM of one of them! That's right, you can have your player on the team but be responsible for everything else, or do it with a friend as Co-GM. Tactics, signings, contracts, facilities upgrades, you can do it all. And the best part is that every other player is also a real person who has created a player like you, so you get to hang out with them in locker rooms on the forum and Discord, and see how your player does in games.

Now you may be asking, how does my player get better? Mainly through activity! You earn Skill Points through various things like a weekly activity check, game predictions and tasks on the forums to make your player better, so that one day they'll end up in the Hall of Fame! If you worry about needing to spend a lot of time on the game, be aware that a few logins can still earn you enough Skill Points to update your player and help the team that signs you.

All the games will be streamed live on Youtube using Football Manager 20, so you will get a chance to watch your player and laugh at every missed sitter or failed tackle.

This league is completely free and run by volunteers. We are a growing community of users controlling players in the league, which means we have tons of football fans. We have plenty of spots open for newbies like us!

This is a perfect time to join, as everything is still getting started. Bring your suggestions as well. Come check us out and create your own player!

Here is the link to our discord --> https://discord.gg/37W3SSD

Here is the link to our forum --> http://grsl.xyz/forum/

If you have any questions - please feel free to ask here, or on Discord. Lots of people always willing to help there. Let's make this League a fun and competitive place.

submitted by /u/Opera_Phantom
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I'm having a poor season, 5th after 23 games, but goals like this gives me hope...

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 08:51 AM PST

submitted by /u/iSmiff
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Guess i got another son

Posted: 20 Dec 2019 11:19 PM PST

submitted by /u/Vladimir_Slavic_Boi
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FM'd harder than I've ever been FM'd before...

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 02:04 PM PST

submitted by /u/adharris97
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You've got bald 16 year olds, I present you the 17 year old with a gray beard

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 05:37 AM PST

submitted by /u/JoNaThaNThefIrelOrd
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My best regen so far

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 02:22 PM PST

https://preview.redd.it/dgk5l5p0a2641.png?width=1757&format=png&auto=webp&s=b01f3c82d81ca44eebe34826e89df781d8e357b0

Came through the trials, 1 month later I gave him a league start at the end of the season and he managed to score on his 2nd ever game. Youngest goalscorer for the club and the league , just 16 years and 50 days. The future's looking bright.

submitted by /u/Vlajko18
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1 decisions, 20 vision

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 03:29 PM PST

submitted by /u/clintomcruisewood
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New to FM need some help.

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 04:32 PM PST

Hello, as the title says I need some help. Here is my situation: I'm managing a non-league side (Gateshead) and we're loosing money. I'm currently spending a little over 2,000 pounds under the wage budget and have not spent any of my transfer budget and the board are criticizing me for the club loosing money. Does anyone know why the club might be loosing money and if there is anything I can do about it?

submitted by /u/XxepicuserxX
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Is this a good, bad or indifferent Brexit outcome?

Posted: 21 Dec 2019 04:25 PM PST