Jump to content

[FM 17] If You’re Not First, You’re Last Redux – Redemption For The “Nearly Men” Of Europe


ManUtd1
 Share

Recommended Posts

Leeds did not promote, so I'm faced with something of a dilemma.  I'm not sold on Club Brugge.  I like the ability to import and focus on youth, but I'm not feeling it.

I've been plotting out a possession-based tactic (nothing groundbreaking, I assure you)...I just don't think that Belgium is where I want to go next.  Greece or Serbia?  Count me in.  France?  Where do I sign up?  And so on and so forth.

So, I'm going to take the advice I've given others and pass on Club Brugge.  For now.  

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Replies 5.8k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

1 hour ago, ManUtd1 said:

Heh...yeah.  I gave up the game a few years ago, but a youth only save in FM 15 brought me back.  Of all the vices I could have, my wife tolerates this one, coffee and jelly beans :)

As for the weekend of insanity...it's a long story.  Last Friday I f'd up my left ankle quite badly.  Mind you, I utterly destroyed my right ankle more than a decade ago playing footie.  More than 7 surgeries later, there's nothing that can be done for it but to suffer the daily pain/instability; I'm too young for a fusion or total ankle replacement.  So, back to the present...as of Friday, my left ankle was a mess and walking/compensating made my right ankle hurt even more than usual.  I basically spent the weekend icing/elevating both ankles.  It was utterly ridiculous.  The left ankle is getting better, but...man.  Not good.  I highly recommend against this.

Not too different for me. Killing time on here reading about youth only saves piqued my attention again in the summer after a long break. That plus not being able to play (on account of ACL reconstruction) nor watch (lousy, glory-boy professionals these days refusing to play year round). Need a fix one way or another, else I get the shakes.

Helps that FM is very compatible with real life -- easy to pause, fairly mobile, and easy to quietly play when the SO is falling asleep.

Edited by Ceching You Out
Link to post
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, Ceching You Out said:

Helps that FM is very compatible with real life -- easy to pause, fairly mobile, and easy to quietly play when the SO is falling asleep.

On the train to/from the office, etc.  So much more compatible than other games I've enjoyed over the years.  

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hahahaha...good one, Ludwig.  You crack me up.  I'm glad you called, though -- how's Karlsson looking in training?  

Oh, really.  I'm...sorry.  I just assumed...no, no, it's ok.  None taken.  I wish you the best of luck.

44b14a8c048555803b39a42b92758fe3.png

Link to post
Share on other sites

Call it petty.  Call it whatever you like.  I'd love nothing more than a job in France right now, to bury Reims.  

Even Apples is furious, having had her heart set on moving to France not once but twice, and twice having the rug pulled out from beneath her.  

At least this time it isn't me she's made at.  In fact, her anger has brought us closer together.  Given us a common enemy, if you will.

It's us against the world, babe.  

(Guess who just read Sir Alex's bio for the 37th time?  THIS guy.)

Link to post
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, ManUtd1 said:

Call it petty.  Call it whatever you like.  I'd love nothing more than a job in France right now, to bury Reims.  

Even Apples is furious, having had her heart set on moving to France not once but twice, and twice having the rug pulled out from beneath her.  

At least this time it isn't me she's made at.  In fact, her anger has brought us closer together.  Given us a common enemy, if you will.

It's us against the world, babe.  

(Guess who just read Sir Alex's bio for the 37th time?  THIS guy.)

Did you read Roy Keane's one? It goes from his tackle on Alfie Haaland up to him taking the assistant manager job at Ireland. It's quite good. Fergie's one is very good as well.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Just now, Fer Fuchs Ake said:

Did you read Roy Keane's one? It goes from his tackle on Alfie Haaland up to him taking the assistant manager job at Ireland. It's quite good. Fergie's one is very good as well.

It's on my list, but I haven't gotten to it!  I'll take the recommendation, though.

(Telleus has read SAF's biography 37 times, not me!  He's had a lot of downtime this summer.)

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, BoxToBox said:

The hell has Gregory Proment done?

He may not have won the World Cup or the Champions League with 3 different sides, but he did win promotion from the Championnat National in 2013, and won Ligue 2 in 2019.  Oh, and he avoided relegation in 2028, after finishing 18th, by winning the promotion/relegation playoff.

92850c44fde04b6660fe17d9d41cb236.jpg 8baff2dc97bd289f1712c09c2918a522.jpg

Not much ambition at Stade de Reims these days, it seems.

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, BoxToBox said:

Somewhere there's a French Paul Merson delighted with this "...we can't have zee foreign types in our league, what's he done? I could have won with Gladbach...."

And Zidane is just nodding along next to him.  To be fair, it WAS his side...

Link to post
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, ManUtd1 said:

Much appreciated, man.  The idea was originally yours, anyways, so I'm just glad to be doing it justice!  

Heh...the back-and-forth with @LPQR reminded me of the epic IFK Malmo save in FM15 that you were there for, as well.  Good times!  When I hit Leeds, I may try to replicate the 433/23221 system I implemented there, for the tiki-taka approach I've vowed to take at that stop on the tour.

A challenge I created but yet never completed. Maybe one day, but for now you'll find me screaming at club boards for better youth facilities for centuries to come :p

Did not see that coming with Reims, ridiculous!

Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

September 2029 - World Cup Qualifying Update

That's more like it.  A solid display at home against Montenegro, and a much needed 3 points  The trip to Azerbaijan started off in the worst possible way, but we finished them off in spectacular fashion.  Poland beat Greece 1-0, so we move into 2nd...but still have some work to do.

88fb5f36390d26dce92484802dcaddc3.jpg 5110d0bd8e13d3bb20396bb909cec708.jpg

4193062062217c6de59fac4366b1bea7.png

70b3dc3ffeb690b4c2186ecb1da6ed85.png

Oh, yes.  We have work to do.  Away to both Poland and Greece, with home matches against the Azeris and Andorrans.

[Edit: note how Vujovic keeps making an absolute mockery of my early thoughts to play with three forwards, due to the strength/depth up top.  *sigh*]

Edited by ManUtd1
Link to post
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, smp20 said:

A challenge I created but yet never completed. Maybe one day, but for now you'll find me screaming at club boards for better youth facilities for centuries to come :p

Did not see that coming with Reims, ridiculous!

Totally ridiculous, but the Czechs did the same thing right after the World Cup!

Yeah, that's quite the challenge you've set for yourself.  The love of developing youth will make it a great journey, with some odd destinations to be found.

Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

October 2029 - World Cup Qualifying Update

A big win away to Poland has put us in the driver's seat.  Andorra at home was simply a formality.  It all comes down to the trip to Greece in one month's time.

The margins feel narrower than they should, but we're on track.

cee0b2cabdea9c1ac4bf97091137f2c2.jpg c9ccc87da982f2b020f21f9cad3bb068.jpg

62be74b5ebda65d00bd0c40b6c43f3ff.png

Greece plays at Poland on the final matchday, so there's another chance for dropped points if we slip on a banana peel.

Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

November 2029 - World Cup Qualifying Update

An absolutely brutal away match in Greece, but a win away put us on the brink.  All we had to do was not slip up against the Azeris.

87e66c83f26466c309eae75820777fc2.jpg 62dca39ef65dfe7cc06d6245e0811675.jpg

f0d6632b591725be27368901b15292b3.png

05f06b014182f266f3775e53a1e521e3.png

We'll be joined at the World Cup in Spain by the usual suspects...and the Irish.

df1f5f25ebea88f2f6251c0c5eb7339a.png 1bf5bb4f703524609f6f48948fb73eaa.png 09da60e4debf3a913cf0d61ccb3abfd2.png

cde6d1cf39e74ce0b1dd2b426b91d796.png

Link to post
Share on other sites

It's almost December, meaning it's time for some useless ****s to get the axe.  Good ol' Gregory is getting closer.

71984669aa44c229e8bb260a2d609339.jpg

[Edit: What a difference a week makes...precarious!

a991a850491da1161eb3b8710e5d3523.jpg

People are getting fired throughout December, but no one at an eligible club.  Through Christmas, and Gregory is back to insecure having managed a few draws and a cup win on penalties.]

Edited by ManUtd1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Boom! Where are we going? Time to get a loan out of the Credit Union, load up the camper van with booze and book the tickets. (For Ireland obviously, don't mind you Swedes, time to knock those English down a peg or two!) How has Eddie Browne got on actually? 

Well done on turning it around and qualifying, pretty straight forward group and there's a lot of interesting teams there. Hope you get the Reins job this time around.

Link to post
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, Keano16 said:

Boom! Where are we going? Time to get a loan out of the Credit Union, load up the camper van with booze and book the tickets. (For Ireland obviously, don't mind you Swedes, time to knock those English down a peg or two!) How has Eddie Browne got on actually? 

Well done on turning it around and qualifying, pretty straight forward group and there's a lot of interesting teams there. Hope you get the Reins job this time around.

They keep nicking a win here or there to save Gregory's job.  It's only a matter of time, though.  They've got a beast of a forward I'd love to manage, so I'll put in if they open it up again.

16 hours ago, Fer Fuchs Ake said:

Oh dear! We have England and Argentina...

One of the first "real" (e.g., non-American) chants I ever learned was from a group of extremely drunk Irishmen... Who put the ball in the English net?  Half of bloody Europe!  Have faith...

15 hours ago, Repsalty said:

You should listen more to Apples I think, this is taking quite some time. I want my crazy stories!

Hakan is going a little stir crazy.  If it wasn't for the Sweden job, he'd have completely lost his mind.

Link to post
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, R7Now said:

I'd think so. Waiting for Stade Reims to open up sounds like the best thing game and story wise.

I don't generally disagree, and that was my initial impression as well.  My only hesitation is that their side is quite good, capable of playing the possession-based style I'm going to employ at the next stop on this crazy save...and, most importantly, I've been trying to sign this kid for years.

39adfed727ca1c735eb9cd8cac9344db.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

After much deliberation, I've turned down the job.  There was ample room for narrative with Telleus going back to Germany now -- Apples' anger/disappointment, the betrayal of going to one of Monkeegladderback's local rivals, more Junter, just to name a few things -- but, it would be of a much darker nature than I'd like, with themes of betrayal/etc that aren't in line with Telleus' character/persona.  It'd be a Bobby-Manc-esque move.  

e4986daec39116ecb5475bfe7f659145.png

Link to post
Share on other sites

Reims just keeps Gregory hanging on, in limbo as insecure/very insecure.  Meanwhile, Bobby Manc is running away with the title yet again...Mourinho's PSG is rampant...Fiorentina looks good value for the title, it's a two-way race in Spain, Brugge continues to dominate Belgium...and look at Panathinaikos in 6th.  It's a miracle that their manager hasn't been fired.  Partizan is also looking like eventual champions in Serbia.

740d344a7d1e8314273f08896344f75e.jpg

Edited by ManUtd1
Link to post
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, R7Now said:

Hooray! The journey of Hakan and Apples shall continue, hopefully in France. Unless they screw you over again.

Reims would be a great stop right now.  But, I'm looking primarily at France, Spain, Greece and Serbia.  England has to be prioritized if Leeds promote, of course.

Edited by ManUtd1
Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

Champions League 2029/30 Review

Before I can head off to the World Cup in Spain, we need to briefly recap the Champions League.  

dbe9d8e5d94607212eaac3ba1c5ea05d.jpg

Fiorentina triumphed 3-2 over Barcelona, with Civiero scoring a brace.  Nice!   Not much else of note, really.

5e25d4b473f8ca4116e5fc4ae5ee6c01.jpg

9dd414948f1fbb45a1c566d84c784308.png cbcf35d4241bddd905445f9a560c2134.jpg

32865db2f6095cdbf69d14ccd2d70c1b.jpg

The job market is alive and well, but nothing has cropped up.  Gregory managed to finish 14th with Reims, 5 points off the relegation zone.  They didn't fire him.  Shocking.

Panathinaikos' manager appears likely to survive a 4th place finish, as will the managers at Saint-Etienne (10th), Roma (4th), Valencia (4th, on goal difference).  Partizan and Brugge won their leagues; Monaco finished as runners-up.  Leverkusen finished 13th.  (Sampdoria, Frankfurt and Leeds are in inactive leagues, beneath the PL and Serie A.) 

And with that, I'm off to the World Cup.  A squad preview is coming up next.

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, ManUtd1 said:

After much deliberation, I've turned down the job. There was ample room for narrative with Telleus going back to Germany now -- Apples' anger/disappointment, the betrayal of going to one of Monkeegladderback's local rivals, more Junter, just to name a few things -- but, it would be of a much darker nature than I'd like, with themes of betrayal/etc that aren't in line with Telleus' character/persona. It'd be a Bobby-Manc-esque move.

e4986daec39116ecb5475bfe7f659145.png

While true, I was visualizing a different narrative. That of trying to recapture a lost love. With the one-season fling of Gladbach, there's easily an argument that he'd be trying to recapture that magical experience by going back to the themes and experiences that he thrived off of in Gladbach. Still, I respect the decision a lot. It can't be easy.

Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

World Cup 2030 - Squad Preview

Alright.  Let's do this.  The squad is selected, and we're ready to roll.  A quick overview as we head into the pre-tournament friendlies.  Here's the squad, my base tactic -- Grapefrukt 442, the same thing we've been playing since my appointment -- and my first XI.

f3ced776715ff830238f93c23b152068.jpg

91d292b0b3453023bc6fe7302563f4e0.png

54ebe9c60348e88472ec92d5d9ff3c65.png

a94749b63818d5598b3a041e0fd920a2.png

Goalkeepers

3a8179b40c23fc63af0f4ff95176fa85.jpg f9a5da834f21ef35ec21b4ffd975d672.jpg f2c567e59976c55ebf3dbf966f272af8.jpg

Rosenberg is my young star.  A Malmo youth product who I brought into Gladbach to mold into the keeper of the future.  Sjoberg is one of my former Malmo players and will deputize.  Stahl is...well, he's a last resort.

a94749b63818d5598b3a041e0fd920a2.png

Defenders

332a8962018b766eb1c42939e10bcfa7.jpg fff34cc247c3556d5186874635921ede.jpg e8666e4fa2c94886da18f08d2287f709.jpg dd0f3e15a60d8752d91f3e647bb40b89.jpg 8f3528011af0badbe5e40b8241639242.jpg f72ec25d51642d14f18824477f3ed5bc.jpg f91ee8c5fcf2036a2ce490337831ebc8.jpg 286771b9fa7be36355a2e23943fecdb9.jpg

I like our back line.  I've got Augustsson (one of my best Malmo players in the Class of '22), flanked on the wings by Pettersson and Karlsson, both of whom I recruited to Gladbach.  Augustsson will pair with either Sagaf, Lindelhof (the grandpa of the squad) or Lundgren (who snubbed me at Gladbach for Chelsea, where he hasn't been getting much playing time).  Melin and Holgersson are my backups at fullback -- both are former players of mine at Malmo, nothing too flashy but solid and dependable.

a94749b63818d5598b3a041e0fd920a2.png

Midfielders

4e3f54d71ffc7e00649e516132c1a602.jpg 4fdb46b768c95db521bf71238b140aa4.jpg 247fa3b71c0b2356182bce8983928efb.jpg cebdd84203cdbaaeeb92da6818e90f1a.jpg 9ace0b3e1342eb38f2f170e0b253730a.jpg 3faaccb5c99100d60f0b60f6c2f457dd.jpg 9d5f6a1a57e58d4c2a4d7c80c62a8fa3.jpg 99759b96c04ce5a85633802594b2bb5c.jpg

Vujovic is someone I apparently love to complain about.  He and Larsson will start on the wings, although I may push Martin Andersson (ostensibly a forward) out on the left-hand side.  The midfield pairing will either be Berg/Martensson or Berg/Salah, I'm just weighing that one up.  Perez is a great sub (the role I used him at with Malmo), because he can fill in in the midfield or up top.  Martensson and Hammarstedt are basically subs, they're not great,  but can do the job in a pinch.

a94749b63818d5598b3a041e0fd920a2.png

Forwards

a54e5340cdf20e7c2e202fa4cd92fab8.jpg 9141a158e3c2b0efe981f7ea723f2248.jpg 7f5c7ba0ea4fba348b5784af134b8d40.jpg d7dc941204d3e8681a2f74e8705511cd.jpg

If we're going to do anything in the Cup, we need Lundqvist (Sweden's all-time leading scorer) and Aboki to play well, with Nicklasson wreaking havoc from the bench.  It's as simple as that.  Lundqvist is our best player.  Our Zlatan.

Link to post
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, hasdgfas said:

While true, I was visualizing a different narrative. That of trying to recapture a lost love. With the one-season fling of Gladbach, there's easily an argument that he'd be trying to recapture that magical experience by going back to the themes and experiences that he thrived off of in Gladbach. Still, I respect the decision a lot. It can't be easy.

You've hit on what I'll eventually do :cool:

Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

World Cup 2030 - Group Stage

We took our excellent pre-tournament form into the tournament, annihilating Brazil in the opener at San Mames.  Absolutely clinical.  Everything we touched turned to gold.  

Senegal ceded the flanks just like Brazil had, and suffered a similar fate.  The only problem being an injury to Aboki in the 89th minute that puts him out of commission for 11 days.

0d61c5538b809f35e8639c9644546ea1.jpg d42a4210e011198e8f02e0112d9ed1ee.jpg b29988c946ae71952e973c07b7c91a55.jpg

9b5c7c7e30042de9fa69822c45c5f8ee.png 88d96fe0030f46f345d2ead443881661.jpg

The biggest shock was undoubtedly Spain's elimination in Group A.  Mexico, Croatia (Euro finalist 2 years ago) and Brazil are also out.

Ireland had a rough World Cup...

7e2b9e80c0a4acb8f771c0cd41577533.png

We will face Colombia in the 2nd round, and have a potentially challenging route to the Final...

2e75ca97172888ba176b70233349ed49.png

Other news may be developing.  More to follow...

Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

World Cup 2030 - Second Round

A dream start, as Lundqvist cannons one in from 20 yards in the 1st minute.  An even match followed, but Lundqvist made no mistake in the 66th to put us on the verge.  Martensson buried a 20-yarder to seal the match.

013dfd5d89e6acd9ab0692ab3e594f3f.jpg

Up next?  The Netherlands at the Bernabeu.

8259761f41888f7cdc70224030a6e1c9.png

2259e4eccf10c83c34704cb816895beb.png

As well as we're playing, I'm going to be gutted if we get knocked out.

Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

World Cup 2030 - Quarterfinals

Another solid start, with a 17th minute goal from Augustsson.  But, we're tired.  Can we play the full 90?

Kruithof levels in the 21st.  Ouch.  But we don't fall on our faces, we punch back.  Pettersson finds Vujovic on a near post run in the 31st.  2-1.

d7a641b1a8a9fded6bccae391ceb3d21.jpg

We're in great shape at the half.  They controlling possession, but we're more clinical.  The plan?  Continue to attack the flanks they're ceding to us.

Straight from the kickoff, the ball is played wide to Vujovic who (with their left back playing high) feeds Lundqvist through.  3-1.

03ddec470a945ac169f641f87cffbef5.gif

Kruithof pulls one back in the 51st.  It's going to be a long 39 minutes...

It's an even match, neither side gaining an edge...Martensson comes off the bench and buries one in the 76th minute after it ping-pongs around the box for a few moments!  4-2!

In the 78th, we catch the Dutch pushed up as a little flick from Vujovic sends Lundqvist clear...5-2!  

Kruithof pulls one back in the 85th...man, this is getting ugly.  Exhausted legs on both sides.

328fcf7171956549e8dce99b219a511d.jpg

We kill the match off.  Into the semifinals.

5bd2684a4df6da930423c641df56a6eb.jpg

This has been nothing like the run with the Dutch 4 years ago.  We're dominant.  Clinical.

We're utterly exhausted.  But, a little luck has gone our way.  We draw Turkey, who beat Argentina in extra time.  Those additional 30 minutes may prove disastrous.  England face France in the other semi.

20d2afa47cb0ff342530d88cff5f8f45.png

Edited by ManUtd1
Link to post
Share on other sites

ad073fb401ec5e1005603e20deea39bd.png

Sweden

World Cup 2030 - Semifinals

I managed to get the semifinal in, but am kicking myself.

France beat England 3-1 in the first semifinal.

e88619e8187428b2a5fd17c0d5f27d9d.jpg

There's not much to say.  A tough match against a high-pressing, fast Turkish side.  And us with tired legs.  Going down 2-nil in the first 23 minutes didn't help.

Ugh.  I'll just leave this here.

Link to post
Share on other sites

A 5-2 win? Can't argue with that...

Personally I'd have taken the Leverkusen job.. God knows how long you'll be sat in the job centre waiting for specific clubs to come up.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...