[FM 21] Making Dinamo Split With Hajduk

[-Jef-]

Generous President

Without me prompting him. Could not even request either of those.

[-Jef-]

Awards!

Kahlina

Pivaric - Catherine - Puncec - Moharrami

Lovric - Cubelic - Halilovic - Muric

Pelle - Beljo

Edited November 30, 2020 by rosque

[Lodi Lemmer]

Congrats on the title and on MotY!

[-Jef-]

4 minutes ago, Lodi Lemmer said:

Congrats on the title and on MotY!

Thanks!

[-Jef-]

New HoYD!

This was a pain in the ass. I offered like 15 contracts and everyone wanted 2 or even 3 times as much wages as I can offer. Annoying. Solid personality, not as solid attributes. Will be on the lookout for a better one.

[-Jef-]

Gonna be taking this more slowly but still playing and providing reports, just on much slower tempo because of bugs highlighted in @Jimbokav1971's Gibraltar thread. Youth Intake and player number reducing is a big issue and until that is resolved I will focus on other things. It's a bit annoying but hopefully fixes come fast and are save game compatible.

[karanhsingh]

1 hour ago, rosque said:

Gonna be taking this more slowly but still playing and providing reports, just on much slower tempo because of bugs highlighted in @Jimbokav1971's Gibraltar thread. Youth Intake and player number reducing is a big issue and until that is resolved I will focus on other things. It's a bit annoying but hopefully fixes come fast and are save game compatible.

If you are mainly focused on developing your own youth then you won't have an issue as its a playable league, but yes I think you will see issues popping up with other nations perhaps.

[-Jef-]

47 minutes ago, karanhsingh said:

If you are mainly focused on developing your own youth then you won't have an issue as its a playable league, but yes I think you will see issues popping up with other nations perhaps.

I also have scouts in Scandinavia, Czech and Austria to bring in u18 players and train them so I do still rely on intakes from other countries to fill my youth squads. Those U18 players will eventually count as HGC players if they are at the club for 3 years until their 21st birthday. For next season I have weaker U19 squad as most of original players are released as they reached 21 years old and are nowhere good enough and just bloat my wages. I think I released close to 30 players this summer. I regularly bring in 5-6 youngsters in every transfer window to fill in that U19 squad.

I have a Danish player that is looking really good but he played in U19 last season and will move to II team this year. Instead I promoted 2 local lads and have achieved 100% Croatian players in first team  This will be ruined in a month when Arezo joins  

But this will make me play slower than usual but I will still play. Hopefully it gets fixed quickly.

[-Jef-]

Transfers Summer 2022

Posavec and Colina wanted out and did not want to sign a contract so I had to let them go. Jradi was foreigner and I wanted to get rid of him. Rest are not worth going over or simply youngsters.

Whooo boy was I busy this summer Not so much with quantity as much as with quality. So let's start with most expensive to the cheapest players.

Colina left so I had to bring someone in. Bradaric, a part-time international player, was interested in coming back to Hajduk and I managed to get an upgrade and HGC player in the process. Extremely happy with this signing!

Same situation as with Bradaric - our keeper left and I tried to bring in someone to take over the role of first keeper and Adrian was transfer listed so went for him. Dinamo's academy product so is HGN and all around keeper.

Last minute addition to the team is the young Arnesen with plenty of potential, good personality and solid first touch. Will play in U19 for 2-3 years unless he makes a massive jump in development. Pricey acquisition but am confident in developing the youngster.

With the lack of proper striker in the youth teams I have decided to bring in this lad. He might not look like much but technique, finishing, dribbling are 9 and being a lefty makes it so much more attractive signing.

He is already an all-around player and could slot into first team but I want to properly develop him and give him appropriate playing time so I do not get Michael Owen on my hands that crashes and burns at 24 years old after peeking at 20.

Another young Czech is Michal whose personality is iffy but with mentoring should get to a decent level. It was low-risk high-reward type of transfer.

Odegaard is someone who is 19 and will play for II team due to lack of 17+ year old central mids in the club. Hopefully develops enough so I can turn a profit on him.

Unconventional Argentinian is in the mold of Mascherano and I am hoping he develops into being able to step into first team. Was a free transfer so no risk involved.

The man himself, Arezo. Most important transfer this summer is young Uruguayan who came on free and will be tasked with leading the line. What else can you say about one of the best prospects in 2022?

The captain returns! Radosevic is a former captain and this is his third stint on Poljud. Another HGC player added to the mix.

Another youngster, this one was for free. He hopes to learn a lot while at Hajduk. I hope so too.

Edited December 4, 2020 by rosque

[-Jef-]

July, August 2022 Update

Almost perfect two months including 10-0 win over Sutjeska in CL qualifying! Only bad game was against Ludogorets which made me tear down my tactic and start from scratch. The new tactic will be touched upon on in one of the later updates.

Big lead over Slaven Belupo(!) in the league with 6 wins and a draw from 7 games. I got knocked out in last Qualy round in CL and WON THE SUPERCUP! Which I forgot to post here because I was busy with life. In Europa League it is tough group with an exciting matchup against Red Star which should see us come out on top. I expect 2 wins against Red Star and at least 3 more points against Sporting or Wolfsburg. Nine points should be enough for us to get through.

Club is looking healthy financially and that's very important right now. I am going to have over €10m commited in salary next season so I do need to get into CL group stages every year at minimum so I can continue to pay for domestic talent's increasing wages.

---

This update was shorter than usual because I changed tactics thrice so far and analysis makes my head hurt

[-Jef-]

Messi Joins CR7

Will be interesting to see if they can win CL together.

Most interesting part is that Juve bought Messi for €6.5m.

Edited December 4, 2020 by rosque

[Jimbokav1971]

Croatia is an interesting choice. A Balkan journeyman save has been on my to do list for ages but still never got done. 

If I could manage any single club there I think it would be Rijeka. Brilliantly suited to Youth Only. 

You start with some good players, (buy yes some of them are getting on a bit). Lacking a little up front though I think. 

Ooh. You're using some intersting roles in midfield. 

I really like your self-imposed restrictions. 

Lovric is going to tear it up for you. Such a shame he can't also take corners. Bargain price too. 

Fajt looks great, (and great name too), but he doesn't look like a winger. 

Icancevic looks interesting. Just not sure where I would play him. 

Early Cup win. 

Messi & CR7 together should be fun.  

[-Jef-]

11 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Croatia is an interesting choice. A Balkan journeyman save has been on my to do list for ages but still never got done. 

If I could manage any single club there I think it would be Rijeka. Brilliantly suited to Youth Only.

Had to go this year for my home country, after 5 year hiatus.   And I actually thought about doing a journeyman but seeing Hajduk be so so so bad in real life I just had to take over the reigns.

Rijeka is actually the only club that won the league besides Dinamo since 2005/6 season. Good youth players as well.

11 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

You start with some good players, (buy yes some of them are getting on a bit). Lacking a little up front though I think. 

They were good players but I do not like the policy with which they were brought in so I wanted to get rid most of them. Which I did I have enough players up front now, 3 class strikers in Lovric, Beljo and Arezo. So now I have a bit of a problem

11 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Ooh. You're using some intersting roles in midfield.

I moved away from that, will have even more interesting roles in a tactic I am currently using. Sneak peek

11 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I really like your self-imposed restrictions.

I had to think about them. Didn't want to make them too youth-only but also wanted to focus on using facilities, youth academy and Croatian talent and I think I succeeded in that. I have 8 HGC players, 13 HGN players and only one foreigner in Arezo. But more on that in future updates (which should be soon) where I dissect my main squad and some talents from youth system. Buying u18 players and developing in U19, II team is no different than players getting poached when they are 14-15 and do not appear in-game, IMO, and this is why I allowed myself to do this. Gonna be seeing a lot of Czech and Scandinavian HGC players in 5-7 years.

11 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Lovric is going to tear it up for you. Such a shame he can't also take corners. Bargain price too. 

Fajt looks great, (and great name too), but he doesn't look like a winger. 

Icancevic looks interesting. Just not sure where I would play him.

Lovric does tear it up for me

Fajt indeed does not look like a winger but was too good to not play and develop with first team to not play him behind Muric. And he is constantly improving and actually makes for a pretty good AMC except his vision is still 11.

Ivancevic is a center back for me. Yes, I promoted him to first team this season. Tall, good tackling, marking and passing makes for a good BPD.

11 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Early Cup win. 

Messi & CR7 together should be fun.  

And league win! Now only thing left is to get into CL after way too many years and actually compete in it with HG talent.

They should be fun, rumours of it happening IRL as well so not totally unrealistic

[-Jef-]

Squad Review 2022/23 Edition

Bit of a different squad review since I will incorporate all worth mentioning youngsters in these posts while in the past they were seperated.

So, let's get started

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Goalkeepers

Main Squad

Adrian is clear cut number one choice with Roko being a satisfactory backup even though he is an old-school stay-on-line keeper. Semper is HGN, Roko is HGC.

Youth System

Toni has potential to be better than Adrian and at 18, he is not that far away from Adrian. He has to work on his Aerial Reach and while he will never be a true Sweeper Keeper he is no stranger to playing with his feet.

[-Jef-]

Right Backs

Main Squad

Same duo as last season. Fran is first option with heavy rotation with Karlo. Both are occasional international players for their respective countries.

Youth System

Niko has worlds of potential and while he will never be that accomplished going forward he has the physical capacity to go up and down. Will be interesting to see if he can develop in 3-4 years to get into first team when Fran and Karlo will be 30+ years old.

[-Jef-]

Left Backs

Main Squad

Domagoj is youth academy prospect and someone who could be first option for Croatian National Team in the future. Marijan is more than adequate backup.

Youth System

No one.

[-Jef-]

Center Backs

Main Squad

Vuskovic and Valenta are first options for center back position with young Valenta pushing Puncec out of first team. Ivancevic was promoted and got injured in August so his development has stalled a bit. All three youngsters are HGC with Punced being HGN.

Youth System

Plenty of talent here with Colaric being the top prospect despite his diminutive stature. A less athletic Ivan Cordoba might just fly in the League. Barisic missed out on promotion this year but will be playing for II team for the forseeable future unless someone comes in with €100k offer.

[-Jef-]

Central Mids

Main Squad

First three are younger, more dynamic playmakers in the double pivot. Lazar was promoted this year and his performances are fine but he got injured and that hurts his development. Darko and Josip are team leaders at defensively minded half of the pivot in central midfield. All are HGC except Lusavec who is HGN.

Youth System

Brnas and Kubista are definitely future stars of my team and should slot in first team in 2-3 years nicely instead of Radosevic and...someone else, we will figure it out. Brnas is youth academy product, Kubista was bought from Czech Viktoria Zizkov. Arnesen, Vergara and Grbic definitely have enough potential to contend for first team in 3-4 years and we will see if they pan out or not.

[-Jef-]

Attacking Mids

Main Squad

Lovric and Muric are stars of the show and my best players for 2.5 years running and just had their contracts extended until both are over 31 years old. Miljevic and Halilovic are rotating for that third spot in attacking trio in midfield and both are excellent players with still some room to grow. Miljevic is new US of A international player and I am slightly disappointed Croatian NT didn't come for him. Stokic was brought in for free from Osijek last year and spent a year out on loan for Varazdin and managed to bang in 4 goals with 3 assists in 15 appearances which suggests he does have what it takes for first tier football. Fajt is improving more and more and looks like will take over Halilovic's role in few years.

Youth System

Stipe looks like a proper playmaker and is HGC talent so he will definitely get his chance at some point. Leth was brought in this year for €375 from Danish 2. Division which is a bargain for such a talented young man. Shadow Striker through and through.

[-Jef-]

Strikers

Main Squad

Dion, with the most amazing first name in the team, and Arezo are both extremely talented individuals who are competing for one place in first team. I am re-training Arezo to play as AMC in the role of Shadow Striker to give me more flexibility and he does have the skill for it.

Youth System

Musa is a projected star for II team this year and a magnificent poacher in the making. Will definitely be promoted at some point seeing as Dion has great interest in him and Arezo is his short term. Both Sestak and Preisler are fighting for position in U19 and all three have enough potential to be starters in my main squad.

---

As already mentioned in reply to @Jimbokav1971, I have 8 HGC players, 13 HGN players and only one foreigner in Arezo. We started this save with 7 HGC players and 7 HGN players. While we have only made marginal improvements in terms of HGC players we made great strides in terms of national grown talent and we no longer have 10 foreigners but instead only one in Matias Arezo. I project that I could field a first eleven with all HGC players in 4 years.

 

Edited December 5, 2020 by rosque

[-Jef-]

Tactical Woes and Ultimate Tactical Success

As already mentioned here in previous replies, I have wanted to move to 2 striker system with addition of Arezo. But I failed. I started few games in 442 system and disliked everything I saw. Then I tried 424. Same story. At 60th minute mark I would revert to the previous year's tactic and stomp opponent. So, I came up with this...thing.

Sweeper Keeper at the back to distribute the ball either over the top when the opportunity presents itself or roll it out to one of the defenders.

At the 4 at the back we have identical roles at the flanks in Wing Back on Support which have Positive Individual Mentality meaning that they will venture high up the pitch in late build up stages but still be responsible in regards to defense.  Center back duo is a, for me, classic BPD-CD on Defend duty. BPD is on the left to take off the early playmaking duties off BWM.

BWM and CM is a no-nonsense pairing to create a pivot for stable midfield pairing. Both roles have added PI of Hold position so that they do not cross paths front 4. CM additionally has Dribble more and Take More Risks to create a faux playmaker that does not create a magnetic effect on the pitch.

Front 4. All 4 are magnets. All 4 are looking to create space with movement. AP has Roam From Position and Move into Channels PI added which Treq has on default. Shadow Striker doesn't have any additional PIs.

Poacher is a classic striker sitting on the shoulder of the defense waiting for an over the top ball while creating space with his movement instead of with his technical ability. He has Close Down More PI added to be more aggressive in pressing.

I chose Wide width to stretch my three AMCs wider than they would be by default on Positive team mentality. Pass into Space is added to encourage players in build up to look for Poacher. Play Ouf of Defense is self explanatory.

Focus Play Through the Middle is different this year. In last year's edition it told players to move more in that area. Now it tells players to pass into those areas. So this encourages players to look first into middle where we have 5 creative players and if there is no option to look for marauding wing backs to release pressure from the middle. Work Ball Into Box is self explanatory as I want to remain patient and wait for openings and not take long range shots. Low Crosses is chosen because it encourages wing backs, and really anyone on the wing, to look for a cutback at 10-15 meters line for a roaming midfielders as well as low, fast crosses to my athletic strikers.

Only thing here is distribution to defenders and Rolling It Out instruction to gain more possession. Keeper still hoofs it up if there is a decent chance at break through.

High pressing line as I have enough players to press their back 4/5 and make them hoof it up. We are not pressing like headless chickens.

[-Jef-]

Youth Recruitment Upgrade October 2022

Took some convincing but managed to improve YR.

[-Jef-]

September, October 2022 Update

Great two months with the new tactic! Tight behind and expansive up front. Against Inter I was man down for 70 minutes as Cabraja elbowed some poor lad.

As expected I am dominant in the league and qualified in Europa League. Cruising in the league.

Finances

Finances are tidy and look good for the foreseeable future. Hopefully I can get into CL group stages next year to double the balance.

Performance Analysis

Dominance is seen here. Shot on Target % is troubling and I have no idea how to solve it.

Best offense in the league.

And the best defense in the league.

You can see how much different formations I have tried this year.

New World-Class Signing

I just could not pass on this opportunity after some former employees passed on Luka 20+ years ago when he was a kid and then instead signed with Dinamo. Luka is Hajduk fan through and through.

[-Jef-]

Three Called Up for Qatar World Cup 2022

Shame none are HGC but we will have to wait few years for that. But it is always nice to see them going to World Cup and in the same group as well! Tho, upon further inspection only Croatia and Australia are in Group B while Uruguay is in Group D.

 

[-Jef-]

Another Youth Signing

My scouts are raving about this kid from Romania and I just had to get him. At 17 he already looks amazing and is a regular starter for Cluj. Since I have 4 starter level center backs I will be sending Ignat out on loan in Croatia to get him learning the language and the league as well once he arrives in January.

[-Jef-]

Youth Intake Preview 2022/23

First intake for our new Turkish HoYD. A winger, striker and few center backs look solid.

[-Jef-]

Facilities Upgrades Finished December 2022

Still need to upgrade all 4 of them but I reckon YR is maxed out.

[-Jef-]

World Cup 2022

 

Greece had easy path to the Final but couldn't repeat 2004. England had Brazil, Fran's Australia and Argentina which is much tougher path and still had energy for Greece.

[-Jef-]

November, December 2022 Update

Gonna keep this short. Won versus Red Star in a derby and then WC happened and I played bunch of friendlies and somewhere in between managed to lose a game versus Hrvatski Dragovoljac in the Cup and now Miljevic is mad at me.

[karanhsingh]

I love the new tactic and the Modric signing.

Any specific reason for not using counter-press and/or counter, thought it would make sense for the top heavy formation and high LOE.

Edited December 7, 2020 by karanhsingh

[-Jef-]

33 minutes ago, karanhsingh said:

I love the new tactic and the Modric signing.

Any specific reason for not using counter-press and/or counter, thought it would make sense for the top heavy formation and high LOE.

I already made changes to the tactic. I have a problem with tactics. I am never happy with them and always find something to tinker.

These are new TIs

I wanted to be more direct and against worse teams I still have 57%+ possession but Modric and Lusavec at the DLP-S(changed from CM-S) position now find Poacher more often and it is beautiful. Against teams that are attacking it is just beautiful to see quick transition.

Due to Higher Tempo I do not need counter because that makes my players out of position in transition. If I lose possession while countering then I am very vulnerable and with no real deep holding midfielder it is too risky. And I sometimes use OIs when I want to press and it works great because it is easier to set pressing zones instead of just counter-pressing as a team.

And against much better teams I am employing this sometimes

 

Beljo/Lovric TM, Arezo/Lovric Poacher. Modric/Lusavec DLP.

[-Jef-]

Percentage of Fee Paid and Other Transfers, January 2023

€1.73m is solid chunk of change I'll be getting. Nice!

Transfers

Signed this lad from our Bulgarian affiliate.

He was just not someone I could get a decent production out of. Signed for free and sold for €1.5m and 50% of next transfer!

[-Jef-]

I Have Issues, Tactical Edition, January 2023

Just gonna @ you,@karanhsingh.

I had to get a 2 striker system going since I have Beljo, Lovric and Arezo in squad.

[-Jef-]

The Lure of Big Teams

I have managed to convince my captain Vuskovic to stay on Poljud despite almost €20m offer for him. He would me impossible to replace.

But I have not managed to convince one of the younger players...

He wanted out and I managed to get me a pretty nice deal with Andrea Pirlo. He is moving to Turin to play with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He would be a perfect replacement for Puncec in 2 years but couldn't have convinced him to stay.

[-Jef-]

January 2023 Update

Almost perfect month. And running away with the league. Shame I dropped out of Cup.

Players getting more and more temperamental and more and more professional. That's fine

 

Edited December 7, 2020 by rosque

[-Jef-]

Facilities Upgrade February 2023

Should be finished for 2024 youth intake.

[-Jef-]

Modric Announces Retirement

Want to have him for one more year and hope I can convince the lad.

Edited December 8, 2020 by rosque

[-Jef-]

Second KO Round Draw Europa League February 2023

We got top 3 toughest opponent in Atletico Madrid.

[karanhsingh]

9 hours ago, rosque said:

I Have Issues, Tactical Edition, January 2023

Just gonna @ you,@karanhsingh.

I had to get a 2 striker system going since I have Beljo, Lovric and Arezo in squad.

Nice. Seems to be working well, although I'd have thought it's a bit narrow.

Whenever I play 4-4-2 I like to have at least one natural winger maintaining the width, with the other guy either IW or IF or AP.

[-Jef-]

Resistance is Futile February 2023

Decided against protesting as it was a lot of money for an unhappy player. Now I gotta promote a winger to first team.

[-Jef-]

Promoted Youngster February 2023

He is injured at the moment so his attributes are falling down. And he is not exactly a winger. But it's the best I've got and with transfer window closed I have to promote someone as I mentally cannot go through another tactics change to 1 striker

He has proven himself for II team for 2 years now and will be re-trained as left winger.

This also bumps our HGC count by +1.

[-Jef-]

6 hours ago, karanhsingh said:

Nice. Seems to be working well, although I'd have thought it's a bit narrow.

Whenever I play 4-4-2 I like to have at least one natural winger maintaining the width, with the other guy either IW or IF or AP.

It works better than expected, tbf! Had some trouble setting up 442 at the beginning of the year and finally managed to do it. 

I have IW due to Muric being strictly left footed though I imagine he would still cut inside as winger. Both wingers basically cut inside in final third and basically form triangle with CM-S behind two strikers with left wing back marauding and right full back roaming around 40 meter line. I will play around with it.

 

---

Also, I will not focus as much on league updates anymore because I am so dominant now. Unless Dinamo decides to wake up and actually try in the league. Will try and focus more on things that make up this thread more personal to me like big games for team or for a player.

[-Jef-]

February 2023 Update

Domestic domination. Bit of a bore tbh Domination is also seen in the analysis

Very, very healthy financially. Sales of two €10+m outgoing transfers certainly helped.

Fajt improved all-around whilst Beljo got less ambitious and easier to talk to.

 

[-Jef-]

Atletico Game Build-Up

No two starters in Karacic and Bradaric. But their backups are pretty good as well.

Big mouth as expected from Diego Simeone. Just a bit of an extra motivation is what I needed, thanks It became personal so I had to reply.

 

 

[-Jef-]

Aaaaaaaaand here we gooooo

[-Jef-]

Beljoooooooooooooo 1-0 3'

What a masterful ball from Modric!

[-Jef-]

Oblaaak (OG), but actually Arezoooooo 10'

Another long ball from Modric to our strikers with a quick combination and Arezo breaks through with a bit of luck, hits the post and off Oblak for an own goal!

 

[-Jef-]

Fekir 46'

 

[-Jef-]

Collapsing Cengiz Under 58'

 

[-Jef-]

El Maestro Modric!!!!!!!!!!! 90'+1!

Another quick counter attack with Beljo leading the line and low cross to Modric who calmly puts it behind Jan Oblak!