[dafuge's FM20 challenge]

What are some of your favourite free signings in the first couple of seasons?

Here are a couple that performed pretty well throughout my save for my Kingstonian team that is currently in the Championship in 2026/27.

Connor Carty - ST - Used at the head of a 4-1-4-1, didn't score insane levels of goals due to the nature of the tactic, by far his best attributes were his high pace/acc. He was useful until L2 where better players were available to sign on a free, his peak performance for me was in the VSS.

Will Smallbone - MC/AML - Signed on a free at the start of the second seasond and played well from VNN until L1 in the AML position as part of an attacking 4-2-2-2. The important stats for his position are between 10-12. Peak performance in L2.

Callum Styles - MC - Signed from Barnsley on a free and has occupied the DLP slot in my midfield from L1 to the Championship, where the club finds itself at present. Still performing at peak level and clubs keep trying to poach him. Pretty balanced stats.

Adam Idah - ST - Norwich academy reject signed on a free before my L1 season and has been scoring for fun ever since (3rd season with my team, currently in the championship a quarter of the way through the season and has 90 goals/20 assists in 140 matches).

Will Mannion - GK - Signed from Hull at the beginning of my first L2 season. Good GK stats and decent passing, composure und FT so that he can take a back pass without ******** his pants. Played very well even in the Championship until he was poached by Sheff. Wed. and pretty much ruined the season half of my inaugural season there since there was no way I could replace him with the miniscule sum of money the chairman sold him for.

Will Fish - DC - Speedy defender, decent Tackling and Marking, semi-decent passing, can head the ball very well. Signed on a free after he was released from ManU at the beginning of my L2 season, occasionaly plays for my team in the championship, since fast DCs with decent passing and wage demands are hard to find.

 

 

[Great players in FM that never made it irl]

Eddie Johnson, Nicolas Millan, Bojan.

I remember singing EJ for my West Ham side in FM07, him and Dean Ashton tore the league apart.