[The Mentality Masterplan and some FM basics revisited...]

Brilliant post! Thanks for this.

[[FM19] Manchester United]

25 minutes ago, PaulC2K said:

 

@TheDecentOne Nice timing! How was that Kane deal structured? I havent tried going that high.
Im currently in my 2nd summer and just picked up Savic (63m - asking price, WTF!) and Gedson Fernandes (17.5m & 30m/3y iirc). I have de Jong also, so pretty similar options to yourself.
No mention of Greenwood, i used him 7 times in the first season, got 2 goals & 3 assists in the last 2 league games when it the title was already won and he was playing with the 2nd string and kids. I havent added to the CF positions at all, so i suspect he'll get more games this season, but im cautious about moving him to the senior squad and only giving him sub appearances, versus leaving him to develop in the U23's but potentially have him worn out from a meaningless game when i decide i need him, even if only on the bench. 

About three months before the end of season I sent my head scout out to watch every game of his, I also began my praise for how much of a quality player he is. (Compliments go a long way!). I have three lots of installments at £15.3m each time, apart from that it was the full figure upfront. I had the luxury of finishing each season with a massive transfer budget so ended up spending it. Funnily enough I have just played Tottenham & Kane has scored the winner, he really is worth the figure you pay! Average a goal every 70minutes in the Premier League currently.

I do really need to bring Greenwood a bit more, however this season really is make or break for a lot of players so I do have to be careful with who plays in what game.

[[FM19] Manchester United]

Finishing 6th in my first season without any silverware was bad, however, losing out on the Premier League (against Liverpool nonetheless) in my second season was much worse. I decided to adapt my tactics & bring in some fresh faces. I was given an ultimatum during the start of my third season to win achieve 11 points in five games, the pressure was well & truly on.

Transfers

In:

• Frenkie De Jong - Ajax - £27m - Solid 7.20+ rating over the past few seasons, will ultimately fill in the DLP role
• Malang Sarr - OGC Nice - £15m - Only played once in his three seasons with the club but once again he's in for the future
• Timo Werner - RB Leipzig - £59m - Made 26 appearances picking up seven goals, not awful but never found his feet in Manchester
• Jan Mlakar - Maribor - £600k (£2.1m) - Extremely promising young striker, can't recommend enough
• Ondrej Duda - Arsenal - £11.25m - Strange one, transfer listed after playing 19 games for Arsenal, fitted nicely in the voided AM role for a reduced price
• Gedson Fernandes - Benfica - £51m (£74m) - The beginning of the transformation in transfers, terrific player. 7.30+ rating in the past two seasons
• Benjamin Pavard - VfB Stuttgart - £31.5m - Potentially my best buy, seems to be decreasing slightly in ability but still performing brilliantly
• Federico Chiesa - Fiorentina - £88m - Very hit & miss in my opinion, still young so will be keeping the faith
• Harry Kane - Tottenham - £180m - English, still yet to hit his prime & an incredible first two seasons caused the extreme value of the transfer, best signing I've ever made on any management game
• Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - Napoli - £77m - I did say I wanted to transform the club, another great purchase, beginning to realise you pay for quality
• Alan Franco - Independiente - £9.25m - Sometimes you uncover a gem & that's what really gets you into a management save, Franco is that player

Out:

• Ashley Young - Al-Hilal - £950k (£1.1m) - Fairly predictable, great servant just not the ability that I require
• Jesse Lingard - Chelsea - £43m (£52m) - Disappointing as I do really love Lingard but just doesn't fit the bill for me
• Lee Grant - Chelsea - £1.2m - Poor Lee Grant, left United without making an appearance & then Chelsea released him without playing a game!
• Marouane Fellaini - RB Leipzig - £15.25m (£19m) - Love his character just not sure his qualities shine on a management game
• Eric Bailly - Barcelona - £28m (£32m) - Probably could of asked for more but never really shone for me
• Nemanja Matic - Barcelona - £20m - New arrivals forced me to sell Matic, didn't really perform either
• Antonio Valencia - Al-Shabab - £4.6m
• Sergio Romero - Al-Hilal - £5m
• Chris Smalling - Aston Villa - £14.5m (£18.25m)
• Scott McTominay - Brighton - £20m (£28.5m)
• Ondrej Duda - VfB Stuttgart - £12m
• Timo Werner - Napoli - £40m
• Joel Pereira - Sporting - £5.75m (£8m)

 

Currently playing a 4-2-4 wide formation to fully exploit the creative side of the players I have signed. According to my assistant manager, Marco Van Basten, my best XI would consist of these players;

1. GK - De Gea 
2. RB - Diogo Dalot
3. CB - Alan Franco
4. CB - Benjamin Pavard
5. LB - Luke Shaw
6. CM - Paul Pogba
7. CM - Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
8. RW - Federico Chiesa
9. LW - Anthony Martial
10. ST - Harry Kane
11. ST - Marcus Rashford

Originally I was just using this save as an introduction to the game but I have found myself falling in love with it, especially as the youth is slowly coming into it's own. Personal favourites are James Garner, Arnau Puigmal & Angel Gomes. Not too sure how I've managed it but I seem to be best of friends with Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba & Diogo Dalot, even without bringing them anything to celebrate almost three seasons in! Currently sitting top of the Premier League in November 2020, one point clear of Tottenham. Big game against Juventus to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League after being pitted in an extremely difficult group, (Borussia Dortmund & Lokomotiv Moscow joined us).