Neo_Geo

A five 5 star current ability intake don’t think I’ve ever seen such a thing, what are you adding to the Cardiff water supply @XaW?

@libbyshuss that’s a good deal I think given he was in his last year iirc I love the amount of money trading hands and he gets an outstanding loyalty payment of £1,200 so bizarre seeing RB Salzburg that far down the table

Can I just say of my dislike for Robbie Savage as the owner of Macclesfield (though it probably just extends to chairpersons/owners in general in the game and more specifically the coding/logic around the reasons and discussions when making requests) SIX times he has now refused to sanction my coaching course with just the one time the other way. The initial rejection comes is as "Whilst we appreciate that it's a very valid thing to want to do, we fear that bettering yourself could lead to a bigger club coming in for your services. We're therefore inclined to say no" So I discuss it and I'd love at this point to have options like: Give ultimatum of approving it or I resign I'll sign a new contract with full percentage compensation I want to be hear for the long term, ask you to trust me However I get one option: "I'd like to further my development by going on a coaching course please" That is really weak, I want to be more forceful on this matter especially when the other coaches are getting their courses approved. So I choose the only option and the response contradicts the initial rejection: "We don't believe that it would be beneficial for you to undertake a course right now. That concludes this meeting. In future, please do not waste our time with things like this." Makes zero sense: its a valid thing to do & we fear of losing you -> no benefit to you & stop wasting our time. But you better believe I'll be wasting their time when it next becomes available

My Macclesfield kits for 25/26 (I love playing around with KitBasher )

SILKY STUFF FROM THE SILKMEN AS THEY BAG PROMOTION AS CHAMPIONS One word.....incredible! Macclesfield really are a dream club for a first season of the Youth Academy Challenge. A good sized ground that gets filled pretty well for league matches, make a profit, strong squad and decent starting facilities. The league was a tight call in the end with a draw away to Hereford clinching it by a single point ahead of AFC Fylde one week after we thrashed Chester 4-0 as Blyth Spartans (second at the time) lost to Hereford meaning I was 6 clear of them and I thought I had done it but there was no trophy presentation. It required one last push and those last 15 mins where we hit the post and conceded a few corners were very nervy indeed. 46 games and it came down to that last match, it really gives these big games an edge. We did better than expected in the FA Cup managing to make the First Round proper and took League One Barnsley to a replay whilst in the FA Trophy it was the Fourth Round where we lost to Vanarama National Dagenham & Redbridge. Tactically I set up with a 4-2-3-1 DM AM Wide and opted for inside forwards given my best striker had left the club as he was out of contract straight away and would not talk. That formation proved to be a wise choice with the most goals scored in the league and second best goal difference (once again defence seems to be my big issue in this version of the game). I went for a high line, high press approach and just managed the games accordingly once in the lead by looking to play even shorter, reduce the tempo, regroup after losing possession, drop the high line to standard and don't press as often. I managed to keep the players fit and happy for the majority of the season with a few complaints from back-up players who had previously been involved a lot more. I often went to a 4-2-4 DM Wide formation when I went behind and needed to get more of the ball inside the box and the resilience of the squad was really pleasing with many comebacks recorded. Since week 3 we hadn't dropped below 4th and whilst we had a run of poor form with around a dozen games to go we rallied as the Blyth really faltered. Here is a reworked competitions and club details screen: Training facilities were downgraded this year but as you can see the club looks pretty healthy with the stadium 71% filled on average, getting a sell out in the FA Cup against Barnsley and the balance is on an upward trajectory with the projection being £1.91m at the end of season 4. League Results Domestic Cup Results Youth Intake The first season - and with some very capable players at the club already - always meant that the Youth Intake Preview was not going to be the greatest and although the HoYD said that this looked like an excellent intake, whenever I don't see As or even Bs I don't expect a lot. On intake day I was greeted by 3 elites with each going straight into the first team squad to provide some much needed back-up. The pick of the bunch appeared to be Mostafa Adel Y1-A who appeared to have the makings of a good (if a little short) target forward. In his debut he scored 2 headed goals to back-up this theory. Next up was Brice Kalala-Kabangu Y1-A who for now I am unsure of his best position, He has the pace to play as a winger however with 3 crossing I feel an inside forward role on the left or as a number 10 might be a better bet. Finally I got my second keeper at the club (luckily I never had to play a grey keeper during the season) with Bob Swailes Y1-A joining the Silkmen. He looks like a very capable understudy to my number 1 and I will look to perhaps give him some game time in this coming season if the opportunity arises. None of the other players scream out to be promoted to the senior squad though I have taken a couple of central defenders as I was short there and Laurent Mendy is going to leave this summer as his contract is ending and won't get a work permit. I've decided to summarise the intake nationalities and caps together in the following chart and already I love the variety of nationalities whilst still predominantly an English intake there are some interesting nations included: In addition to this I have reworked my player records page to capture all time records as well as the current season: Fans Player of the Year - Neil Kengni Fans Young Player of the Year - Sam Perry Club News As far as the running of the club was concerned the Junior Coaching increases were approved both times whilst the Youth Recruitment Improvements required some persuasion but in the end both were approved. Junior Coaching 1 and Junior Coaching 2 Youth Recruitment 1 and Youth Recruitment 2 However it wasn't quite as straightforward for my own coaching badges. Out of the 3 times I asked only 1 was approved, the first was perhaps too early in the season and the latter was straight after the badge was obtained so in hindsight I perhaps should have waited a little more. As a result of the promotion the stadium required some work Admin (Transfers) Bingo Card As the original creator of the 100 tile bingo card I think it's about time I take part in it again Two off the list in season 1 is pretty good going but the crucial one this coming season is C1 - Avoid Relegation to Vanarama North, everything else is of secondary importance this coming season. I am so glad to have bit the bullet and started in England with a club I feel is a good fit, I'm looking at the 46 games a season until the Premier League as a positive because that means I don't have to repeat the same fixtures over and over and over again as you do in smaller leagues. Maybe I'll return to Northern Ireland once more but having seen my previous attempt there reach 12 seasons and my latest attempt reach 13 full seasons it seems thats about my limit there before I get tired on the same matches. Onwards to season 2 and the battle to stay up in the Vanarama National!

Totally agree. Making the most of what you have at the club, rotating to keep players fresh, tweaking tactics before and during the game to deal with rotation/injuries/suspensions etc. There is always something you can be doing to try and succeed rather than stick with your favoured formation, sign players that fit the formation, scout for wonderkids, sign them win everything then get bored and quit your save. Challenges are where it’s at in FM for me and this one is the hardest and most enjoyable.

@KingKCrush congrats on the title win, for your first trophy in the save that’s the one that counts p.s. absolutely love the away kit, it’s a belter

Many, many, many hours and failed approaches help you refine it. Like XaW I never do general training, I get a competent assistant manager in and leave them to it but I always do individual training at every level. Im also tend to lean towards match time for my youth players over training. I know a few high profile youtuber sorts such as Zealand have done research (or rather his team researched) on the optimal regime for youth players to develop them based on their age. Whilst I largely follow my nose on this matter I do try to make sure if I bring a youth player on it’s with 15+ mins to go and the game is going well but I often favour giving them a few appearances here and there when they are 15/16 then loan them out at 17 as long as the club they go to are going to have them playing regularly. of course this depends on where you are in the save. If it’s early doors your squad is top heavy with U20 players so giving a 15/16 year old game time is quite easy to do. If you are further in and have an established squad of over 20s players then unless it’s a really top notch youngster coming through it will be hard to give them opportunities.

@darren1983 nice one on the promotion and great that you had a goal in mind with your defence, you implemented your plan and it worked. Top notch.

Managed to squeeze in a few months in my new save…….loving it. It’s refreshing just having different players, different tactics, different opposition. Furthermore Macclesfield are a great club to start off the challenge with. Attendances are high which means we are making money, the standard of player here is great even though I lost 3 players early doors and my French centreback isn’t likely to get a WP for a renewal, but overall it’s really pleasing and playing matches at full speed in 2D is making a world of difference being able to get through matches that little bit quicker.

Congrats on the title win @MichaelNevo and on the promotion one more @Padders to EPL

If you don’t want to make your own views you can download a view pack suck as this one: https://www.passion4fm.com/football-manager-custom-views/ You do curl + p select web page then copy and paste into your spreadsheet tool of choice. A number of posters spent a great deal of time crafting the spreadsheet with numerous calculations and I’m sure they would be willing to (and have already) share(d) their creation. i tried to use it but found myself just reverting to gut instinct.

I looked at Iceland, Portugal, Denmark and Finland but no taken any of them forward either because they had been completed or I just couldn't find a team that felt like a fit. Then a moment of clarity, as the words of Nelson Mandela came to mind... So with these wise words floating in my head its time to finally have a proper go at England! I love the backstory for Macclesfield with the winding up order on Macclesfield Town in 2020 and this is essentially a phoenix save which I know Macclesfield Town were never at the pinnacle of English football but I do like the thought of this type of save and with a very decent sized squad, stadium and good facilities to boot its a strong starting point (even if the star striker Tunde Owolabi refuses to sign a new deal). EDIT: Here are the kits

You'll have to carry the torch now for Northern Ireland. ....I think even if 2 of the cup competitions were dropped I'd feel much happier to carry on because I had players complaining because they weren't playing as much as they were supposed to but if I had given them that game time they'd have been run into the ground because the games came that often. Not deleting the save and keeping a back-up of the license file if its a case of "absence makes the heart grow fonder" but for now I just don't feel the connection.

Some teams/nations just have a special place in your FM heart so i hope you manage to get them. I was kinda hoping my mums team Clyde got relegated this year in Scotlands league two just so that I could do the challenge as them in FM25 They finished 9th and avoided the relegation play-off on the last day

You have history with them if I recall correctly

Might be joining you in that approach shortly, may just spin a few countries up and see if any grab me more than this Crewe United

I hate that I can’t maintain interest in a save beyond about 10 years. 13 seasons complete in Northern Ireland and doing very well but I always start to get itchy feet at this point. I loved my Katwijk and Chiasso saves, I felt some kind of connection but with Crewe it feels like I’m doing it because Northern Ireland hasn’t been completed yet. Getting 95% of my intake being northern Irish, no players with a cap whilst being at the club, TWENTY ONE players away on international for 4 games in the space of 8 days, having to play in 6 competitions in a season….its just dragging now. I miss the buzz of a new club and varied intakes, I feel utterly ashamed when I see padders save going for so long and sticking to it and here’s me whinging and whining after 13 seasons

Any further on your decision? You’ve had such a great start that it would be a real shame to stop now. Is loaning players out to just get first team football instead of playing in your youth team not really an option, can’t remember the rules around loaning in Switzerland, if you can loan out at 17 it’s better than them sitting playing friendlies all the time.

So I kept my job (it went to the other group) but the icing on the cake is this..... The new chairperson must have a higher WWY rating as the Improve Youth Facilities makes a welcome return!

Haven't been able to get as much game time this week however getting stuck in season 14 today and this pops up: One of the groups interested have stated they will name a new manager which apparently is an attempt to get the supporters on their side......by sacking a club legend? Either way, it might signal the end of the save.....has anyone been replaced when one of these takeovers actually go through?

Try Northern Ireland where if you finish in the top 2 you end up playing league, league cup, local cup, national cup, spfl trophy and europe and then you lose 15-19 players for international games that you either play with grey goalkeepers as the u21s take both your keepers or postpone and if you postpone you get to play 4 games in a week

I always now make sure when I change HoYD that’s the first thing I check as I’ve made that mistake myself more times than I care to admit. @Padders congrats on the promotion. I love when a very average looking player (particularly strikers) come along and just excel. They might never be a world beater but they’re dependable. I have an AMC like that in my safe, his potential is limited but he can score in Northern Ireland just fine.

Me seeing @Riebow and @XaW with NxGn entries in fewer seasons than my Northern Ireland save…

I personally do A, B, C and D to denote the rating i.e. elite, top, good, decent, I used to put the actual rank in the name but it gets a bit messy. Some do Y0 for intakes in the season prior to taking over and some, like myself, do the year of the intake. There’s no exact science to it and you don’t even need to do it. I like including the rating as I means I can look back in later years to see those that were thought of as an Elite (A) and how they ended up.