How Are You Doing On CM?

[cpr]

Not had a game going for a number of months, was still FM13 when my laptop died, think i'll wait for 15 before I pick up again.

Had one where I was managing utd, as you do (not one of these hardcore spending 15 years getting lower league crap to the top people, not the time nor patience). Ended up taking over from Woy after a bad World Cup - least he got to the 2nd round. Won the Euro's after Germany spent 45 mins tanking me in the final, but only scoring once, ended up taking it 4-1, all goals from Welbeck. Ended up resigning after getting beat in round 2 of the 2018 WC.

Had 6 years managing Utd, won the league 5 times. Final season won everything - thats the point I fancied a new challenge. Think my final team was

-------- -----------De Gea -----------
Rafael -- Jones -- Evans/Houser -- Fabio
-------- Will Hughes -- Lars Bender-----
---Shakiri----------------------------?????----
-------------Rooney--------Welbeck

Houser was a 6ft7 USA regen who caused havoc at corners
Hughes and Bender were the best signings I ever made, think I paid £10m for the pair.
Also had a French kid called Nicolas Andre, 6ft 6 and the new Henry, poached him from Arsenal for £10m when he was 18

At various points I had Leighton Baines (served me well). Bale (sold him to Arsenal at the start of my final season), Walcott (fitted my pacey striker needs, until Welbeck reaslised where the goal was) and Andre Ayew (at £7m the best utility player I ever had).

Ended up going to Madrid for 18/19 for a challenge (job swap with Jose), set a record for league goals in a season (thanks to poaching Andre and Janujaz from Utd, the latter I couldn't get firing for utd but came good in Spain), but failed miserably in the CL - decided to fall on my sword as any Real boss would (be made to do by El Presidente). Think when my laptop died I'd just decided to take Newcastle back to the glory days and found it was a lot harder than it seemed...

 

[King Pietersen]

Decided the Man City save was pointless, so just started as Roma. Like the idea of getting a couple more years out of Totti as a False Nine, and a midfield that features Strootman, De Rossi and Nainggolan is pretty epic. Goretzka hopefully will be my first signing, and going to be looking at Balanta at centre back until Romagnoli and Capradossi are ready.

 

[sledger]

Roma actually went down on my save. They've also had about 6 managers in 5 years. Pretty funny.

 

[King Pietersen]

That's so weird, they've got some unbelievable youth, so thought they'd get better as the game goes on. Have 3 of the best young centre backs on the game in Romagnoli, Capradossi and Jedvaj, and the Under-19s have some serious talent. Tony Sanabria, who I've never seen on the game before, has 4* potential, and 15 finishing aged 17, looks promising. Gonna get Totti on to tutor him from the start, and given the youth setup going to try and build a young side, rely on the youth, and only aim to buy younger players.

 

[GIMH]

Can't decide what to do for my next game. Think I need a break after such a long game

 

[King Pietersen]

So it turns out Morgan De Sanctis sucks, and as I expected, the Roma defence is pretty shoddy from the start. Luckily I bought Papadopolous on deadline day to sure things up a bit, but before he signed, a defence of Maicon, Benatia, Castan and Dodo was pretty shocking. With Strootman still out injured, I've also decided to move De Rossi to DMC as an Anchor Man, and use Nainggolan as a ball winning midfielder alongside Pjanic. Gervinho's been the star player so far, much to my surprise, with 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 league games. After 5 games we're sat 5th with 10 points, 3 points behind leaders Cagliari (who we play next), and only 1 behind 2nd place Juve.

Need to decide whether to stick with Totti up top though. His attributes are declining, and his average rating of 6.88 doesn't look pretty. He's scored 2 in 3, but never really looked convincing. Think I'll give Destro a run, and hope he bags a few. Currently trying to snap up Richairo Zivkovic who my scouts rate incredibly highly, and have seen other people have massive success with a couple of seasons in, becomes a consistent 30 goal a season striker. If I can sign him up for less than £3m I'll be delighted.

 

[Pothas]

Papadopolous been a bit of a disaster for me, ended up selling him to PSG.

Looks like I am going to miss out to Bayern again.

 

[King Pietersen]

His mental stats really let him down, super aggressive, mixed with poor composure and decisions, and average concentration and positioning. Not a great combination. His technical attributes for a defender are so good though, as are his physical, and then his 20 for determination means he should be pretty trainable. I've had success with him in the past, but it all depends on how well he trains, and if he can improve on those mental stats.

Beat Cagliari 3-1 after being 1-0 down at half time. Could have easily been more, but Gervinho and Totti missed sitters. Finally gave Destro a start, and got taken off injured after 38 minutes. Great.

 

[sledger]

Papadopolous been a bit of a disaster for me, ended up selling him to PSG.

Looks like I am going to miss out to Bayern again.

I keep getting tempted to make a move for him, as he's always available for around £6m, but my scouts keep saying he's a 3 star player, and I'm worried about the extremely low price.

 

[Pothas]

I could just never trust him not to have an awful game.

 

[sledger]

I could just never trust him not to have an awful game.

Reminds me of Wim Jonk on Premier Manager 99. I recall his disciplinary record was so poor that a bespoke strategy had to be introduced, whereby he had to be subbed off immediately if he ever got booked. Which he did. A lot.

 

[sledger]

Really hate it when you have centre backs who have terrible positioning and/or marking though. Just end up conceding so many awful goals.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah Papadopolous would just do something awful once every 3 games which made him a crap player to have on the bench as could never really be trusted to come on. Caulker does a far better job for me.

Have got the classic attacking midfield disease at the moment, have so many good ones already but could not resit James Rodriguez for 8 million, I really need a striker but just can't find one, may play 4-6-0 next year, kind of worked for me before with Sociedad.

 

[sledger]

Haha, I read that as "Scotland" rather than Sociedad.

Would have been interesting.

 

[Pothas]

Well levein was a pioneer do the system of course.

 

[sledger]

Well levein was a pioneer do the system of course.

Haha, oh yeah, I had forgotten about that.

Playing as Scotland might be my next FM adventure, should be interesting.

 

[King Pietersen]

They've got some really good youth on FM, probably be quite a fun long-term International save. Get Gauld in the side early and he'll win games on his own, and then they've got guys like Rhodes, Souttar, Mackay-Steven, Hanley, Mark Hill, and I've had success with Lewis Milne in past saves too. Be interesting to see how far you could take them on FM!

Couldn't get any of the strikers I initially wanted for Roma, all ridiculously priced. Managed to sign Gabriel Barbosa for £7m though, which I'm pretty happy with. Not had any great success with him on past saves, but have seen people have his value skyrocket, so even if I only get a couple of seasons out of him then ship him off to a big side for a fortune I'll be pretty happy. This'll be the first time I actually use him as a first choice striker though, so might have more success than using him as a backup at a big side.

Seeing the first season at Roma as a consolidation season, aiming for a Champions League spot, which should definitely be attainable, and then look to build from there. At the end of the season Benatia and Castan will be leaving, and Romagnoli will be thrust into the first team. I've seen him get awesome, but always seems to get passed around Europe on loan, so going to get him in the first team from the 2nd season, and keep him long-term. Hopefully he'll do well, and become a club legend. Can't do any worse than Benatia or Castan anyway.

 

[duffer]

Just got this. Any good plug n play tactics for Arsenal?

 

[Pothas]

At long last (4th season) won the league with Schalke. Champions League semi-final was a right bastard though, 1-0 down after the away leg against Chelsea, got a player sent off after 10 minutes (only red of the whole season for **** sake), still won the game 1-0 in normal time then let in an away goal right at the end of the extra time.

 

[Jarquis]

Spent the vast majority of the 16/17 season with Northampton in/around the drop zone of League 1.

That crazy run of wins saw me stay up. Eventually finished 19th - about 8 points above the drop zone and 10 from the playoffs, so a better season than the final position suggested. Had a good run in the FA Cup too.

Now currently 1st after 8 games despite my pre-season odds being 40/1 and one of the favourites for the drop. Finding it impossible to improve my side though as nobody wants to come to me. Signing young players on frees and hoping they develop is all I can do.