I thought it was about time we have a Football Manager thread for those that spend their spare time on the game, just post in the team your managing, your starting line-ups and formations as well as any successes that you've had and previous seasonal positions as well. It'd be nice to see how many of us do actually spend their time on the game. It doesn't matter if it's FM 04 or FM 11. Or even Championship Manager.
Championship Manager 01-02! Couldn never afford any of the new ones, bought this one second hand from a mate in 2004-ish, and you can download updates for it from the website, so all the squads are for the 10-11 season. My current game, I started off with Hibs, built up the squad, and eventually won the SPL after 5 seasons of trying. Back to back UEFA cups were the highlight of my time there, the second with an aging strikeforce of Eto'o and Ibrahimovic. After UEFA Cup #2, I felt that I couldn't take the club any further and stepped down after 7 seasons in charge. A few weeks later, Stoke offered me their vacant manager position. They had been struggling in mid-table in the championship for the past two seasons, and decided a fresh start was needed. After a rocky first few games in charge, the players got used to the staggered 5-3-2 formation, and Stoke cruised past early leaders Bolton for an emphatic promotion. In the first season back up, a comortable mid-table finish, with a few high-profile scalps was enough for the board, and I felt that the jigsaw needed just a few more pieces for Stoke to push on. Season 2 back in the top flight, and Stoke shocked the world when we not only won our first major silverware since 1972, capturing the League Cup with a 3-0 win over dominated Manchester City, but powered to a first ever Premier League title with a stunning second half to the season, denying Man Utd a third consecutive crown. History was made when a tired Stoke team overcame Arsenal on penalties after a dour, goalless FA Cup final at Wembley. This season, Stoke face European Cup football for the first time. Current first team: Neil Thomas (academy) Anders Jacobsen (Norwegian, 250k, FC Molde).......Goncalo Rosa (Spanish, academy) Richard Mols (Dutch, 2.5M, FC Twente).....Jim Clarke (350k, Wolves)......James Mead (academy) Jean-Eudes Carré (Malian, Guignamp, 650k).......MartÃÂn Gallego (naturalised Scottish, Hibs, 2.5m) Ernesto Veronese (naturalised Irish, Newcastle, 5m) Gonzalo Alvarez (naturalised Dutch, Telstar, 2.3m).......Etien Velikonja (Slovenian, Racing Santander, Free) I've also got a "director of football" thing going on with the League of Ireland, so I'm controlling transfers, but not matchday stuff. The policy of snapping up the best young talent in Europe and bringing it to Irish academies is working well, with Galway making the last 16 of the Champions League the previous season, and Sligo and St. Pat's Athletic both reaching the group stages. Dundalk have also made a UEFA cup final. Amazing the amount of CM you get to play when you've no job really!
My latest venture in to the world of Football Manager 11: Season 2010/11; Stoke City Current league Position; 6th League Cup; Quarter Finals lost to Birmingham 8-7 on penalties FA Cup; Third Round lost to Bristol City in replay at Ashton Gate (reserve side) Signings; Players: Kyle Walker (Loan deal until end of the season) Wayne Bridge (Loan deal until end of season) Jermaine Jenas (ã3.5M deal from Tottenham) Jordi Gomez (ã1.25M deal from Wigan) Staff: Mark Chamberlain (Youth coach from Portsmouth) Outgoings; Glenn Whelan (ã4.5M to Fulham) Transfer Listed; Danny Higginbotham Tom Soares Andrew Davies Michael Tonge Abdoulaye Faye I normally play with two banks of four and have an advanced striker and also an attacking midfielder, I generally get my side to play with the ball on the floor, i've maximised the pitch so I have the full width to exploit. I've used Jermaine Jenas as my deep lying playmaker and I have Mark Wilson as my holding defensive midfielder as he's got a very good eye for a pass. I always play with the winger bombing on and they have NO defensive duties, Bridge and Walker act as wing backs for me and do very well. I have Kenwyne Jones playing the lone strikers role with Tuncay in support of him. Problems; Tuncay wants a new contract worth ã89,000 per week and I told him to think it over as I won't jeapordise the clubs financial position. Well actually I went to the board of directors to see if I could give Tunny the wage increase and they wouldn't let me. I'll sell him to Chelsea in the summer if they come calling for around ã12M.
Just finished my first season and going through pre-season in my second. Premier League; 6th Europa League spot, lost out on a European Cup spot by goal difference. Awards; Manager of the Year 2010/2011 Signings; Vincent Kompany (ã3.5M from Manchester City) Nedum Onuoha (ã2.9M from Manchester City) Wayne Bridge (Loan from Manchester City) Jermaine Pennant (Loan from real Zaragoza) James Collins (ã6.9M from Aston Villa) Victor Obinna (Free transfer) Hatem Ben Arfa (ã1.5M from Olympique Marseille) Outgoings; Ryan Shawcross (ã15.59M to Manchester City) Sold behind my back! Andrew Davies ( ã800K to BirmingSCUM City) Michael Tonge (ã950K to Southampton) Carl Dickinson (Released) Ibrahima Sonko (Released) Eidur Gudjohnsen (Released) Carlo Nash (Released) Diego Arismendi (Loan to Stuttgart)
tried the fm 10 demo. hated it. went back to 09. tried the 11 demo. hated that even more, went back to 09. still playing 09 now. enjoying it too. they've made it far too busy for me
Exactly Tom, this was a day after they enquired about Shawcross and I said nothing less than ã40M, saying that I bought in james Collins and he's alongside Robert Huth in my defence. Huth made team of the year as well which is pretty decent. I signed Yaya Sanogo as well, very good player who I signed from Bordeaux.
I've just finished my 2nd season with Arsenal. Won the league by 8 points, won the CC, lost in the CL Final vs Bayern Munich and lose 4-1 vs Reading in the 3rd round of the FA Cup
Oh, and a funny omen, In the quarter finals, Chelsea beat Copenhagen 3-1 on agg, United beat Marseille 5-3 on agg (Vidic hat trick in 2nd leg ), Arsenal beat Barca 3-1 on agg and Milan knocked Spurs out 2-2 on away goals. Watch this space.
Decent stuff, you fancy posting up your starting XI, formation used or multiple formations and also signings and outgoing players on loan or permanent deals. Also, did you win any managerial accolades?
