Football Manager 2010 SG talk

[Ichabod]

I've been using this tactic in the practice games I had for this SG, so I knew that it is not that bad. And it's the tactic that my team uses (Grêmio) with our current manager (Renato Portaluppi), that's where the name come from.

Like I said, the season was heading for a very good ending, but we were severely crippled by injuries. Without our 3 good center backs, our defense is really weak. And if it wasn't for Chicharito injury, we could have advanced further in the league cup. I was hoping for a match against a premier league team, but no such luck. It was really unfortunate to play most of the games away.

Ah, there's another problem: we have a lot of players being called to the national squads and the league doesn't stop when there's international matches. If I remember correctly, Stewart, Angus, Ratten, Chicharito, McCall, O'Neill and some otehrs are being constantly called.

[Dantski]

Definitely not saying your formation doesn't or can't work but it certainly is unorthodox and I'd prefer to run something different.

2 forwards seems the right way to go considering our personnel, aside from that, more or less anything could work. Our young left back hasn't progressed very well at all but on the plus side Ratten is improving very quickly.

[Brian Shanahan]

I'd have to agree with Dantski, the formation was a bit too unorthadox, and complicated. You can see that from the number of players on an average of 7 or below, the goal difference of the tem (neither of our two strikers are scoring remotely well).

Our players just don't have the mental abilities to take a formation as complicated as the one used, and I'm guessing that a lot of the time we're winning more simply because of better players than anything to do with tactics.

The formation would be a good one with players more able to play without strict instructions, with better tactical instructions, but as we are playing LLM, then a simpler more strict approach is needed. With a premiership level team with high mental stats this tactic may work a treat but it is too unbalanced for this level.

As regards looking forward Dantski, most of the players in the reserves and all the youths are thrash, look at the assistant reports, then release all of those players on 1 star or less with <18 months remaining on their contracts.

As regards strengthening the squad, use your own judgement, we have enough players, but if there are good buys out there cheap they're worth bringing in.

We could look to bring in another parent club, and maybe upgrade the training facilities too, though these are more long term considerations.

As regards training I'd push the match preparation towards defending set pieces, as that match prep I find to be very good at ensuring goals are not scored.

Personally I'd return to either the 4-4-2 or the diamond midfield, as these are more basic formations the players would be used to.

[Ichabod]

Well, lesson learned, then. Like I said, even though I'm a big fan of the series, I'm not a good player. I thought the tactic fit the players on the squad (a left back that needed a bit more help; a very good right back; no good right winger, since I was using Ratten as an AMC). Since the mentality (?) was Rigid, I thought that there wouldn't be much problems.

The numbers don't lie though. I'm happy that I handled the save with us still having a promotion chance (but it'll be hard for Dantski, since changing tactics in the middle of the season is regarded to be a bad thing, as far as I know), so I can assume I didn't screw too much. I hope the team can perform better in the final half of the season, so we can manage to get the promotion safely.

Regarding the strikers, McIness and McCall aren't performing very well in the last games. But if you check the stats, it's not due to lack of CCCs. They are just missing a lot. Maybe there's something I'm not seeing here, but I just copied the instructions TT gave to the strikers in his formation.

We have to think about some players contracts. Most of the very good players still have one and a half year contracts, but we should think about renovation. On the other hand, there are a lot of players with just a bit over 6 months, so it would be good if everyone looked at the save and give the opinion regarding who we should keep and who should go.

Anyway, good luck on the next turnset Dantski. I'll probably do a proper report of my turnset this tuesday, but I can give some comments/advice tonight, when I can take a look at the game.

Just some quick questions: the plan is getting Wimbledon to the top divisions or are we allowed to go to other clubs if we receive a proposal?

Would it be worth it to sell O'Neill or Chicharito for, say, 1.5 million?

What is the best way to handle the friendlies in the pre-season? Try to play against Premier League teams in their stadiums? Brian said something about this and I'd like to know, since I just played the ones that the Ass Man scheduled.

[Twinkletoes89]

We have to think about some players contracts. Most of the very good players still have one and a half year contracts, but we should think about renovation. On the other hand, there are a lot of players with just a bit over 6 months, so it would be good if everyone looked at the save and give the opinion regarding who we should keep and who should go.

Anyway, good luck on the next turnset Dantski. I'll probably do a proper report of my turnset this tuesday, but I can give some comments/advice tonight, when I can take a look at the game.

Just some quick questions: the plan is getting Wimbledon to the top divisions or are we allowed to go to other clubs if we receive a proposal?

Would it be worth it to sell O'Neill or Chicharito for, say, 1.5 million?
.

Firstly, good job on doing a top-notch job Ichabod. A good placing in the league and nice cup runs are really good.

In terms of the stuff here, this is something we need to seriously consider & discuss by the end of the next turnset at the latest.

With the position we are in and the players we have, promotion should be within our reaches if we keep consistent. Getting up to League 1 is a good level, but I am not so sure if we can take this club much further given the forthcoming limitations.

1) Our top-players are Championship quality or soon will be. Their contracts are running down and we are reaching the point where we need to break the bank to tie them down or sell them before we lose them for nothing.

2) Should we choose to sell - We will get a decent amount if we sell players like Chicharito, but not as much as they are worth. I would be very surprised if our chairman didn't start accepting bids of £500k - £900k for even our top players. This money will be useful but we will need to build a whole new squad which will not be as good as what we have now. We will still have a low rep and be in a tough division where we could begin to struggle as we have started to do when our players are injured.

3) Our squad is nowhere near deep enough to cover the loss of the players we have in our 1st XI. We are struggling now & should we secure promotion it will be even harder next season.

I think that unless Dantski can get all the guys signed up for another 2 years or more, we should start looking at our next career move. With back-to-back promotions, we could perhaps sneak into a low-level international job, or maybe even a relegated Championship team in League 1 with the means to really consolidate back in CCC and then make a later promotion push.

I also think that until we get somewhere with real potential for top-league competitiveness or a real top job, we should not stick around in one place for too long. This is a journey man career, and we should not think that we have to tie ourselves down to AFC Wimbledon when we have been extremely blessed with the players we secured in our first season.

I think its time to give this serious thought

[Brian Shanahan]

Yeah I don't think we'll be staying too long at the club, unless we get a tycoon takeover.

I don't think an international job is the right thing, except as a short stopgap. There'll be a good chance of getting a Championship level club down in the dumps if we do get promoted.

While playing all the way to the top is feasible with Wimbledon, it is likely to take a good few seasons and involve a bit of a struggle.

[Dantski]

I assume some the thinking is that we'd take a job at someone like Millwall who have been relegated to league 1 and then buy the top 1-2 Wimbledon players immediately

As regards looking forward Dantski, most of the players in the reserves and all the youths are thrash, look at the assistant reports, then release all of those players on 1 star or less with <18 months remaining on their contracts

Yeah thats the plan, is under 18 months considered an optimal time? Are you suggesting mutual terminations?

We could look to bring in another parent club, and maybe upgrade the training facilities too, though these are more long term considerations.

I'll look into it, financially we're secure and making money month by month. Another round in the FA Cup wouldn't hurt

As regards training I'd push the match preparation towards defending set pieces, as that match prep I find to be very good at ensuring goals are not scored

I found it certainly helped cut out those free headers for the opposition inside the 6 yard box. Since in my private game my Sheff Utd team is actually defending somewhat competently now I'm wondering if its down to the formation/tactics, defensive positioning in match prep or both.

Personally I'd return to either the 4-4-2 or the diamond midfield, as these are more basic formations the players would be used to.

Without playing any games, I currently have the 4-1-3-2 formation mentioned earlier. Both of yours and TT's formation (4-4-2 + diamond) are set as other formations in match prep

Well, lesson learned, then. Like I said, even though I'm a big fan of the series, I'm not a good player. I thought the tactic fit the players on the squad (a left back that needed a bit more help; a very good right back; no good right winger, since I was using Ratten as an AMC). Since the mentality (?) was Rigid, I thought that there wouldn't be much problems.

Well that good right back is injured at the time of handing the game over, the person currently playing there really isn't capable of giving the team's whats needed. I agree that we lack good side midfielders, Ratten is a decent right winger (although left footed) and the only good player who can play on the left is O'Neill but I think he gives the team more in the centre (I'm going to base my team around him mostly). I'm not sure about you setting that formation + rigid, that restricts the right back getting forward and filling in the gap doesn't it?

Regarding the strikers, McIness and McCall aren't performing very well in the last games. But if you check the stats, it's not due to lack of CCCs. They are just missing a lot. Maybe there's something I'm not seeing here, but I just copied the instructions TT gave to the strikers in his formation

It just happens, I looked over your 4-0 defeat to someoneorother and it was a dead even game where they took their chances and our strikers didn't. Considering the quality of our finishing compared to most teams in the division we'll put away more chances on average.

Would it be worth it to sell O'Neill or Chicharito for, say, 1.5 million?

Like I said at the top of my post, move to another bigger club and we can buy them

What is the best way to handle the friendlies in the pre-season? Try to play against Premier League teams in their stadiums? Brian said something about this and I'd like to know, since I just played the ones that the Ass Man scheduled

Friendlies are easy to setup (well at least for Championship and above teams, not played in lower divisions) so I'd suggest doing them yourself. The Ass. Manager likes to schedule things like 6 games over the course of 12 days, I'd rather have 8 friendlies 5 days apart than have 12 games 3 days apart.

With the position we are in and the players we have, promotion should be within our reaches if we keep consistent. Getting up to League 1 is a good level, but I am not so sure if we can take this club much further given the forthcoming limitations.

Mid-table League 1 sounds feasable, we need serious work on the stadium + facilities to progress further than that. With shrewd free signings I think we could get into the Championship within 3 seasons, but we'd struggleto stay there if we have to let our best players go.

Our top-players are Championship quality or soon will be. Their contracts are running down and we are reaching the point where we need to break the bank to tie them down or sell them before we lose them for nothing

I think O'Neill and Chicarito would get on my Sheff Utd bench! They are already good Championship players, in a couple of years they will be U21 internationals and Premiership standard. I'll see if I can get them to sign for longer

I also think that until we get somewhere with real potential for top-league competitiveness or a real top job, we should not stick around in one place for too long. This is a journey man career, and we should not think that we have to tie ourselves down to AFC Wimbledon when we have been extremely blessed with the players we secured in our first season

I agree, take Wimbledon up to League 1, maybe spend 1 season there and look for an underachieving club with better facilities. I have very limited experience with international management (Ireland in CM 01/02) so cannot really comment on that

[Twinkletoes89]

The main thing about International management is that it can very quickly build up our manager's reputation and secure us some realy superb jobs.

For example:

I started an FM09 game as Wellington Phoenix manager in New Zealand with lowest rep possible. I won the league in the first season against all odds, and got the South Africa job running into the coming World Cup.

I got 1 win but came last in the group stages and didn't enjoy it too much after it, but it rocketed up my reputation to 'Continental' and after I won the league a second time in a row (though I could have left earlier - I felt a sense of duty) I managed to get a job as manager of West Ham after they had just been relegated to the Championship.

Thus it can be (and often is) a really annoying time as an International manager, but it can be a really useful springboard for our journeyman career.

[Brian Shanahan]

I assume some the thinking is that we'd take a job at someone like Millwall who have been relegated to league 1 and then buy the top 1-2 Wimbledon players immediately

That might just work...

But we have to give fair price

Yeah thats the plan, is under 18 months considered an optimal time? Are you suggesting mutual terminations?

I like 18 months as it's usually relatively cheap. Try for mutual terminations, but I think you'll have to sweet talk players first. Usually I'm a top team who can afford a bit of dead wood, just to flesh out the reserves for the promising youngsters.

I'll look into it, financially we're secure and making money month by month. Another round in the FA Cup wouldn't hurt

I got them to accept looking for a parent club, with a slight bit of persuasion. A PL club would be nice, money, friendly and loanees.

I found it certainly helped cut out those free headers for the opposition inside the 6 yard box. Since in my private game my Sheff Utd team is actually defending somewhat competently now I'm wondering if its down to the formation/tactics, defensive positioning in match prep or both.

I'm of the opinion that defending set pieces is the best match prep choice there is. Early on (especially if you've a lot of new players in) go for team blend, but when the season proper starts switch to defending set pieces.

Without playing any games, I currently have the 4-1-3-2 formation mentioned earlier. Both of yours and TT's formation (4-4-2 + diamond) are set as other formations in match prep

How's the players' familiarity with the formation in the match prep screen? It is a formation which will probably suit the team, but it may be too new.

Well that good right back is injured at the time of handing the game over, the person currently playing there really isn't capable of giving the team's whats needed. I agree that we lack good side midfielders, Ratten is a decent right winger (although left footed) and the only good player who can play on the left is O'Neill but I think he gives the team more in the centre (I'm going to base my team around him mostly). I'm not sure about you setting that formation + rigid, that restricts the right back getting forward and filling in the gap doesn't it?



It just happens, I looked over your 4-0 defeat to someoneorother and it was a dead even game where they took their chances and our strikers didn't. Considering the quality of our finishing compared to most teams in the division we'll put away more chances on average.

No comment here.

Like I said at the top of my post, move to another bigger club and we can buy them

As above.

Friendlies are easy to setup (well at least for Championship and above teams, not played in lower divisions) so I'd suggest doing them yourself. The Ass. Manager likes to schedule things like 6 games over the course of 12 days, I'd rather have 8 friendlies 5 days apart than have 12 games 3 days apart.

Big teams at home is usually the best financial option. You can also look at reserves. What I do is let the ass man pick as he's usually good for picking a mix of teams to get the club ready. Then I fill out the rest of the dates with bigger clubs.

Mid-table League 1 sounds feasable, we need serious work on the stadium + facilities to progress further than that. With shrewd free signings I think we could get into the Championship within 3 seasons, but we'd struggleto stay there if we have to let our best players go.

I think facilities are more important immediately. If we get those to a level where players are progressing fairly quickly then their value will shoot up. But to survive long-term we do need a far better stadium, 4,000 odd spots, half being terraces is not good enough even for Div 3.

I think O'Neill and Chicarito would get on my Sheff Utd bench! They are already good Championship players, in a couple of years they will be U21 internationals and Premiership standard. I'll see if I can get them to sign for longer

I think O'Neill is already U-21 and Chicarito is definitely, they're both playing for nations with slightly weaker underage.

I agree, take Wimbledon up to League 1, maybe spend 1 season there and look for an underachieving club with better facilities. I have very limited experience with international management (Ireland in CM 01/02) so cannot really comment on that

Spend a season there, we may get promoted. If so we should hold on for another after that and then leave. Even the one season in Div 2 will bump our visibility up no end.

@Twinkletoes, the main reason why I'm leary of international management is that this is an SG. If it were SP or if it were in addition to club duties then no problem. But an international team on it's own for six months would be fierce boring.

[Dantski]

Okeydokey started and finished my first session

Board had no interest in upgrading facilities, they cited lack of money as the reason for it.

I had a look around for players but found zip, there was one player I considered but would've blown the entire budget and not sure he was really going to make a big difference.

4-1-3-2 was the choice

Exeter 2-0 Wimbledon

A very poor game, despite dominating possession we never created any good chances. They on the other hand were dangerous everytime they crossed the ball into our box. I used the 'control' setting for most of this game and felt it was a mistake

Wimbledon 1-3 Oldham

Some really awful defending again, Fisher scored his first goal for us with a wonderful 25 yarder and we were a little more threatening going forward this game than last one. One more chance with this 4-1-3-2 formation then I'm reverting to the formations that got us promoted in the first place.

We get asked about rest of seasons expectations, considering our awful form I only choose a top half finish. The wages + transfer budget were the same for all options

Wimbledon 3-1 Burton

Finally a win, our team utterly dominated early on and Duvalier put us ahead. With Burtons first chance of the game 30 minutes in they equalized with a free header from a corner. Duvalier added his second on 55 mins and in the last minute of extra time Kalata got on the end of a cross to secure the 3 points.

Both Macdonald + Angus were injured this game, frankly not too upset about Macdonald since his finishing has been woeful and McInnes looked a lot better when he replaced him. Angus is out for 2 weeks, Macdonald seems to have shaken it off. On the plus side we did break one of Burtons players ribs!


So not a great start and next game is our FA Cup 3rd round tie with Huddersfield, need our top players to step it up and some luck to go our way.