******* Official Football Manager 14 Thread *******

[#Chri5#]

I'd forgotten the delights of Football Manager Rage.

My player takes the corner and the ball gets cleared back towards him. However, he WALKS towards the ball which means a defender gets there first, runs the length of the pitch and crosses for the computer to score.

 

[philstanbridge]

Oh yeah there's plenty of those moments to be had. I've seen a ridiculous goalkeeper error. Fortunately for me he wasn't mine. But he collected the ball from a decent kick, and promptly dropped it. It then rolled backwards into the net

 

[philstanbridge]

One thing I'm finding now, at the top of the game, there is very little talent worthy of my investment. I have 61% worldwide scouting coverage, which is pretty good. I have all my scouts assigned by the Chief to find fresh talent. Yet there are only 11 players in my shortlist, and of those, none are youth. They are maximum 4 star, which is leading/world class. The best 17 year olds come in at 3 star potential. It's very frustrating. I have had to develop my own youth players because of the slim pickings, even though the board prefer me to buy first team straight in. But I can't find many worthy of my attention. It just doesn't seem quite right to me. Maybe I'm just unlucky. Even the best players in the world are only 4 star now but there are very few.

 

[Bergkamp]

One thing I'm finding now, at the top of the game, there is very little talent worthy of my investment. I have 61% worldwide scouting coverage, which is pretty good. I have all my scouts assigned by the Chief to find fresh talent. Yet there are only 11 players in my shortlist, and of those, none are youth. They are maximum 4 star, which is leading/world class. The best 17 year olds come in at 3 star potential. It's very frustrating. I have had to develop my own youth players because of the slim pickings, even though the board prefer me to buy first team straight in. But I can't find many worthy of my attention. It just doesn't seem quite right to me. Maybe I'm just unlucky. Even the best players in the world are only 4 star now but there are very few.

The star ratings are relative to your current squad ability though. So if you've got a team full of world class players it'll take something really special to be higher than 4.

 

[The__Malteser]

F THIS! Team is too inconsistent.

I will struggle to finish in the top half.

Next season, I will swap to a trusty 4-1-2-1-2. This will involve selling some important players such as Cuenca and Brandt.

2 strikers should help my lack of goals. I have ALWAYS worked better with a narrow formation. 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-3-1-2. I NEVER had any real success with a wide formation involving wingers.

 

[philstanbridge]

The star ratings are relative to your current squad ability though. So if you've got a team full of world class players it'll take something really special to be higher than 4.

Yes that is very true. I just hate having 3 star players in my first team, it looks so naff Having said that, old Will Hughes is still scoring.. I just need to lower my expectations somewhat I guess. It's just my scouts seem to contradict. For example, a 2 star player is described as 'useful'. I would describe a 2 star player as 'useless' and stay clear. Equally so for 3 star. I've always looked for the 3.5/4 star and above for quality.

The question is, who do I look for as youth? I would always choose the best players I could find, who were generally 5 star. But now the best is a 'good' or 'fairly good' 3 star.

 

[philstanbridge]

F THIS! Team is too inconsistent.

I will struggle to finish in the top half.

Next season, I will swap to a trusty 4-1-2-1-2. This will involve selling some important players such as Cuenca and Brandt.

2 strikers should help my lack of goals. I have ALWAYS worked better with a narrow formation. 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-3-1-2. I NEVER had any real success with a wide formation involving wingers.

I am using a 4-1-2-1-2 and it works a treat. I have two fast wingbacks who zoom up the flanks. two strong and tall central defenders. A solid DM, with AP in midfield. An excellent world class AMC who will score 25-35 goals per season on his own and two world class potential strikers. I have also found that two strikers are better than a solitary figure. But I have also had a lot of success with wingers, particularly fast wingers in the past.

 

[The__Malteser]

I am using a 4-1-2-1-2 and it works a treat. I have two fast wingbacks who zoom up the flanks. two strong and tall central defenders. A solid DM, with AP in midfield. An excellent world class AMC who will score 25-35 goals per season on his own and two world class potential strikers. I have also found that two strikers are better than a solitary figure. But I have also had a lot of success with wingers, particularly fast wingers in the past.

I already have a good midfield (quite defensive though) and an ok defensive line. Never managed to get a good, consistent striker though.

Finished 13th with 38 points. 4 positions and 8 points than last year. 1 place higher but the same points as my first year.

I got smashed in the cup, lost in the 2nd round 3-0 to Hannover (rivals).

I did ok in the Europa league. I finished first in my group with 13 points. I has Marsielle, Pandurii and H. Tel-Aviv. I won the first 4 games (incl. 2 games against Marsielle) but then my team decided to stop playing well, and i got a point from the last 2 games. I beat Utrecht in the last of 32, then HSV in the last 16. I got knocked out in the quarter finals against winners Manchester United.

 

[Bergkamp]

Yes that is very true. I just hate having 3 star players in my first team, it looks so naff Having said that, old Will Hughes is still scoring.. I just need to lower my expectations somewhat I guess. It's just my scouts seem to contradict. For example, a 2 star player is described as 'useful'. I would describe a 2 star player as 'useless' and stay clear. Equally so for 3 star. I've always looked for the 3.5/4 star and above for quality.

The question is, who do I look for as youth? I would always choose the best players I could find, who were generally 5 star. But now the best is a 'good' or 'fairly good' 3 star.

Can't rely on scouts and their stars half the time anyway. Look at their stats and go with your gut feeling. Sometimes it goes horribly wrong, but more often than not I'm right.

 

[philstanbridge]

Can't rely on scouts and their stars half the time anyway. Look at their stats and go with your gut feeling. Sometimes it goes horribly wrong, but more often than not I'm right.

So you can't rely on 20/20 scouts? The stats are all well and good, but when it comes time to buy most of the time their stats have been reset. At least, that's what happens for me. So apart from the star rating, I've little to go on.

I bought a £40 million wingback recently who was my 'backup' lol. I ended up selling him on to Man City for £34 million 6 months later. I lost a lot of money, but he became impatient for first team action even though he accepted a backup contract.. That purchase was based on a combination of scouting and a hunch. I'm sure he would have worked out well if I could play him regularly but the fact is my first team are better. So he was in reserve a lot. So I want to concentrate on my young players now but I can only find 3 stars or the occasional player better but their clubs want £100 million+ for them!

 

[wanderer89]

With your scouts, you need more than just 20/20 JPA/JPP, you need adaptability because of sending them abroad, and determination for well, that's obvious those are the stats I look for when signing new scouts.

 

[philstanbridge]

That's something I had forgotten about. But even still, with 32 scouts (a lot are 20/20) and 61% coverage, there's no lacking in that department The point is, there is a distinct lack of 'quality' talent.

 

[Bergkamp]

So you can't rely on 20/20 scouts? The stats are all well and good, but when it comes time to buy most of the time their stats have been reset. At least, that's what happens for me. So apart from the star rating, I've little to go on.

I bought a £40 million wingback recently who was my 'backup' lol. I ended up selling him on to Man City for £34 million 6 months later. I lost a lot of money, but he became impatient for first team action even though he accepted a backup contract.. That purchase was based on a combination of scouting and a hunch. I'm sure he would have worked out well if I could play him regularly but the fact is my first team are better. So he was in reserve a lot. So I want to concentrate on my young players now but I can only find 3 stars or the occasional player better but their clubs want £100 million+ for them!

If scouts got it spot on every time then it would remove all the fun for the player in unearthing a gem that the rest of the footballing world had written off, or knowing that there's no risk of a player not working out because the scout said 5/5.

 

[The__Malteser]

I do tend to trust my scouts, but not always.

Nick Powell is 22 in my game, and his stats are that of a mid table Championship team. My scouts say he is a 4.5* potential, but I don't want to invest (he is free too).

Also, Derby got relegated, and Will Hughes can be had for less than 2M. His stats are a bit better than Powell's, but not nearly Europa League standard (where I am aiming to place). Still took the chance. At 1.9M I tried. He is also a year younger.

 

[philstanbridge]

Will Hughes turns into a cracking player mate, given enough first team experience and good training. Look at my screen grab above -he's worth £50million now, and scored 14 goals last season.

 

[The__Malteser]

Will Hughes turns into a cracking player mate, given enough first team experience and good training. Look at my screen grab above -he's worth £50million now, and scored 14 goals last season.

Yep, thats why I bought him!

Can't buy anyone though. need 1DC, 1DL, 1MC and finally 3 ST.

I have a paper with a list of names, but they are either too expensive or have high wages or they are not interested. I might need to aim for 'lower' players.

Only bought Hughes and Rulli (loaned back to parent cclub) till now. Combined total of 4M.

EDIT: I tried to get players like Bertolacci and Zaza, but they chose other teams. They would have cost me total of just 5M. FFS! Season is starting, and my team is still FAR for complete.

 

[The__Malteser]

Transfer season is done. I feel I did a good job with the players I got. Maybe the attack can be a bit better, bit I didn't have any more money to spend on players

With an average age of 24.18, I feel that I have a team that will be good in the future. Pretty much all the players can improve (oldest player is just 28). I have high hopes for Hughes, Alacer, Montgomerie, Guilavogui, De Siglio, Inguinez, Correa and Leca.

Fixtures have been 'ok'. I started well, winning 3-2 against HSV (although i was 3-0 up and conceded 2 late goals ), then I lost to Wolfsburg and Fieburg. The only excuse I can get is that I didn't have a good strike force yet (Correa was on int. duty and I still needed to buy players). Came back with a good wins vs Bremen and Bayer.

 

[robmol]

Why do the boards on small lower league clubs often reject request for parent club? They get can get paid and get better players on loan, don't understand why they wouldn't!

 

[merrick]

Doesnt anyone use FM GENIE?!

 

[philstanbridge]

Why do the boards on small lower league clubs often reject request for parent club? They get can get paid and get better players on loan, don't understand why they wouldn't!

I find there are 'slots' in the season where requests are often met or often denied. It also helps to be in the black with the finances. I am experimenting with a Blue Bet South club at the moment, and my first request for a parent was denied. I tried again a few weeks later just before the end of season and I was accepted.