Football Manager 2020 Discussion Thread

[Bluebird Hewitt]

2 hours ago, LFCMike said:

First leg v Barcelona

Should have won that. Disappointing. 

I was thinking as well. Does the board at your club get pissy if you try for international jobs? 

[LFCMike]

5 minutes ago, Bluebird Hewitt said:

Should have won that. Disappointing. 

I was thinking as well. Does the board at your club get pissy if you try for international jobs? 

Haha there was no highlights on the match engine apart from the two kick offs

They didn't when I took the Scotland job but I've not actually applied for any, only been offered the one

[Bluebird Hewitt]

27 minutes ago, LFCMike said:

Haha there was no highlights on the match engine apart from the two kick offs

They didn't when I took the Scotland job but I've not actually applied for any, only been offered the one

Ah ok. Fair enough. I know they are pissy when looking to move clubs but wasn't sure in regards to international jobs. 

[LFCMike]

Second leg was a lot more entertaining than the first. We had chances to win more comfortably but did enough to win anyway. We had a goal ruled out by VAR and they had two.

We've turned into 1-0 specialists of late. Conceded one goal since 6th December which was against a non-league side in the cup!

This save has become rather easy domestically. I'd like to win the Champions League before moving on but I think I'll give it until after 2030 World Cup with Scotland and see where we are then. Maybe move to a big club in England who needs to get back into the PL

[LFCMike]

Quarter final draw. We had these in the group's last season and beat them twice. They've not lost a game in all comps since 1st November though and currently sit top in Germany

[LFCMike]

So the title was wrapped up before the March international break.

We had a great start to our World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-0 win over Croatia.

Just played the first leg of the Champions League quarter final. We had to withstand heavy pressure in the first half (think they had 10 of their shots in the first 45). We were in control second half though and managed another clean sheet away from home in Europe

[Mpache]

On 19/05/2020 at 12:51, ...Dan said:

Is it just me whose players never get nominated for the Ballon d'Or? Polverino scored 44 league goals and had an average rating of 7.78 last season, and nothing. Meanwhile my 3rd choice striker from last season Mahmut Terzi who I sold to Milan in the summer, 10 goals and 7.11 last season and 2 goals and 6.93 so far at Milan is nominated? 

Sorry mate 

[Dan+]

That French midfielder absolutely runs the show against me. For some context he made 150 passes against us in the last game and our entire team made 154

[LFCMike]

Really didn't think it was going to happen. Such a dominant display, especially first half. McGregor slotted home with a great little finish with a few minutes left though

Man Utd and Dortmund is the other semi.

We're also into the Scottish Cup final after a 2-0 win over Rangers.

[LFCMike]

Got Dortmund in the final

[LFCMike]

Just won the league with 108 points, 6 goals conceded all season. 3 players in team of the year. Joke

[Dan+]

FC Andorra - 2026/27 (Part one)

The rogues were in Europe. It really had happened. I did think we were going to prove ourselves capable one day. I think the real turning point for this save was the survival in 2024 - we put ourselves in such an awful position that it would take a totally new level of performance over a significant percentage of the season to keep us in La Liga, and we pulled it out of the bag. From then on, we have been under no real relegation threat and once that's the case you have to aim high and look to get even further.

We were handed a budget of £7mil which is a little disappointing, but the best we've had bar our first season up (though that largely got put back into wages anyway). I felt depth was imperative this season, although I made a couple of controversial moves.

 

 

The main controversial move, really, was deciding to cash in on Luis Sinisterra. I liked him. He was our record signing and played three steady seasons for us - an aggressive, quick and versatile player with the all importang relishing of the big occasion. The catch at Andorra however is that we are stung harder than anybody else in La Liga for non-EU players. While we all get 3 non-EU slots - we cannot ever pick up any new nationalities due to the fact we're in Andorra rather than Spain. In Spain, South & Central American players only have to spend 2 years there before getting Spanish citizenship, and therefore are no longer classed as non-EU. In Andorra it's 25 years. It's a huge pain in the arse and it's part of the reason I've struck up this Logrones agreement - any 18 year old South American I get will be shipped straight there for a two year loan and hopefully, he comes back with a Spanish passport, as well as much improved obviously.

I moved to secure permanent deals for Ranocchia and Cioce, both had been really good last year and both could still get better. German winger Dominique Wolfinger replaces Sinisterra, Alvarez joins as the new pressing forward. The big signing of the summer was Mokoena, a similar kind of player to Sinisterra really albeit younger and for me, slightly better, but will play on the right rather than the left. Alpha Dionkou's release clause was activated which was a big shame, but this meant we could complete a deal for Italian Armando Di Girolamo (CM) & Norwegian Marius Skjeldel (RB). Firmly in regen territory at this point - in-fact all bar Ranocchia are regens. I felt we'd invested well though Sinisterra was a shame to lose as he ticked so many of the boxes, but he was getting on a little, hadn't actually produced that much in terms of attacking output and freeing up a non-EU spot for centre half Jack Melham was needed - the defender who I signed two years ago for a mere £36k had developed superbly in two loan spells and was ready to come straight into our side, I thought.

We had to play one round of qualifying for the Europa Conference League. We could've drawn Marseille or Gladbach. We draw Basaksehir. Tricky, but not the hardest we could've had.

 

 

It was a disappointing start in the league as we made it 9 games and 0 wins against Real Sociedad to kick off, before a disappointing draw in the home leg where we completely battered them, finally broke them down, and then conceded a belter just seconds later. We FINALLY beat newly promoted Girona and did so in style, while going to Turkey and absolutely wiping the floor with Basaksehir who were, to be honest, complete and utter shite. We were in the group stages of the competition and were handed an interesting mix of Celtic, OH Leuven (owned by King Power) & Hapoel Be'er-Sheva. We completed the month with a disappointing draw, though spent most of the game with 10 men.

 

 

We made it two games in a row where we went down to 10 men in the first half but lucky were already 2 up against a dreadful Sporting Gijon and sealed our first league away win in quite a while (thanks La Liga for giving us the Monday game before Europe). We made a winning start in our group over Leuven but were definitely made to work for it, before making it a hat-trick of first half red cards against Valencia as we succumbed to a miserable loss. We followed this up with an absolutely criminal collapse at Real Betis. Really disappointing stuff in the league although I half expected it. We also then lost our 100% win record at home to Sevilla. It was a month with more negatives than positives - and once again, thank you to La Liga for giving us Sevilla at home on the Monday night before Europe. A trip to Celtic coming up.

 

 

What a brilliant result at Celtic, though in fairness they aren't what they were at all. The Bilbao draw was actually our first ever avoidance of defeat at home to them, before stealing a late draw at early surprise bottom side Villarreal. We smashed Hapoel as expected but the run of draws became 4 with a trip to Alaves - before finally getting another league win over Celta Vigo, a fixture that's become quite a favoured one for us. We were slapped at Barcelona, expectedly. Mokoena received a suspension for yellow cards after just 9 games, as a winger, Sinisterra's boots filled quickly - though Wolfinger broke his ribs in pre-season and then would do exactly the same thing on his return, meaning I've been backed into playing either Mereles or Gyokeres on the left. Shoddy stuff. Not too bad a month though.

 

 

This was the best month by some distance. We made it 4 wins from 4 in the group though still amazingly weren't actually yet through, before beating form side Atletico Madrid at home again with a late goal and then producing a super win at Deportivo - co-incidentally by the same scoreline that effectively got us promoted to La Liga back in 2022. Leuven was an abysmal loss but Celtic's failure to beat Hapoel secured us top spot in the group and it meant nothing, before another big win in the league took us up to 5th. The league table is utterly bizarre mind you as it's so ridiculously tight, with a good 12 of the teams within about 3 points of each other, so it could all turn pretty quickly.

 

 

We became the form side of the league with yet another win at Espanyol, a perfect away performance in a game marred by fouls, time-wasting and gritty defending, before succumbing to yet another loss to a managerless Levante who were sat 19th in the table. Bizarrely we did exactly the same thing around a year ago but at home to them, quite eerie. We knocked Celtic out of Europe with a weakened team and then produced a dramatic stoppage time show to deny Real Madrid. I wasn't happy with how our changed XI failed to beat a dreadful Sanse side in normal time but I suppose we won - though sadly I've become everything I hate and won't be taking the Copa Del Rey at all seriously this year.

 

 

So we sit 9th in what is ultimately a stupidly tight league table, bar the obvious Barcelona pissing it. We've only lost the one game at home too. I actually think we can make Europe again, I've been quite impressed by our improvement, bizarrely, since I put Gyokeres on the wing. Maybe the hard-running style truly is the one for us. The signings have generally performed though Wolfinger has been a bit unlucky with injury. Mokoena is the dirtiest bastard ever. Melham hasn't actually managed to get into my side much as Magnani's just not stopped, what a signing he's turned into after all. Javi Hernandez continues to defy logic at left back with yet another solid shift and a load of assists.

Ultimately though, the best route into Europe could be through the Europa Conference League.

 

 

With the new system in place we don't go in until the next round, but I actually don't think it's totally beyond us to win this competition and I'm aiming to do it. I feel Marseille will be the nearest challengers.

I'm happy with the season though after a slow start.

[LFCMike]

We did it! A very good first half performance put us in control before we doubled our lead early in the second. They pulled one back but we never really looked like conceding a second.

Didn't realise we'd play the Club World Cup so soon. Here's how that went. 

Torn on whether to quit and look for a new challenge now or leave it another season. Given we're already well into July I'm thinking I'll have one more season

[LFCMike]

Quick update.

I decided I wanted a new challenge. The Hamburg job was available. They're in the top flight but have been a bit of a yo-yo club. 

The squad wasn't great but had a few talented players, particularly in defence to build on. A few loans, a couple of signings for the future and dipping into Cowdenbeath reserves for a couple of players (who never got a look in while I was there because of the quality in front of them) has really improved the squad.

We've made a decent start to the league season, 3 wins and 3 draws in our first 6.

Also almost qualified for the World Cup with Scotland. A point at home to Greece or Montenegro puts us through

[Dave]

Dropped out the playoffs on the last game of the 2024/25 season. I feel sick. We may never get such a good chance again.

[Smiley Culture]

I genuinely can’t remember a time when I won a penalty shootout on this bastard game. 

[LFCMike]

Here's an update on Hamburg and Scotland.

Not a bad start at all with Hamburg. This is the table at the winter break. Could have been better but for a run of four games without a win in November/ start of December. I'd say a title challenge is unlikely at this stage, we're just drawing too many but the aim was always just Europe which would be a huge improvement for a club who finished 12th last season.

Scotland then. Qualified with ease from our qualifying group. And now we have Brazil in our group

[Mpache]

How did Real Madrid bottle this 

[Bluebird Hewitt]

9 hours ago, Inti Brian said:

How did Real Madrid bottle this 

Bollocks to Real Madrid bottling it. How did TNS make the group stages and get a point? 

[Mpache]

6 hours ago, Bluebird Hewitt said:

Bollocks to Real Madrid bottling it. How did TNS make the group stages and get a point? 

Much to our disappointment, that point wasn't against Real Madrid but rather Leipzig  

[Bluebird Hewitt]

32 minutes ago, Inti Brian said:

Much to our disappointment, that point wasn't against Real Madrid but rather Leipzig  

Wait, so of the four points they dropped in the group stage, two were against TNS. 

Even better. 

[Dave]

Finished 3rd in The Championship in the 2027/28 season with AFC Wimbledon.

We lost in the playoff semi finals thanks to 88th and 89th minute goals against Brighton.

Brighton signed two of my best players the summer before and pinched some key staff members.

This save is beginning to feel like a save of hurt.

[DeadLinesman]

18 minutes ago, The Palace Fan said:

Finished 3rd in The Championship in the 2027/28 season with AFC Wimbledon.

We lost in the playoff semi finals thanks to 88th and 89th minute goals against Brighton.

Brighton signed two of my best players the summer before and pinched some key staff members.

This save is beginning to feel like a save of hurt.

This post gave me a warm feeling inside.

[Bluebird Hewitt]

Right then, I've finished the season of 23/24 and I'll generally sum it up as typing an essay on a phone is a complete ballache and I can't make them as informative or detailed as others can. 

We hit January in a good position (and still in all competitions) so made two permanent signings in Claudio Gomes from Man City (who we had on loan previously) for £13.75m and Jose Iborra (who I had on loan the previous season) for £15.75m to activate his release clause. The centre midfield as a whole needed that little bit extra quality and both were signed to cover this. 

Unfortunately, things soured a little in February as we lose 2-1 on aggregate to Spurs in the Carabao Cup semi final and disappointingly go out to Palace (after beating Liverpool the previous round) in the FA Cup. The league form also took a dip during the second half of the season and we slipped out of the CL places to finish 6th.

However, all was not lost. 

We were able to progress well in the Europa League, beating the likes of Sampdoria and PSV to reach the final against Zenit St. Petersburg. Now I know that the mobile version is easier than the PC version and so the europhoria of winning something dramitcally is not as good. But jesus christ, don't do this sort of match to me again. 

So a very unexpected cup win and we head off to the UEFA Super Cup and CL group stages for the first time. 

Also, you may remember that I signed a player called Gary Orellana for £5.25m at the beginning of the season in the hope that he would replace Albrighton in the starting lineup at some point. 

I may have created a monster. 

Already my best winger ahead of Albrighton (who will now retire), Lamela and Roberts, he is destined to be world class and has already attracted stupid bids after one season. 

While I rejected the bids, he wasn't too happy about it and I can see myself struggling to keep hold of him, though being in the CL may help. 

And so the new season begins, with a transfer budget of £109m (excluding two future sales which will fetch a further £25m in), I could start to make some serious challenges in the league and cups if I buy smartly. 

On a random note, this will be my sixth season, which is more combined than I've done between FM14 to FM19. 

[Dan+]

FC Andorra - 2026/27 (Part two)

We had navigated the first half of the season with no real issues - we topped our European group while sitting in a steady position in an extremely tight La Liga table - with European football via a league finish still looking like a realistic possibility. January would see me delve into the transfer market again after a thorough scouting mission of the second and third tiers of Spain - that's checking the 18 year olds with a cheap release clause at 100 different clubs, and Romanian striker Gabriel Suciu joined from Arandina for a mere £165k.

As previously stated, I wasn't going to throw any eggs into the Copa Del Rey basket this season citing Europe and a thin squad as my excuse, but in what could only be described as absolutely classic FM, an entirely changed side started winning fixtures I usually struggled in in the league.

 

 

Wins at Bilbao and Alaves were not to be sniffed at and they set up a quarter final tie with Barcelona at home. The league form was good this month as well as Viktor Gyokeres single handedly destroyed Osasuna in one of the most outrageous individual displays I have ever seen. Alaves came and produced their usual spoiling performance here but we are an honourable club, and we admire their style. The annual crumbling at Sevilla was turned out before a really impressive away victory at Bilbao in the league (contradicting what I said earlier). The big catch, however, was injuries.

As stated we had changed all XI players in our Copa Del Rey games and been surprisingly successful. However, we would still pay a big price in the form of freak, long-term injuries to our players. The first to fall was Alvarez who dislocated his shoulder in the cup win at Bilbao, ruling him out for two months. The pressing forward is crucial to our system, and Gyokeres would come back in for him after a very good run on the left wing, with Wolfinger finally getting a proper run.

Well, that was the plan. I opted against signing another striker on loan on deadline day. The following day, in the next trip to Bilbao, Gyokeres would have his ankle snapped. 3 months out. Utterly unbelievable. Our luck is absolutely rotten at times.

February, unfortunately, is a howler.

 

 

It's pretty clear to me that we're struggling already. In what looked a very nice run of games on paper we picked up a mere 5 points and just 4 goals. I'm convinced at full strength we're hitting double figures for both of those. The injuries als continue to pile up, with Chancel Tsouka getting injured for 3 weeks, and getting another 3 week injury on his return. Just when I thought our luck couldn't get any worse - we are given Lille in Europe, who for me, along with Marseille, represented the toughest tests. With such a depleted squad I felt we were doomed to an exit from the competition, one that I felt winnable at one point. We don't really cope with injuries too well. It's a shortcoming, but ultimately, you have got to remember we still have only the 19th biggest wage bill in La Liga, pipping Deportivo who are out of their depth at this level. You cannot expect us to deal with this much and still be a success, but we'll do what we can. We go to France first.

 

 

This club just continues to defy any logic. We go to Lille and play them in an open game but look set to lose the first leg 2-1, before an injury time rocket from Di Girolamo gives us a 2-2 draw and a really strong position going into the second leg. The Real Madrid game is written off. I rest around 6 players. I accept we're probably going to be beaten about 6-0. Remarkably, we get a point, and were only 10 minutes away from getting all 3. An unbelievable performance and result in the circumstances. We follow it up by finishing the job against Lille with one of our best displays of the season - we barely give the French side a sniff. I fancy us to go all the way at this point. We scrape past Espanyol, though disappointingly end the month with a comfortable loss at struggling Leganes - hopefully not a sign of things to come.

In Europe, we are into the final 8. We are handed for me, the easiest possible draw, in KV Mechelen of Belgium. Maybe our luck has turned.

We return in April after the international break with a trip to Atletico and are absolutely publicly undressed by 7 goals to 0. It's worrying and it's not the first time they've done it to us - just what wasn't needed ahead of the trip to Belgium - though I fancy this to be the game we turn things around.

We don't.

We are beaten 3-0. KV Mechelen 3-0 FC Andorra. We are out. Surely. I have absolutely no idea what has happened to us. Three defeats in a row without a single goal scored and effectively out of Europe as well. I'm at a loss to explain this. We make it four, with a weakened side getting tanked 0-4 by Barcelona. Four defeats, 0 goals, 16 conceded. I'm absolutely baffled.

Next up. The second leg with Mechelen. I do believe we are better than them, but we're in shocking form, and we need a massive display to pull this off. We need everything I've built over the years. Bring out the big game performance. Get an early goal, and see what happens.

The hat is presented.

The rabbit is pulled out.

 

 

In the most extraordinary night this club has probably ever seen, we are through to the semis after an incredible comeback. We just piled the pressure on further and further and they cracked more and more. We were incredible. What a sickener it would be to not win the competition from here.

We are handed the best side left in it - Marseille. We lose at home narrowly.

 

 

Another win at Celta Vigo and an absolutely dreadful draw at home to bottom placed Deportivo. Our problems weren't fixed yet. We had to go and pull it out of the bag again in Marseille. It wasn't insummountable, but it was never, ever going to be easy. Two away goals, and we really had a chance.

it wasn't to be.

 

 

For the first time I can recall, we simply didn't show up on that big stage. We were weakened again through injury with Cioce and Piazza missing out, but sadly we just never really got anything going on the night and Marseille had too much for us. Three fairly late goals and the end of our European run.

The good news, however, is we bagged ourselves a second bite at the cherry, in a game dubbed the battle of the Mestalla which saw a remarkable number of fouls, cards and chances, we secured a draw to take ourselves to another 7th placed finish.

 

 

I was still a bit disappointed with what happened in Marseille, but we at least dragged ourselves back in and as usual, we did it against the odds, with a totally make-shift back four turning in a really decent display and if for a better performance from the forwards, we'd have beaten Valencia for the first time ever.

Bilbao's points tally sums up how mad a league it really was. To qualify for the Champions League with just 59 points is incredible, a whole 42 points behind the champions.

Levante and their fire sale policy finally sees them sunk, along with two who were expected to drop.

Marseille didn't go on to win the trophy - losing the final to Anderlecht in Paris.

It was a mad one, and I think given how much went against us, we did really well again when all is said and done, but it's never nice to know we didn't show up on the big night. It was a strong debut season in Europe though, and to land Europe again given our constraints, injuries, and clogged up fixture list, we did really well.

We also topped the fouls and yellow cards - a late show from Sporting Gijon wasn't enough to knock us off the top.

All in all, a good season, a very frustrating one, but we did well. Keep fighting the good fight.