Career My "first" attempt at a 1kc - Attempt 2

[Mr B]

After a lot of time testing many tactics with Munich, some very helpful tips from the community (@Rob @JamesVilla @broodje kip) and some really helpful discussions with @RichI've finally started my first 1kc. Portugal had been suggested by several people as a good place to try it and I liked the look of Porto's wonderkids so that's where I am. I developed a soft spot for Musiala while testing... but Munich wanted 225M for him so that didn't work out!

Plan B:

I've seen his stats go really good in another challenge (think it was Scratch in a 3x1k with Leeds), plus he was affordable and being only 16, I had an extra year to perfect the squad before he should be peaking. I've convinced myself now that Scarlett is actually a better choice than Musiala and no one is telling me otherwise!

Transfers were focused on short term success while the youngsters develop and also on improving the team dynamics. Pavoletti was there to be a mentor for Scarlett to improve his aerial. Everyone else was to give me two good choices for each position and help with dynamics.

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I want expecting much from Scarlett himself in season 1 but needed to be winning enough to not get fired. That went OK I think.

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Champions League Final was particularly stressful!

 

And I don't think the we necessarily deserved it...

 

I was really impressed with the young lad. Far better than I was hoping for in season 1. Didn't score at all in the first 6 or so, but then these two came in quick succession.


One injury for Scarlett which came near the end and stopped me getting him 30 for the season. Came back just in time to score in the ECL semi andante Lazio. Also got a few other short injuries here too which made life difficult, but fortunately I'd already won the league by then.

I feel like he's looking good for the end of only one season (better than Musiala did at 17!), and the rest of the team are improving too. Roll on season 2! 

27 down, 973 to go! 

Edited January 16, 2022 by Mr B

[Rich]

That’s a great start mate, nice choice of player and team. Looking forward next season 👍

[Dai_]

It was me that used him at Leeds. 😁 of all people to be confused with, Scratch would be one of the best. 👍

You say that he's a better choice than Musiala & won't be told otherwise.... I agree. From personal experience, he's fantastic!

That's a good first season & he'll only get better. Best of luck, Sir! 

[broodje kip]

Brilliant choice and great start mate. Scarlett is very good for me most of the time

[Mr B]

55 minutes ago, Dai_ said:

It was me that used him at Leeds. 😁 of all people to be confused with, Scratch would be one of the best. 👍

You say that he's a better choice than Musiala & won't be told otherwise.... I agree. From personal experience, he's fantastic!

That's a good first season & he'll only get better. Best of luck, Sir! 

My apologies! Thanks for the inspiration

[Rob]

Great start and interesting choice of player. Getting Scratch and Dai mixed up is understandable as both are by far the most talented Vibers of their nationality.

Absolutely love some of your transfers too. FCP is a classic ‘takes five years to get a squad and club near to the level you want’ so make sure you give it plenty of time and stick to your methodology.

[husain_2965]

gooodluck 👍👍

[broodje kip]

15 hours ago, Dai_ said:

It was me that used him at Leeds. 😁 of all people to be confused with, Scratch would be one of the best. 👍

You say that he's a better choice than Musiala & won't be told otherwise.... I agree. From personal experience, he's fantastic!

That's a good first season & he'll only get better. Best of luck, Sir! 

I’m sorry but I have to disagree with you Dai. Musiala edges this one

[Mr B]

Start of season 2. The transfer funds from winning the Champions League definitely helped and I was able to bring in Bruno Fernandes (cancelling Pereira's move to PSG and using him in exchange helped as he'd gone up a lot in value). Also got Nuno Mendes for a future LWB and strengthened midfield. Diego Leite came back from his loan last season looking like this so is straight into the teams.


Mata and Baro had to go as they were becoming a bad influence on team dynamics. Not too bothered about Mata as he's old and I got a little profit on him but upset at losing wonderkid Baro. Never mind though, I'm happy with the replacements.

Spoiler

I'm hoping to get 50 this season, which seems a little ambitious for only season 2, but he does have green Aerial now and the creative players are improved or upgraded so fingers crossed. 3 in the first 3 as I'm writing this is a good start, but losing both the Super Cups is a bit disappointing.

Two injuries this season, luckily without any relevant stats falling

Annoyingly, both of these coincided with injuries for Pavoletti, my back up to Scarlett.  This left me with only 1 fit striker. Given Evanilson is also a handy left forward I decided to try a strikerless tactic which was pretty fun and successful enough (beat Juve over two legs with it).

I forgot to take any pics of the main assisters, but most of them came from the wing backs, who also take the corners so no surprise their. I'm also pretty happy with how Viera is turning out as my left IW. Will try and remember pics at the end of season 3.

Spoiler

Unbeaten in the league was really nice, still a shame about the Super Cup losses at the beginning. Beating Dortmund in the final was a lot less stressful than Leipzig last year, but then Dortmund got their revenge in the Club World Cup, denying me 2 more matches.

And those 2 games could have been what got the last 2 goals for Scarlett to hit 50! Still pretty happy with 48 in his second season, and he's looking pretty decent for an 18 year old.

 

27 + 48 = 75

1000 - 75 = 925 to go

Edited June 30, 2021 by Mr B
Correcting pics

[Scratch]

He's looking good and you're off to a great start, both from a team point of view and for the 1KC. He'll keep ramping up a lot over the next few years and you'll cruise home. Shame about his injury but you're going to get that in a long term save. 

I really need to manage in Portugal some time - it's one of the countries I've never used! Looks like fun.

On the Scarlett vs Musiala debate: I'm lucky enough/cursed to be able to look at the database and see their CA/PA. Based on that, the answer is: it depends which database you're using! If you are on the latest version and using the November DB, then Musiala is way better than Scarlett. If you are using the March DB, then Scarlett is actually better than Musiala. Of course PA is randomised slightly in each save you start, so Musiala could still be better than Scarlett in a particular save and of course PA isn't the only factor in whether a player does well - but couldn't help comparing them based on that.

[Mr B]

Spoiler

5 hours ago, Scratch said:

 

On the Scarlett vs Musiala debate: I'm lucky enough/cursed to be able to look at the database and see their CA/PA. Based on that, the answer is: it depends which database you're using! If you are on the latest version and using the November DB, then Musiala is way better than Scarlett. If you are using the March DB, then Scarlett is actually better than Musiala. Of course PA is randomised slightly in each save you start, so Musiala could still be better than Scarlett in a particular save and of course PA isn't the only factor in whether a player does well - but couldn't help comparing them based on that.

 

Well that's annoying as I'm on the November db. Never mind though, still having fun, and Scarlett at 1M is way better than Musiala for 225M! 

[Rich]

Great second season mate, brilliant start, he will be slamming the goals in any time now. 

[JamesVilla]

Its a good start mate, keep it up and im sure you'll be closer to that 100 goal a season mark in no time. 

[Mr B]

Season 3

A mixed season here. Very happy with my progress in the challenge, but my worst season for trophies - losing in the semis of a domestic cup and the quarters in the Champions league. 

Here are the transfers and a reminder of how Scarlett looked at the end of last year. 

Spoiler

Happy with my business this year. My WBs have been the main source of goals, but Albrighton in getting old, Dubois' crossing wasn't going up and Sanusi was stubbornly refusing to learn Portuguese. Replacements are looking good, especially Nuno Mendes now he's trained a bit and Reece James. Joao is a backup and the others were frees to then flip for profit or to sit in the reserves as backup. 

This year saw the Christmas World Cup, where England got knocked out by France in the first knockout round...

(Scarlett had already scored 4 in 2 hands for the U21s, but no senior caps at this point). I realised quickly that England don't have the players to make my tactic work, so I get to have a play around with them - hopefully finding the magic formula before I get fired! 

 

Results

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Highlights: 

The Napoli game is the one that took Scarlett to that wonderful landmark (and through it) of a goal a game over his career. 

The Boss 

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I know it's probably not completely optimal, but I do enjoy keeping a good base of domestic players. 

I also find it odd that my worst year for trophies is the one that moves me up to 1st in the rankings. 

The Supporting Cast

Spoiler

Great threat from my WBs, and I have them on corners which helps their assist numbers. All of their crossing stats improved this year so hopefully they'll be even better next year. 

Really happy with how Vieira is coming on, he's already one of my key players. I'm also surprised at just how good Pereira is having seen him in reality in the Prem.

The Main Man

He was on Aerial 16 going into the final against Sporting, I was stoked to see 19 after his level up! Should lead to even greater things next year. 

This year: 72 club + 5 Country =77

Total: 147 club + 5 Country = 152

848 to go! 

[broodje kip]

Brilliant going there and his development is great. I suggest getting him to be more well rounded especially aggression, passing, dribbling, technique and teamwork.

[Mr B]

2 hours ago, broodje kip said:

Brilliant going there and his development is great. I suggest getting him to be more well rounded especially aggression, passing, dribbling, technique and teamwork.

Thank you, it's going much better than I thought I'd do, the advice for far more testing than I'd have otherwise done is really paying off. 

Thanks for the tip. I've actually been trying to train technique for a while; most level ups have been either Complete Forward + Technique or occasionally Poacher + Aerial. (I swapped them around because I think I remember an older challenge thread where one of the vets said they had better results that way. ) It just didn't seem to want to go up!

Dribbling and Aggression I understand too, but can you explain why Passing and Teamwork are important? I'd have thought that if I only want him to shoot that they wouldn't matter? Definitely not trying to tell you that you're wrong, I know you and many others are far more experienced at this and I'm just trying to learn

[broodje kip]

6 minutes ago, Mr B said:

Thank you, it's going much better than I thought I'd do, the advice for far more testing than I'd have otherwise done is really paying off. 

Thanks for the tip. I've actually been trying to train technique for a while; most level ups have been either Complete Forward + Technique or occasionally Poacher + Aerial. (I swapped them around because I think I remember an older challenge thread where one of the vets said they had better results that way. ) It just didn't seem to want to go up!

Dribbling and Aggression I understand too, but can you explain why Passing and Teamwork are important? I'd have thought that if I only want him to shoot that they wouldn't matter? Definitely not trying to tell you that you're wrong, I know you and many others are far more experienced at this and I'm just trying to learn

It’s more into the build ups. I have this way of thinking where if the striker supports the build up, he will make more chances for himself so the passing is important.

Teamwork is a combination of work rate and togetherness according to Scratch (Sorry I was too lazy to tag). With players of better work rates, you are more likely to get the best out of  pressing so that you can win the ball more often.

[Mr B]

1 hour ago, broodje kip said:

It’s more into the build ups. I have this way of thinking where if the striker supports the build up, he will make more chances for himself so the passing is important.

Teamwork is a combination of work rate and togetherness according to Scratch (Sorry I was too lazy to tag). With players of better work rates, you are more likely to get the best out of  pressing so that you can win the ball more often.

Thanks, always good to learn

[Rich]

Well done Mr B, awesome he’s already getting them GPG ratio of goals. You’ll be hitting a 100 in no time 🤞🏻

[Scratch]

Great work, that's a massive step up and more to come I think! Exciting times! 😄

On the attribute stuff, I agree with @broodje kip about the Work Rate, although I never actually set them to train for it. Instead I wait until they get a rating of 5 or below and discipline them like I said over on my thread (or maybe it wasn't me who said it, seems it was someone called Mr Bite). 

You just have to be careful not to upset them - I always start with warning them, and if they ignore that, then next time I fine them 1 week. Sometimes they get upset and you have to offer them a new contract (so I don't try it with someone who just signed a contract as they might have 6 months being unhappy before I can get them to sigh a new contract). But sometimes it will improve their work rate. I often keep notes about what works for who, which is a bit of a pain, but helps get it right.

Speaking of fining lazy people, I think we better fine @broodje kip - I mean being too lazy to tag someone is a sure sign his work rate needs to improve!  

Most of my tactics have been Aerial focused (crosses from the winger to a high Aerial striker), so I've never worried much about Technique or Passing, etc, just Pace and Movement (to get free), and Aerial (to head home) and Shooting (for non Aerial chances) and then maximised those as much as possible. That said, in my current save I have multiple strikers trying to play together, so now I'm worrying about Passing and Creativity and Technique etc to try to create more chances. So many different ways to play this game, you gotta love it! And Scarlett will do well not matter how you tweak him from here.

[broodje kip]

19 minutes ago, Scratch said:

Speaking of fining lazy people, I think we better fine @broodje kip - I mean being too lazy to tag someone is a sure sign his work rate needs to improve!  

I’m not getting payed doing this  

[Scratch]

2 minutes ago, broodje kip said:

I’m not getting payed doing this  

With work rate like that it's no wonder no one will pay you!  

[Mr B]

Quick question regarding international goals. I'm assuming that friendly goals don't count given that you can arrange your own friendlies? Or do they count, you're just not allowed to change the friendlies you get offered? 

[Rich]

10 minutes ago, Mr B said:

Quick question regarding international goals. I'm assuming that friendly goals don't count given that you can arrange your own friendlies? Or do they count, you're just not allowed to change the friendlies you get offered? 

I believe friendlies are allowed, well I always thought they were, unless someone says otherwise 😂

[Mr B]

8 minutes ago, Rich said:

I believe friendlies are allowed, well I always thought they were, unless someone says otherwise 😂

Good news then! 

(Although I did rest him for an 8-0 drubbing of Honduras 🙁)

[broodje kip]

6 hours ago, Rich said:

I believe friendlies are allowed, well I always thought they were, unless someone says otherwise 😂

I see in the players’ profile page, they count the friendlies goals so…

[Mr B]

7 hours ago, broodje kip said:

I see in the players’ profile page, they count the friendlies goals so…

That's definitely good enough for me. I also noticed that you can arrange your own friendlies in the international windows, but that definitely feels like cheating so I'll stick with what I'm given. Could be an interesting challenge though: how many international goals can a player get when you do exploit the system? 

[Mr B]

Last season was a little disappointing, but my boy Scarlett had some nice improvements and the team has got better around him so hoping for big things fun season 4.

Spoiler

Not much transfer business. Meslier improved my depth at GK (some players were concerned about squad depth and this was my weakest position) and gives me some future-proofing. Mario wasn't quite coming on how I wanted so splashed out on Pulisic to replace him. And then had a decent amount left over so went for Quaresma but immediately landed him back so that he'd keep improving.
 

Spoiler

Lucky with injuries again. Last season I forgot to update injuries but there was only one of those where he comes off injured, but then there was no injury afterwards, only the lower condition to recover from.
This season was another of those and one single week injury. Been pretty lucky so far in this regard.


Competitions
It was time to regain my European crown after a quarter final exit last season.

Lost to PSG on away goals in first knockout round...

Oh well, at least I can count on the domestic clean sweep...

Spoiler

Really disappointing season. I'm a little worried that some of my stars might want to move on next season after these performances.

Spoiler

Scarlett himself had a fairly disappointing season too, can't put my finger on why though. Tried a tinker with the tactics after winning the league, but that didn't seem to have much of an effect.


Primary stats are looking great now, but technique and aggression are still not going up.

Hoping next season will be better, will have a bit of an overhaul if it isn't.


The end of the season is the Euros. I haven't managed to get a tactic that focuses on Scarlett and also works with the players available, so I've just gone for trying to score a lot and assume that my boy will pick up his fair share.

The group stage was ridiculous. I know you can't get FMMed when it's not a league game, but this Poland game would surely have got me a high score?


(I have no idea why it isn't listing the second goal against Poland. It didn't show me the goal in real time either, only the replay. Scarlett scored, and the goal did appear in his history records) 

The missing game was a more routine 4-2 win against Turkey. Qualified in 2nd place and then the season ended before I played Ukraine in the last 16. That will be included in season 5's update

 

Edit:

I forgot to include the goal tally!

Season 4: 58 domestic + 10 int = 68

Total:  205 + 15 = 220 total

Higher than I was planning for at this point when I started, so can't be too upset! 

Edited July 18, 2021 by Mr B
Forgot to include goal total

[Rich]

Good season mate, he’s so young still and he looks awesome, you’ll only get stronger from here I’m sure 👍

[Mr B]

13 hours ago, Rich said:

Good season mate, he’s so young still and he looks awesome, you’ll only get stronger from here I’m sure 👍

Thanks, next season has started better than the last one finished.