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Career 'GOAT' Manager Challenge - The 1st Attempt


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How could you become the 'GOAT' of FMM?

Welcome to possibly the hardest challenge available.

What would you need to achieve to be crowned as the GOAT of FMM? Discussed on the FMM Discord server, @eternalaurora created this horrific beast available <here>.

Here is the challenge setup I'm aiming for - with my additional restrictions in red:

  • Start with a newly promoted English North / South club - Taunton are probably the worst / hardest.
  • Kaiserslautern all the way up - i.e. win the league every season all the way up.
  • Win the treble (x3 trophies) in your 1st Premier League (PL) season.
  • Win the quintuple (x5) in your 2nd PL season.
  • Win the septuple (x7) in your 3rd PL season.
  • Plus - use all 4 narratives non-stop - asset stripper, austerity measures, injury crisis, unrest at home.
  • Plus - no loans in + no exceeding wages - i.e. never play a competitive game over wage budgets.
  • Plus - no unlockables nor cheating - inc. no rich benefactor, no editor, etc, plus no reloading, etc.
  • *Added* - for extra difficulty - play with a manager profile of no badges + no reputation.


image.thumb.png.cfd4881ef18b7a4a5ae7de4d670523b4.png


Is this even possible?
In this career, you will see me test this challenge (and likely fail miserably).

I have no expectation of succeeding - BUT this gives an insight for anyone attempting this in the future. It also gives you an idea of strategies, approaches and what cheats to watch out for.  

Welcome to Taunton. Wish us luck!

Edited by DanEnglish
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You are already the COAT for me (Craziest Of All Time)!! :P 

But then they do say the margins between madness and greatness are very fine. so I guess it's a case of the COAT or the GOAT! 😀 

I actually think it will be impossible for anyone to do all of that. Maybe get promotion all the way up (rather than winning it every season), maybe all 4 narratives, but that would be super super hard already. Adding the Treble in the first season etc - I just think that takes it from very very very close to impossible to ... not a chance in the world. It might be different if your board weren't still selling your best players out from under you at that point, but there's just too much against you.

Having said all that, I should admit I've been proven wrong before and of course wish you the best of luck! Go for it Dan!

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Hey it's me, the maniac who proposed this challenge! I started this idea because some people were talking about what makes a player the FMM GOAT, and I just started putting everything I can think of that will make life harder together. Didn't expect someone to actually attempt it (at least I won't, I'm not a tactics + transfer master), so I'm happy to see one of the best tacticians (and a maniac like me! I didn't add the last 2!) here attempting it!

Now with Dan attempting it, I am going to seriously think about how to make it actually doable. It will likely be a 100-point system with extra credits, like when we were still at school. What Dan is doing right here will probably be the ultimate form of this challenge. 

Let's go Dan! I have faith in you!

Corrections and clarifications:

What is Kaiserslautern?

Kaiserslautern is a club currently at 2.Bundesliga in Germany. Some of you might not have heard of it, but it's also a club that has rich history and some top flight successes, with probably the most well-known one in recent years being orchestrated by "King Otto" Otto Rehhagel, where he led the club to the Bundesliga title in 1997-98 season as the 2.Bundesliga winner in the previous season.

What clubs are available for selection?

Since we are trying to replicate Kaiserslautern's miracle starting season one, we gotta start with one of the winners in the 7th division in the previous season. In FMM23, they are Banbury and Buxton from VNN and Taunton and Worthing from VNS. Taunton is probably the worst and Worthing the best.

What are the treble, quintuple, and septuple trophies you have to win?

Treble: league title, FA Cup, Carabao Cup.

Quintuple: the treble, plus Champions League and Community Shield.

Septuple (it's actually 7!): the quintuple, plus UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

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@eternalaurora - nice! I’ve corrected the original post to match your post 👍 

@Scratch - I agree this is probably impossible, with the step up to winning the treble in your 1st premier league season is likely the hardest / ‘most impossible’ step.

I also worry that my <£4k / week wage budget (for the entire squad!) will not get increased as we go up the leagues. It’s hard enough trying to win the VNS on that budget, but trying to win leagues 1 and 2 on it? Surely impossible … right?!

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Pre-season 1
D5E459CE-7C7F-4A39-AAD0-C404455E1C65.png.fa8c0cc159cc21f0384db4483ff366a8.png

 
i) MORE Difficult
Let’s make this challenge harder, I’m starting with a manager profile with NO badges + NO reputation 🔻

906535C1-7365-49C8-8D78-E05A042E3B28.thumb.jpeg.21e81a70b30c00ddd3d2a32f25dd9f7d.jpeg

Plus if any of you want to copy this - here is my game / league setup.

C6C1103B-821D-4E3A-A0E6-9C077866A1F3.thumb.jpeg.5566055e51fb2cb07aaf1752d13d05ef.jpeg

 
ii) Even MORE Difficult
Here is where we add the 4 narratives. Ouch.

Spoiler

A718940E-BFCB-4028-912B-0ACF4EDF985F.thumb.jpeg.813e13ad509943e4951063a3e2f9f469.jpeg

Injury Crisis - 8 of our 18 players are out injured 🏥 

113A0A63-D699-4AFB-898F-52DCFE7B7E71.thumb.png.7813b1dc2fdc5dffa220a9c12f8bd5ef.png

Unrest at Home - the ones who are fit? They now hate me.

3B1234CA-F20E-4041-BAE9-A92F399BFC3B.thumb.jpeg.95c11457284e9ab5e6dab68859d5ad68.jpeg

Austerity Measures - there’s no money for anything, somehow we need to win the league with a <£4k / week total budget.

24F15EB0-C8FB-4F70-B724-E7DE440C6B7E.thumb.jpeg.8d94571038e1b9773afb39ac5aa71f5d.jpeg

Asset Stripper - the Chairperson soon starts to transfer list my players, causing morale to plummet.

CF4BAEC7-DCE8-4C1C-9EF7-2318DD8E2343.thumb.jpeg.a772f11c51d6bb8c0fbc9742cd6a9243.jpeg

Ouch. 

 
iii) Could it be MORE Difficult ?!
I decided NOT to turn on ‘attribute masking’ - mainly because the Board wouldn’t let me hire a Scout!

Spoiler

My Staff

1768B6C2-0A14-46C2-83EA-0EB48CCE3CA0.thumb.jpeg.28f338d34d6b88b40a23589ea7d9214d.jpeg

My Request

E3AF5EE1-2D70-4ED9-8ECA-EB13E335D984.thumb.jpeg.3db09fd702105ae8ea767cdb46ca2f37.jpeg 
 

 … however if you try this challenge, you COULD turn on ‘attribute masking’ to make it even harder - as the Board allows you to offer the position to your older players!  

Spoiler

6F8965AE-915D-4078-A396-6D24E4ABCB0C.thumb.jpeg.1f5a6f76a5b33081304bec6a10916130.jpeg

BB47D07A-F026-4DE9-A7EA-D0D5413B46A3.thumb.png.c12973b1a94a8666f461c993a87f438a.png 
 

 
Next
How do you build a title winning squad on <£4k / week? And how do you manage around your Board continuously selling your players? Let’s explore! 

Thoughts? 🙂 

Edited by DanEnglish
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Aaarrrssshhh... 🥶🥶🥶 

I wish you all the best, but I can imagine nothing less than a miracle to complete this. 

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Go on Dan, literally is impossible! Very likely to be sacked the odd fair times, I will be following you on how you get on. Think you can still get free transfers, but watch it, dont sign players and put them in your reserves, your chairman will eventually release them. GL buddy 

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Thanks @Migraz + @leedsunited87 - you both are right that this would require a miracle and I’ll likely get sacked first 💯

13 hours ago, leedsunited87 said:

Think you can still get free transfers, but watch it, dont sign players and put them in your reserves, your chairman will eventually release them. GL buddy 

I’ve got a trick up my sleeve for that. See the next big post (edit - the post below!) for details! 🔥

Edited by DanEnglish
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Preseason 1
4B0C594A-EC8E-4317-87DA-1A275BDF6A01.png.a97e85f32cb6afa61f6a7bfe284474ff.png


Original Squad
Taunton’s 18 man squad is quite … weak … which is even worse with this ‘injury crisis’ narrative.

Spoiler

0B1F9CB6-DE8C-4972-A0A7-32BD98AF8F3E.thumb.jpeg.a04f3928863fe6d6174b69c5540316ee.jpeg

Thankfully we can save £800 / week instantly by cancelling GK Bycroft’s loan.

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Urgh. Our player dynamics are quite poor. 
 

 
New Squad
With just <£4k / week wages for an entire squad - we explored the free transfer market …

Spoiler

Shortlist
Identifying a shortlist of target players …

B880B297-2242-43D7-82F7-48CD97A0C4E3.thumb.jpeg.b2857a6946e88abcab8449467d80e964.jpeg

1st Team
Built a first team squad averaging ~£300k / week each.

4E4F48B6-9E14-4BC5-9A57-CC83CB0D1FB7.thumb.jpeg.ea2c2f00d630c0d75936de08ef8576bb.jpeg

Two extra players arrived later - as we were waiting for Work Permit decisions.

2nd Team
Plus extra players averaging ~£100 / week - to make a 22 man squad.

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Reserves
Plus 25 backup players who were immediately loaned out on 100% wages! 

C004E508-0898-41F3-A75C-B8B9C01B95B1.thumb.jpeg.fc5dff0cfaf10489a1c431fffc00f562.jpeg 

Also as our training facilities are so poor …

0ABA7D6C-90CC-4EBB-A14D-47B1BFA086C7.thumb.png.dc60c1a76d948bda83c1b5458c6ade65.png

… I hope these younger players (out on loan) get game time to develop, so I can use them later.  
 

  
The Plan (for season 1)
To win the VNS league - I’m hoping my 1st team is good enough ⚠️ risky.

To survive ‘injury crisis’ - I think this 22 player squad (1st + 2nd team) is insufficient if we get 5-10 injuries, but I can’t afford more players ️ big problem.

To survive ‘asset stripping’ - my 25 player ‘loan army’ (out on loan at 100% wages) means I can recall a replacement every time a player is sold confident.

To survive ‘unrest at home’ - my manager ‘motivational’ speciality + generally winning games should help ⚠️ risky.

 

Next
We start the 1st season - with both good news, and terrible terrible news.

Is this enough? 😬

Edited by DanEnglish
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Not for the challenge obviously but I started a Taunton save back in May, currently in my 16th season. Managed to win every league in the way up but didn’t manage trebles etc until a few seasons in.

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@Scratch + @Migraz - thanks 😂
 

2 hours ago, Resurgam said:

Not for the challenge obviously but I started a Taunton save back in May, currently in my 16th season. Managed to win every league in the way up but didn’t manage trebles etc until a few seasons in.

Oh great job! Considering I’m playing with no loans + no exceeding wages … do you have any suggestions or tips based on your experiences?! 🙂 

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Early Season 1
092D9D29-19AF-44B0-B956-00EB9EB717DD.png.65cde4b0479354475cb60479ce49f8a7.png
 

The Good …
After a good pre-season, we start the season well - with a comfortable 3-1 home win 🔥 five clear-cut-chances shows our domination 👍 

C8CCB7EB-FA03-43AD-A549-F208EE4A08A1.thumb.png.88c5cbd070e5dea1c8275d4bc7bb7d5c.png

 
… The Bad …
Then disaster hits. I realize 3 narratives are now ‘off’. So I switch these narratives back ‘on’. Disaster.

Spoiler

Unrest at home - my new signings despise me 🔻

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Austerity Measures - thankfully doesn’t change our budgets, but does hit player morale again 🔻

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Injury Crisis ️ this one hurts …

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… most of our squad is now injured - including both GKs + both STs injured 😱

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This could be … er … tough.  
 


… And The Ugly
With all these injuries, this is our (demoralized) first team …

  • 🔻 3 greyed-out players
  • 🔻 1 out-of-position FB
  • 🔻 all attackers have <10 finishing

BDFFFEFC-3C48-4B9D-84D4-8A6596A22C15.thumb.jpeg.acf1f91e417187f43b6af747318bb7e9.jpeg

 
So how did we get on … ? 😬 

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4 consecutive games where it was extremely tight …

  • Started each game with an attacking 4231 (actually a 4213) …
  • … then if we score, then shut the game down with a defensive / park bus / sterile possession 41410
     
Spoiler

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CEEAD5B3-6359-44F7-9077-B489AC906916.thumb.png.4421ef17bd835fe6c572bebe250e3eb9.png

 
So What?
Right now we are in 4th place. Fantastic.

F22D94A0-505E-4CFB-8BB7-3C1B2AED5264.thumb.jpeg.d935749197fdce9f2596662dbc6c4eb0.jpeg

Even the press are positive, though depressingly they said we had ‘an easy start😞 so let’s NOT be optimistic

37767E23-D369-4446-9629-BCDAE68BAE8C.thumb.jpeg.218c10dc9dfa0c4d29b700f91d203814.jpeg
 

Next
Now we start to play a hectic 2 games / week - which my low-stamina 8 available players are unable to handle.

Thankfully all the players are united + working together in … huh … what? … 

Spoiler

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AAAARRRGGH !!! 😡 

Edited by DanEnglish
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23 minutes ago, leedsunited87 said:

Maybe I'm tired, but wouldn't that mean your players are constantly injured? 

Oh yes - you are 100% right.

Not all the players are injured. But certainly enough to be considered a ‘crisis’  

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Here are some of the longer term injuries (another 3-6 months) …

Question - am wondering whether to RELEASE them (terminate their contracts) + then RECALL their replacement (from out on loan) ? 😲

Spoiler

15D6090F-28D8-4254-84CB-308856AAB515.thumb.jpeg.b55731419b6beb90800190c9ad024133.jpeg

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6A48C542-2662-4E65-B3F9-3DBD662CC44F.thumb.jpeg.764ebd802e7fa4eb77273632211898b7.jpeg

But the Board won’t let me terminate our best ST’s contract … even though he’s not back until Feb / March.

CACE7EDF-060D-4513-996F-B2D5BB40BB1B.thumb.jpeg.69a7dc9c2f8f99935da1a5df9ceecde3.jpeg

Thoughts?

Edited by DanEnglish
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2 hours ago, DanEnglish said:

Oh yes - you are 100% right.

Not all the players are injured. But certainly enough to be considered a ‘crisis’  

Ah sorry to ruin the party, that's what I thought. Would be literally impossible task 😆 but stick with it buddy 

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4 hours ago, DanEnglish said:

@Scratch + @Migraz - thanks 😂
 

Oh great job! Considering I’m playing with no loans + no exceeding wages … do you have any suggestions or tips based on your experiences?! 🙂 

no loans and no exceeding wages? sorry but i have no tips for you whatsoever 😆

unless you can sign Kyle Hudlin on a free. cheat code as a TF 👍

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Early Season 1
7F5BC1D9-0CB3-4FFE-A182-6E32061ED021.png.3420a923db9a0f6144d860728bdfc16a.png
 

 

Releasing Players
So we have a problem. We are struggling with only have 8-9 players fit. So I decided to release a few players.

E5FCD1FC-D813-441F-B8C2-9EFEA19724AA.thumb.jpeg.394095bffd860f33e473792f8db34fdb.jpeg

Spoiler

Do you consider this CHEATING?

  • As we have to pay a release fee (e.g. half their wages) …
  • … but there is no negative consequence if you have a zero transfer budget …
  • … so those payments don’t hit my budgets in any way.

I think it’s fine, but you may disagree. So I did it 🙂   
 


… then we recalled their replacements from their loans. “Welcome back!”

A8DE1A36-6399-4A8B-AFE3-A982E06ECB82.thumb.jpeg.cd9adb3dc73542c8129ef729edac9e11.jpeg

 
League Performance
Unsurprisingly - with 3 replacement players, our performances improved.

Spoiler

That first game (3-3) was against the league leaders …

78404C7B-766F-4CFF-8F6B-1332674255F6.thumb.jpeg.901f62072d13bb54b2ba06271e865a10.jpeg

… so 3 wins + 3 draws results in this …

FCC4F3D3-5454-4B5E-BECA-75D2929A5095.thumb.jpeg.9a45f6265fbafa641131386150e210d3.jpeg

3rd place so far? Not bad!  
 

  
Disaster Strikes
But then I notice something - the ‘injury crisis’ + ‘austerity measures’ narratives have ended in the same week.

So we switch them ‘ON’ again 🔻 Disaster

Spoiler

62E20929-5AC8-4633-A92A-6EB420CACC0A.thumb.jpeg.822deea6cf3129e54a19c9a379306462.jpeg

Austerity Measures - really it’s the morale hit that hurts here …

421EA452-3CB6-4B3B-B8C0-CAAE1F20F1B2.thumb.jpeg.951be6f4773aa223d4627d3f9816a6be.jpeg

Injury Crisis ️ ouch.

1471C256-47FC-48DE-AFAA-B3D29093625E.thumb.jpeg.8690a25a54779bb015bf2c204048a1ef.jpeg

Half the team are out injured again - including these two longer term injuries.

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B20E8086-769A-4886-8C8F-E38EAB1050D3.thumb.jpeg.312a64dd56094dbf62cba6dc02af4f22.jpeg

Plus the ‘unrest at home’ narrative is still on - so the players hate me.  
 

 
Next
These non-stop narratives are really hurting us - especially the injury crisis one.

How can we cope?!

Edited by DanEnglish
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FA Cup
This is what happens when you play greyed out players vs a club in the Division above … to rest the only fit 12ish players you have …

92450F40-914B-41B5-BC19-15123417E286.thumb.png.da29d83bbcbb993954daa888d551ea0d.png

Ouch 😣 

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Actually doing Really well with all that, especially the injuries bit, amazing tbf buddy. Enjoying this, nice to see somebody do a hard challenge like this instead of the boring Scottish league. Shows how much of a great player you are! Keep up the good work 

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Early Season 1.  
5BD3A6C1-A480-46D4-B67C-8260E15E41ED.png.74ecef8515eff233399518a72930c772.png
 

Adjusting …
After the Board selling a few players🔻 …

A7087407-E394-47AB-9789-8F99E7CCC5FB.thumb.jpeg.e85d8ee11b97bc21f627543e710d7975.jpeg

… and our (3rd?) injury crisis ️ we released a few more injured players + brought in their replacements …

Spoiler

This greyed-out GK gets a contract to become our temporary #1:

3020247A-A90E-4942-8353-4A28418F4748.thumb.png.63ffa0929cf98af47d5a2dd2f5e10e98.png

Plus we raid the new academy prospects to gain a pacy sub. attacker:

4581C234-87AA-4825-8161-573687F76091.thumb.png.505c6fd061ae92b87d5de5211ac0d2b9.png

Plus a couple of cheap backup players recalled from loan - as we had no-one on the subs bench!

5CE09744-74AD-428A-82C5-00F2E50CAC79.thumb.png.8ea4be357b8e32ffcb66f017f7eb4705.png

… the problem is that NONE of them are good at football 😡
 

It was tight - but we stayed within our wage budget  (that meagre <£4k / week) - through the Board aren’t happy!

Spoiler

Only a ‘D’ rating - when we are exactly spending our budget … ?!

40725526-7B8A-49D8-8ECF-E6C36A21FA78.thumb.jpeg.7d03827b59664fed7a8dafed981cbf95.jpeg

… thankfully the other areas are positive …

C2D6B2E5-EF8A-4C7C-A388-47C0249DC0AC.thumb.jpeg.fb8e7635a51d981fc41097a24160b937.jpeg

… though squad harmony is a problem - yes of course - with the ‘unrest at home’ narrative. 

DC5250DA-6C83-4D44-8005-12D2BE6DD793.thumb.jpeg.4dc8ef6341795f1b2049fd54371cca01.jpeg 
 

 
… Then Thriving …
With a decent first XI + some budget subs, we put together a good run of form.

🎉 Top of the table by mid-November! 🎉 

4AD4B5E4-C5C6-4DE0-B83C-19EAA15F8C2E.thumb.jpeg.634aabf265338da1b27f27f1b5a9ea29.jpeg 
 

… To Surviving …
However then the ‘unrest at home’ narrative had to be switched back on

06891C50-886C-479E-9A3B-049C02DA4839.thumb.jpeg.0175d248c27c9a892e01edd70eaf9efd.jpeg

F65C6FE5-10B1-4C53-B486-00ABC7F8C13C.thumb.jpeg.8a8fe531d9b4989a00e6c0f4e564171e.jpeg

Spoiler

A morale hit - from austerity measures again.

1983B8E7-D028-440A-A6DE-8B9301BC3936.thumb.png.0f9f36d8509628a0c814bf1568a852a6.png

Then a 2nd morale hit from ‘unrest at home’ …

63D83972-B7D5-489C-A539-D2B1D9915BF8.thumb.png.fbc12f7a322e894317385cebf6784338.png

… with some really interesting reactions from some players … 

B0091614-8230-40E8-AB68-EC80FA0A2414.thumb.jpeg.fd8efd96ae4042e6121706b0dd6fec63.jpeg

60A04BDB-C669-4359-AB2A-347A9D6283FE.thumb.jpeg.dbf93c0d3b51b9aa9da9656ab27fff87.jpeg

“Lucky to have a player of your quality” … 😡
 


… To NOT Surviving …

A few weeks later - as our French star striker Gomis returned back to light training …

… the injury crisis ️ narrative ended temporarily.

Spoiler

Light training - but still 3 months away (!)

4D6F4434-610A-4504-9C3B-C8E486307ADD.thumb.jpeg.455917bf6849b254a29b6fd0cf0d075e.jpeg

So the ‘injury crisis’ narrative ends …

8B03E1E0-831A-46B7-98B2-D8E06B66B1D9.thumb.jpeg.21ed375aaaff5df53ebaf610421763c4.jpeg 
 


Which means we need to switch the narrative back ‘on’ for our (4th?) injury crisis ️ 

3D9051D7-0A8C-4B0C-BD3B-A7B17FD85A2A.thumb.jpeg.5c148d9b0f258adf75b8986c75dd3170.jpeg

Spoiler

5A2EE579-3CA5-4C32-9F66-5CFFE7DF926F.thumb.jpeg.cdefc027682fcda0b52a96bc95fce958.jpeg

The squad is hit with 8 players out🔻

C9EF38EB-EA96-43D0-A5CD-BF3A6B6484DB.thumb.jpeg.83bf29cb8cbdd90e337bf54196a2e0a7.jpeg

Our top scorer (left IF - 8 goals in 15 games) is now out injured.

21CD7803-9390-421E-9A5C-A5D57290BFB5.thumb.jpeg.a343790ec4274aa46b98d3ea0510f128.jpeg

… and my backup defensive midfielder is out for the rest of this season. Urgh.

AADEC4E4-A0EE-420F-99E5-A4D51E20304C.thumb.jpeg.3f921c30bf806e1b2c64cad060956b1c.jpeg 
 


Current Status
We are still 1st after that good run of form …

26D3E3BD-BC9D-4084-9C82-0DC865506905.thumb.jpeg.642029663e28762785b2b1d75cd516b9.jpeg

… but now we are back to only 13 fit players (who are very demotivated again) - with 8 and a 1/2 players out injured.

7D3D76B4-4440-485E-A22E-A73D56B072C1.thumb.jpeg.c23c77c748bc5682c5477712db58a14f.jpeg

I think we are going to slip down the table. Playing twice a week will be a struggle. Painful.

Thoughts?

Edited by DanEnglish
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Mid-Season 1
C03E683D-6494-42E7-87FF-99E8A99CD783.png.89404cdd7439825104c3938b95b39c44.png

‘The Calm Before the Storm’
 

The Past
Got some recognition for November 👍 

1DBF5361-9396-4A38-9F09-5CB40DC9EC68.thumb.png.c3cd3e3cd9ac567985e52ba5a69e7b9e.png

But in mid-December, we have (#5?) injury crisis ️ 

Spoiler

E91B3215-21ED-4925-BE36-66F156AB947E.thumb.jpeg.7c059022e1aa76c6e2092e729dce73e4.jpeg

The narrative ends - so we switch it back on …

3E7304F0-2E07-4EA1-A049-3EFA5534B57A.thumb.png.423b135e80e99bf6f24b1eafe5d58bc5.png

How bad do you think it’ll be this time?

74FADE95-46AA-4B57-B30B-748735543002.thumb.jpeg.fdf46bed948e048d64f4008bdac883fb.jpeg 
 

We lose our GK, most of our defense, and our best two remaining attackers 🔻

F9B01C13-6294-456F-B6C5-4D26E6A65854.thumb.jpeg.e96a432b139f24f893e432e9804a7d20.jpeg

Painful.


The Present
Year end … 31st Dec … Let’s review …

251B4041-EB62-4B0A-A74E-2199C28DFD4F.thumb.jpeg.6acfd68fab1b7610db3a756de23ca211.jpeg

We are still 1st - which feels like a miracle - but have started to lose games convincingly.

720AB32B-B0C4-4954-9964-20DC96BDB0F8.thumb.jpeg.fbee37681b8cc57ba849700394621947.jpeg

 
Squad Review
Our first team is weak - we have only 9 fit players 🔻 of which 4 are good (green), the rest are … er … not good.

92E86BF6-6E9D-4001-8FE7-12AC906F6B5D.thumb.jpeg.75ff7883539d676aa95c25e2769f742c.jpeg

Spoiler

You’ll notice our attackers have <10 goals scored between them + only 10 assists.

7F8ECDCD-DD57-4BB2-BCBD-4D42A8A7FAE3.thumb.jpeg.47e1bc34a90dad4be578d7488b5bf39d.jpeg

It’s a really poor squad available, and we’re relying on greyed-out players. Urgh.  
 

 
Then we have a few players coming back from injury - available in between 1 to 4 weeks time!

7E035F45-BD48-40DA-8B62-D12781044D91.thumb.jpeg.f5005e84e3991dc219a8874dc736fe6c.jpeg

Spoiler

We desperately need a DL - so Debayo will go straight into the team upon his return.

A1A3BA9C-CB74-4C1B-A854-5260A31F34F2.thumb.jpeg.8481bc5a47a5c5c5d47c1f948b42d98b.jpeg

Star striker Gomis only has 1 appearance for us - before he ‘broke his leg’ after an early injury crisis narrative.  
 

 
Then we have the longer term injuries.

C2D7C171-14B7-4DEC-B437-E4727FE73A42.thumb.jpeg.c13d3c2dd3f3b1eae76a62a636ca6a9e.jpeg

These ‘walking wounded’ are our best players:

  • ST - our main front three - with +30 goals combined.
  • DF - 3 of our first team defenders.
  • GK - plus our best keeper.

5CF82FEB-FCE9-47FC-9EDA-F560AE437D4D.thumb.jpeg.3ddaf20d3df72f8586d9745943ca0759.jpeg

Thankfully they are all back in 1-2 months time … but … what? … oh no … 

 
Next
… but when they recover - does that mean the next major injury crisis ️ is just around the corner?! 😕 

Edited by DanEnglish
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Mid-Season 1
3C7C2555-B9E1-4B70-B079-DD14B71B8283.png.7b150f167948556adade0fc935a28b8b.png

The Storm
 

Asset Stripper
From the new year on - we had THREE rounds of transfer listing players - really decreasing morale.

Spoiler

Early Jan
5AAC972B-4235-48B6-B556-2C2F3F185DD1.thumb.jpeg.61e6495e3556174285354e0aaeec81cc.jpeg

Mid-Jan
7EB71392-D4C9-4A12-B84E-86B38E899EF0.thumb.jpeg.732af1c3fe8cff87eabd3f5d7c81fafa.jpeg

Early Feb
995E9FF5-3E2B-4650-84DB-473E9820FE3F.thumb.jpeg.8e452cba383ddf13695ce5ded9b97246.jpeg

Twice we ‘publicly protested’ - which the players / fans liked …

61482F38-BBF3-48B7-9E1F-E5AC2CC64FDE.thumb.jpeg.cfc78dc0dad62d8d911fbba26707e65c.jpeg

… but the Board really hated …

DC8C52E4-EB71-43A7-BC2A-838C5EC41FC0.thumb.jpeg.9250b06da5d8cd6f02da0b42d6adbb53.jpeg

E06ED64C-1484-4F38-87DE-B292B9DFB8C1.thumb.jpeg.b6902b69d677521d676f2e65e5c762d6.jpeg

The 3rd time - I quietly accepted it. Don’t want to get fired yet!  
 

This narrative has been relatively quiet - probably because the transfer listed players become injured so quickly / before the can be sold.
 

(#6?) ️ Injury Crisis
It’s only the 9th Jan - but another one hits.

2AE656B0-7B3C-497C-B045-72DBD924E69A.thumb.jpeg.ee082c216b2105038ad643a5e5f1808d.jpeg

Spoiler

The previous narrative ended …

34FEA1B7-A40F-4911-A4D9-0A7145EAF401.thumb.jpeg.b937f96b7a2d58411cd6729b30fc14dd.jpeg

… so we switch it back ‘on’ …

FBC82B0E-688B-4C0D-92C5-469553C96BCD.thumb.png.bd718c19009f6b696dd9fa188a60c83b.png

… which decimates the squad - with 11 players injured, for between 1 to 7 months each.

60684C96-7803-4394-A9CF-CE0B53A0A1BF.thumb.jpeg.415dbb2ca5caf56e859919c4f0c84e1b.jpeg

So who is left? We have only 2 defenders, 2 midfielders, + 2 attackers

… with another 4 players back later this month …

EC4CB437-F0CB-4E48-9226-5BAF87715B75.thumb.jpeg.f16a9f5822cdbaa7fcc6a68e6485832d.jpeg

With no fit GK (!) - after we bring in this freebie keeper (image below) + recall a midfielder, after releasing our injured Captain to free up wages.

F2AAB5E8-5E17-4DEA-8825-3F119F6E669E.thumb.jpeg.9d324ae903d4ba5a61a8248ca4ff99b2.jpeg

So now we have this. Missing both FBs + an IF, we are now relying on greyed-out players again.

A6474569-72B7-4D22-A88B-36B5BB12C131.thumb.jpeg.e78bc97e5d54630528f6a5181ec78836.jpeg

This remains all within wage budgets (just).

32F4DFF6-5A42-4F71-BE65-14C142CF946B.thumb.jpeg.f56f000b169bb54b330e5c08050e2019.jpeg

AC91A343-D247-4BCA-A964-73F645D58C55.thumb.png.06ee102e4ae8c459af73548606c1291b.png


⚠️ TWO Narrative Hits ⚠️ 
Yes. You read that right. The pain continues. 

In mid-Feb, after enough players return to light training, both ‘unrest at home’ + (#7?) injury crisis ️ hits again. It is non-stop.

4CEDA370-6D26-4F96-BFFF-F92AE7E33262.thumb.jpeg.9c7cf8dc7d3efce6fd6c297097aa4823.jpeg

This one is BRUTAL - only TWO first team players survive it - everyone else is now injured …

Spoiler

60D717DA-3632-4051-8C36-ABBDA0AD29E9.thumb.jpeg.f0f92c047e1fbfca3c4ff65eea4f3c06.jpeg

This means we need to switch it back on …

34B51BF5-7E8A-4029-8BEB-71A79C100BC3.thumb.png.2679c5e71803a8d80f9007cb2dd03b05.png

Though ‘unrest at home’ also deactivated since the last league game, so that has a HUGE morale impact …

F540A531-0B76-4239-9273-9503D7E34A7F.thumb.jpeg.c2cb6ed81f2844a7566f3334b36ec08e.jpeg

… then the injury crisis hits …

06B40F4D-FEF7-45E6-B3C3-8516369B1B06.thumb.jpeg.4393b9e7c7dbc630602b83622831d36a.jpeg

Most of the squad is out. It’s BRUTAL.

A9CDCA91-883B-48E3-9B42-3914BC058B34.thumb.png.1b7b635f88cee9a5a200d1eda6735051.png 
 

 
Next
So this is what I’m left with. Only one of these players is any good!

B0040740-795F-4075-B715-D0760C1FBB3B.thumb.jpeg.639051a75b4b1798826974788774bf7b.jpeg

  •  no GK
  •  no FBs
  •  no MCs
  •  no subs

How can you continue a title challenge like this? The pain is non-stop.

Tomorrow I’ll decide how to keep our title challenge alive. 

Suggestions welcome!

Edited by DanEnglish
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On 17/08/2023 at 22:00, Resurgam said:

unless you can sign Kyle Hudlin on a free. cheat code as a TF 👍

Great suggestion! Unfortunately he’s at another club (I have no transfer funds with ‘asset stripper’ on) AND he’s on +£1k / week (my max wage was only 550 / week) 😞 

DB6397D6-4F87-4826-A3F2-79F490920176.thumb.png.317c4ccb3acf3a661b3fe23b635f0634.png

On 18/08/2023 at 19:49, leedsunited87 said:

Actually doing Really well with all that, especially the injuries bit, amazing tbf buddy. Enjoying this, nice to see somebody do a hard challenge like this instead of the boring Scottish league. Shows how much of a great player you are! Keep up the good work 

Thanks @leedsunited87 👍 

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WaEnd Season 1
50E6680F-0F07-4682-965B-A40576405EE2.png.ea7d456cc635448e9971850ebd581431.png 

The Storm Continues 


The Pain
Throughout Feb + March, the club was in chaos. 

Firstly, we had only 6 players fit - with another 15 with long term injuries 🔻 mostly for around 2-3 months …

8352C51C-F86B-4013-88FE-CE654179F0D8.thumb.jpeg.636a9eb4fa19c91f7b45a4cc428e1a66.jpeg

Secondly, morale was hit by repeated reports that the club “will not survive” 🔻

7731046A-BDA3-4E75-B669-47A08E509B24.thumb.jpeg.6db318420d5648f1c4f90961f66f334b.jpeg

Thirdly, the media + fans start questioning my competence 🔻

F0FB2199-0091-4184-9810-291729BDA57E.thumb.jpeg.982df3212fec8b3aa209cded94b0e3d2.jpeg

Then fourthly, we had another FOUR rounds of transfer listing our players! 🔻

Spoiler

Mid-Feb
B2020ED2-DE72-48F9-9199-619AD00F2B57.thumb.jpeg.e320cf4bc61c288bd0f4bdc2fb5b4b2a.jpeg

Early March
1C505010-114E-42FB-AAF4-A743413F412A.thumb.jpeg.a6c86a54f82a9c62ffa897d75fe8796e.jpeg

Early March (again!)
1BAFC475-9B41-4821-9EC5-D1FF662D0954.thumb.jpeg.ea784c8e956312b052f9f223588ab182.jpeg

Mid March
D582328E-4B22-4754-B077-C74FBE6047DF.thumb.jpeg.5de3e0564236cab8f4187f4f86b433bb.jpeg

… and after ‘publicly protesting’ one time, it threatened my job security with the Board 😬 

1365F20F-7EB7-46D6-B7C1-581357101A47.thumb.jpeg.d73484c3e2aa81792c99877fc540589b.jpeg 
 

Overall - this was maybe the hardest two months of any FM / FMM career I’ve ever had. 


The Plan
So what’s the plan - how could we possible still compete for the league title?!

Step 1 - keep these five players with long term injuries (3+ months). This might be enough to prevent another ️ injury crisis ️ ?!

03FDF4D0-8832-4A39-AFD1-0AB472E9E72E.thumb.jpeg.f49e067adcd34c3da0684064056d0baa.jpeg

Step 2 - release other players with shorter term injuries. This should fund recalling players back into our 1st team.

Spoiler

Bye bye loyal servants

5A390CF1-25D6-4A35-B44F-264EABCFEC2A.thumb.jpeg.7d189ece911103d79517bd4115d76326.jpeg

088045DE-1125-4C69-86C7-06733FB9142F.thumb.jpeg.5612d16fd8d2e07ab766ec2fdf270965.jpeg

7F2BC537-216D-4579-8F2A-C123C43023C9.thumb.jpeg.f05c9487cd5cdd2939a9ad668fae383f.jpeg

67BD28B0-D62A-4D40-98EB-1D0EA60FDBD3.thumb.jpeg.db9daa97706e6803870e1dad9564c86e.jpeg 
 

Step 3 - with the available wage budget, recall players back from loan.

Spoiler

Here’s our GK (whose 17 aerial really rose out on loan)

1DFA6D59-025C-496B-A891-32FE0AF5043E.thumb.png.2d014e11ac2475444e989d2c31ffd1e7.png

Here’s our rubbish / cheap DR …

3260BC5B-2294-4388-B448-AF659FC0F0F8.thumb.png.9b323d3b876625cfb4ebc766c531381d.png

A rubbish / cheap backup DLC …

9F6FE5AE-BE9B-45AF-97BF-3E34CCE0E658.thumb.png.592b84dae7bd21755ade572829f2ddda.png

… and a decent DM/MC

4E7B8687-CA81-4BF1-9E16-43437C5E9962.thumb.png.aa55b317c569e8a3798b4dc89d9a731e.png

All go straight into the first team!  
 


The Progress!
That first team is NOT strong - so our form deteriorated- with 5 losses in 8 games …

375CE941-608B-42A5-8FFF-E6A9EFF12218.thumb.jpeg.f1f71f0423fa2c7b1128ce47740eb069.jpeg

… however we are still 1st (just) - as the other top teams also struggled …

… and our next game is against 2nd place Ebbsfleet - a huge six-pointer!

5209192E-9CDA-4C88-A0C7-D34AA95CAFC4.thumb.jpeg.3caa827542bc4429aacd7ddcc9d71c60.jpeg

 
The great news - we now have a FULL first team + subs bench …

42160D55-5B2C-4904-9532-6EEF76FFC2EA.thumb.jpeg.e1d0b0567523d26fa5f7e3e16a91246a.jpeg  

72EBF5E8-CECF-4DB8-A19F-3EAE65D72D28.thumb.jpeg.9c3f9d586c29e81c3218eefe0a451945.jpeg

… with 3 more star players back in the next few weeks (light green injuries) …

 
Next
Against all the odds - with no money - with all these injuries - can we win the title?!

Or will we bottle it?!

Edited by DanEnglish
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Cor it's getting down to the nitty gritty now! Other teams catching up! You will have a tough time in the league above. How often do you repeat the process of the injuries etc? Done amazing so far buddy 👍 👌 👏 🙌 

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2 minutes ago, leedsunited87 said:

How often do you repeat the process of the injuries etc?

It’s literally non-stop. Once the ‘injury crisis’ narrative ends* then I switch it back on and half the squad (or more!) are injured again. I think we have had 6 rounds of it so far, with the last in mid-Feb.

*I think it ends when there’s only 3-5 players with ‘red injuries’ - not sure on the exact number yet.

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