Career It’s a Long Way to the Top (ve)

MikeF · November 7, 2025

I don’t see many (any?) challenges posted yet so I’ll kick things off with a plant based version.

Starting unemployed, no add ons, normal financial restrictions (a nice addition) etc.

I received my first job offer in October from the world’s first vegan football team: Forest Green. They’re in the national league so we can skip north/south which helps speed this along.

The board want playoffs and we have a decent squad so with a couple of key signings we should be able to get promotion.

Season 1

I was hoping for a bit of silverware in the first season but luck didn’t go our way.

We did however win the league despite a little slump mid season.

That takes us into league football next year.

Just a quick update this time but we’re into Obscure territory now.

MikeF · November 8, 2025

Season 2

A solid season. We started strongly but dropped off slightly so finished 3rd. No complaints with automatic promotion though.

I find the free transfer market isn’t as easy for lower teams in the new version which is good. Previously you could get loads of players way better than you should be able to, but in 26 they’re either not interested or want higher wages so you can’t just sign 20 new players for free each season and you actually need to spend.

Sellars-Fleming and Richard’s were both big signings for me (£900k for the two) but they paid off.

Not much improvement in terms of facilities as the board don’t want to spend anything.

And annoyingly I’m still obscure but hopefully as we climb the leagues, that’ll improve. I did get a couple of titles though.

Dai_ · November 8, 2025

I have started mine and will post it at some point. 😂

Going well mate. I've found that I need to utilise the loan market rather than pick up free agents. Early on anyway. As you say, it seems harder to attract good enough players. I don't mind though.

MikeF · November 9, 2025

10 hours ago, Dai_ said:

I have started mine and will post it at some point. 😂

Going well mate. I've found that I need to utilise the loan market rather than pick up free agents. Early on anyway. As you say, it seems harder to attract good enough players. I don't mind though.

Yeah it actually spend money in lower leagues. Before I’d throw it all at wages and pick up players that wouldn’t normally sign for me. I’m glad it’s more realistic now.

I don’t know if it’s just Forest Green or other teams too but the board are tight as hell 😂

MikeF · November 10, 2025

Season 3

I started out with my low league 4141 tactic while I built a squad but last season changed to my 433 I developed towards the end of fmm24 and it’s working really well in this new version luckily.

This season was a fun one. We had a run of 21 games unbeaten from the end of last season into this one and ended up winning the league. I was hoping for a nice 100 points going into the last match but Shrewsbury had other ideas and took a point from the match.

Not much else in terms of silverware as I focussed on the league but we did take a couple of big scalps along the way.

That Watford game was eventful…

Transfers:

Reading came in with a big bid from Archibald who was a good player for us but with that money I could get a few key players I desperately needed. My board are tight and won’t let me off much in terms of wages but it’s more realistic so I like it.

We did managed to pick up a couple of gems in Jojic and Brown who did well for me.

And we even had a youngster come through the academy who looks decent with good pace and work rate.

My front three did well with plenty of goals which is why we did so well as we conceded nearly a goal a game on average scoring double that was vital.

Not much change in terms of the club rep. But we did get a small improvement to youth, a bigger stadium and our finances now look better so hopefully I’ll have money to spend to prepare for the Championship as the team needs a big improvement in quality at the back.

I’m now regional:

Edited November 10, 2025 by MikeF

MikeF · November 12, 2025

Season 4

Another solid season. We needed 3 points from out last game and for Everton not to win theirs and luckily it worked out so we managed to get automatic promotion.

At the start of preseason I had some big offers come in for two my best attackers and my best defender. I had to take them in order to build a squad strong enough for the Championship.

A risky move but it gave me money to spend. Even with that money, I had to load 2 CB, 1 RB and a GK so next summer we’ll need to buy a new defender but for now, it’s all about the attack.

Guy Lopez, who I picked up for free, ended up being my best player and Richards was as scoring well too. Vidigal is my new striker who looks a bit like a Ronaldo regen but he was pretty underwhelming. He is young and seems to be developing well so hopefully he’ll start to deliver.

Still regional rep so I’ll need some silverware so up this bit my man focus is staying in the prem.

Better facilities all round and a bigger stadium but still 2.5 stars rep

veikko · November 13, 2025

How do you know what player to sign? Do you do it based on player's Attributes?

MikeF · November 16, 2025

Season 5

First season in the Prem. We started off strongly and then hit an awful run of form. Luckily we managed to scrape 7th place which got us in the Europa League.

The main issue is we’re not scoring enough goals. My striker should be doing more but he’s a moody little **** so he’ll be moving on when I can afford to replace him.

In the meantime we had a lot of rebuilding to do to make it in the Prem.

Bah was signed at the end of the season. Some good upgrades in here but no elite players, just better squad players really.

I had to be careful about overspending so further improvements will have to come later.

Some good improvements for the club:

But no real changes for me:

Oh and I’ve never seen a 3 before 😂

Ciwati · November 16, 2025

Amazing career! Can I ask what tactic you're using? The one from Postecoglou’s career? Thanks

Dai_ · November 16, 2025

Brilliant stuff.

I'm in the Premiership now too. Scoring plenty but conceding a ton too.

I thought 7th would be Europa Conference?

MikeF · November 16, 2025

3 hours ago, Ciwati said:

Amazing career! Can I ask what tactic you're using? The one from Postecoglou’s career? Thanks

Similar. It’s a 433 that I’ve posted before. Not revolutionary but does the job. Although I’ve found the narrow width meant i conceded more his so I’ve moved it to balanced and more expressive.

MikeF · November 16, 2025

3 hours ago, Dai_ said:

Brilliant stuff.

I'm in the Premiership now too. Scoring plenty but conceding a ton too.

I thought 7th would be Europa Conference?

I was expecting that too but there are 5 prem teams in the CL so the next 3 are in Europa which was a bonus. City coming ninth managed to squeeze into the Conference league.

MikeF · November 18, 2025

Season 6

My tactic wasn’t quite performing so half way through the season I looked at what the AI uses quite a lot (and therefore assumed it was meta) and I revisited an old 4231 of mine with a SS in the AM position as it seemed to do well. I’ve always like the SS role but had a hard time getting it to work in the past couple of version. With improvements to pressing this year it seems quite tasty. Anyway, tangent over.

We came 5th in the table but managed to win the Europa League so that’ll give us Champions League next year and help improve our reputation.
Too many goals conceded but we did the job.

My young Portuguese striker scored 4 in 22 games and was a real problem despite having good stats. He wouldn’t renew his contract who has expiring this summer so he had to go in Jan.

Franculino came in when and loved my new tactic scoring 22 in 25. He’s a beast. It did meant I’d overspent so we have to raise some money to balance the books before we get into trouble. Nico Williams on a free was probably the best signing all round.