With Football Manager 2015 announced I can feel the anticipation brewing within our community. We may have months to wait, no confirmed release date and just one new feature announced, but the second we do have more news it will be featured on this site! In the mean time, to help swell some excitement I wanted to share who I think will be the best clubs to manage in FM 2015.
I’m sure you’re all drawing up shortlists as you ponder which will be the best clubs to manage in Football Manager 2015. The answer will differ very much from player to player, the world of Football has shifted and changed so much in one year. All I can do is offer who I’ll be considering for the new game.
Liverpool (English Premier League)
2013/14 league position: 2nd
Were they Any good in FM14: Yes, great players like Suarez and exciting young talent like Coutinho, challengers but still a bit of a challenge to rebuild.
Stadium capacity according to FM: 45,522
Expected best players: Sturridge, Sterling and Gerrard
Predicted financial status: Rich
Best new signings: Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic
Difficulty: Pretty much anyone could have a crack. Beginners upwards.
Verdict: The perfect club to manage, unless you support United or Everton of course. Liverpool have the lot, incredible youth coming through, an abundance of competition for first team places and very secure finances. With a squad boasting so much variety you could do practically anything tactically, use a target man, poacher, play tiki taka, direct, narrow or wide…the list goes on. You won’t be limited in shape nor style.
There are also some interesting side challenges, Liverpool are back in the Champions League, so you could try and repeat Istanbul as well as regain top spot in the race for most Premier League titles. Balotelli could create quite the side story also, trying to control him won’t be easy but he can create moments of magic, seeing more of those as opposed to his troublesome side would be very rewarding.
Not to mention Sterling looks like he could be one of the best young talents available in FM 2015 and he’ll be yours to nurture. Choosing from Sterling, Markovic, Coutinho and Lallana as your creative force is enough for me to dabble in the Kop come Football Manager 2015.
AS Roma (Serie A, Italy)
2013/14 League position: 2nd
Were they any good in FM14: Roma had some great great players including prospects but little strength in depth and a weak defence left them hard to manage.
Stadium capacity according to FM: 70,634
Expected best players: De Rossi, Pjanic and Strootman
Predicted financial status: Secure
Best new signings: Juan Iturbe, Nainggolan and Ashley Cole
Difficulty: While anyone can have a crack, I find managing in Italy tough, so if its your first crack don’t expect an easy ride.
Verdict: I have a soft spot for Roma, a) because my wife is a fan and b) because they have such loyalty in legends Totti and De Rossi. But its not that which draws me in. Players like Nainggolan, Pjanic, Destro, Irurbe, Florenzi, Ljajic and Strootman ar potentially world class and an excellent base to build on for years to come. The lack of defenders in that list is where the challenge comes in, you’ll need to find a formidable pair at centre back, Roma’s main weakness in my opinion.
The challenge in Serie A is big, competition rife, the likes of Juve, Inter, Milan and Napoli etc all posses the structure and prospects to challenge you along the way. But with legends like Totti and De Rossi you have experience to challenge from the off and the players to produce some very exciting Football. The real side challenge yet key to your success is finding a tactic that is both stable enough and offers something going forward for this league, it can be tough to get attractive tactics working well in Serie A.
Ajax (Eredivisie)
2013/14 League position: 1st
Were they any good in FM14: Domestically yes, Across the continent no not really. Still a good project but you’d start the game as underdogs in Europe with a massive rebuilding job on your hands.
Stadium capacity according to FM: 52,960
Expected best players: Viktor Fischer, Van Rhijn and Shone
Predicted financial status: Secure/Rich
Best new signings: Milik on loan and Robert Muric
Difficulty: You’ll need some experience and plenty of patience before rebuilding these once European giants. I wouldn’t jump straight in with this one.
Verdict: Jumping straight in with the WHY? Why Ajax, well let me throw some names into the hat, Van Der Sar, the De Boer brothers, Rijkaard, Johan Cruyff, Van Basten, Bergkamp, Davids, Suarez…these are all Ajax legends of the past and I have only named the more current, well known stars, there are some better players missed off. This great club is built around youth, they nurture world class talent and recently have become the feeder club for the Worlds elite.
The challenge would be simple, to keep up the tradition of home grown superstars and add in some transfer market prowess to turn this club back into the force it once was. Ajax could be a sleeping giant of Europe if you posses the patience to maintain a long save. I just love the idea of reproducing the next Rijkaard, Cruyff and Van Basten, watching them play together and lift the Champions League. Yes the domestic side will get a bit repetitive if you do this right, the beginning will still be a challenge, you could argue PSV start with the better talent and there are other clubs to challenge you in the Eredivisie.
MK Dons (Sky Bet League 1)
2013/14 League position: 10th
Were they any good in FM14: Meh, thats the best sound I could make! Average, uninspired and not much to draw you into a save that would last, this year will be different.
Stadium capacity according to FM: 22,233
Expected best players: Benik Afobe, Dele Alli and Ben Reeves
Predicted financial status: Okay
Best new signings: Benik Afobe, Will Grigg and Kyle McFadzean
Difficulty: Good, experienced and veteran FMer’s recommended
Verdict: A drab and uninspired option in years gone by, some new additions and development of youth has drawn me in this year. Benik Afobe should be able to find the net at this level after joining on loan from Arsenal, another Wenger product, Randall can control play from the middle while Powell offers an exciting assist opportunity from the wing.
The real attraction comes in the form of a hotly tipped 18 year old, Dele Alli. Touted by many to make a step up to the Premier League, this kid plays midfield and can offer goals, I’m really excited to see how SI rate him. He should have bags of potential and current ability to light up League 1 minimum.
Well those are my best clubs to manage in FM 2015. Now you have my favorite four, we have options in England and Italy for anyone to attempt, one for the more experienced wanting a longer term project and a real challenge rising from League 1 for the veteran’s. I personally like the looks of Roma and may have a dabble at some point, but who will you manage in Football Manager 2015? Excited about the new game? Keep tabs on our new features post, this will be updated as and when features are announced.
Johnny Karp
4 октября, 2014 at 14:32
Might try something different this time, the first save for me was always Arsenal :)
Darren Smith
5 октября, 2014 at 08:49
Yeah me too, I always start with the Toon so may dive into one of these instead.
Darren
5 октября, 2014 at 08:55
Yeah I usually start with Newcastle so will have to try breaking the habit and switch to one of these maybe.
tony Rossonero
4 октября, 2014 at 17:39
AC Milan! They will have good prospects like Shaarawy, De Sciglio, Mastour, Niang, Van Ginkel… And they made some good signins like Menez, Diego Lopez, Bonaventura, Alex, Torres…
Darren
5 октября, 2014 at 08:54
Yes they will be an interesting team this year, I think Italy is full of good clubs to manage.
Giuseppe
4 октября, 2014 at 18:08
I sympathize with you, Darren, having a wife who supports Roma is something I wouldn’t wish to my biggest enemy.
Darren
5 октября, 2014 at 08:53
Haha, yeah she’s not a proper fan luckily, more of a follower I guess.
Chai Chien Liang
5 октября, 2014 at 16:38
Well if we are going for best as in hardest Burnley and Blackpool would pose a big challenge!
Dortmund should be interesting to manage too as like Liverpool they have lost their best striker in Lewandowski (they did get Kagawa back though)
As for the French leagues, should be tough for AS Monaco to beat PSG with their team especially since Falcao is on loan at Man Utd while James Rodriguez was sold to Real Madrid
Barca and Real Madrid as usual will be «easy» saves while Atletico Madrid should be interesting to manage as I highly doubt Mandzukic is an adequate replacement for the goal scoring machine that is Diego Costa…
Darren
5 октября, 2014 at 18:26
Yeh I think there will be a lot to choose in FM15.
Gaurav Chaddah
6 октября, 2014 at 19:04
Well to be quite frank I can’t wait for the new game, already bored of FIFA and this post has just ignited my excitement, Roma and MK Dons look good to me, also the idea of managing Aston Villa has interested me but I guess I’ll start with Newcastle, how about you?
On another note mate are you going to watch the documentary tomorrow? I can’t wait to see it tomorrow!
Darren Smith
6 октября, 2014 at 19:43
Yeh I’m quite exited too. Stopped properly playing FM14 a while ago and like you my interest in FIFA is waining already. Not sure who I’ll start with TBH, Newcastle are always a tempting one but guess I should mix it up for once :)
Unfortunately I can’t make the cinema tomorrow, with the time I finish work and other things it will be too tight to get to the nearest cinema. Hope you enjoy it though.
Gaurav Chaddah
8 октября, 2014 at 15:47
Darren, it says you replied to my comment with ‘Yeh I’m quite exited too. Stopped properly playing FM14 a while ago and like you my interest in FIFA is …’ not sure if you forgot to post the rest or something or a glitch because it doesn’t seem to be showing up
Darren
8 октября, 2014 at 19:15
The reply should have read as below, we have changed commenting software so had a few hiccups.
‘Yeh I’m quite exited too. Stopped properly playing FM14 a while ago and like you my interest in FIFA is waining already. Not sure who I’ll start with TBH, Newcastle are always a tempting one but guess I should mix it up for once :)
Unfortunately I can’t make the cinema tomorrow, with the time I finish work and other things it will be too tight to get to the nearest cinema. Hope you enjoy it though.’
Jonathan Hoinard
9 октября, 2014 at 06:43
As all previous years I’ll start out with Liverpool. As a Liverpool fan by heart I just can’t resist all the talents that recently joined us at Anfield. But after a couple of years with Pool I’ll probably move over to Q.P.R. who have strengthen their squad by a lot! However your post about Roma really inspired me to give Totti & co a go… Hm, only time will tell I guess!
Darren
9 октября, 2014 at 11:55
Liverpool should make for an exciting save but as mentioned I like the idea of Roma, whether that gets ruined by the Italian style of tactics who knows but worth a try.
suryo agung
1 ноября, 2014 at 14:38
Well since FM 2011 i always playing Liverpool because i’m big fans of Liverpool. And the most challenging manage them is they lack of powerful forward even with Suarez-Sturridge but they have a solid midfield and wingback in my opinion. I don’t know how Sturridge-Balotelli can change this. And i still not believe with Lambert ability. Gotta still take another striker.
Nelson Évora
3 ноября, 2014 at 23:07
any suggestions of german clubs?? not the big ones
Darren
4 ноября, 2014 at 12:21
Germany isn’t somewhere I’d usually manage so you’d be best looking through yourself and seeing if one inspires you.
Nelson Évora
4 ноября, 2014 at 16:08
why not, that’s one of the best leagues to manage… they give u money, the competition is strong n there’s no limitation for foreigners/non-EU players
Darren
4 ноября, 2014 at 18:44
Because I have no affiliation to them and no real interest in Bundesliga in real life, sure its nice to watch from time to time but I do not follow it properly and if I don’t have great interest in a league I tend to find the saves don’t last as long.
Ollie Poole-Cowley
6 ноября, 2014 at 14:47
If you want a Bundesliga save I’d suggest HSV. I had a really fun save with them on 14. They have a big stadium so you’re going to have some good income and, while they’re doing pretty terribly in real life, their squad’s more than good enough to qualify for Europe.
Nelson Évora
8 ноября, 2014 at 21:13
i like em but i already coached them on 13
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