Best Clubs To Manage In FM 2015

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.