First I had to get a new assistant manager and I’m pleased to say that I found quite a good one compared to the clueless guy I found at the club. With his help we managed to find quite a few good transfer targets so I couldn’t resist the temptation :)
I brought in another 10 new players added to the 12 that came in during the summer. Lots of people left the club, as you can see the list doesn’t even fit into one screen :)
I have 25 men in my squad now, it’s quite numerous but I felt that I had to get more players since injuries are extremely frequent. We even have a player with a broken foot, he’ll be out for quite a few months.
Now let’s see the 10 new players one by one. First, my new goalkeeper. He is a young Scottish goalie named James Gilpin, not a great keeper but surely a lot better than the one I had before. And his wage is lower too ;)
I also managed to bring in a backup goalie, 19-year old Alex Mitchell. He has some talent and hopefully he can improve and grab a place in the first team.
Chris Pendleton joined us as a centre back but he can also provide cover on the flanks. He has good speed and that could make him an important first team player.
Luke Garton will be a backup for the right back position, he’s still quite young and my assistant believes that he can make some progress.
Luca Coleman-Carr will probably be my first choice left back, he has decent attributes overall and I hope he will be a reliable player.
Michael Abnett should be my new first choice right back but he can also provide cover as a right midfielder. He has very good speed at this level and great determination, I hope nobody will get past him on his flank.
Midfielder Shane Williams is the most exciting prospect of the whole bunch, he is only 18 years old and he already has very good physical attributes. My assistant believes that he could be a good League Two midfielder in the future so I hope that he will be playing in League Two along with the team in a few years :)
Hi fellow Welshman Leigh Smith is supposed to be a good prospect but for now he will be a backup for the left winger role.
Stefan Connor is a skillful striker that I was pleased to bring at the club but unfortunately he got injured right away. He should be back on the pitch in November and I hope to see him bagging a few goals.
Last but not least a new striker with a famous name: John Kennedy. He has already scored a goal for us and I hope there’s more to come from him since he has good finishing and composure.
A quick look at the facts shows us that our team is the youngest in the league with an average age of 20 and also the team with the lowest wages averaging 110 pounds per week. In fact, my weekly wage bill is now lower than it was at the end of August because the new youngsters that were brought in required lower wages than the fringe players I released from the club.
As things stand right now we only have three players left out of the initial squad but they might be leaving in January ;) I will continue to look for opportunities on the transfer market as the squad still needs some improvements but there won’t be any more massive signings. Now we’ll have to focus on blending the team but I surely hope we’ll get some good results in the process. Thanks a lot for reading, I might revert to the familiar game by game description style in the next post.
Mariano
10 ноября, 2010 at 15:10
Nice goals against Hinckley!
I think you are going to get lot´s of benefit with your new AM, which attributes did you prioritize to sign him?
When buying players with AMasking, you just rely on your scouts or you have any other source of info you use?
Haven´t been playing FM lately(good for my business), i will buy it soon and i will go into a severe bender:)(bad for my business):)
But just out of curiosity i started a Vauxhall game in FM2010 and checked how much it can get pay for away firendlies abroad, without much research i found they can get paid around 30k per match.
Isn´t it better when starting a new game cancel all friendlies and arrange new friendlies abroad to gel the squad while earning some cash?
I don´t mean my extreme teqnique of playing 40 games in the pre season to get rich quickly, i mean just the usual friendlies……
I still bet you are going to make it into the promotion………Good luck!
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:44
Hi Mariano, thanks a lot for the detailed comment and especially for the friendly games suggestion, I will definitely try that next summer. As for the transfers, I have to get the scouts into action because otherwise I can’t see most of a player’s attributes. Then I combine their reports with my own impression of the player’s quality and decide whether it’s a go or a no. I’m not sure which player you refer to as AM, is it the left winger? If that’s the case then I have to say that I trusted my assistant who said that he has good potential. I also compared him with my current left wingers and overall he’s slightly better.
Mariano
10 ноября, 2010 at 23:35
AM i refer to assistant manager, not a player.
Cheers
Johnny Karp
11 ноября, 2010 at 05:48
Oh, sorry :) I wanted an assistant with good «judging player ability» and «judging player potential» attributes, that was my main target.
hils
10 ноября, 2010 at 15:35
Hi Johnny,good month there!!!!!!! You still could get promoted!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:44
Thanks Hils, your optimism is unstoppable! :)
Frank
10 ноября, 2010 at 15:44
Hi Johnny,
Okay month there but the team is still gelling and once they have gelled as a group with your great managerial skills you will be challenging for promotion
afootymanager.blogspot.com
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:45
Thanks Frank, I’m looking forward to the better days :)
Lye
10 ноября, 2010 at 16:07
Hi Johnny,
I thought that was a decent start. The standard of the lower league football is terrible and i can understand why you find it hard to describe in detail. But i enjoy the match highlights. This is my favorite feature of all. Hopefully everything will go well into place after your team has gel. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:46
Thanks Lye. I like the match highlights feature too, it’s awesome.
Laxeyman
10 ноября, 2010 at 16:21
Hi Johnny, that’s a decent start, a mid table position is a decent platform for a push later in the season.
I have made a good start with Droylsden, winning my first 7 league games. I reckon that this is down to my signings, and I would highly recommend all of these: Tommy Amos, Armand Ossey, Shaun Saiko, Jack Morris, Kurt Hammonds, Fabrice Otshudi, Robbie Blackwell, Rob Sissons and Matthew Wells. I hope you can still get some of them, as they will really improve your team, especially Wells and Sissons, who are rated as League 2 players by my assisstant already.
Good luck for the next few months.
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:48
Thanks a lot for the player suggestions Laxeyman, I’ll look them up. Hammonds is already on my shortlist but I haven’t been able to reach an agreement with him until now. You had a fantastic start, seven straight wins!
Sears
10 ноября, 2010 at 16:54
Hey Johnny,
like you said, your side is currently ‘work in progress’. With those new signings I think you can push for a play off spot, good luck…
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:48
Thanks Sears, I hope the new lads will blend in quickly.
Kevin
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:07
Hi Johhny
Not a bad start and an intersting observation about that game being more more realistic to lower league. Of your signings I like Pendleton and Williams who I may both go after when I’m back to my Wrexham save. It seems though that the video uploads are blocked by my company security protocols so just a blank screen for me. Boo :(
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:50
Maybe the teams seem weaker because of the improved match engine rendering, you can see the mistakes up close :)
Ana Garcia
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:16
Hi Johhny,
I can totally sympathise with yellow cards, I have already had 3 men sent off and 9 suspended for too many yellows!
In about 12 games, I guess lower leagues is a little more passionate and commited shall we say! :D
But I guess change takes time, quick question how do you release all your players, most of mine wont go or I have pay too much compensation is there a trick I am missing??
Still not a bad start and you are starting to lay the foundations which is always tough at the beginning, hopefully your young squad can gel quickly for a strong end of season finish!
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:52
Thanks Ana. Are you trying to give them mutual termination of their contracts? Because I’m not, I just release them with no questions asked. The club does have to pay compensation but progress always requires some sacrifice :)
Sayam Khan
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:43
Hi Johnny,
I’d say it has been a fair start to your new journey. You have done a lot of signings and it will take time. good luck
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 17:53
Thanks Sayam, I just hope it won’t take too much time :)
Jack
10 ноября, 2010 at 18:38
Hi Johnny, thats a good solid start! I like your observation about the standard of football in the lower leagues, however I believe your squad will be able to carry out your tactical vision given time. I do think though that FM still has not corrected this aspect of the game, for instance your team is trying to play a form of possession football and this would not be possible in the BSQN/S considering the standard of training facilities, pitches, players and coaching staff. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this point.
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 18:49
Thanks Jack. Are you saying that playing possession football can’t be possible in real life at this level? I guess I partially agree but it’s not like my Vauxhall will be playing like Barcelona anytime soon. We’ll just be trying our best for now and gradually progress to the type of football that I want to see. To be honest I think that the team will be playing something close to what I want them to in at least seven seasons, once we get to the Premiership and bring in quality players.
cory berman
10 ноября, 2010 at 19:21
hi Johnny i’m lovin the story so far. Just wondering, I see in your highlights that you actually have a staduim. I’m playin with Portsmouth in the championship and all ive got is some grass around the pitch. I’ve checked with some of my friends and they have the same problem. any suggestions? cheers, Cory
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 19:47
You should check your game preferences, most likely in the «display and sound» screen. That’s where you can set the 3d match details but I assume that the game set it up like that automatically because your PC might be unable to handle more details. However, you can check and see how the matches are rendered.
cory berman
10 ноября, 2010 at 21:05
thanks so much for that my PC was fine. I wouldn’t of known wot to do if u hadnt said. cheers
Vinners
10 ноября, 2010 at 21:07
I am playing as Vauxhall as well. I’ve played 15 games and I am 4 points ahead at the top of the table. Also I signed Jimmy as my AM as well :P I have the same problem with injuries but I cannot afford to have a 25 man squad. Have you increased the wage budget? Anyway good month and amazing signings, you’ll definately get a playoff at the end of the season at least!
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 21:33
Well done Vinners, you did a lot better than me! I have not increased the wage budget but most of the new signings have lower wages than the players that were at the club.
Vinners
10 ноября, 2010 at 21:55
Thanks, I tried for lower wages but I could never reach a deal. I have a 22 man first team squad so not too bad, it’s enough for 2 teams ;)
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 22:01
By the way, do you play with attribute masking?
Vinners
11 ноября, 2010 at 12:22
Yer I always have because I believe it adds more realism but you have to rely on scouts of which at the moment is Jimmy who decides if players are good enough for me.
Darren Smith
10 ноября, 2010 at 21:11
Hey Johnny, you have had a reasonable start considering your initial squad. Hopefully those new signings will help improve results. I still think you can make the play-offs mate. Goodluck
Johnny Karp
10 ноября, 2010 at 21:33
Thanks Darren, I hope to see better stuff in November.
sean
18 января, 2011 at 21:56
hey mate what was your starting line up in your first season ?
Johnny Karp
19 января, 2011 at 06:50
There were a lot of players coming in and out during the season but I think that the best eleven was something like this: Gilpin — Abnett, Gerwyn Jones, Carolan, Pendleton — Rob Havies, Shane Williams, Hammonds, Leigh Smith — Stefan Connor, John Kennedy.
Vynder
14 марта, 2011 at 01:00
Just picked up FM11 the other day, and I’m completely new to the franchise. My question for you is this: Are you just eating the Free release fees for all those players, or are you managing to garner interest from other clubs? I’m trying to perform a similar purge, but a lot of my guys have 15,000 to 20,000 pound release fees (which would increase my club’s debt by a factor of around twenty).
Johnny Karp
14 марта, 2011 at 06:22
I often try offering the players that I don’t need for free, that way I avoid paying the release fees ;)
brad
11 августа, 2011 at 14:47
Shane Williams… I’m in my 14th season with Basingstoke, fighting for the title in the Championship currently, and he is still my team captain, i’ve had thius guy for about 12 seasons. He’s not my best meidfielder any more (3 star rating only), but want to reward his loyalty by letting him play in the Premiership. Just started reading the stories now, and I really enjoy them.
Darren Smith
11 августа, 2011 at 18:48
Hey Brad, Johnny is on holiday until next week but he’ll be happy to read your comment upon his return. Thanks for the compliment. :)
Johnny Karp
15 августа, 2011 at 14:11
Thanks a lot for the comment mate, Shane was one of my favourite players too.