FM15 - The Vanarama Conference, North & South thread

Overview:

After the popularity of the The Skrill Premier, North & South thread, we are back again for all your English non-league adventures on FM15.

Everyone loves a great rags to riches, and taking a non-league side to the top of the footballing world is one of the most satisfying experiences one can have on this wonderful game. While the likes of Worcester, Stalybridge and Woking may never experience the highs of winning the Premier League title and the European Cup in reality, FM provides the platform to achieve just that and so much more.

Included in this thread:

• Each of the 87 playable non-league teams, in order of where they are predicted to finish
  
• A 'Star XI' for each league, in a 4-4-2 formation
  
• Suitable free agents for each league
  
• My own suggestions for teams to be and why

Just like last year, it will be a place for posters to update on their own saves, ask questions, get information about each league/teams/players and anything else relating to English non-league football (even if that stretches below the playable leagues). Feel free to continue posting once you reach the hallowed grounds of the Football League and beyond.

Please enjoy, and feel welcome to contribute, no matter how much or how little!

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Overview:

This division is brutal, and you'll need just the right mixture of physicality, resilience and natural ability to escape its clutches. Small part-time teams take on former league clubs on a weekly basis, and the gap is never as big as it appears on paper.

2013/14 saw Bristol Rovers drop into the Conference for the first time in its history, and Torquay also returned after a five year hiatus. At the other end, Eastleigh, Altrincham, Dover and Telford gained promotion in, while the financial demise of Hereford and Salisbury handed a reprieve to Chester and Dartford, who finished in relegation spots.

Whether you take on one of the title favourites, a fallen giant or a minnow part-time outfit, there is something for nearly everyone in this division.

The teams:

1: Gateshead

2: Bristol Rovers

3: Barnet

4: Forest Green

5: Torquay

6: Woking

7: Grimsby

8: Wrexham

9: Eastleigh

10: Kidderminster

11: Nuneaton

12: Braintree

13: Alfreton

14: FC Halifax

15: Chester

16: Aldershot

17: Lincoln City

18: Dartford

19: Dover

20: Altrincham

21: Macclesfield

22: Southport

23: Welling

24: AFC Telford

Gateshead are an interesting title favourite, especially compared with the likes of Bristol Rovers, Barnet and Forest Green, but a run to the playoff final last season is still fresh in the memory. Grimsby and Kidderminster are the sleeping giants, and Aldershot could impress after overcoming a points deduction last campaign.

At the other end, I feel Welling are better than predicted, while Nuneaton and Alfreton may struggle to repeat last season's heroics.

Dream Team:

Please note I have limited selection to one starter per club. For each position I have also listed an alternative name, and have not included players on loan

Goalkeeper: James McKeown (24, Grimsby)

A fixture between the Grimsby posts for three years now, and has claims on being the best in the division. He's fantastic in a one on one situation, has strong reflexes and at 24 will hold you in good stead for years to come.

Other: Jason Brown (32, Dartford)

Right back: David Pipe (30, Forest Green)

Built like a cage fighter, Pipe plays with a determination and strength of character that wouldn't have him out of place in the ring. He captained Newport to promotion two seasons ago and was immediately installed as skipper upon his arrival at the New Lawn in the summer.

Other: Ben Starosta (27, Nuneaton)

Left back: John Nutter (32, Woking)

With bags of non-league experience and a significant spell with Gillingham, Nutter is reliable and a leader. He will get you a few goals from dead balls and penalties, and despite his name is not overly aggressive.

Other: Thomas Cruise (23, Torquay)

Central defence: Krystian Pearce (24, Torquay) & Luke Graham (28, Aldershot)

Pearce has spent most of his career in the Football League, with both Notts County and Torquay after being released by Birmingham. He is one of the most physically gifted defenders in the league and young enough to build a long term defence around. Graham on the other hand is a leader and the no-nonsense type that every Conference side requires.

Other: Alan Massey (25, Braintree) & Shaun Pearson (25, Grimsby)

Right midfield: Alex Rodman (27, Gateshead)

With a background that includes representing England in futsal, Rodman is a tricky winger who can operate down both flanks, although he is predominantly right-footed. Standing above six feet, he is imposing for a winger and could even play as a wide target man.

Other: Sam Hatton (26, Aldershot)

Left midfield: Andy Monkhouse (33, Bristol Rovers)

After being a mainstay with Hartlepool for nearly a decade, Monkhouse has dropped down into non league football at the tail end of his career. Despite his age, he still possesses pace and the ability to beat a man, and is also a threat from long range.

Other: Stephen Brogan(26, Southport)

Central midfield: John Rooney (23, Chester) & Matty Pearson (20, Halifax)

Rooney is perhaps better known as Wayne's little brother, but he is a fine player at this level in his own right, able to operate as an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, or even as a makeshift striker. Pearson makes the team for the second year running, simply because he's arguably the best player in the division. The perfect attacking/defensive combo.

Other: Kyle Storer (27, Kidderminster) & Phil Turnbull (27, Gateshead)

Strikers: Louis Moult (22, Wrexham) & John Akinde (25, Barnet)

With 35 goals between them last campaign, these were two of the hottest striking properties on the free agent market, and both found their way to potential title challengers. Both are rangy and athletic, while Akinde can play as a target man due to his imposing physical nature. Both will get you goals.

Other: Ben Tomlinson (24, Lincoln) & Jack Midson (30, Eastleigh)

Free agents of note

Henoc Mukendi (20, striker, £500-800 pw)

A former Liverpool youth player, Mukendi offers a lot of potential, a strong left foot and blistering pace on top of a 6'4 frame. Might not be someone you can rely on for goals straight away, but bringing him off the bench while he develops may pay dividends in 2-3 seasons.

James Harper (33, central midfield, £250-400 pw)

Made his name in Reading's first EPL campaign, and at 33 he is still a model of physical fitness and will do a job for at least a season or two.

Mansour Assoumani (31, central defence, £400-700 pw)

A towering presence, the French/Comoros national has previous experience in England with Wrexham and Stockport. He is tall, strong and a monster in the air, and is an excellent option at set pieces too.

Looking for a team?

Bristol Rovers

The big fish. Formed in 1883, the Gas were a league club from 1920 all the way until 2014, when they dropped into the Conference. You'll start the season with healthy budgets of £60K in the transfer kitty and £22K pw for wages just for making the playoffs, and a target on your back for 23 other teams. A fierce local rivalry with Forest Green will add some spice.

Eastleigh

After some relatively heavy spending delivered the Conference South title in 2013/14, Eastleigh has continued in that vein, adding the likes of James Constable, Jack Midson and Jamie Turley to your ranks. The board will expect a top half finish, and hand you £50K and £23K pw budgets to do so. Can you make the most of the cash and grab consecutive promotions?

Macclesfield

It's been a sorry few years for the Silkmen, first dropping out of the Football League and finishes of 11th and 15th since. At a club long plagued by financial troubles, you will be offered a £14K pw wage budget and no transfer kitty to attempt to avoid relegation, although more than a third of this is still available for signings. Can you turn around the fortunes of this freefalling club?

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Overview:

As always, an interesting mixture of relegated teams, promotion winners, division mainstays and even a Welsh side. Stalybridge are the league's only professional outfit but have underachieved in recent years, while relegated sides Tamworth and Hyde will be looking to make early statements. Additionally, the likes of Guiseley, Hednesford, Barrow and Harrogate will all have title ambitions, and without a standout it looks like a very competitive league.

At the other end, Gainsborough, Leamington and Colwyn Bay will be among those looking to avoid the drop.

The teams:

1: Harrogate

2: Tamworth

3: Barrow

4: Hednesford

5: Guiseley

6: Bradford Park Avenue

7: Oxford City

8: AFC Fylde

9: Stalybridge

10: Lowestoft

11: Stockport

12: Hyde

13: Boston United

14: Brackley

15: Worcester

16: North Ferriby

17: Solihull Moors

18: Gloucester

19: Chorley

20: Gainsborough

21: Leamington

22: Colwyn Bay

After finishing 9th last season, Harrogate has been elevated into title favouritism, while the media havee backed off North Ferriby somewhat after a second place finish in 2013/14. Oxford City only survived relegation thanks to Vauxhall Motors' financial problems, and are now seen as an outsider for a playoff spot.

Stockport remains an interesting case; after such a stark fall from grace, the Hatters are tipped to be a mid-table side at best, and their heights of only a handful of years ago seem an eternity away.

Dream Team:

Please note I have limited selection to one starter per club. For each position I have also listed an alternative name, and have not included players on loan

Goalkeeper: Sam Ashton (23, Chorley)

The former FC United custodian is not someone who will inspire confidence aerially, but when it comes to pure shot stopping and the ability to intimidate a striker in a one on one, Ashton has no peer in this league.

Other: Josh Ollerenshaw (23, Colwyn Bay)

Right back: Javan Vidal (25, Tamworth)

The former Man City trainee has struggld to find first team football at higher levels, but a move to Tamworth should pay dividends for him. He's quick, makes good decisions and can whip in a cross. Perfect for an attacking role, or even as a wingback.

Other: Andy Holdsworth (30, Guiseley)

Left back: Ben Parker (26, Guiseley)

His second appearance in this side, and you'll struggle to find a better full back in this league. He is a very well-rounded player, able to get forward and beat a man, while also being solid defensively.

Other: Curtis McDonald (26, Brackley)

Central defence: Jamie Tank (20, Leamington) & Scott Garner (23, Boston)

Two players who have dropped down a division or two here, to try and resurrect their careers. Tank had a long youth stint with Wolves, and at 6'4 will dominate aerially. Garner is also physically imposing, and a real goal threat, having scored eight times in loan at Boston in 2013/14. Both are fine candidates for leadership roles.

Other: Glenn Belezika (19, Stockport) & Liam Chilvers (32, Hyde)

Right midfield: Darryl Knights (26, Solihull Moors)

A tricky little winger whose pedigree includes Ipswich's youth team and long stints at Kidderminster and Newport County. Knights will beat a lot of defenders one on one, and his versatility means he can play almost every attacking position.

Other: Daniel Emerton (22, North Ferriby)

Left midfield: Danny Lloyd (22, AFC Fylde)

Perhaps the purest winger in the league. He is lightening fast, agile and can deliver a pinpoint cross, and he will surely torment many full backs at this level. Can also play up front and would be handy for a long ball strategy.

Other: Alex Ray-Harvey (23, Barrow)

Central midfield: Archie Love (20, Hednesford) & Darren Mullings (27, Oxford City)

With an eye for a pass, a thumping shot from range and composure, Love is the best attacking midfielder in the league, and should have any team built squarely around him. Mullings is more defensively minded, able to play a holding role to great effect.

Other: Simon Lenighan (20, Harrogate) & Rossi Jarvis (26, Lowestoft)

Strikers: Nathan Jarman (27, North Ferriby) & Anthony Malbon (22, Stalybridge)

The Conference North is rich for quality strikers, and Jarman is one of its finest. He scored 27 times for North Ferriby last season and will look to continue his form. Malbon surprised many by dropping down after leaving Kidderminster, and should score a hatful.

Other: Jason Walker (30, Barrow) & Javi Rodriguez (22, Oxford City)

Free agents of note

Sean O'Connor (32, striker, £120-180 pw)

An experienced striker who spent his finest years in Scotland with Queen Of South. He is a good finisher, plays with flair and is useful in the air, and would make a fine short term choice up front.

Jay Smith (32, central midfield, £150-300 pw)

Building a strong defensive foundation is key in the lower leagues, and Smith's experience with higher clubs, not to mention his ability to play just in front of a back four as well as central midfield, makes him an astute target.

James Tunnicliffe (25, central defence, £300-500 pw)

The former Stockport youngster will command your top wages, but he is someone you can build a defence around and should be a priority if you have the wage room. You will need to get in quickly however as clubs from the division above will be sniffing around.

Looking for a team?

Hyde

Last season was a disaster for Hyde, as it only won a single league match, and set a Conference record of only 10 points on the way to being relegated as early as March 11. They reside in the strong footballing region of Greater Manchester, but with so many local clubs challenging for local talent, you may find it a struggle to attract the required players to make a promotion push. The board are less ambitious, offering you £2.5K pw to finish mid table, although a transfer kitty of £10K can be turned into more wage room.

Barrow

One season removed from relegation, Barrow will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 11th placed finish, and the board expect a playoff spot as a minimum. The good news is they will put their money where their collective mouthes are, providing healthy budgets of £20K for transfers and £9K pw for wages. Club favourite Jason Walker also returns to lead the line, and pairs with Andy Cook to form perhaps the best strike partnership in the league.

Chorley

At this level for the first time in nearly 30 years, the Magpies will be looking to continue their rise, and you may be the manager to consolidate them. The board will only expect a relegation battle and will offer £5K pw in wages to do so, although only £200 of this is available. The squad is decent and the stadium is one of the better ones at this level. A good little club for a bottom to top career.

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Overview:

At first glance, you may notice only 21 teams; this is because Salisbury were unable to meet imposed deadlines to sort their finances, and were thus expelled. Rather than rescind a relegation, the league instead will go in a team short, with all teams playing only 40 games instead of the regular 42. Furthermore, with Hereford being relegated two divisions, there are no relegated Conference clubs in the South this campaign.

The usual suspects in Ebbsfleet, Sutton Utd and Bromley are expected to challenge at the pointy end again, while Whitehawk, who finished 19th, are the surprise title tip. Two minnows who avoided relegation last year - Concord Rangers and Gosport - are predicted to have contrasting seasons.

The teams:

1: Whitehawk

2: Ebbsfleet

3: Havant & Waterlooville

4: Sutton Utd

5: Bromley

6: Boreham Wood

7: Concord Rangers

8: Hayes & Yeading

9: Staines

10: Eastbourne Boro

11: Bath

12: Maidenhead

13: Wealdstone

14: Bishop's Stortford

15: Hemel Hempstead

16: Farnborough

17: Basingstoke

18: Gosport

19: Chelmsford

20: St Albans

21: Weston-super-Mare

Whitehawk as the title favourite may suggest a little overrating of its squad, which also seemed to be the case on FM14. Sutton Utd, Bromley and Ebbsfleet finished 2nd-4th last season and will again be strong, while Havant & Waterlooville's summer additions make it a worthy playoff challenger.

Boreham Wood is a side with a lot of technical quality, and I think St Albans could be a dark horse despite the lowly prediction.

Dream Team:

Please note I have limited selection to one starter per club. For each position I have also listed an alternative name, and have not included players on loan

Goalkeeper: Craig Ross (24, Farnborough)

Started all 42 matches last season for Eastbourne, and has a very solid spread of 'keeping attributes. Finding a reliable custodian long term can be a challenge this far down the pyramid, and at 24 he still has plenty of room to grow.

Other: Tom Lovelock (21, Sutton Utd))

Right back: Robbie Rice (25, Basingstoke)

A very experience right back who came through Wycombe's youth program and has been a mainstay in Baskingstoke's defence for a few seasons now. He is not flashy but will do a reliable job.

Other: Michael Spillane (25, Sutton Utd)

Left back: Dan Ball (22, Bath)

Another with plenty of experience in this division, and he has a bit of attacking flair to his game. Predominantly left-footed, but his ability to play both full back spots makes him very valuable.

Other: Aiden Palmer (27, Ebbsfleet)

Central defence: Anthony Acheampong (23, Ebbsfleet) & Wes Parker (30, Wealdstone)

Acheampong is an aerial beast, combining a 6'3 frame with impressive leaping ability and the strength to keep his opponents away from the ball, while Parker is "Mr Wealdstone", as their captain and heartbeat. A better centre half in this league you will struggle to find.

Other: Mark Nisbet (Maidenhead, 27) & Jerel Ifil (32, St Albans)

Right midfield: Sergio Torres (30, Whitehawk)

Torres has played plenty of football in higher divisions, and at 30 is still young enough to make a real impact, while experienced enough to hold his own physically and mentally. One of the most accomplished performers in the South.

Other: Michael West (23, Ebbsfleet)

Left midfield: Scott Shulton (24, Bishop's Stortford)

Shulton is more of a central midfielder who can play wide, rather than a traditional winger, but his left foot is dynamite. Put him on free kick and corner duties and watch the goals and assists pile up.

Other: Simon Johnson (23, Eastbourne)

Central midfield: Tony Stokes (27, Concord Rangers) & Sam Cox (23, Boreham Wood)

Two very impressive players here. Stokes has scored an incredible 79 goals in his last four seasons with Rangers, while the diminutive Cox makes up for a lack of size with real tenacity and heart.

Other: Danny Waldren (25, Bromley) & Perry Ryan (22, Havant & W)

Strikers: Adam Birchall (29, Bromley) & Nicholas Bignall (23, Sutton Utd)

The last time Birchall played in this very division, he banged in 34 goals for Dover, and will be hoping to repeat such heroics this time around - his all around attributes suggest he may do just that. Bignall is less developed, but has the raw pace which will give defences nightmares.

Other: Dan Thompson (20, Farnborough) & Matthew Paterson (24, Gosport)

Free agents of note

Eurico Sebastiao (19, striker, £120-250 pw)

A former Nottingham Forest youth player, Sebastiao still has time on his side. He is quick and can finish, and would make an excellent long term project striker. He can also play down the right of midfield

Solomon Shields (24, central midfield, £250-400 pw)

Out of Leyton Orient's youth system, Shields has spent most of his career at St Albans, and is an all round threat. He can defend, create and shoot, and is a high quality player at this level.

Teddy NGoy (24, central defence, £150-300 pw)

Having spent his initial years at Sandard Liege, the pedigree is certainly there, as is the sheer size. Standing 6'5 and with the heading and jumping ability to match, he is perfect for a team looking for aerial presence at both ends.

Looking for a team?

Sutton Utd

Every season the U's are among the title favourites, and every season they seem to fall just short. Can you be the man to get them over that proverbial hump? Your board will back you with £8K pw for wages and £5K in the transfer kitty, but there is still work to be done. Squad-wise, you start with an excellent 'keeper in Tom Lovelock, the versatile Michael Spillane and the traditional big/small pairing up front, with Jessy Reindorf and Nicholas Bignall.

Concord Rangers

They're not even the most prominent team in their own town (that honour going to Canvey Island) but after getting into the Conference South last season, Rangers stayed there, finishing a very creditable 9th. With inspirational captain Tony Stokes in your ranks your starting squad is quite strong, but with a wage budget of only £3K pw and no funds for transfers, the expected top half finish may be hard to achieve again.

Chelmsford

Last season started with high expectations and ended with a disappointing 19th placed finish, after the departure of prolific striker Jeff Goulding to Dover. This season the Clarets are predicted to drop out of the division, although in Luke Callander and Joe Ward, you have two young strikers to build around. The addition of centre half Yado Mambo from Ebbsfleet is a coup, and while you'll only get £3K pw to avoid relegation on, a transfer budget of £8K is healthy at this level.

Threads:

• Lower League Players
  
• Free Agents
  
• Good Staff
  

Vanarama Conference

• AFC Telford
  
• Aldershot
  
• Alfreton
  
• Altrincham
  
• Barnet
  
• Braintree
  
• Bristol Rovers
  
• Chester
  
• Dartford
  
• Dover
  
• Eastleigh
  
• FC Halifax
  
• Forest Green
  
• Gateshead
  
• Grimsby
  
• Kidderminster
  
• Lincoln
  
• Macclesfield
  
• Nuneaton
  
• Southport
  
• Torquay
  
• Welling
  
• Woking
  
• Wrexham
  

Vanarama North

• AFC Fylde
  
• Barrow
  
• Boston United
  
• Brackley
  
• Bradford Park Avenue
  
• Chorley - (Forum Thread)
  
• Colwyn Bay
  
• Gainsborough
  
• Gloucester
  
• Guiseley
  
• Harrogate
  
• Hednesford
  
• Hyde
  
• Leamington
  
• Lowestoft
  
• North Ferriby
  
• Oxford City
  
• Solihull Moors
  
• Stalybridge
  
• Stockport
  
• Tamworth
  
• Worcester
  

Vanarama South

• Basingstoke
  
• Bath
  
• Bishop's Stortford
  
• Boreham Wood
  
• Bromley
  
• Chelmsford
  
• Concord Rangers
  
• Eastbourne Borough
  
• Ebbsfleet
  
• Farnborough
  
• Gosport
  
• Havant & Waterlooville
  
• Hayes & Yeading
  
• Hemel Hempstead
  
• Maidenhead
  
• St Albans
  
• Staines
  
• Sutton Utd
  
• Wealdstone
  
• Weston-super-Mare
  
• Whitehawk
  

Miscellaneous

• My Footy Grounds
  

I've started unemployed for the first time ever and landed the Nuneaton job.

Good thread!

Excellent. Starting as Wrexham on a journeyman save from unemployed. Will be posting .

Let me know how you get on with Wrexham. Not bad team, lacking a bit of depth

Let me know how you get on with Wrexham. Not bad team, lacking a bit of depth

Keep an eye on my career thread also .

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/400488-The-Lazy-Boys-Title-for-an-FM15-Journeyman-Career?p=9911692#post9911692

Excellent. Starting as Wrexham on a journeyman save from unemployed. Will be posting .

Nice - hopefully you can replicate the success you had with Gateshead. Did you immediately look for Callum Challinor and Adam Boyes?!

I've started unemployed for the first time ever and landed the Nuneaton job.

Good thread!

Tough gig I reckon - losing Wes York and especially Louis Moult (ironically both to Wrexham) has left a big hole up front.

Great thread, I always seem to spend most of my time on FM in these leagues

This website always gives me an indication of who I wan't to manage! (http://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/)

It'll obviously have to be someone from the Conferance South coming from 'landan.

Tough gig I reckon - losing Wes York and especially Louis Moult (ironically both to Wrexham) has left a big hole up front.

Will see how it goes, never done LLM before. Took over 13 games in with them sitting 1 point off bottom

Bristol Rovers formed in 1920? Try 1883!

Bristol Rovers formed in 1920? Try 1883!

Apologies, I meant they had been in the Football League since 1920. Will amend.

Great thread. I have often in older FM's played as Bromley and went with them to the premiership.

Great thread as usual CityAndColour, and I will be sure to have a bash with at least one of these clubs again.

Great thread spent a few hours last night, with Sutton. Unsure if it's my tactics or the result in the beta issues with lower league keepers, but it's unplayable right now. Hopefully come full release this will be great!

I'm torn between Boston United, St Albans City or Basingstoke Town for my LLM save once the game is released properly on 7th. Not used to LLM so which out of those three would people suggest?

Will definitely have a Vanarama save when the keepers have been fixed. Never really had a journeyman save and this might be the year that happens.

Solution for the goalkeeper issue: pick a team with good strikers. I'm playing with Eastleigh; Constable, Midson, and Wright have 43 goals through 17 games (playing with a 4-3-3 DM Narrow).

What a first game of FM15! Hope I'm ok to post here as we are Vanarama South now?

Of course - dafuge's challenge I'm guessing?

Solution for the goalkeeper issue: pick a team with good strikers. I'm playing with Eastleigh; Constable, Midson, and Wright have 43 goals through 17 games (playing with a 4-3-3 DM Narrow).

Eastleigh have an excellent collection of strikers. What about Stu Fleetwood and Ben Strevens?

This website always gives me an indication of who I wan't to manage! (http://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/)

It'll obviously have to be someone from the Conferance South coming from 'landan.

Cheers, have added this link.

If anyone else has any handy websites they use in conjunction with FM, post them in here and I'll put them in the links part.

I'm torn between Boston United, St Albans City or Basingstoke Town for my LLM save once the game is released properly on 7th. Not used to LLM so which out of those three would people suggest?

What kind of football do you like to play?

What kind of football do you like to play?

Counter attacking 442 with traditional wingers, target man and poacher as main tactic. Spread the ball quickly to wings or target man to hold up and bring people into play. Fast, direct football when on the ball, disciplined shape-keeping defending when off. Looking forward to your suggestion!

I would go Basingstoke then. You start with five good wingers (Soares, McAuley, Macklin, Flood and Dunn) and two decent target men types (Owusu, Enver-Marum).

I would go Basingstoke then. You start with fivke good wingers (Soares, McAuley, Macklin, Flood and Dunn) and two decent target men types (Owusu, Enver-Marum).

Nice thanks for the feedback can't wait to start this game. What database settings do people usually pick for a long term LLM game at the same club?

Nice thanks for the feedback can't wait to start this game. What database settings do people usually pick for a long term LLM game at the same club?

I usually load all UK and Ireland leagues, and then load all players of UK and Ireland nationality and all players based in UK and Ireland.

Bristol Rovers formed in 1920? Try 1883!

NLBR1653 you mean?

Eastleigh have an excellent collection of strikers. What about Stu Fleetwood and Ben Strevens?

Fleetwood got hurt for about 6 weeks a few games in and I've been working him back in. Strevens has gotten off to a really slow start, kind of want to get rid of him and his contract at this point, he's just not contributing at all. 0 goals and 2 assists in >500 minutes played this season. As for the others, I still have Odubade listed (as he is when you start the game) but he's been fairly effective when he's played (sparingly). I actually terminated McAllister's contract, not because of any issue with him as a player, but because his coaching stats were so, so bad that I really just had to bite the bullet and get rid of him just so I could sign an assistant coach who could actually, y'know, coach.

I usually load all UK and Ireland leagues, and then load all players of UK and Ireland nationality and all players based in UK and Ireland.

No other leagues? Doesn't that give UK an imbalance in quality 10 years in?

Taking the helm at Stockport, see how far I can go.

Has anyone noticed the sheer number of goal scoring in this league?

Won opening game 8-5 and could have lost every time opponent got the ball.

6 games in I'm 19F 19A 0GD!

I'm doing Wealdstone. Got to say, the match engine at this level is disabled. utterly pathetic.

Cheers, have added this link.

If anyone else has any handy websites they use in conjunction with FM, post them in here and I'll put them in the links part.

Nice thread. I'm going with St Albans. fyi their link is http://www.sacfc.co.uk/

Lost one of my pre-season friendlies 11-3, but now sitting comfortably in 10th place.

Great thread, look forward to following. Will be starting a game with Leamington at some stage.

Can't wait till goalkeepers and defenders are fixed! Painful to see 5 go in most matches.

I've started a save with Leamington, who are a favourite lower league team of mine. The squad is noticeably weak and the wage budget very small, so avoiding relegation will be the aim first season.

For those who like pacy strikers, have a look at Javlon Campbell, who starts the game on non contract terms at Kingstonian. His core striker stats are adequate for this level (finishing 9, dribbling 10, composure 8, off the ball 9, technique 9) and his pace/acceleration (15/16) is elite.

Great thread, look forward to following. Will be starting a game with Leamington at some stage.

Good choice - Tank, Morley and Magunda gives you a decent defensive core, while Goddard is an excellent playmaker at this level. WInt and Stef Moore is a good striking combination too.

Good choice - Tank, Morley and Magunda gives you a decent defensive core, while Goddard is an excellent playmaker at this level. WInt and Stef Moore is a good striking combination too.

Yeah looking forward to it as I used to live not far from there. Dabbled with them on FM14 but plan to get stuck into a long term save once the high scoring is fixed. What formation are you using with them?

Yeah looking forward to it as I used to live not far from there. Dabbled with them on FM14 but plan to get stuck into a long term save once the high scoring is fixed. What formation are you using with them?

Currently experimenting with a 5-3-2 (wing backs, flat midfield three). Results have been reasonable.

I've started a save with Leamington, who are a favourite lower league team of mine. The squad is noticeably weak and the wage budget very small, so avoiding relegation will be the aim first season.

Funnily enough Leamington are coming first in my Oxford city save after 10 games. Anyone else signed Charlie Collins (striker) on their save? I got him for $350 aud a week and he has been immense. 12 league goals in 14 games, only two or three from long balls.

I'm too lazy to start FM now but you guys should look up Warren Morgan, Striker on a free transfer if you are playing in North/South. Scored 20+ goals for me with Concord Rangers

Currently experimenting with a 5-3-2 (wing backs, flat midfield three). Results have been reasonable.

Trying a 5-3-2 as well but struggling just outside relegation zone after the first 10 games. Look great one game then woeful the next.

No other leagues? Doesn't that give UK an imbalance in quality 10 years in?

I've never really noticed to be honest. The one long-term non-league save I had saw me spend 12 years in the Conference Premier and as I'd restricted myself to signing only UK and Irish players I didn't really know how other countries were doing at producing talent. I keep it to those leagues and players purely for speed reasons and I don't normally have any intention of I signing foreigners when in the lower leagues, normally my squad is built around signing released youngsters from the Prem/Championship.

Trying a 5-3-2 as well but struggling just outside relegation zone after the first 10 games. Look great one game then woeful the next.

Who have you signed?

I've never really noticed to be honest. The one long-term non-league save I had saw me spend 12 years in the Conference Premier and as I'd restricted myself to signing only UK and Irish players I didn't really know how other countries were doing at producing talent. I keep it to those leagues and players purely for speed reasons and I don't normally have any intention of I signing foreigners when in the lower leagues, normally my squad is built around signing released youngsters from the Prem/Championship.

I'm the same - I start adding in other European leagues as I progress up to try and get some balance and make European football a little easier, but in the lower leagues I don't see the point of clogging up my processing.

I'll ask a stupid question if I may, are there any Amateur Manageable clubs from these three divisions?