FM15: Wolverhampton Wanderers "Wolves" - Out of Darkness Cometh Light

After the darkness of double relegation from the Premier League to League One, a total re-vamp of the club was required. Last season saw a record-breaking assault on the title and instant promotion to the Championship.

Now you have a fantastic new batch of young, hungry and ambitious players, stable finances and amazing facilities. Expectations are remarkably low but the sun has broken the horizon. Are you the manager to see Wolverhampton Wanderers into a new day? Join me on a Wolves save and find out!!

History

For information relevant to FM15 please skip to the next post!

I will not torture the metaphor any further, but I humbly suggest that no club has a more fitting motto than Wolverhampton Wanderers: "Out of Darkness Cometh Light". A club that has won numerous honours but has also been on the brink of extinction.

Founded as St Lukes in 1877, it merged with The Wanderers two years later to become Wolverhampton Wanderers. As a founder member of the football league in 1888, Wolves contested the very first football league fixture (against Aston Villa). Wolves moved to Molineux a year later in 1889, which is still the club's home ground today, close to the heart of the city.

Wolves were a major force in the early years; finishing 3rd in the inaugural league and reaching the FA Cup Final in the same year (1888), but the only major trophy won in the 19th Century was the FA Cup in 1893. A second followed in 1908 from the second division but by 1923 the club was relegated to the Third Division (North), returning to the second tier a year later.

Major Frank Buckley was arguably the first great Wolves manager. He wasn't one for elaborate tactics, but he was a notably innovative coach who developed youth players, was financially astute and played mind-games with the media. Most importantly he established Wolves at England's top table again, with promotion, FA Cup finals and first tier (Division One) runners-up placings.

In 1948 Wolves appointed their next great manager, one of Buckley's great players: Stan Cullis, whose name adorns the North Bank stand, outside which his statue resides. His time as manager was the most successful in the clubs history, winning the top league title in '54, '58 and '59. Cullis became the youngest ever manager to win the FA Cup, doing so in his first season as manager in 1949, aged just 32, winning the trophy again in 1960.

An even greater achievement was accomplished: a series of 'floodlit friendlies' culminated in 1954 with Wolves beating Honved (including Puskas and most other members of the magnificent Hungary side that had recently humbled England) leading the English press to dub Wolves "Champions of the World". As is well known a french journalist Hanot objected since no French team had been invited to take part in the series from which Wolves had emerged victorious. He proposed a European Cup (later, Champions League) however Wolves have never won the competition inspired by their feats. (Can you right this wrong??)

Wolves most successful player of all time (and one of England's finest) hails from this era: Billy Wright C.B.E. He won 105 caps for England with 90 as captain, both all-time records for any nation at the time. He still holds the England captaincy record with Sir Bobby Moore, but most extraordinarily he was never booked throughout his career. He is also honoured with a statue outside the main stand, named in his honour.

In 1964 Cullis was sacked and by the end of the season Wolves were relegated to the second tier for the first time in over 30 years. After just two seasons though Wolves were back in the top flight and had 15 more years (bar one season) there, winning the League Cup twice and reaching the UEFA Cup final in 1972, losing to Tottenham Hotspur.

Then came disaster: by the late 70's Molineux was falling into disrepair and Wolves built a new stand (now the Steve Bull stand) behind the iconic Molineux Street stand, which when finished was far away from the pitch. Its construction nearly bankrupted the club and was taken over by the infamous Bhatti brothers. They were property developers and had no interest in investing in the club, only the land around Molineux that the club still owned. Meltdown followed as Wolves were relegated from the first to the fourth tier. The Bhatti brothers had forced the club to bankruptcy and imminent extinction before a last-minute deal was done between the Council and a supermarket to buy back the land and allow the club to continue playing football.

Goals from Steve Bull fired Wolves to consecutive promotions as champions, scoring 52 then 50 in a season out of 306 in his career. His exploits earned 13 England caps and 4 goals, despite never playing in the top flight.

The club was bought by lifelong Wolves fan and multi-multi-millionaire Sir Jack Hayward, the self-proclaimed 'golden tit' who not only re-built Molineux as an all-seater stadium, but also continually poured vast amounts of money into the playing squad (with limited results). His tenure saw just one season in the Premier League in 2003/4 under Dave Jones.

Steve Morgan bought the club for £10 and a £30 million investment in the club via shares and soon saw the club back in the Premier League for three seasons under Mick McCarthy, surviving the second on the last day despite beating Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea along the way.

After McCarthy's sacking, double relegation then immediate promotion followed and we find ourselves at the present day.

Squad

Goalkeepers

Carl Ikeme - A product of the youth academy, Ikeme has finally established himself as the No 1 keeper. In FM15 he is easily good enough to be your first choice in the Championship, but if promoted I would be looking to bring in someone better with Ikeme as back-up.

Aaron McCarey - Also from the academy but brought over from Ireland as a teenager, he is not good enough for the first team. Ok as first year back-up, but you're relying on Ikeme largely staying fit.

Centre Backs

Danny Batth - A lifelong Wolves supporter born in the city and a product of the academy, he is a no-nonsense English centre-half that will kick, block or head anything and is already vice-captain. In FM15 he is very good for the Championship with great potential for the Premier League. I would play him in every game you can and watch him develop into a top defender.

Richard Stearman - Another local lad, bought from Leicester years ago who has seen the club's rise and fall, he is the perfect foil for Batth - quicker and with better ball skills plus a smartness that experience brings but prone to the odd lapse in concentration.

Johnson/Margreitter - These two are an unwanted legacy from previous regimes - to be true to real life I shipped them out at the first opportunity (for not much money!) but you are welcome to use them...

Others - Ebanks-Landell, Iorfa and Hause are all good young prospects, the first two from the academy, who you could keep as reserves or send on loan for experience.

Full Backs

Sam Ricketts - Club captain parachuted in last year, a solid two-footed right back who can play all across the back line. He is in the last year of his contract and the only player in the squad over 30 – a very useful older player to have.

Matt Doherty - Another from the academy brought over from Ireland as a teenager, a good young prospect who will quickly depose Ricketts in FM15 if given the games.

Kevin Foley - Perfectly adequate defender but ultimately your third choice right back - not needed (although you could keep as back-up in the first season).

Scott Golbourne - Has all the right attributes in the right places for a quality left back and still young enough to improve, he is your only specialist at the club although Ricketts and Rowe provide good cover.

Central Midfielders

Kevin McDonald - A £250k signing from Sheffield United last season who won every award going. The creative heartbeat of the team, he lacks a bit of mobility but makes up for it with a fantastic range of passing.

Tommy Rowe - A new signing on a free from Peterborough where he was captain, he was signed as a left-footed, more energetic partner for McDonald, but his main attribute is his versatility, being able to play a variety of roles in a number of positions.

George Saville - The only summer addition with a fee (£1 million from Chelsea) he is a midfielder who can do a bit of everything, bought for his potential who should develop nicely.

Jack Price - Nicknamed "The bearded Iniesta" by teammates for his low centre of gravity, running style and facial hair, he is another academy graduate with huge potential in FM15 but probably slightly behind Saville/Evans at the start of the game.

Lee Evans - Bought for a nominal fee from Newport, he has progressed from the development squad to the first team with ease, producing many impressive performances. In FM15 he has less potential than Saville/Price but still a decent prospect.

Wingers/Attacking Midfielders

James Henry - Signed last season from Millwall, he is a competent, tidy right midfielder/winger with good crossing ability but probably lacks the ultimate pace to be successful at the top level, although still only in his mid-twenties.

Rajiv van la Parra - Signed on a free from Heerenveen to be an extra X-factor player, with pace to burn and dribbling skills to match he is most at home wide on the right wing, but can also do a job on the left if required.

Bakary Sako - Simply the best player in the squad. A physical specimen with outrageous skills to match, he can create something from nothing and is often required to do so from the left wing. Has added a modicum of discipline to his game recently but he will never be the most consistent – he’s not that type of player. Just play him on the left and watch him fly. One of the first things I did was to extend his contract past 2015.

Michael Jacobs - signed last season from Derby where he never quite made it as a winger, Wolves redeployed him as a central attacking midfielder with great success. In FM15 he is already a great young lad with potential to get even better, I would continue the re-training to AMC where he is currently accomplished so you can get Sako, Jacobs and RvlP/Henry in the same team.

David Edwards - Like Stearman, a player signed young who has seen Wolves rise and fall and stayed loyal throughout, he is a fully commited player that will run himself into the ground. In FM15 he lacks the intelligence he possesses IRL therefore not good enough long-term, although I would be tempted to keep him as back-up in the first season.

Forwards

Nouha Dicko - Only signed in January for £300k but has made a massive impact, small but stong, plus genuinely quick and agile with good technique, if you can slightly improve his finishing you'll have an perfect poacher on your hands, and still only 21. Pity there isn't any back-up...

Leon Clarke - A former academy player re-signed for £700k in January, his impact has been the opposite of Dicko. Your team is built on young players with pace and movement but Clarke... isn't one. Not good enough and doesn't fit in - unless you really want a Plan B get rid.

Others - you have many young forwards such as McAlinden and Cassidy but none are ready for the first team. Also Bjorn Sigurdarsson returns in January who is at a similar level to Dicko and also young, whom you may well want to assess.

Summary

You have a great young squad at your disposal (even, dare I say it, a little over-rated) who should be able to gain promotion relatively easily in the first season with some decent management and has the potential to do well in the Premier League.

The only signings needed are at least one striker as competition for Dicko and back-up at centre back (possibly with the ability to play at left back).

Transfers

Since I aim to be in the Premier League next season, my signings are all for the first season only. Collins is a straight swap for Johnson as Blackett is for Margreitter, so now I have 2 left-footed and two right-footed, two experienced and two young centre backs.

Maynard and Keane provide good competition for Dicko. I also loaned Mason from Spurs just in case Jacobs doesn’t work out at AMC and/or I sell Edwards at some point.

Tactics

As you can see I’ve gone for a standard, flexible 4-2-3-1 (Wide) similar to that used in real life designed to exploit the pace and quality in the side. The back four is pretty standard, followed by a ball-winner (defend) and deep-lying playmaker (support) to provide a solid fulcrum to the side. This season there is no need for a defensive midfielder.

The front four starts with an attacking midfielder (support) to link play between the midfield and the attack and grab the odd goal. The two wingers are expected to constantly target their full-back, sending in crosses and scoring goals with regularity. Finally a lone poacher plays up front who should score plenty.

My instructions are retain possession, shorter passing, pass into space, work ball into box, play out of defence, exploit the flanks, low crosses and stay on feet. It is a very basic tactic but one that should be sufficient this year – advice on how to improve welcome!

I am currently half way through the first season and am lying in second behind Derby. Does anyone have some tips or experiences that they would like to share??

I'm third season with Wolves now.

First season, snook into the playoffs and managed to win the final and go up, I thought it was a poor season considering the class of players I bought in.

Out of all the players of the first season, I'd say the following were integral:

Alexandru Matel

Mike Jensen

Peterri Forsell

Tore Reginussen

Pavel Savitskiy

Possebon

First season:

http://i.imgur.com/R8eEFrz.jpg

Second season:

http://i.imgur.com/DYlwJLY.jpg

Third Season:

http://i.imgur.com/rM7WGEm.jpg

Here are my transfers on the first three seasons, and here is my squad now

Squad:

http://i.imgur.com/IMg7UTJ.jpg

Hoping to sneak into Europe this season!

Thank you for starting a Wolves thread. I always begin with Wolves but am a novice at FM, especially at acquiring players. Currently in 4th place after 23 Championship matches. Playing a little inconsistent at the moment.

Wow, I'm a bit behind you JackEdwardsHappel, thanks for all the transfer tips

I used to be a regular FM player but this is my first since FM2012, so I'm probably in a very similar position to you Long Islander!

Here I am at the halfway stage of Season One:

As you can see I'm currently 2nd after my last match; a 6-3 thriller v Brentford - safe to say I don't find scoring goals a problem! My highest scoring match by far, but along the general theme of scoring loads but conceding a few too. I'll have to think of a more solid tactic for next year (assuming I get to the Premier League)... suggestions welcome!

You can also see that Sako is the star performer of the Championship as predicted, while Henry and vlParra have made valuable contributions from the right.

Of my signings, Maynard and Blackett have been great successes: Maynard gets a goal almost every game he starts (as does Dicko) and Blackett has been great at LB or CB. Keane and Mason haven't had many opportunities while Collins wants to leave for first team football already! Since Blackett has played so well I don't really need him and might let him go on a free in January to save on wages.

Mid way through a second season with my beloved Wolves. Currently above all expectations and mid table in the Premier League.

First season was a massive success, finishing just top and achieving the double relegation - double promotion record!

In my first season I spent a little money here and there, mainly on:

Oguchi Onyewu: Massive US centre half who came in on a free to provide competition for Stearman mainly. He played a good part first season before getting injured. He's now in the second season unhappy with few playing opportunities and will leave at the end of his contract. A useful signing for little money though.

Andrej Kramaric: My marquee signing at 2 million from Rijeka, Kramaric partnered Dicko upfront so I was able to ignore Leon Clarke existed for the most part. Poor Leon. He chipped in with 13 goals and 10 assists in the league.

Andre Hansen: Bought for 50K as a backup goalie from Odd in Norway, Hansen shared net duties with Ikeme for the majority of the season before making the position his own in the Premier League. Bargain.

Gael Bigirimina: Midfielder on loan from Newcastle - allowed me to rotate my central midfielders and look toward alternatives to Price and Saville, who look a little uninspiring on my save.

I shipped out mostly loans in the first year, apart from getting 1.1m from Super Mick at Ipswich for Bjorn Sigurdarson. The unholy trinity of Clarke, Johnson and Foley all left for frees at the end of the year.

Leading lights were unsurprisingly Dicko (20 goals), Sacko and Batth, while James Henry performed absolutely admirably with 12 goals in total. Tactics were a tinkered-with 4-4-2.

Second season is going well, although hitting a massive January rut while I play some of the stronger teams in the division. The amount of money you get just for being in the EPL jumps enormously and is getting me very much on the path to profit. Jez would be proud.

I did however, make a few signings to strengthen key areas:

Youri Tielemans: I know, I know. Boring. But he was available for 8.5m from Anderlecht and will be the future of the team's central midfield. Well, until Chelsea realise he's half decent. Currently is leading the way in terms of average rating and has chipped in with 5 goals - all of which were crackers.

Guillermo Burdisso: Centre back from Boca Juniors signed for a tiny 66K fee. He's played alongside Danny for the most part (as well as Karim Rekik, on loan from Man City, while DB was injured) and has been pretty solid.

James Wilson: On loan from Man United, the young striker blows a bit hot and cold, but has already scored 6 goals in the league. Not bad.

Vaclav Pilar: On a free having previously been at Wolfsburg, the winger was meant to be cover but has made the right wing his own. 7 goals and a 7.00+ rating in our first Premier season is nothing to sniff at.

Nicklas Bendtner: My absolute favourite signing. I didn't really need another striker, but for 750K he has led the line admirably so far despite being quite injury prone. And going completely AWOL both times I've played Arsenal. He's scored 8 goals so far and provided a heap of chances. Bless.

Next plans are to strengthen the full backs massively and see if I can upgrade on Kevin McD in the middle of the park. I'll also have to replace the loanees next year, but I will hopefully have a fairly healthy budget to play with.

Good read, I started off unemployed and after Kenny left for Fulham I managed to strike lucky and land the Wolves job.

Tried sticking to the players strength by playing a 4-2-3-1 direct formation, relying on pace and power up top.

I managed to bring in Nicky Maynard & Ryan Mason on loan and Ben Amos as a free.

I offloaded Kev Foley to MK don's for 50k but my DOF agreed to pay 6.5k of his wages per week until the end of the season. :-/

Maynard has scored a couple of important goals off of the bench. Mason has been hit and miss and plagued by injury.

Amos was signed as a backup to Ikeme but impressed in an away win vs Sheff Wed.

A cracking start, top of the league after 11 games with just one defeat.

I am looking at offloading Johnson, Doyle & Clarke in the Jan transfer window and send out Jack Price & Lee Evans on loan.

I would like to add a defender and a ball winning midfielder in Jan.

My top targets are Danny Wilson (Hearts) & Yaser Kasim (Swindon)

Season One summary

I achieved my aim - champions!

I had an injury crisis in February/March with Lee Evans my only fit central midfielder for a while and I struggled a little bit, but starting with a 3-0 win over Derby, I won 7 out of the last 8 games to secure the title, overall averaging over 2 points a game and scoring over 100 goals. If only we were doing so well IRL!

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt249/mg539/SkyBetChampionship_Overview.png

Transfers

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt249/mg539/Transfers_TransferHistory-1.png

I took Lobont on loan for a couple of months as cover for Ikeme while at ACN, while Kaptoum was a very welcome solution to my midfield injury problems - I might try and loan him next year. I didn't make any permanent signings in January on the basis that if I got promoted a better class of player would become available in the summer.

Tactics

I made very few changes, other than (starting with that game v Derby) adding the instruction 'drop deeper' to encourage the opposition forwards and make my breaks down the wings more effective - it seemed to work! I also often play around with width depending on how the game is going.

Players

Batth has become an extremely accomplished centre half already and is ready for the Premier League. Sako and van la Parra were my star performers, Sako averaging a goal or assist every game and vlP not far behind. I started with Maynard but ended with Dicko as my main striker, both averaged nearly a goal a game when they played, so I say goodbye and thanks to Maynard while hoping to sign competition for Dicko fit for the Premier League.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt249/mg539/Squad_PlayersPlayers.png

Of my other loan signings Blackett was the stand-out, performing well at LB or CB and I might try and sign him on a free at the end of the season. Everyone else was competent and did as expected, with Jacobs having a very strong end to the season either on the wing or as AMC.

Advice Please!

I reckon I need to sign at least a Goalkeeper, two centre-halves, a right back, a ball winning midfielder and a striker, plus maybe another full back, a creative CM and a winger. Who would you suggest???

Finally, would you offer captain Ricketts a new one-year deal as cover and much-needed experience?

Hey folks. Not posted in yonks! Lovin FM and nt played since FM 2012.

Ive just got my beloved wolves to the promised land!

However I am tweaking my formation abit and want to play with a lone striker - a target man who can link up play, score goals and is preferably young. Anyone got any recommendations? Was thinking Wickham but he wants silly wages and not willing to pay them. Can afford about 10m

I'm starting my third season with Wolves. In first I was second behind Norwich - 103 pts wasnt enough to beat them! In summer we sold Jacobs(great season as inside forward - Player of the year in championship) to Villa for 15 mln (!)

Summer transfers

At the end it was really great season. We finished 6th and next season we're going to Europe!

Bit of a delay but Ricketts is ageing but maybe he is versatile and can play anywhere across the back so I would offer him a one year deal unless you have an adequate replacement.

Karl Darlow is available for around £2 Million from Newcastle and turns into a decent Prem keeper.

Efe Ambrose of Celtic is a very solid centre half who you can sign for approx £4 million.

For right back take a look at Chris Solly of Charlton for £1.5 - £2M.

Danny Ings is available for free at the end of the season and has lots of potential and would be a very good signing and good competition for Dicko.

Dele Alli would be a good signing and can be picked up for approx £2-3M.

JrWolves Congratulations mate I'm not too sure of alternatives, maybe look at whichever sides were relegated from the Prem in your save? Perhaps Sigurdarson could play that role, though he probably isn't the quality you're looking for...

Jimbo Thanks for the advice, I ended up deciding that since I have decent cover everywhere there wasn't much point in keeping Ricketts. I've signed Alli for just over £2m and he looks a great prospect (like irl). I might do a fuller update this week if I have chance...

Afternoon all. Thought I would give an update of my Wolves game as I interestingly read yours. I havent played FM for 3-4 years so this was a baptism of fire. Lots of new things to learn.

First season didnt go so well if I am honest. We finished 12th, no highlights, pretty dull season! I think the main struggle was getting the forwards to score. I couldnt get anything out of Dicko or Maynard and even tried Sigurdarson when he came back in January, but to no avail. Signings included Coric, Hansen (GK) and Taufer, with Maynard and Blackett on loan. Sold the usual suspects of Foley, Johnson, Margreitter, Clarke, Doyle and eventually Sigurdarson. Ikeme also went in the close season to West Ham as he wasnt happy on the bench. Also got rid of Golbourne as Norwich unsettled him. Played Ricketts and Rowe left back.

Second season I signed Tyler Blackett on a free to complete with Batth and Stearman as CB, I used Ebanks-Landell as cover. I dont think the full back area is strong so I signed Cole Skuse from Ipswich, who were relegated, who can play DM and right back. Also signed a 32 year old Italian full back to play right back and somebody from Barcelona 'b' to compete in midfield (sorry I am work so cant remember there names!). Picked up Sanogo and Bonazzoli on loan to compete with Dicko up from as I had a distinct lack of forwards. I sold Henry as Wolves have too many wingers and Saville as I didnt rate him.

I was trying to stick to a tactic in season 2, rather than jumping around like I did in season 1, so I went for 4-2-3-1.I wanted to start Coric more in the AM position as he is coming on well. After first 6 games we were bottom 3 : ( Then all of a sudden our luck turned and we couldnt stop winning. After about 15 games we were in the play offs, then we caught Fulham and Boro up at the top of the league and eventually opened a gap up. We won the league with 3 games to go.

Bonazzoli played well up front, scoring 15 goals and Sanago and and Dicko contributed single figure returns.

The real stand out player, and the main reason for me righting this.. was Lee Evans! Coric started in the position at the start of the season, but I rested him after a few games and played Evans and he scored two goals, becoming undroppable. He won young player of the year that season. Also I gave Aaron McCary 6-8 league games in goal to rest Hansen and he excelled as well. Stats are not good, but he was wanted by a number of teams so thought I would trust him and he didnt let me down.

I am in the pre season for season 3 now. Slightly worried as I only have two forwards, Dicko (who I dont think can step up) and Bonazzoli on loan again. Also the full back area is weak. My Italian full back was home sick so I sold him and I am still not convinced by Skuse as he is a natual DM. Doherty is ok, but I dont think he can cut it in the Prem. My midfield seems ok, have McDonald in there and a young German I have loaned from Hoffenheim, plus picked up Nick Powell on a free for squad depth.

I have 7million due to an overspend last year and not recouping much in sales out. I suspect a long season is ahead!

what tactics do you use in first season? have just deleted my first season as I was too inconsistent

I tried everything, 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1, 4-2-2-1-1 and 4-2-3-1 in my first season. Like I said I havent played FM for 3 versions or so, so was just messing around really. I settled on 4-2-3-1 second season so I could get the best out of Coric, Sako and Jacobs, although as mentioned Evans exceled in the AM role.

I have hopefully sorted out my full back issue for my first tilt in the premier league, I have signed Javier Manquillo on loan from Atletico Madrid and my big money signing was Rennes left back Cheikh M'Bengue for 5m, taking most of my 7m budget.

Hansen, my keeper is out for 2 months injured so I signed a 40 year old Tomas Sorrenson on a free and have had to start Aaron McCarey. I have no money left!

First game I finished with 9 men, but beat West Brom 4-3. Since then I lost to Walsal in the cup (rested my first team but still gutted), lost 1-0 to Liverpool, finishing with 10 men this time and then losing 3-2 to QPR despite being 2-1 up. My defence is not great at the moment due to the goalkeeping situation, plus Blackett and Stearman are both injured so I only have Batth who can play there as his natural postion.

Appriciate I am bit unbalanced in CB and GK postion, but we are learning and deveoping. Plus have just had a great GK arrive in the new intake of youth players. Will try and get some screen grabs of my team if anyone is interested? I write this at work so not possible currently and this is all from memory.

@Ebanks09: please do! Pity about Hansen, although beating West Brom means you've had a good season already With all those red cards it sounds like you've either got a team of Robbie Savages or Mike Jones is reffing every week!

@Tezread: As with Ebanks09 I found a 4-2-3-1 gets the best out of the 1st season squad, pretty much as above although I played around with the team's width and defensive line a bit...

had a terrible start to season one! im 21st in the league almost quit

just changed all my tactics now and beat sheff wed 4-0

Sako is pants

Dicko is class

Have bought

Isgrove

Kaptoum

Blackett

on loan but not played them

now I will!

I have gone for a short passing game, retain possession

a control style with fluid

I sold sako in the 1st window as he wanted off to the premier league, he did fund moves for Dale Ali and Josh Kimmich in the 1st window and thats my midfield sorted.

Look at Gnarby and Sanogo, both from Arsenal on loan 1st season. Excellent number 10 and striker, with little wages to pay.

@tezread I found a direct counter\attacking 4-2-3-1 gets the best out of the team. Wolves have alot of pace and this tactic plays to the teams strengths.

Sako playing as a AML as an inside forward thrives in the sort of tactic described above.

I think you will struggle to play a passing game as they lack the technical ability and work rate required to make this style of play successful.

I started my Wolves season playing 4-3-3 with sako (right IF) and Jacobs (left IF) with Dicko up top as f9. Record is 12-1-1 so far. I kept the original players but brought in a few cheap wonder kids like Ademoglu and Jesus Vellejo. Great start for me as far as record, but my club is losing money monthly. I will have to sell someone soon at the next transfers window (most likely Dicko) and loan out as many of the reserves with big contract.

Thanks guys

for the 4231 do you have Dicko as a poacher or complete forward?

@Terrance: Are you sure you can't hold off selling until the summer? If you get promoted (which looks likely so far) your money worries will be over and selling one of your players that can become Premiership quality (given game time) seems like drastic action to me! Imho on FM15 Batth, Sako and Dicko are the best three players in the initial squad...

@Tezread I've had great success using him as a Poacher but given his age and scope for development others have probably had success using him differently.

I am going for a 4231 but to be honest I am lacking in the attacking midfielder department. Coric has gone to Inter.

I am going for Pareira from Man Utd and George Green from Everton

any other suggestions.

Got Kaptoum on loan but he is an advanced play maker who likes to play in central midfielder not behind front two

@Terrance: Are you sure you can't hold off selling until the summer? If you get promoted (which looks likely so far) your money worries will be over and selling one of your players that can become Premiership quality (given game time) seems like drastic action to me! Imho on FM15 Batth, Sako and Dicko are the best three players in the initial squad...

@Tezread I've had great success using him as a Poacher but given his age and scope for development others have probably had success using him differently.

I have a zero tolerance with players - no loyalty and I show them the door :-)

@Terrance: Are you sure you can't hold off selling until the summer? If you get promoted (which looks likely so far) your money worries will be over and selling one of your players that can become Premiership quality (given game time) seems like drastic action to me! Imho on FM15 Batth, Sako and Dicko are the best three players in the initial squad...

@Tezread I've had great success using him as a Poacher but given his age and scope for development others have probably had success using him differently.

Dicko will be replaced by Bjorn S when back from loan. From my Previous save with the MLS squad in FM15, strikers are easy to come by. Right now I'm not meeting the fair play regulation thing.

well I have just played first game against Norwich and got thrashed 6-2.

played direct, counter, flexible,

stand off, high tempo, clear ball to flanks, play down wings

shocking

what settings do you use for 4231 direct guys?

@terrance can you send me tactics? :-)

@terrance can you send me tactics? :-)

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/409467-Completely-Dominant-4-3-2-1

Sako dominates as a IF. I'm trying to get him retrained to be a natural on the right side. Off the top of my head, I can't remember what his preferred moves in FM15, but in FM14 it is run with ball, cuts inside, and shoots with power. Seemed like he was meant to be a IF, so I have always played him as IF.

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/409467-Completely-Dominant-4-3-2-1

Sako dominates as a IF. I'm trying to get him retrained to be a natural on the right side. Off the top of my head, I can't remember what his preferred moves in FM15, but in FM14 it is run with ball, cuts inside, and shoots with power. Seemed like he was meant to be a IF, so I have always played him as IF.

thanks

are you playing short passing across the team or direct just as with the link you sent?

I kept everything the same, so all plays short passes except for the APs more direct passes.

wowzers - its surprising as I thought the team wasn't suited to short passing. I've looked at all our stats and its hard to tell which system suits us

I'm also playing as the beloved Wolves.

First season was flying until January, sako and dicko got injured, had limited cover and managed to some how falter to 10th!

Second Season have signed odegaard, dele ali, wilson (onloan), matt mills, andre hansen and got blackett on a free. Bought Ismail back in for cover, seems to be alright at the minute

Playing a 4231 with dicko set to poacher, sako IF and the rest pretty basic, short slow passing tempo with not much else. Seem to dominate possession but end up losing by a goal due to lack of finishing! Work in progress though, love having Danny Batth in as captain proper wolf.

Lying 4th at the minute, Swansea came down and managed to keep siggy and bony! Ridiculous they havent lost yet and we are in december!

COME ON ME BABBIES

I have started all over again after getting fed up of inconsistency.

With only £2m to spend and the bomb squad hard to rid of - can anyone recommend any bargain wonderkids

I got Ante Coric but he cost me £1.5m!!

I started again despite getting promoted in my first season. The ME was quite buggy early on and I struggled to enjoy it.

Kenny Jackett once again left for Fulham so I took over in early August.

I've stuck with the same system 4-2-3-1 and have made the following signings;

In:

Luke Garbutt LB season loan from Everton

Dele Alli £1.5M from MK Dons

James Wilson SC Season loan from Man Utd

Ryan Mason AMC season loan from Spurs

Out:

Kevin Foley 50k to Peterborough

Leon Clarke £475k to Bournemouth

Georg Margreitter season loan to Bournemouth

Scott Golbourne sold to Norwich 825k (sold before I joined the club)

Elliott Omozusi loaned out to Bournemouth for the season (signed by Kenny Jackett)

League Cup - Beat Coventry 5-1 at home and was then knocked out away at Swansea in the 2nd round. I was winning 2-1 with 2 minutes to go and then conceded 3 goals in the final few minutes to lose 4-2.

League - Lost only 2 games out of 19 but have drawn 8 including 5 0-0's. Currently sat 4th 2 points off of the top.

Highlight so far was a 6-0 win at Sheff Wednesday with Sako scoring 2 goals and assisting 3 in the rout.

I also beat Fulham 3-0 in a dominating performance at home to send Kenny Jackett home with a whimper.

Stand out players have been the main men - Batth, Sako, Dicko, Jacobs.

I have struck a deal to sign Nigel Reo Coker on the 1st Jan on a free. He will add some much need steel and experience in the middle of the park.

I'm almost done with my first season. Record now is 29-4-2 and bound for PL. At the winter transfer window, I sold S. Bjorne after he got back from loan for 4.9mil. Now I'm happy to keep Dicko. I also released Ricketts since he was unhappy about little playing time (Doherty getting most of time with Foley as backup). Leon Clarke will be leaving as well at the next window. I'm probably going to get rid of Edwards and Ikeme, and have lined up a new Spaniard GK from Barcelona and an upgrade backup RB.

My club is still losing money, but the board gave me enough money to save the club from the fair play regulation before the end of 2014. I still have money to buy more players, but I won't be looking for more players until PL.

I almost won the Capital One cup (lost to Chelsea in finals). I will play Arsenal in the semi-final FA cup.

In addition to the slow tempo wide control tactic, I added a high tempo narrow defensive tactic to vary my formations. Other teams are starting to figure out how to play against the slow wide control tactic. I'll probably go look for an attacking tactic soon to fill in the 3rd slot.

@Barnsley: Wow, that's tough going, here's hoping you can get the one other automatic place or at least win the play-offs Dave-Jones-style!

@Terrance: £5m seems a great price for Siggy - glad you've kept Dicko . Finances are very similar to me - was losing money at the start of the season and the board put in a little bit more, but my end-of-season balance was better than projected and easily within FFP (I assume because attendances were higher than predicted due to how well we were doing). Great effort in the cups!

I'm halfway through my second season (first in PL). Liverpool are absolutely storming the league, but I'm in 6th only a couple of points off second! Highlight of the season so far was beating Man U 5-1 at home. The stars of that match have been my stars of the season so far: Divock Origi (on loan from Liverpool) who got 2 goals and 2 assists and Dele Alli (£2m from MK Dons) who scored a hat-trick

I'm alternating between a 4-1-2-3 DM wide and a 4-1-4-1 but in both Alli plays as a Box-to-box midfielder with 'moves into channels' plus 'gets forward more' and he knits together my midfield very well plus scores a few goals. Origi plays either as a poacher or a DLF (A) and gets a goal a game.

Was knocked out of the league cup at the quarter final stage with my B-team losing 4-3 to Liverpool at Anfield. Hoping to sneak into the European places and maybe have a good run in the FA Cup.

@Terrance: £5m seems a great price for Siggy - glad you've kept Dicko . Finances are very similar to me - was losing money at the start of the season and the board put in a little bit more, but my end-of-season balance was better than projected and easily within FFP (I assume because attendances were higher than predicted due to how well we were doing). Great effort in the cups!

After guaranteeing my spot for a promotion, my team found it very difficult to score no matter what formation I set. I ended up losing or tying the last 5-10 games.

I'm in the offseason now. I'm getting offers for Bath and Dicko, each for 10+ mil. I'm probably going to sell Bath as I just picked up Eder Alvarez Balanta. I'm tempted to sell Dicko, but will hold for now. If somebody bids for Sako, I will sell. I just picked up a decent quality PL keeper since Ikeme is only good enough to be back up. I have a lot of good young 5* prospects on the team at every position except the cornerbacks and keeper.What I have never done well is getting or developing good fullbacks that will play well in PL, so will need to look hard for good young prospects. I'm from USA, so getting Deandre Yedlin on loan might be fun.

Who do you have as your cornerbacks and keeper? Do you have a 3rd tactic in the works?

Edit: I just sold Sacko to Fullham (who also got promoted to PL) for 16.5mil and Henry for 6.5mil to Leicester.

Those are some great prices - do you do anything in particular to sell players? I'm struggling to sell Henry for £0

On my save, Rulli still hadn't agreed a new contract with Real Sociedad at the end of the first season so I managed to snap him up on a free, but his wage is 50% higher than anyone else! If he's available I'd thoroughly recommend him as a fantastic keeper prospect.

I'm also struggling to find a left back that's quality and cheap - maybe someone like Cresswell at West Ham or Robertson at Hull if either has been relegated? At right back I've got Jenkinson on loan for the season from Arsenal. I also got Micah Richards on a free but he is more of a centre back.

In terms of tactics I haven't settled on one but the following is probably what I've used most, particularly the big games:

------------------GK---------------

FB(Auto)--CB(D)--CB(D)--FB(Auto)

----------------BWM(D)-----------

W(At)-----DLP(S)--B2B(S)----W(At)

-----------------DLF(At)------------

The only player instructions are to the B2B(S) (Dele Alli) with 'gets forward more' and 'moves into channels' to get a bit closer to my striker. If the opposition plays an AMC I often ask my DMC to man mark him. Team instructions are Retain possession, Pass into space, Work ball into box, Low crosses, Stay on feet and Exploit the flanks.

It definitely could be improved though, particularly defending crosses...

Many people on FM15 have trouble selling good players. What I usually do is have the player play very well before selling. That is why I kept everyone at the beginning unless someone offers to buy.

Interesting, so when you want to sell do you transfer list, change their squad status, or do nothing and hope a decent bid comes in?

During the summer transfer, I offered to clubs While the player is still on vacation. I was also trying to sell McDonalds and Price and Edwards, but nobody wanted to buy them. I looked up the players you recommended. All of those players has too high of a value. I will try to get by with Rowe and Goulborne. I'm really surprised that Ortega (started 25+ games) value was only ~1mil, while everybody else value increased.

I just bought Rubio Diego for 1.2mil to replace Dicko. He is about the same as Dicko. In all of my FM saves, I never got attached to my striker since they play so well during the season and teams jump on them during the summer. Unfortunately nobody bit on Dicko, so I had to offer him.

Edit: I never transfer list them. That will bring down their value. I try to keep all players that I can potentially use or loan them out if I can't use them. If I had a good season, all the players value go up and I wait for offers to come in. If I had a poor season, then the market for my players is poor. Also I only offer to other clubs while the player is on vacation because they don't complain about it. I have not had a unhappy player during/after a vacation.

Thanks Terrance, looks like a great trick to me that I'll definitely use going forwards!

I assume neither Hull nor West Ham got relegated on yours then. On mine West Ham did and they're in administration so I'm going to try and pick up one or two of their players in January at bargain basement prices (not that that helps you, but I'd always recommend looking at the relegated sides because often you can be lucky enough to find a gem that's unhappy and cheap, if not at the start of the season then in January, especially if they go bust)

As for fullback options, Peruzzi seems to be the right-back of choice for many, even though I can't get him on my save. There's also Pavel Kaderabek but I have my eye on Joe Gomez from Charlton for someone English. There are a couple of decent fullbacks at Ludogrets (think they can play both sides), otherwise maybe trawl the top Brazilian/Argentine teams because like you I'm really struggling to find many good ones!

Sorry for DP, just to add that I almost signed Lovre Kalinic as 'keeper before Rulli became available (think I struck lucky with that one!). Kalinic should be very cheap (£350k/$550k) and has the stats to be a reasonable Premier League 'keeper...

Thanks for the advice on Peruzzi. I ended up looking at Gomez and eventually bought him once he showed up on national U21 squad.

It will be difficult looking for backfield talent as I've already used up all of my transfer money for talent that I could not refuse. I will be scouring Brazil/Argentina for the backfield.

With all the changes to my squad (probably 50% turnover during the summer), I got dominated by the opposition for the first few games. I finally won one game against Middlesbrough. Hopefully my team will continue to gel and get better. I had to change my tactic to a narrow, attacking, very fluid, direct passing tactic. Opponents beat my by possession time, but I get more shots.

Kalinic looks really good. I ended up getting Jordi Masip from Barcelona for 1mil. Hopefully he will get better.

I haven't played FM consistently since 2010 but decided to have a go with Wolves on the new one, I play Classic Mode as the newer versions of the game are just too complicated for me. My only signing was the left midfielder Martyn Woolford from Millwall and he has been exceptional so far contributing plenty of goals and assists. It was a pain to get Dicko to agree to a new contract but I have managed to get him to commit to the club thankfully, couldn't bare to lose him for nothing at the end of the season. We have started the season brilliantly, winning 13 of our first 16 games and we are currently 7 points clear at the top of the league. We also gave Manchester United a scare in the 3rd round of the League Cup at Molineux, taking them to extra time before eventually losing the game 4-2. I'm enjoying this game and don't see why we cannot win the league this year.