Jimbo's Thread (aka [FM20] Nordicland - The Northener Diaries.)

[BillHoudini24 46]

1 hour ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I'm not sure how long I'm going to stay anywhere. I was all set to stay at Oddevold for a while and that didn't work out. I jumped ship at AFK Linköping when in hindsight I should have stayed. (They finished Runners Up in tier 3 last season by the way). I think the answer in a save like this is just to take it season by season and see it goes. 

I see what you mean about the nature of this save, I projected my own preferences here, I tend to stay at clubs for very long, unless I get sacked or the the board bums me out with bad decisions.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

3 minutes ago, BillHoudini24 said:

I see what you mean about the nature of this save, I projected my own preferences here, I tend to stay at clubs for very long, unless I get sacked or the the board bums me out with bad decisions.

Actually that's my preferred way to play too. (Just start at the lowest point possible and stay there for a whole real life year), but I'm trying to broaden my horizons a little. The aim of this save is to win as many different Nordicland trophies as possible, and then maybe have a tilt at making a Nordic Nation the greatest in the World. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

48 minutes ago, hasdgfas said:

Good start at FK Karlskrona! Fingers crossed that things keep going strong.

Yep. Decent start and quite happy so far. Roll on the Youth Intake. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Jun 2024. 

Swedish Second Division East Götaland. The loss against IFK Hässleholm was not really a surprise, (especially away), but I was half expecting a consecutive loss against 3rd placed Eskilsminne IF when I rotated the squad a little and freshened things up. Thankfully we eked out a point with a late penalty and that got us back on track. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Jul 2024. 

Swedish Second Division East Götaland. With a goal in the last game of June. Tom has now scored in 5 successive games. 

Tom. 

Transfer in. 

I went and signed (24a) Blomgren (2024) * from old club Oddevold. He is a proper natural left sided winger and although he doesn't seem to be a 5.0 PA player at this club, (it's early so there is still time to change), he offers some much needed depth on the left flank and is available on a free. 

[Edit]

Actually he's not a lefty at all. The lefty I was after is (23a) Johansson (2023) * and I couldn't persuade him to join us, (but am still after him and haven't given up). I've been also looking at young strikers (23b) Ohlsson * and the prolific (21) Stenström who both seem out of favour with the new management. I've been to watch both of them play, have commented in the media and will continue to pursue them. 

Edited November 12, 2019 by Jimbokav1971

[JonasAjax 20]

You have already moved around quite a bit, looking like this might be the season!

Also really enjoying managing in Swedish lower leagues, the speed at which I am going through the seasons almost feels like the speed I got back in FM2005-2010 which is what I often missed in later FMs. Obvisously apart from the gigantic winter break. How is Raslatt SK doing? Currenlty in my second season with them and they should have been in this division but start of as relegation candidates.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

24 minutes ago, JonasAjax said:

Also really enjoying managing in Swedish lower leagues, the speed at which I am going through the seasons almost feels like the speed I got back in FM2005-2010 which is what I often missed in later FMs. Obvisously apart from the gigantic winter break. How is Raslatt SK doing? Currenlty in my second season with them and they should have been in this division but start of as relegation candidates.

I would say that Råslätt SK have actually done quite well in my save. Yes they have been relegated twice4th tier , but they have also bounced back and even have a 4th place finish to their name. They have been relocated within the 3 times now and have played in WG, EG & NG Divisions. 

Edited November 12, 2019 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

25 minutes ago, JonasAjax said:

You have already moved around quite a bit, looking like this might be the season!

I really regret jumping ship at AFK Linköping in 2022. In hindsight I should have stayed. I had done all the hard work and all that was left was collecting the trophy. Don't know what I was thinking. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Transfer. Aug 2025.

I'm not usually one to flog players early and I would rather they would stay at the club and contribute unless a BIG fee is received. There are always exceptions to the rule though. 

Lundberg is an 18 year old DL and although his physicals are really good for this level, he's nothing special. Halmstatds BK are a Premier Division side who normally have about 5,000 fans at home games. As well as showing my players that I am happy to sell them to top-tier clubs, (because I am for the right add-ons), I've also gambled a little by agreeing to sell the player for what is a very nominal fee, but including a 50% next sale clause and significantly a friendly agreement. We have 141 season ticket holders here and the average price for a single ticket is £9. If we can get 500 away fans to turn up to the friendly then that should provide us with another £4,500 which starts to get us into the decent money area, (remember we are a Semi-Pro club in the Swedish 4th tier). I had a little dabble at getting the player back in on loan for the rest of the season, but Halmstadts BK weren't keen and I didn't want to push it. It will be interesting to see how many of their fans turn up to the friendly, (but it's a 3 hour car journey so not sure at this stage). 

[Edit]

This is the bloke who I signed on a free to replace him with. 

I would go so far as to suggest that he might even be an upgrade. 

[Edit2]

The fans gave me a B- for the signing. 

Edited November 12, 2019 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Scoring streak over. Aug 2025.

Tom has scored 21 goals in 20 appearances this season, but after a run of scoring in 8 successive games, the Ass Man subbed him off today without having scored to break the streak. (His replacement grabbed us an equaliser in the 93rd minute). 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

New deal. Aug 2025. 

They haven't offered me more money, (which is a surprise), and I'm also slightly surprised that it's only a 2 year contract. 

The good news however is that they seem happy to stick with me even if we get relegated next season. 

I can see a flaw in the SI thinking here, (although I like the introduction of this new feature). There is a 5-year plan and that's great, but years 2-5 involve only "attempting to remain in the First Division". What I looked for when I saw this page was if there was and 2nd plan/strategy in case we got relegated. If there was then I would expect it to involve either immediate promotion back up or at least Playoffs. I think SI have missed a trick here but appreciate that it would complicate things. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Aug 2025. 

Swedish Second Division East Götaland. We are 9 points clear and there are only 4 more league games left. Realistically we have won the league already, but we need 4 points to make it 100% certain. 

In case you are wondering about why I am posting the Monthly Manager Performance Review each month, it's because I have been sacked twice now, (and it's likely to happen again), and I actually think it's a really significantly page now. 

Edited November 12, 2019 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Youth Intake. Sep 2025.

Golden Generation my arse. What an absolute shambles. 

I was really expecting something special here. Isn't it weird how a club with facilities like this can produce such absolute dross. 

[Edit]

Actually, "absolute dross" is perhaps a little harsh. I think I was just expecting a belter! 

(25a) Olsson (2025) *.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Champions. Sep 2025. 

Swedish Second Division East Götaland. We finished the season really strongly despite the fact that we were weaker in all but the last game of the season. I think that morale and momentum is really important in FM20. 

For the 2nd successive season, my U19's have been promoted to the big time. 

Despite the fact that Oddevold won the title and were "promoted" last season, they weren't actually promoted.  

([Edit] Oh yes they were. I'm just being dim). 

They spent this season in..... oh hang on, the league seems to be split between U19 Premier North and Under 19 Premier South, and then half-way through the season the leagues merge geographically and the top half of both play in the U19 Champions and the bottom half play in the U19 Relegation North and U19 Relegation South..... I think.

Oddevold were bottom after the 1st phase, but managed to improve enough to avoid relegation, so will get another go next season. It's very confusing. It's taken me 15 minutes to work that out swapping to and fro between different leagues and fixture lists. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Madness. Oct 2025. 

They want a Top Half finish in each of the next 5 seasons, IN THE LEAGUE ABOVE? 

i don't think they realise I have just won the title. Maybe it will change after we are actually promoted. 

Also, the importance is only 2 of 4 bars. Maybe that's significant. 

[Edit]

I tried to edit it, but it wouldn't let me. There were no other options. 

Off to the Bugs forum I go. 

Edited November 12, 2019 by Jimbokav1971

[B.W.G 463]

In my understanding of the bars,I think your board are saying they would prefer you to finish in the top half but will be willing to give you a bit of leeway if you don't make it.If it was desired or required then it would be a a lot more problematic as for three and four bars,the board are saying they want that in a certain amount of time.

Also congrats on the promotion

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

On 10/11/2019 at 17:26, Jimbokav1971 said:

Reminder. Dec 2023.

Don't ask the board to pay for a new coaching course as soon as the season ends. Although the season has ended and there is no training, the board don't understand that because other Swedish clubs are still playing domestic football. Wait until the end of the season properly ticks over and THEN make the request. Otherwise you won't be able to make the request when the time is right and by the time you get to ask again pre-season will be looking large on the horizon. 

When will I learn? 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

6 hours ago, B.W.G said:

In my understanding of the bars,I think your board are saying they would prefer you to finish in the top half but will be willing to give you a bit of leeway if you don't make it.If it was desired or required then it would be a a lot more problematic as for three and four bars,the board are saying they want that in a certain amount of time.

Also congrats on the promotion

Yeah I get the bars and I think that's great, but when the new "vision" is still based on you staying in a league that you have already won then it doesn't quite make sense. 

[hasdgfas 75]

16 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Youth Intake. Sep 2025.

Golden Generation my arse. What an absolute shambles.

I was really expecting something special here. Isn't it weird how a club with facilities like this can produce such absolute dross.

[Edit]

Actually, "absolute dross" is perhaps a little harsh. I think I was just expecting a belter!

 

Are we sure it's not a Pyrite Generation?  

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Apr & May 2026. 

Swedish First Division South. I thought we started the season quite well with a draw and then a narrow 4-3 away defeat to a strong Torns IF side, but the manner in which we were conceding was concerning me so after pretending to ignore it for quite a while now I decided to try and resolve the tactical issues we have been encountering. We are playing a high pressing game and as a result our back line are also pushing up to reduce the space in the middle of the pitch so that our middle 2 don't get over-run. We were conceding both chances and goals over the top in behind and I have dropped the defensive line back to try and resolve that, but at the same time the forward line are still being asked to engage high up the pitch. We will see how it works, but initial signs are encouraging. In the 7 games since the 3-4 away loss, we have only conceded 3 goals and none of them have been the direct type that I have been keen to avoid. 

If anything, I'm surprised that my performance summary from the board isn't better. 

I reported as a bug, the fact that the board have asked me to finish in the top half of the table for each of the next 5 seasons and that just didn't make sense to me as a promoted side. What I have noticed however is that our wage bill is 2nd highest in the league, (which I find astonishing when you consider that I we are only spending £2.088 of a £4,459 budget per week. 

This suggests that Landskrona BoIS are significantly the big hitters in the league and we are the highest of everyone else. Last season we spent £66,820 so a £90k figure for this season seems pretty realistic. Landskrona BoIS were relegated from the First Division Elite last season so it makes sense that they might have players on big contracts that they have been unable to off-load yet. 

The more eagle-eyed amongst you might have spotted that my 1st club AFK Linköping are languishing 2nd bottom in the table and for the first time in a while I don't regret leaving them. It's been some hard graft to get here, but, (whisper it quietly), things seem to be going pretty well at the moment. I'm starting to tie some of our better players down to longer-term contracts, but they are still PT and I think we are a LONG way off turning pro because I just don't see that happening in this league ever. 

Transfers. 

I've made quite a few free signings, but I have also gone back to my old clubs to nick some of their talent. 

(24a) Blomgren (2024) * scored on his debut for IK Oddevold before I was sacked. Some might call this a sentimental signing, but he has already made his debut for us. 

(23b) Ohlsson * was also signed from IK Oddevold, but this is less of a sentimental signing as he looks to have real potential. He's not in the Senior squad at the moment, but he will be soon. 

I've had a look at (22a) Tomas Roos (2022) from AFK Linköping, but he isn't good enough to sign. 

Chukwuani (NIG) * is deemed to be the best player at the club, (by CA). 

Finances. 

I'm still not sure where the cash came from that left us with almost £200,000 in the bank in December 2024. I looked when I took over and couldn't work it out. 

For winning this league we only get £69,000 prize money, and I saw no mention of TV money, so really we just need to get out of here as quickly as possible even if it means getting hammered in the league above. 

Even finishing 4th in the league above, (First Division Elite), only gets us £91,500, (and that would be impossible), so we are a LONG way of making any money. There are currently 5 Semi-Pro sides playing in the First Division Elite, (occupying 3 of the 4 relegation places), so it seems like a hell of a hard slog to get a club in a position to turn pro. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Jul 2026. 

Swedish First Division South. We've still only lost once this season, but 3 draws in a month is 6 lost points and that's a lot when there is only 1 automatic promotion spot. 

The notable criticism is fair and something I had been looking at too. Tom has struggled since the back-line was dropped deeper and I just assumed he would soon start delivering. It's just not happening for him though so I'm going to rest him and being then next one in 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Aug 2026.

Swedish First Division South. I was annoyed to concede a late goal in the last game of the month. We have the best defensive record in the league after conceding 4 goals in the 2nd game, but i feel I can tighten things even further. At the moment I am resisting unleashing the full-backs with that in mind. 

[bigmattb28 1,012]

21 hours ago, JonasAjax said:

You have already moved around quite a bit, looking like this might be the season!

Also really enjoying managing in Swedish lower leagues, the speed at which I am going through the seasons almost feels like the speed I got back in FM2005-2010 which is what I often missed in later FMs. Obvisously apart from the gigantic winter break. How is Raslatt SK doing? Currenlty in my second season with them and they should have been in this division but start of as relegation candidates.

That puts me off playing in Sweden the huge gap between the end and start of the season, don't actually know why it bothers me so much.

 

19 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

New deal. Aug 2025. 

They haven't offered me more money, (which is a surprise), and I'm also slightly surprised that it's only a 2 year contract. 

The good news however is that they seem happy to stick with me even if we get relegated next season. 

I can see a flaw in the SI thinking here, (although I like the introduction of this new feature). There is a 5-year plan and that's great, but years 2-5 involve only "attempting to remain in the First Division". What I looked for when I saw this page was if there was and 2nd plan/strategy in case we got relegated. If there was then I would expect it to involve either immediate promotion back up or at least Playoffs. I think SI have missed a trick here but appreciate that it would complicate things. 

I'm sure if you got relegated then the 5 year plan would change to reflect that, not played enough of the beta to know if this is true or not. Anyway back on topic, great read so far.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Aug 2026. 

Swedish First Division South. Some tough fixtures, but not a good month. Torns IF hammered us. The other games we should have won. I've made a few signings before the window closed and it could be that they are taking time to gel. Fingers crossed we come out firing next month because they are better players than we had before.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

20 minutes ago, bigmattb28 said:

That puts me off playing in Sweden the huge gap between the end and start of the season, don't actually know why it bothers me so much.

 

I'm sure if you got relegated then the 5 year plan would change to reflect that, not played enough of the beta to know if this is true or not. Anyway back on topic, great read so far.

Yeah, but that's sort of my point. It's a 5 year plan than needs changing after 1 year. I think the whole thing is a great idea, especially as it seems to be taken quite seriously in game. The problem is that there is only ever 1 outcome-tree at a time. 

If A happens in year 1 then A needs to happen in year 2 and B needs to happen in year 3 and year 4 and then C needs to happen in year 5. 

If Z happens in year 1 then we have no clue what is going to happen. 

It's a little like being given the "battle bravely against relegation" task, (so basically everyone thinks you are going to go down but we are going to stick with you), but each subsequent season will have "battle bravely against relegation" as the goal when actually a more realistic 5 year plan would be.... A. gain promotion in Season 2, B. Make the Playoffs in Season 2, C. Return to higher league within x number of seasons. It's like there is a plan, but it's not very detailed and if the plan doesn't go exactly as planned then we are going to scrap the whole thing and make a new plan. 

Maybe it's just the situations I have already found myself in within this save that have highlighted to me the lack of depth in this area. I love that I got sacked for this , (finishing 3rd when I needed to make the Playoffs which required 2nd), but I just want more. 

[henryzz 6]

6 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Yeah, but that's sort of my point. It's a 5 year plan than needs changing after 1 year. I think the whole thing is a great idea, especially as it seems to be taken quite seriously in game. The problem is that there is only ever 1 outcome-tree at a time. 

If A happens in year 1 then A needs to happen in year 2 and B needs to happen in year 3 and year 4 and then C needs to happen in year 5. 

If Z happens in year 1 then we have no clue what is going to happen. 

It's a little like being given the "battle bravely against relegation" task, (so basically everyone thinks you are going to go down but we are going to stick with you), but each subsequent season will have "battle bravely against relegation" as the goal when actually a more realistic 5 year plan would be.... A. gain promotion in Season 2, B. Make the Playoffs in Season 2, C. Return to higher league within x number of seasons. It's like there is a plan, but it's not very detailed and if the plan doesn't go exactly as planned then we are going to scrap the whole thing and make a new plan. 

Maybe it's just the situations I have already found myself in within this save that have highlighted to me the lack of depth in this area. I love that I got sacked for this , (finishing 3rd when I needed to make the Playoffs which required 2nd), but I just want more. 

I think that this was always going to be a really complex feature to add. I suspect that this is something that they have been working on for a while(probably could have put something in FM19) but wanted to get it as good as possible. I suspect that they will continue working on it and it will see improvements in FM21.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

1 hour ago, henryzz said:

I think that this was always going to be a really complex feature to add. I suspect that this is something that they have been working on for a while(probably could have put something in FM19) but wanted to get it as good as possible. I suspect that they will continue working on it and it will see improvements in FM21.

I think that's spot on and it's often what they do with new features. Many have probably been years in the pipeline and of course there is a balancing act between getting them in the game as is, and waiting until they are perfect. If you waited until a new feature was "perfect", we would probably never ever see one again.

[Thebaker 73]

With your finances, did you have a takeover? I had one in my current game and the finances improved by 40K although there was no message to say so and the chairman said there would be no investment

[henryzz 6]

4 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I think that's spot on and it's often what they do with new features. Many have probably been years in the pipeline and of course there is a balancing act between getting them in the game as is, and waiting until they are perfect. If you waited until a new feature was "perfect", we would probably never ever see one again.

Part of it is feedback from a wider audience is so necessary.

[Zilla Blitz 14]

Just wanted to stop by and say I'm really enjoying this. You're hopping all over the place. 

I wonder if SI could address the "5-year-plan" issue by making plans of variable lengths? So for a borderline relegation club, perhaps they just have a one-year plan in place that would get expanded to five or three, or whatever, once the first year is up and they can see if they stuck in the new league or got relegated.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Youth Intake. Sep 2026. 

Now before I show you any info about this intake, (I almost completely ignored the preview this year but I think it suggested that there was going to be a decent striker and a decent centre-half), let me show you the facilities again and talk you through how these would have worked previously and how I think SI want them to work now. 

At first glance this looks great. The only parts I would really have cared about in the past would be this. 

Junior coaching does CA.
Youth Recruitment does PA. 

End of story, except that it's not anymore I don't think. When the full game comes out I will buy the editor and run some tests, but I think SI have wanted it changed for a while in teh same way that Pro no longer holds sway of Youth Development in the way that it used to. 

Last year I was involved in a conversation with one of the testing team who categorically told me that I was wrong to suggest that Junior Coaching influenced CA and Youth Recruitment influenced PA and that it was much more nuanced than that and that both things were also affected by, (amongst other things), Youth Facilities and Training Facilities. I didn't believe it to be the case last year, (so I ignored him and carried on as usual and anyone who followed my threads saw that I manage to do pretty well with the intakes all in all. The conversation stuck in the back of my head though because whether it worked like that or not in FM19, (I don't think it did), I completely trusted the SI guy I was speaking to because I know him of old on here, and I knew that what he was talking about was how it was meant to work rather than how it was actually working. So It's been in the back of my mind this year as I started to delve into FM20 and see how the Youth Intakes differed to previous years. Some of the intakes I've had have been ok, but in previous FM's a club with Junior Coaching at Excellent and Youth Recruitment at Excellent would be pumping out decent prospects, (for that level). We're not doing that at all despite the relatively low CA of our best players. 

So instead of looking at just Junior Coaching and Youth Recruitment I think we need to look at the following. 

 

All of the above play a part in the quality of the players produced, (both CA and PA), and the thinking behind it is that the players don't suddenly arrive at the club aged 15, 16 or 17 or whatever. They have been there for many years by then, so will have been impacted by the Youth Facilities at least. How the Training Facilities impact on the development of kids who train at the Youth Facility is not something I understand, but the message from SI was clear that they ALL influence both CA and PA creation.

"One of the better players".... 

I've offered contracts to (26a), (26c), (26e), (26g) & (26j). I only really expect (26a) to make the grade. It's an awful intake. 

When I saw this intake this morning I was gutted. It makes me want to just move on from here. I had such high hopes for the intakes here but this is just ridiculous. 

"Kriss" (26a) Andersson (2026).

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

5 hours ago, Thebaker said:

With your finances, did you have a takeover? I had one in my current game and the finances improved by 40K although there was no message to say so and the chairman said there would be no investment

That's a good should actually. Let me have a look. 

I'm looking for late 2024, (November I think), but it wasn't a takeover. I suppose it's possible that It was just a board injection. 

[Mr_Demus 334]

I always enjoy reading your saves, and especially this one when you are (roughly) in my neck of the woods. If you decide to go to Denmark, I will gladly offer advice and stuff on clubs.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

30 minutes ago, Mr_Demus said:

I always enjoy reading your saves, and especially this one when you are (roughly) in my neck of the woods. If you decide to go to Denmark, I will gladly offer advice and stuff on clubs.

Thanks @Mr_DemusI will be absolutely moving to Denmark at some point in the save, (assuming that I don't get sacked and become unemployable), and yes, feel free to offer any inside info you have about clubs/area/customs when I get there. (That goes for everyone else too by the way. There is no such thing as hi-jacking this thread. Anything loosely related to the club/area I am managing in, (or even opposition), is actively encouraged). Glad you are enjoying the ride so far. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Youth Intake discussion. 

Yesterday morning I was obviously less than impressed with the latest Youth Intake, but I think the problem might have been in my expectations rather than the intake itself. I will explain what I mean. 

So I was expecting pretty spectacular things if I'm honest, largely because of the facilities that I have relied upon in the past to generate decent Intakes. 

There are a few problems with that though and while some of them had been considered, others had not. 

Firstly we have the other club facilities, which I was told last year now have a significant impact on Newgen production. (Not Data Analysis but I couldn't be bothered to to crop it out). 

But actually, although we like to just think of these things, we know there are other contributing factors. 

There is the National Youth Rating of Sweden, (which is rigid and can't be changed I understand), but I believe that this should be in some way linked to long-term Nations rankings, (or something else in some small way). I think they should be fluid. I don't have a way of showing this accurately visually, so this is the best I can do, even though it's not quite what I want. 

Then we have the reputation of the club itself. 

And if we are including club reputation, then I think it only natural that we also include league rep. (Which frustratingly I can't filter but I have raised it in the Bugs Forum).

So we've got National rep, league rep, club rep, but what about the set-up of the club itself. 

We're not a Pro club, we are Semi-Pro, but we also might be Amateur and this will have to be taken into account too. 

Something else that I'me sure should have an impact is the staff member responsible for the Youth Intake. Now this line isn't what it was in previous issues of the game, "responsible for bringing bla bla bla whetever it was), but although the wording has changed, I still think this does the job. 

I've got a HoYD at the club so I might as well use him, so I have changed it now. The HoYD should be pivotal in the quality of the Youth Intake, but if I'm honest with you, I'm not sure that it has been in previous issues of the game. 

DoF.

HoYD.

Full game experiment. 

When the full game comes out I'm going to run an experiment with the editor to try and gleam some insight into the difference in the quality of intakes within the following parameters. 

Junior coaching. (Min & Max).
Youth Recruitment. (Min & Max).
Training Facilities. (Min & Max).
Youth Facilities. (Min & Max).

League Rep. (Min & Max).
Club Rep. (Min & Max).
Pro status. (Amateur, Semi-Pro & Pro).

HoYD JPA. (Min & Max).
HoYD JPP. (Min & Max).

[Mr_Demus 334]

Fun fact about second placed IFö Bromölla. IFö is actually a toilet company based in Sweden, who sponsors a football club. Much like PSV and Philips

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Just now, Mr_Demus said:

Fun fact about second placed IFö Bromölla. IFö is actually a toilet company based in Sweden, who sponsors a football club. Much like PSV and Philips

Give yourself 10 Jimbo-points.  

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

There is nothing ground-breaking here, but there is a fair bit of effort that has gone into this article so I thought I would share.

 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

20 hours ago, Thebaker said:

With your finances, did you have a takeover? I had one in my current game and the finances improved by 40K although there was no message to say so and the chairman said there would be no investment

I think we have an answer. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

16 hours ago, Zilla Blitz said:

Just wanted to stop by and say I'm really enjoying this. You're hopping all over the place. 

I wonder if SI could address the "5-year-plan" issue by making plans of variable lengths? So for a borderline relegation club, perhaps they just have a one-year plan in place that would get expanded to five or three, or whatever, once the first year is up and they can see if they stuck in the new league or got relegated.

I've certainly moved more than I expected to or wanted to by this stage of the save. 

I get what you are saying, but I don't think that a shorter plan is the answer, because years 1-3 in a 5 year plan could easily be considered a 3 year plan. I think what they need to eventually introduce is a tree like plan that covers different eventualities in certain circumstances. 

Season 1. Attempt to avoid relegation. 

Season 2. Avoid relegation, (if Season 1 objective achieved). 
Season 2. Make Playoffs, (if Season 2 objective failed). 

Season 3. Avoid relegation.
Season 3. Gain Promotion, (if Season 1 objective failed). 

Season 4. Mid Table Finish. 
Season 4. Avoid relegation, (if Season 1 objective failed).

Season 5. Mid Table Finish. 
Season 5. Avoid relegation, (if Season 1 objective failed). 

[Thebaker 73]

36 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I think we have an answer. 

Having a chairman willing to prop up the club is always good, looking like a good club for you, youth intake aside.

Personally i always sign all the youth up as the staff generally seem very poor at analyzing their ability, get a staff member with high judging attributes and see they have a different opinion on the candidates while they are still at the club.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

From 1 extreme to the other. Sept 2026. 

There is no doubting that there was a problem with my reputation rising too quickly after obtaining the 1st 2 coaching badges, but now I have just passed the.... I think it's the 5th course but not 100% sure. 

Speaking of how many badges I have done, it would be nice for these to be included within the achievements page somewhere....

Oh, I've just checked and it does now. Well done SI. 

Offered IFK Norrköping FK job and reported as a bug.

Offered other Tier 2 jobs. 

I'm just surprised that nobody has offered me an interview since then even if I was ultimately unsuccessful.

I'm guessing that my reputation has to improve 1st. It's still 1.5 (nominal) now and that's probably in line with the clubs that would be interested. 

The clubs reputation is 1.0 (local), so I'm guessing that the next level of clubs should be getting interested in me now. We won the league last season and are currently on track for a 2nd successive promotion. 

Shouldn't Norrby IF at least be inviting me for an interview? 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

21 minutes ago, Thebaker said:

Having a chairman willing to prop up the club is always good, looking like a good club for you, youth intake aside.

Personally i always sign all the youth up as the staff generally seem very poor at analyzing their ability, get a staff member with high judging attributes and see they have a different opinion on the candidates while they are still at the club.

I like to sign all the Youth Staff too. The PA estimates are so off so often that it's hard to work out what's what. The problem at this club at this stage of the save is that a regular young player gets £20 per week, and a youth contract is £25 per week. It just doesn't make financial sense to burden the club with even more debt when we can't balance the books as it is. 

[endtime 184]

I actually hope youth generation is nerfed in this version, it was rather unrealistic that maxed out junior coaching and recruitment pretty much allowed clubs to be self sufficient and completely forego signing players.

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Sept 2026. 

Swedish First Division South. 4 wins from 4 is a great month, and even the 3-2 away win against IK Gauthiod was more comfortable than it might look. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

8 minutes ago, endtime said:

I actually hope youth generation is nerfed in this version, it was rather unrealistic that maxed out junior coaching and recruitment pretty much allowed clubs to be self sufficient and completely forego signing players.

It's really weird. Almost everyone complained about the constant rubbish that they got through the Academy, but we both know that I'm not alone in this forum in over-achieving at little clubs based on a Youth Only strategy, (although big clubs in big Nations is a bigger deal). 

Either way, it;s certainly interesting to see how it works, (much as I'm not happy at all about my recent intakes). 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

So close. Oct 2026. 

Swedish First Division South. The defeat against IFÖ Bromölla IF may have been only our 2nd defeat in 27 games, but it was enough to cost us the league title as they won their last 6 games of the season, 4 of them by a single goal.  The Playoffs it is. 

New records. 

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

Nov 2026.

First Division Elite/First Division Playoffs. I've got to admit, I thought we were playing the team that finished 2nd in the First Division North. Interestingly, while we beat Norrby IF who finished 14th in the league above, BKV Norrtälje, (who finished 2nd in First Division North), beat IF Sylvia who finished 13th in the league above. 

Relegated from First Division Elite. 

IF Sylvia, Norrby IF and IFK Malmö FK are all Semi-Pro clubs, but Trelleborgs FF are a fully Professional outfit, (although I'm not sure how long that will remain the case in the league below). 

Tvååkers IF (3rd season at this level after being promoted) and Sollentuna FF, (5th season at this level after being promoted) are the 2 Semi-Pro clubs who remain in the league. The Pro clubs at this level have all played at this level or higher for a period of at least 5 years, and I don't plan on waiting 5+ years to turn Pro. 

The board have provided a new 5 year vision, (after promotion), and the wording is new to FM20. 

The target for next season is to "Finish in the Swedish First Division Elite". That suggests to me that they are happy to keep me on no matter where we finish. 

Edited November 14, 2019 by Jimbokav1971

[B.W.G 463]

Congrats on winning the playoffs  

[Jimbokav1971 2,213]

I know that this thread isn't a Youth Only thread, but any regular readers will know that that's where my heart lies. Don't worry, this doesn't affect this save, but it's interesting to me so I'm sure will be interesting to others that read my guff. 

Food for thought I'm sure you would agree.