Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Hello, and welcome to my first FM21 career save. The Manager I'm going to be managing as myself, but with my attributes matching the Plymouth Argyle manager, Ryan Lowe, as closely as possible. Here I am and for comparison, Ryan Lowe The Challenge The challenge is to take Bolton Wanderers as far as I can, before embarking on a journeyman save, the objective being to become the best manager in the world, topping the World Hall of Fame. The Starting Point As already stated, the journey begins at Bolton Wanderers. and this is the squad I've inherited. Frankly, it's huge, and there are loads of players who aren't good enough for this level. Some have the potential to be, but several do not. A lot of players will be moved on over the course of the next season or so Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 Preseason results offered some room for encouragement Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 There have been a lot of transfers since last season, but only those highlighted happened after my arrival Madianga is a left back Feruz can play as a striker or a number 10. I don't use a 10, so he'll be my backup striker and Sowah is a left back. On paper, not the best left back at the club, but those ahead of him are also the best we have in other positions (one a centre back, the other a right back), so he will be the main left back Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 We made a solid start to the season, giving a decent account (for 45 minutes) at Goodison Park, but we lacked cutting edge at Colchester but that was enough to top the table after 3 games. That's the target for the end of the season, with the board demanding promotion It wasn't all good news though, as an injury to Billy Crellin left me needing an emergency keeper. I got one. He's not brilliant, but he'll do for the month that Crellin is out injured, and will be the backup keeper once he is fit again. Matt Gilks is refusing to leave the club, despite me telling him he has no future. He is my goalkeeping coach, but he's terrible at that too, so I'll replace him when his contract expires at the end of the season Link to post Share on other sites
SRL88 714 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Good luck with this Thought about a save rebuilding Bolton, so will be following. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 28 minutes ago, SRL88 said: Good luck with this Thought about a save rebuilding Bolton, so will be following. Thanks mate. The squad is a mess when you go in, and there was no room in the wage budget. I'm going to be screwed next season if the players I loaned out don't leave permanently. Link to post Share on other sites
karanhsingh 852 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Good luck, will follow! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 The transfer deadline wasn't until October, and there have been more changes Lloyd Jones is a centre back Kane Ramsay is a right back N'Guessan is a midfielder and Colclough can play on either wing. We are done signing players this season. The January window will be all about departures Link to post Share on other sites
Lenzar 150 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Always nice to follow a NorthernPilgram career! Good luck! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 8 minutes ago, Lenzar said: Always nice to follow a NorthernPilgram career! Good luck! Thanks Lenzar. Noticed that your profile shows you're managing my home city club Link to post Share on other sites
Lenzar 150 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Just now, Northernpilgrim said: Thanks Lenzar. Noticed that your profile shows you're managing my home city club I am indeed - I am doing a dafuge challenge. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 1 minute ago, Lenzar said: I am indeed - I am doing a dafuge challenge. Is it on here yet? Not seen it Link to post Share on other sites
Lodi Lemmer 29 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Looking forward to reading another save of yours. Best wishes on the season! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Rikulec 908 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Best of luck mate. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Rikulec said: Best of luck mate. Thanks Rikulec. We were slightly disappointing in October, losing 3 games, 2 at home No arguments with the Grimsby or Cambridge defeats, but we were very unlucky against Oldham and that sees us drop to third. Still in a promotion spot, but we really want to win the title Link to post Share on other sites
SRL88 714 Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 Sitting nicely in the league, despite that frustrating result against Oldham. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 1 hour ago, SRL88 said: Sitting nicely in the league, despite that frustrating result against Oldham. Think you spoke too soon Unbeaten, but frustrating November as a late goal cost us 2 points in a game xG says we should have won at Stevenage and the same happened at Scunthorpe to see us end the month only in the playoffs. Nowhere near good enough. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 We were unbeaten in the league in December, our only defeat coming in the Papa John's Trophy. We didn't deserve to lose that, but we didn't deserve a draw at home to Tranmere, so I'm glad the results went the other way and that has lifted us back to the top of the table, 2 points clear of Grimsby, 8 clear of 4th placed Cambridge 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 Four wins from six league matches in January and we're 4 points clear, but Grimsby have a game in hand 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 Quite a few players left in January, but there was one arrival Nathan Mavila will be a useful squad player at left back Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 Unbeaten in February but we really should have beaten Stevenage and Southend but we are now 5 points clear at the top, and Bradford have overhauled Grimsby to become our nearest challengers. Hopefully, the 4 points dropped against Stevenage and Southend don't come back to bite us. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 March was a perfect month and with just 9 games to go, we're 10 points clear at the top, and 18 points clear of the playoffs. A maximum of three wins from those 9 games and we'll be promoted Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 Youth intake time, and five players have been offered contracts Crabb Campbell McMahon Quinlan Davies Link to post Share on other sites
Rikulec 908 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 That's a fantastic intake. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 6 minutes ago, Rikulec said: That's a fantastic intake. I'm excited about Crabb, particularly as we don't have many strikers, and Doyle isn't exactly young. Link to post Share on other sites
karanhsingh 852 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Crabb looks exciting! That determination and flair Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 We only won three of our seven games in April, as tiredness took it's toll but that was enough to secure the title, with two games remaining So it's official Link to post Share on other sites
Rikulec 908 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Well done. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Two draws to finish the season and whilst the Exeter game was even (at least in terms of xG, we dominated the shots, shots on target and possession stats in that one), we were much the better team against Crawley and this is how the league table finished, Bradford missing out on promotion on the final day Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Time for the end of season review Beginning with squad changes (there were way too many) Season results were great, until the last few weeks of the season, when we ran out of steam There were some really good wins and although still in debt, the board are happy with the finances This was our Best XI and we picked up a few awards too and although we won the league by 6 points in the end, but it could have been much more Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Considering the level of opposition we played in preseason, results were pretty good Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Due to squad size restrictions and our finances, I've had to let 7 players leave when their contracts expired. I would have kept Brockbank and Faal, but the others would have gone regardless Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 2 players have been signed, with 6 more players leaving, two of them youngsters leaving on loan to gain experience Tom White was here on loan last season, and joins permanently to play in centre midfield and Pereira is a winger Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 This is the squad for the new season Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Only 1 league game in July, a narrow defeat to Wigan Which I think even the staunchest Latics fan would admit was incredibly harsh on us and the table looks like this Link to post Share on other sites
DavidBeckham 163 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Congrats on your promotion to League One mate! Unlucky defeat against Wigan but I'm sure you will bounce back! Link to post Share on other sites
karanhsingh 852 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Good going! Did you sell Darcy? Link to post Share on other sites
Hootieleece 575 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Always enjoy Journeyman saves as myself. Will follow with interest. Especially interested in where you end up after Bolton. and of course your tactics.... Always looking to learn....even if I am sort of wedded to the 4-2-3-1 Wide and am something of a "American Mourinho" in style. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 9 hours ago, DavidBeckham said: Congrats on your promotion to League One mate! Unlucky defeat against Wigan but I'm sure you will bounce back! Thanks mate. It's going to be a tough season, our finances are ruined, we still need to sell players as we're haemorrhaging cash. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 6 hours ago, karanhsingh said: Good going! Did you sell Darcy? Yes, I did. They offered £50k, but I managed to push them into a deal for £70k with add-ons taking the total to £100k. No choice due to our finances. There will be more departures in January Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Hootieleece said: Always enjoy Journeyman saves as myself. Will follow with interest. Especially interested in where you end up after Bolton. and of course your tactics.... Always looking to learn....even if I am sort of wedded to the 4-2-3-1 Wide and am something of a "American Mourinho" in style. Thanks mate. Happy to share my tactic with you, so here it is: It's called Kevball because it's based around a tactic used by YouTube streamer Kevin Chapman, aka Lollujo. If you haven't already, check out his YT channel, he's a fantastic content creator. I have made minor tweaks to his tactic, to better suit the players I have, although if it doesn't start producing results in League 1, further tweaks will be needed. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 On paper, August was a terrible month, as we lost all bar one game but we deserved more against Fleetwood Lincoln Coventry in the league against Burton and the Papa John's Trophy too Obviously, having no points after 5 matches leaves us bottom of the table, but we are not far away from getting results Link to post Share on other sites
Hootieleece 575 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 I must say breaking a streak is much harder in FM21. I hope for the best. Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 One more signing before the end of the transfer window as we sign young defensive midfielder Liam Coyle on loan from Liverpool Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 A disappointing September, but we did at least manage a League 1 win and we remain bottom, three points from safety Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 6 hours ago, Hootieleece said: I must say breaking a streak is much harder in FM21. I hope for the best. Completely agree. I'm going to get sacked soon, job status 'insecure' Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 With things beginning to turn sour for me at Bolton, a vacancy has arisen, and I've got an interview Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 I didn't get it Link to post Share on other sites
Northernpilgrim 412 Posted December 3, 2020 Author Share Posted December 3, 2020 October was a better month, as we were unbeaten in the league in 6 games. Our only blemish was a loss to Accrington on penalties in the Papa John's Trophy and that has lifted us out of the bottom four Link to post Share on other sites
Hootieleece 575 Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 What is really interesting is that you did well away from "Fortress" Bolton. Good to see you above the relegation zone! Link to post Share on other sites
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