[FM22] Let's Play Monopoly In The Most Balanced League In The World? Learning The Major League Soccer - Chapter III - Minnesota United FC [Finished]

[Hootieleece]

3 minutes ago, KristianT said:

It is interesting to read how people make priorities. Cheezy plays in a way I had never thought of and there are surely many other ways to go as well. Fascinating.

As for your thought there, my experience is that getting the best Americans can be really difficult due to MLS' lower appeal relative to many other leagues combined with high wages for the best Americans available. If you want to win going for the classic South American wonderkids hoarding surely is a tempting way. They can come relatively cheap both in fee and wages.

I usually build the team around a core of American Players (usually First Rounders and GA's of 3-4 Star Range) and put Internationals from Italy or South America in the "Flair and Playmaker Positions" for sale after 1-2 seasons to Europe. Also make sure to make playoffs every season and win the MLS every 3-4 seasons.

I also find that 2.5-3 star players that are Americans for most backups. I tend to hang onto the "Core" players until retirement and may "overpay" them but only if I can buy down their contracts. 

[Cheez3y]

10 minutes ago, KristianT said:

It is interesting to read how people make priorities. Cheezy plays in a way I had never thought of and there are surely many other ways to go as well. Fascinating.

As for your thought there, my experience is that getting the best Americans can be really difficult due to MLS' lower appeal relative to many other leagues combined with high wages for the best Americans available. If you want to win going for the classic South American wonderkids hoarding surely is a tempting way. They can come relatively cheap both in fee and wages.

Ty. 

I think you need to find the right mix of hoarding international slots and 1st rounder.

Before the start of the offseason, we had three 1st rounder for 2024.

But after I saw the 2024 Draft and only 1 good player, then get rid of the picks asap.

 

At the moment we are a bit slim on picks, but for 2024 its fine.

Once the season starts you will start to pick up new Draft picks anyways.

Thats why I try to start the season with 29/30 players.

So if a team got an injury crises or want a player really bad, they will give away 2-3 1st rounder.

 

And yes gettin really good US players from other team is damn hard.

Edited August 2, 2022 by Cheez3y

[KristianT]

5 minutes ago, Hootieleece said:

I usually build the team around a core of American Players (usually First Rounders and GA's of 3-4 Star Range) and put Internationals from Italy or South America in the "Flair and Playmaker Positions" for sale after 1-2 seasons to Europe. Also make sure to make playoffs every season and win the MLS every 3-4 seasons.

I also find that 2.5-3 star players that are Americans for most backups. I tend to hang onto the "Core" players until retirement and may "overpay" them but only if I can buy down their contracts. 

Thanks for sharing this. I have only ever played short stints in MLS and the quit because I got frustrated that I felt I couldn't crack the code. I have also struggled to understand what is a good trade and not since I have not figured out what the different things you can trade are worth. Following this thread surely gives inspiration.

Edit: I have only played with Montreal and the Canadian things made it extra complicated for me  

Edited August 2, 2022 by KristianT

[KristianT]

5 minutes ago, Cheez3y said:

Ty. 

I think you need to find the right mix of hoarding international slots and 1st rounder.

Before the start of the offseason, we had three 1st rounder for 2024.

But after I saw the 2024 Draft and only 1 good player, then get rid of the picks asap.

 

At the moment we are a bit slim on picks, but for 2024 its fine.

Once the season starts you will start to pick up new Draft picks anyways.

Thats why I try to start the season with 29/30 players.

So if a team got an injury crises or want a player really bad, they will give away 2-3 1st rounder.

 

And yes gettin really good US players from other team is damn hard.

Good advice. I'm used to the transfer windows being open or closed with bids and negotiations happening mainly when the window is open whereas in MLS you can always negotiate/trade something. The constant evaluation of possible trades is a skill to master.

[Cheez3y]

3 minutes ago, KristianT said:

Edit: I have only played with Montreal and the Canadian things made it extra complicated for me  

I think the Canadian teams are really easy and I would recomment it for starters. 

Internationals gettin the Canadian pass after 3 years.

And the 30 squad only need to have 3 Canadians, the other 27 player can be American or International.

[KristianT]

2 minutes ago, Cheez3y said:

I think the Canadian teams are really easy and I would recomment it for starters. 

Internationals gettin the Canadian pass after 3 years.

And the 30 squad only need to have 3 Canadians, the other 27 player can be American or International.

I just think I got really fixated on having many good Canadians in the team and since they are few I never really found anyone!

[Cheez3y]

6 minutes ago, KristianT said:

Good advice. I'm used to the transfer windows being open or closed with bids and negotiations happening mainly when the window is open whereas in MLS you can always negotiate/trade something. The constant evaluation of possible trades is a skill to master.

"The constant evaluation of possible trades is a skill to master."

Yes! 

I always got like 10-15 key players in mind, which I want to 100% keep.

And the rest are always an assets to trade, if the oportunity comes.

 

Also if you got a real B team, you can sign every good youth prospect from your academy and sent them to the B team.

And if you got an injury or you trade away a player, you can always bring someone up as backup.

Here is our current B team. As backup they are fine.

[Cheez3y]

10 minutes ago, KristianT said:

I just think I got really fixated on having many good Canadians in the team and since they are few I never really found anyone!

Yes, this could be the reason.

The pool of teams for Canadian players are pretty slim, so there arent that many.

Even if you load the Canadian League, I never found anyone decent there.

Edited August 2, 2022 by Cheez3y

[Cheez3y]

MLS Superdraft 2024 Part 1

Last Draft there where 2 As and 6-8 Bs.

This Darft there is only one B.

 

And thats the player I want.

 

[Hootieleece]

24 minutes ago, KristianT said:

Good advice. I'm used to the transfer windows being open or closed with bids and negotiations happening mainly when the window is open whereas in MLS you can always negotiate/trade something. The constant evaluation of possible trades is a skill to master.

If it is anything for you, I am American and used to Trades etc. in Sports Leagues and usually miss out on trades because I am too focused on international transfers or too attached to a player.  Even though I play in MLS Regularly and do well. I will bee incorporating some of @Cheez3y negotiation tactics for sure in my current save!

[Cheez3y]

MLS Superdraft 2024 Part 2

 

And I got the player I wanted!

The 5th pick in 2024 is...Damian De Cero.

[Cheez3y]

Another small trade, because we needed the 11th international slot.

[Cheez3y]

@Hootieleece

@KristianT

I just wanted to try something...how far can you go.

Probably 6-7 teams wanted Vassilev pretty bad, so I asked for a rediculous deal.

Well...here are some Draft Picks for a fringe player.

 

Vassilev was the guy we got for free in the Allocation draft.

Spoiler

 

From two 1st rounder to eight 1st rounder.

[KristianT]

32 minutes ago, Cheez3y said:

@Hootieleece

@KristianT

I just wanted to try something...how far can you go.

Probably 6-7 teams wanted Vassilev pretty bad, so I asked for a rediculous deal.

Well...here are some Draft Picks for a fringe player.

 

Vassilev was the guy we got for free in the Allocation draft.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

From two 1st rounder to eight 1st rounder.

That is incredible. Some credit must go to the AI who managed to get that pile of 1st round picks for Portland for you to steal ehm.. I mean trade

[Cheez3y]

Very good preseason.

Im happy with the entire squad.

 

Lets see what we can do.

[Cheez3y]

Transfer Overview - Winter 2024

OUT

Cleared out of the B team and positiion 26-30.

And a nice chunk of money for Necul.

 

Trades

Already showed all trades.

Very busy two winter months.

 

IN

We bought in only 3 players from outside the MLS.

 

Charcopa I found on the wonderkid list 2 season ago, now with 18 he can join us.

Leris is some competitions for the LW spot.

And Dudziak is our key transfers.

Why? Just look at him and what he offers to the team.

 

 

Perfect under the Cap and we got two international slot avaiable.

Why? Because Alexandre and Bravo got a Greencard in the last weeks.

 

We culled everybody with "hates big matches". We got now over 10 players in all most every position who "loves big matches"

Edited August 3, 2022 by Cheez3y

[Cheez3y]

Squad Overview 2024 - Part 1

 

Goalkeeper

We got a new number one. Gallese was fine, but he was on a lot of money and wanted a new deal.

So we traded him away and bought in Johnson, who still looks pretty good at age 34.

 

Spoiler

 

Wingbacks

Bravo and Ferrarini will be our main pairing.

 

Spoiler

 

Centerbacks

Pirez was on loan at River Plate for 2 years. They didnt pull his 175k buy clause, so Im happily take him back.

His main partner will be Gravillion.

Charcopa is already our best defender, but with 18 years he got a lot of time.

 

Spoiler

 

Midfielder

We will start with Fein at DLP and Parks at B2B.

Im planning of using Dudziak at RW, but he will probably THE utility player for all positions.

 

Spoiler

 

[Cheez3y]

Squad Overview 2024 - Part 2

 

Winger

Leris and Hever will fight for the starting LW spot.

Williams developed really really well. Because of that he will get the start at RW.

 

Spoiler

 

Striker

Our main man Zirkzee will hopefully carry us this season.

His main partner will be Maja.

Sadly Veraldo now showes that he hates big matches, this explains a lot.

 

Spoiler

 

[Cheez3y]

March 2024 - MLS - Eastern Conference

Very good start to the season.

Zirkzee is continuing and Maja decided to finally take over the AF spot.

 

 

Coming Up

 

---

 

UFF...Dallas with a bad start to the season.

 

 

[Cheez3y]

April 2024 - MLS - Eastern Conference

The team is in a much better state then last season at this point.

 

 

Coming Up

 

----

 

Minnesota is goin strong in the West.

Dallas slowly starting to get better.

 

[KristianT]

I'd say the Cheezy train has departed swiftly!

Another question I've had for a long regarding MLS is why the amount of games played always are so uneven. Does anyone have an explanation?

[Cheez3y]

11 minutes ago, KristianT said:

I'd say the Cheezy train has departed swiftly!

Another question I've had for a long regarding MLS is why the amount of games played always are so uneven. Does anyone have an explanation?

Yep, the engine is running.

 

I dont know the answer, but I would say it has to do something with the travellling.

[Cheez3y]

May 2024 - MLS - Eastern Conference

Green month!

The team is on a very good form.

Leris also settled in really nice on the left wing.

 

 

Coming Up

Two big games coming up against Dallas and NYRB.

 

----

 

Minnesota still goin strong.

 

 

[Cheez3y]

We will play Dallas again this month in the cup.

[Hootieleece]

@Cheez3y @KristianT   I think the answer of the uneven games played has to do with the NACL Fixtures and the US Cup fixtures as well as International Breaks. Especially early and late in the season.

In general MLS plans on scheduling up to 5 MLS Matches a month. 3-4 Weekend Matches and 1-2 Midweek, but the aforementioned Tournaments can cause scheduling conflicts that push matches around further.

Also Remember the Season is 7 months long. March-October, with Playoffs in late October and Early November.

[Cheez3y]

46 minutes ago, Hootieleece said:

@Cheez3y @KristianT   I think the answer of the uneven games played has to do with the NACL Fixtures and the US Cup fixtures as well as International Breaks. Especially early and late in the season.

In general MLS plans on scheduling up to 5 MLS Matches a month. 3-4 Weekend Matches and 1-2 Midweek, but the aforementioned Tournaments can cause scheduling conflicts that push matches around further.

Also Remember the Season is 7 months long. March-October, with Playoffs in late October and Early November.

This sounds plausible.

[Cheez3y]

With Club America we got a tough opponent to battle for the 1st position in the group.

[Cheez3y]

Juni 2024 - MLS - Eastern Conference

The engine is running and running.

We are even on a cup run with Ws against Dallas and Miami FC.

 

 

Coming Up

 

---

 

We took over the number one spot in the Supporter Shield also.

 

 

[Hootieleece]

You got this! Barring catastrophic injury.

You NEED to win the treble! (Supporter's Shield, MLS Cup, US Cup) at minimum!

 

[Cheez3y]

51 minutes ago, Hootieleece said:

You got this! Barring catastrophic injury.

You NEED to win the treble! (Supporter's Shield, MLS Cup, US Cup) at minimum!

 

I think we can do that.

I dont really fear injuries, but there are 10 teams bidding for Zirkzee and he is mad, because I rejected 4-6 mio offers.

I hope the board doenst f*ck things up.

[Cheez3y]

I decided to sell Veraldo.

He was not doin much and was currently striker number 4. Also he was a DP.

We sold him to Anderlecht for a small loss.

But hopefully this money saves us, so the board doenst sell Zirkzee.

 

Spoiler

 

But we needed on more striker, well...

My scouts sent us a report for my boy Muenta!

 

Edited August 5, 2022 by Cheez3y

[Cheez3y]

July 2024 - US Open Cup - Quarter Final

Charlotte almost stole this game.

In the end we just had the better nervs.

[Cheez3y]

Nevermind the game crashed. LOL

Its Cinciannati away now.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 5, 2022 by Cheez3y

[Cheez3y]

Huge!

This will secure the rest of the season.

 

 

24 scorer in 25 games.

Josh is carrying this team.

 

 

Well...he will miss one month...

[Cheez3y]

Once again we will managed the MLS All-Stars.

7 players! from Inter Miami.

 

 

Spoiler

 

[Cheez3y]

MLS All-Star Game 2024

Another MLS All-Star medal for us.

[Cheez3y]

Juli 2024 - MLS - Eastern Conference

Another good month.

You cant really rate the game against Montreal, because it was on the same say as the All-Star game.

 

 

Coming Up

Busy month with a lot of travelling.

MLS, US Open and CL action.

 

----

 

 

[Cheez3y]

August 2024 - US Open Cup - Semi Final

We got our first chance to win the US Open Cup.

Pretty good game vs Cinciannati.

 

Mueanta settled in pretty nice and we got now 3 strikers on the same level.

[Cheez3y]

And its Philly....Revenge!

 

[Cheez3y]

August 2024 - MLS - Eastern Conference

The engine is running and running.

 

 

 

Coming Up

Nothing to scary.

 

---

 

Dallas is struggling this season, they even sacked their coach.

 

 

[Cheez3y]

September 2024 - US Open Cup - Final

Josh with the important pen in the 90th minute.

First title for Inter Miami!

[the_hdk]

going strong so far with Inter Miami. 12 points run away  that is great!

[Cheez3y]

September 2024 - MLS - Eastern Conference

And we finish the regular season with only 1 loss.

 

Also in the CL we are into the next round.

 

 

---

 

 

[Cheez3y]

9 hours ago, the_hdk said:

going strong so far with Inter Miami. 12 points run away  that is great!

Yes!

Three games to go for the big one.

[Cheez3y]

MLS Playoffs 2024

 

Probably we will play NYFC next.

[Cheez3y]

 

Its Orlando!

 

Also Chicago beat NYRB, so there is no scary things left in the East.

 

 

[Cheez3y]

MLS Playoffs 2024 - Eastern Conference - Semi Final

Hattrick Hero Maja!

[Cheez3y]

 

We will play the Fire in the Eastern Playoffs final.

 

In the West we know already that Kansas is the champion.

 

 

 

[Cheez3y]

MLS Playoffs 2024 - Eastern Conference - Final

Tough game vs Chicago.

But Josh Maja once again makes the differents.

[Cheez3y]

It will be our first chance of MLS Cup glory.

Kansas is already a two time champion.