[FM23] Learning my trade in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and surrounding areas

[Stuniverse]

Thursday 7th July 2022

I also met the U21s

I'm going to give them all a chance in pre-season so I've promoted them all to the first-team squad.

 

Goalkeepers

 

Defenders

 

Midfielders

 

Strikers

[Stuniverse]

Thursday 7th July 2022

And the U18s were there too...

 

Defenders

 

Midfielders

 

Strikers

 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Thursday 7th July 2022

I also held a Team Meeting

[Stuniverse]

Thursday 7th July 2022

Influx of trialists...?

The Band of Three, Terry Damms (Owner / Chairman), Pat Lindley (Assistant Manager) and myself have got together and gone through the scouting shortlist, such as it is given that we have no scouting or recruitment staff and, largely based on Terry's recommendations, we've invited a raft of players to come and join us at Inkersall Road on trial.

Edited December 22, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Thursday 7th July 2022

Keep it simple, stupid

I don't believe in over-complicating things, particularly at this Tier 10 level of football.

So we're going to be training three slightly different variations of a basic 4-4-2.

[Stuniverse]

Thursday 7th July 2022

Press Conference for one journalist

--

--

I've met Terry a few times and I have no doubt that he has the football club's best interests at heart and the Staveley Miners Welfare fans are lucky to have him.

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There are plenty of young successful managers. I believe I can be one of them.

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Of course, I can. I see no reason why not. I believe in myself.

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I hope so. This football club deserves to be doing better than it currently is and, hopefully, I can play a part in improving The Trojans fortunes.

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We have to take things one step at a time. There's a lot to do and we have to get off on the right foot.

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I believe that the harder you work, the more rewards you will get. If we want to be successful here, we have to work hard.

We will be working the players hard.

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They offered me a job.

To be fair, I did have another offer but the facilities here are better than I expected for a football club in Tier 10.

Have you seen our pitch? It's like a bowling green. It's pristine. I can't wait to meet the groundskeeper and shake his hand.

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I've only just arrived here. We've had one training session so it's far too early to say.

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I have. We've had one training session and one team meeting. It's clear I will have to earn their trust but that works both ways. The players need to work hard and prove themselves to gain my trust.

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Yes. The supporters of any club are the heartbeat of the Community. That's no different here and we need the Trojans fans cheering us on if Staveley Miners Welfare are to be successful.

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I was impressed in our first training session. Max knows what I'm looking for and it's up to him to deliver.

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Yes, it is. We've placed some job adverts and put some feelers out. We do need to add two or three new faces, that's for sure.

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As you know, the player turnover in Tier 10 is very high. We need to be working all the time to be one step ahead. We need to be looking to strengthen in every single position because we never know what might happen tomorrow.

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Charlie is a player we like the look of which is why we've invited him in on trial. He's one of a group of players here as trialists and we'll assess them and see whether we want to offer them a deal or not. Then it's up to the players, but the fact that Charlie and the others have come to Inkersall Road is a positive sign.

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My door is always open. We need to work together to be successful. If there's an us and them situation then that will only end one way. And it won't be pleasant.

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It won't be easy, I have no doubt about that, but we want to be challenging for promotion by the end of the season.

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The league has to be our main focus but it won't be our only focus. If we can go on some Cup runs then that would generate some much needed funds for the football club.

--

 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Punch]

4 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Press Conference for one journalist

Well...better than none I guess

[keeper#1]

This could have been an e-mail.  

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 9th July 2022

Michael stays at Staveley Miners Welfare

Some good news, Michael Davies has turned down the contract offer from Saffron Dynamo (Tier 10, different division) to stay with us at Staveley Miners Welfare.

[Stuniverse]

A change of approach for this Career Update save...

At least for now...

Those of you who are familiar with my Career Update FM saves will know that I like to update the save in detail, covering every football match my team plays, along the lines that I did with my earlier FM23 save at Derby County (while I was waiting for the Level 10 database I'm using to be ready):

I've tried to take that approach with this save but, and I'm sure it's the nature of lower-league football, there's so much going on that it seems to be taking ages to progress through the save and I've had a rethink.

With players basically Amateur, not under contract, and paid nothing, they can effectively walk away and join another club at a moment's notice. Two or three of my players have already been offered contracts by other football clubs and I've not even been in the Staveley Miners Welfare manager's job a week yet.

Also, with no scouting staff, I've brought in a lot - and I mean a lot - of trialists, over 20 I think.

And as you can see, according to my Assistant Manager Pat Lindley, and his ability to assess players, all of the trialists are better than most of our current squad.

We've offered contracts to most of them, and we will probably offer contracts to all of them, but some of the better trialists have already received contract offers from other football clubs, one trialist has six current offers on the table. So, I'm really not confident of signing any of them.

And we also have a lot of Friendly matches lined up - partly to try and raise money for Staveley Miners Welfare, partly so that I can assess the squad, and partly so that I can assess the trialists in action and evaluate them.

So I think I'm going to play through all the Friendly matches and see what happens with the squad, the trialists, and anything else that might turn up and then I'll resume the updates ahead of the season opener at Home to Selby Town in the Northern Counties East League Division 1.

Wish me luck - I think pre-season is going to be something of a roller-coaster ride.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 9th July 2022

Holker Old Boys v Staveley Miners Welfare

Holker Old Boys are also Tier 10, playing in the North West Counties League Division 1 North.

In the first-half I played the same team that drew 2-2 at Home to Coalville Town U21s, prior to my appointment as Staveley Miners Welfare manager.

At the break, I made 11 changes and played a team of trialists in the second-half.

--

Note: As I'm taking the screenshots any way, I'll update the results of the Friendly matches (briefly), but update on everything else ahead of the opening game of the season.

[Stuniverse]

Wednesday 13th July 2022

Garstang v Staveley Miners Welfare

Garstang are also Tier 10, like us, and play in the same North West Counties League Division 1 North as Holker Old Boys, who we played last time out.

The plan was to start 11 players who are our players in the first-half and then make 11 changes, bringing on mainly trialists after the break.

We did do that, sort of... sort of, because Max Rhodes's red mist meant we were unable to give Connor Anderson the second-half playing time we'd planned on.

 

[warlock]

3 hours ago, Stuniverse said:

some of the better trialists have already received contract offers from other football clubs

This is a great annoyance! I've had a number of players who never receive any interest but as soon as I offer them a trial they immediately get half-a-dozen offers from clubs at a higher level. Then there are the players who offer themselves as candidates but with a "dubious" interest in signing for me. I'm now convinced they're just trying to get me to offer a trial to trigger the higher interest .

[Stuniverse]

12 minutes ago, warlock said:

This is a great annoyance! I've had a number of players who never receive any interest but as soon as I offer them a trial they immediately get half-a-dozen offers from clubs at a higher level. Then there are the players who offer themselves as candidates but with a "dubious" interest in signing for me. I'm now convinced they're just trying to get me to offer a trial to trigger the higher interest .

Exactly that, @warlock. I don't normally manage below the default leagues so this is a whole new FM experience for me.

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 16th July 2022

Tow Law Town v Staveley Miners Welfare

Tow Law Town play in the Northern League Division 1 (Tier 9), a tier above us.

We again played a completely different 11 in each half and brought 15 year old Jacek Kosowski on for 27 minutes after Dwayne Greenwood picked up a yellow card.

[Stuniverse]

Wednesday 22nd July 2022

Staveley Miners Welfare v Sheffield Wednesday U21s

Sheffield Wednesday are, of course, a League One club and we're entertaining their Under-21s.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Pearomaniac]

You have the same troubles like i do in my AWF Wimbledon, were creating chances but problem is converting them.

[Stuniverse]

19 minutes ago, Pearomaniac said:

You have the same troubles like i do in my AWF Wimbledon, were creating chances but problem is converting them.

Good observation, @Pearomaniac. Yes, we do.

Striker is the main area where I'm looking to improve as the players I've got up front aren't really that impressive.

Ryan Charnley and Milan Thompson have only just joined us on trial and haven't played for us yet. I've offered them both contracts but I'm not confident they will sign. Things will look a lot better though if they do... but it's a BIG IF right now.

Max Rhodes is my best striker at the moment.

And I have high hopes for 15-year old Jacek Kosowski, if I can hold onto him.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Pearomaniac]

21 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Good observation, @Pearomaniac. Yes, we do.

Striker is the main area where I'm looking to improve as the players I've got up front aren't really that impressive.

Ryan Charnley and Milan Thompson have only just joined us on trial and haven't played for us yet. I've offered them both contracts but I'm not confident they will sign. Things will look a lot better though if they do... but it's a BIG IF right now.

Max Rhodes is my best striker at the moment.

And I have high hopes for 15-year old Jacek Kosowski, if I can hold onto him.

lol Your second striker has better finishing then my three years in a row best scorer

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 23rd July 2022

Staveley Miners Welfare v Bishop Aukland

Bishop Aukland play in the Northern League Division 1 (Tier 9), the same division as Tow Law Town who we played recently, and are a tier above us.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Punch]

5 hours ago, Stuniverse said:

if I can hold onto him.

The joys of FM before you reach semi pro.

Just roll with it, and try not to get too attached to players.

[Stuniverse]

On 24/12/2022 at 20:13, Punch said:

The joys of FM before you reach semi pro.

Just roll with it, and try not to get too attached to players.

That's my problem, though, @Punch I do tend to get attached to players.

This summer, in real-life, I saw Salford City had signed Stevie Mallen and my first reaction was, oh boy, I managed Stevie Mallen at Hibs on FM21 and took him with me to Celtic and then Sampdoria!

[Pearomaniac]

34 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

I do tend to get attached to players.

Same, how the **** am i going to ditch my 30yo CD who has been outgrown by the players around him but is playing in the club from the day he was born? Im not an animal  I loved that football that does not exist anymore  

[Stuniverse]

Wednesday 27th July 2022

Staveley Miners Welfare v Sheffield United U21s

We entertain the Under-21s of Championship club Sheffield United.

[Punch]

1 hour ago, Stuniverse said:

 I do tend to get attached to players.

 

49 minutes ago, Pearomaniac said:

Same

Just another thing to manage at low levels before you get to lock players into contracts.

[Pearomaniac]

45 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

 

 

Hold on, one thing just hit me... they dont have numbers in that league?

[Stuniverse]

5 minutes ago, Pearomaniac said:

Hold on, one thing just hit me... they dont have numbers in that league?

No squad numbers, @Pearomaniac. No. The players wear 1-11 with the subs then having incremental numbers, but no #13 by the look of it.

We get 15 substitutes in friendly matches, but I think it will be a lot less in the competitive matches.

Edited December 26, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Pearomaniac]

1 minute ago, Stuniverse said:

No squad numbers. No. The players wear 1-11 with the subs then having incremental numbers, but no #13 by the look of it.

We get 15 substitutes in friendly matches, but I think it will be a lot less in the competitive matches.

hahaah i love it. better that then having players having some posh numbers as their favorite like 99 or something like that

[Punch]

6 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

No squad numbers

 

5 minutes ago, Pearomaniac said:

better that then having players having some posh numbers as their favorite like 99 or something

In that League, they are still sending all the jersey's home each week for someone's mum to wash

[Pearomaniac]

1 minute ago, Punch said:

 

In that League, they are still sending all the jersey's home each week for someone's mum to wash

Hahahahaha ah good old football, here in Serbia were doing that in our third league i would say  

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 30th July 2022

Prestwich Heys v Staveley Miners Welfare

Prestwich Heys play in the North West Counties League Premier Division (Tier 9), a tier above us.

Edited December 26, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Wednesday 3rd August 2022

Staveley Miners Welfare v Nottingham Forest U21s

We entertain the Under-21s of Premier League Nottingham Forest, probably the best team we will face in pre-season.

[Stuniverse]

Saturday 6th August 2022

Staveley Miners Welfare v Nuneaton Borough

Nuneaton Borough play in the Southern League Premier Central division (Tier 7), three tiers above us.

[Stuniverse]

Sunday 7th August 2022

The Staveley Miners Welfare FIFTY

By the end of the month I'll probably be on first name terms with all 50 of them.

[Pearomaniac]

2 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Sunday 7th August 2022

The Staveley Miners Welfare FIFTY

By the end of the month I'll probably be on first name terms with all 50 of them.

Whats the price of a season ticket?

[Stuniverse]

16 minutes ago, Pearomaniac said:

Whats the price of a season ticket?

£60.00.

I'll let you have one for the knock-down price of £40.00 @Pearomaniac! 😂⚽️🤣

Edited December 26, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Punch]

4 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

 

How nice does that ground look though...

[Stuniverse]

6 minutes ago, Punch said:

How nice does that ground look though...

It does look very nice, @Punch. In the new year, I’m planning on going to watch a game there.

Edited December 26, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Tuesday 9th August 2022

Staveley Miners Welfare v Whitehaven Amateurs

We decided just before the Nottingham Forest U21s game to squeeze in one last friendly against a team from a lower team.

We opted for Whitehaven Amateurs who play in the West Lancashire League Premier Division, which is below Tier 10 (as it's not a playable league on the Level 10 custom database I'm using).

We made some substitutions at the break and changed to a Positive mentality (from Balanced).

Around the hour mark, we changed to an Attacking mentality (from positive).

[Stuniverse]

Wednesday 10th August 2022

Pre-season Results

With the 3-3 draw at Home to Whitehaven Amateurs, we completed our pre-season schedule.

It was a mixed bag of results with only one victory in 11 matches, of which I was in charge for all but the first friendly against Coalville Town U21s.

Overall, I'm not too disappointed, because all but three of the fixtures were against teams higher than us, or much higher than us, in the football pyramid. We were competitive in each and every game and nobody outplayed us.

I was disappointed that we went 0-3 down in our final friendly match against Whitehaven, but the players showed great character to fight back and draw 3-3.

To be fair, my focus was on bringing in trialists to assess them in friendly matches with the aim of improving the squad. I believe we achieved that, but it was at the expense of fielding a consistent, settled side.

Any way, it is what is, and we'll see how prepared, or not, we are for the Northern Counties East League Division 1 season when we host Selby Town at Inkersall Road on Saturday.

Edited December 26, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Staveley Miners Welfare

Tactics

Given the level at which we'll be playing, Tier 10, I'm trying to keep things simple for the players so we've been training a basic 4-4-2 with three slight variations.

My preference, which we used during pre-season, is a Wing Play style:

Closely followed by a Controlled Possession style, which we also used in pre-season:

Finally, we've been training a more Direct (Route One) style but didn't test that in pre-season:

--

I want my Goalkeepers and Defenders to defend.

My Wide Midfielders to be wingers, possibly reverting to wide midfielders or even defensive wingers when we're holding onto a lead.

My Central Midfielders will play according to their preferred roles and I'll endeavour to find the right partnership in the early games of the season.

Likewise, with my Strikers - again they will play according to their preferred roles and I'll endeavour to find the right partnership in the early games of the season.

[Stuniverse]

Staveley Miners Welfare

Coaching Staff

During the pre-season, I was able to assemble a backroom staff - all of us working for nothing.

My Player / Assistant Manager Pat Lindley was already in place when I was appointed and Pat's been a great help during pre-season.

Joining us to help with the first-team is a Goalkeeping Coach and a Fitness Coach.

--

We also have a Scouting team.

--

And we also have a Medical team.

Edited December 26, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Staveley Miners Welfare

New Signings

Before I was appointed, Staveley Miners Welfare signed Max Rhodesfrom Maltby Town and during pre-season I've signed a further 25 new players.

In signing that many players, I'm building up a large first-team squad but, at least, with none of the players being paid, I'm not over budget because we do not have any wage budget.

And I'm still looking to improve the squad with offers made to three more players.

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by Stuniverse

[Pearomaniac]

4 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

Staveley Miners Welfare

New Signings

During pre-season I've signed 26 new players.

In signing that many players, I'm building up a large first-team squad but, at least, with none of the players being paid, I'm not over budget because we do not have any wage budget.

And I'm still looking to improve the squad with offers made to three more players.

 

Jeeeeeesus 26?  You can organize an friendly against your own team lol

[Stuniverse]

Staveley Miners Welfare

New GOALKEEPERS

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[Stuniverse]

Staveley Miners Welfare

New DEFENDERS

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--

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--

--

[Stuniverse]

Staveley Miners Welfare

New MIDFIELDERS

--

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--

--

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--

[Stuniverse]

Staveley Miners Welfare

New STRIKERS

--

--

--

 

[Stuniverse]

27 minutes ago, Pearomaniac said:

Jeeeeeesus 26?  You can organize an friendly against your own team lol

I know, @Pearomaniac.

I admit I may have overdone it, but I was focussed on improving the squad and, at the back of my mind, I was only too aware that any football club could offer any of my players a contract and they could be gone the next day.

[Pearomaniac]

11 minutes ago, Stuniverse said:

I know, @Pearomaniac.

I admit I may have overdone it, but I was focussed on improving the squad and, at the back of my mind, I was only too aware that any football club could offer any of my players a contract and they could be gone the next day.

Yeah thats true too, u might lose em every day.