[FM23] El Caballero Pálido (Manchester United, 2029/30)

[GIMN]

Absolute chaos in the 2nd round!

Two late goals see Belgium fall to tournament joint-hosts USA.  Tillman scored from the spot in the 74th minute before Pulisic wrapped things up 10 minutes later.  Roberto Martinez might no longer be manager, but Belgium have yet again failed to live up to expectations.  That should be the main talking point of the round, but France have once again exited in the 2nd round.  Ghana come away victorious 3-2 on penalties, but the game only made it that far thanks to Mohammed Kudus' 94th minute equaliser.  Colombia upset South American rivals with a smash-and-grab win over Argentina, as life without Messi looks rather bleak.  Otherwise, no major surprises - Italy did need a 62nd minute Tonali penalty to see off Senegal, and Denmark did enough to overcome Norway in what was arguably the most entertaining game of the round.

A victory over Germany would see us reprise the European Championships final against Austria...

[GIMN]

USA! USA! USA! USA!  The joint hosts are on an absolute tear.  First Belgium, now Brazil.  Casemiro missed the vital penalty in a 5-4 penalty defeat, after Timothy Weah's 2nd half effort cancelled out Gabriel Martinelli's opener.  USA had to see out the game with 10-men after McKennie got a straight red with 5 minutes left in extra time.  Italy comfortably dispatched the Netherlands, who also finished the game with 10 men.  It was much earlier, though, as Ake's 40th minute dismissal put the Oranje under even more pressure than they were already under.  Locatelli and Sottil scored the goals.  England came away victorious in a rather dull game against Denmark.  Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's early free-kick was the difference, but an injury time booking means he'll be suspended for the Quarter Final.

In the bottom half of the draw, Croatia ran away easy winners over Ukraine, courtesy of goals from Baturina, Pašalić and Vidović.  A second-half red card for Morocco's Ez Abde gave Serbia the initative, as a 72nd Kostić curler put them through to the next round.  Felix-Ohene Afena-Gyan was the hero for Ghana as he scored twice in their victory over Colombia.  A hat-trick was cruelly, but correctly, denied as his 77th minute effort was ruled offside.  Kulusevski was not to be denied a hat-trick as Sweden absolutely annihilated Tunisia.  Sweden scored 4 times in 7 minutes late in the 2nd half to put the game to bed.

My word, this feels familiar.  If we beat England and Italy beat USA - we'll have faced 3 of the 4 teams we played in the Euros knock out rounds.  We even played Germany as a pre-tournament friendly back then (and USA as a pre-tournament friendly this time around).  Sweden were also in our Euros group, and they've got a reasonable chance of making it to the Finals.  Whilst you expect to see some of the same teams multiple times in international tournaments, it's a bit of a shame that there's not been more variety.

There's also an increasing sense of Déjà vu, with how major teams are being knocked out in upsets, and one half of the draw is clearly a lot stronger than the other.  That said, I thought that last time, and we were lucky to beat Austria in the final!  On that note, it's pleasing that we were much better against them this time around.  There were moments where we got caught by their press, but we were much better positioned to snuff out ensuing counter-attacks.

[GIMN]

What is going on??  USA cannot be stopped as goals in each half from Tillman and Weah sees off Italy.  Joachim Löw's Croatia scored twice in extra time to overcome neighbours, and rivals, Serbia.  Afena-Gyan joins Mbappé and Isak at the top of the goalscoring charts, as his 6th goal helped Ghana to a win over Sweden.  It's interesting to note that all 3 winning teams had an extra 24 hours rest compared to their opposition.  Not getting my excuses in early, but I just want to point out that England's Third Round win over Denmark just happened to be the day before we beat Austria.

Regardless, with Italy out, the winner of our game is surely the strong favourite now for the tournament...

Edited February 24, 2023 by GIMN
Accidentally had "Third Round" still in header

[GIMN]

The Semi Final between Croatia and Ghana was played a day earlier...

A deserved win for Croatia, despite falling behind early to Duncan's powerful header.  Beljo bundled in the equaliser after Baturina's effort was initially saved by Ati-Zigi.  Mislav Oršić had a couple of chances to win it in 90 minutes, but Ati-Zigi was in inspired form.  In the end, after 15 consecutive successful penalties, Joseph Aidoo had the decisive moment, screwing his penalty wide and ending Ghana's World Cup dreams.

[GIMN]

[GIMN]

Friday 17th July 2026, 09:00

And that brings an end to a prologue that is, without doubt, far too long.  With management experience behind him, and relationships developed with staff and players in game, Iniesta can now sit and wait until the right opportunity presents itself.  There's been demand.  Atletico Madrid, Newcastle and Internazionale had all offered interviews in recent years, but the timing wasn't right.  We know the profile of team that will be looking to hire Iniesta, but with his reputation as high as it arguably will ever be, he's earned the right to pick and choose his next role.

[_Ben_]

Most people’s intros are a couple of posts and not a 50-game unbeaten run culminating in a World Cup win! Really interested to see where this goes next given the uniqueness of the start…

[GIMN]

44 minutes ago, _Ben_ said:

Most people’s intros are a couple of posts and not a 50-game unbeaten run culminating in a World Cup win! Really interested to see where this goes next given the uniqueness of the start…

I think I got a bit carried away!  That said, this could work out really nicely if the patch comes out soon.  Usually there are a few ME changes that impacts tactics and that should add an extra layer to the challenge of transitioning from international football to club football.

The most realistic step, I reckon, is to go on holiday for a few months.  It's unlikely that I'd want to jump into a new job straight away.  It looks like Arteta and Zidane are in line for the Spain and France jobs respectively, so that would mean openings at Arsenal or AS Roma.  Both could be interesting, as big clubs who haven't come close to winning a title in recent years, but neither leaps out as somewhere I'm desperate to go so no harm done by passing up the opportunities.  Before all that, I should probably load up the save after the World Cup, and try and pool together some player info for a little retrospective on my Spain career.  Might be quite useful for when targeting signings for wherever I end up.

[GIMN]

Before fully moving onto the new chapter, a few stats from Iniesta's tenure as Spain manager.  In 50 games, 701 caps were issued across 49 players.  Only 24 players played 10 or more games.  131 goals scored, 24 conceded. 

Pedri played in the most games (36), with only Pau Torres and Aymeric Laporte being the other players to play in at least 70% of my games.  Gerard Moreno was top scorer, with 23 goals in 30 games, whilst Mikel Oyarzábal lead the way in average rating with 7.49 (min. 10 games).

Based on average rating, a minimum of 10 appearances and role played, my Best XI was:

A few surprises in there.  Nico Williams beating out Moreno is the obvious one, as is Laporte's omission.  I didn't expect Galán to have a higher rating than Gayà, and it would be perhaps be reasonable for him to feel quite upset at missing out on the World Cup as a result, and Pau López was considerably better than Simón.  Pedri and Olmo had the exact same rating, but I gave Pedri the nod on the basis of more games played (and unabashed favouritism).

[GIMN]

The Job Search...

Within mere moments of tendering his resignation, Iniesta was swamped by national federations determined to make him their next manager.  Netherlands, France and Brazil all made approaches and all, unsurprisingly rebutted.  Ignoring the fact he had no interest in going back to International Management, a long holiday was in order.  Plans made, phone off, there was no thoughts about football for 3 months.

1st November was marked as the date he'd start seeing the lie of the land.  There was an opening at Espanyol, as a players' revolt had led to the departure of Quique Sánchez Flores a couple of days earlier.  It should come as no surprise that a Barcelona legend didn't even entertain the idea.  Within a week the Real Sociedad job was available.  Defeat to Valencia had seen them drop into the bottom half of the table, so Imanol Alugacil was given his marching orders.  That was definitely more enticing, especially with players like Oyarzábal and Karrikaburu who have already excelled in the system.  Midfielders Martin Zubimedi and Nico had been on his radar, too, whilst a now 24-year old Charles De Ketelaere is a player who looks like a good match for Iniesta-ball.  That said, there is no need to jump at the first opportunity.

Ambition is high - Iniesta believes that World Cup success should put him in pole position for a top job.  Maybe it's ego, but if such a job becomes available and he's rejected, he can always adjust his expectations.  Until then, we wait...

...and it appears that wait is not long.  On 2nd December 2026, one of the world's biggest teams decided to let their manager go.  Despite a rich history, they have failed to finish above 6th in the last 5 seasons and a 5 game winless streak sees them languishing in 15th.  Application submitted, interview scheduled.  They're concerned about a lack of club management experience.  I want to point out they've had 6 managers since they last won the league title, all of whom had club experience, so maybe they need to try something different.  I want to, but I don't.  Not just because the option isn't there, but it wouldn't exactly win the hearts and minds of a potential new boss.

I'm not going to pretend I didn't get the job.  If that was the case, I would've named the team outright.  In the interest of building some suspense, however, here's a load of carriage returns to act as a buffer before the reveal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GIMN]

After 4 years and 200 days, Erik Ten Hag's Man United tenure came to an end, making him the longest serving manager since Alex Ferguson's retirement.  It is probably indicative of how far United have fallen in the years since Sir Alex left, as Ten Hag finished 6th in all 4 seasons and managed just a single trophy in that time -  winning the Europa League last season against 10-man Napoli - yet was never considered to be under pressure until this season, when everything fell apart.  What exactly went wrong for Ten Hag?

Since his dismissal, Man Utd have drawn their 2 Premier League fixtures, extending their winless streak to 7 games and languishing now in 15th position.  They have a game in hand which, if won, would see them jump back in to the top half of the table...just.  Top half, of course, is not good enough for a team of Man Utd's stature, and with nearly half of the season completed, it's understandable they've made the decision to act now.

Statistically, they're performing okay: creating chances, scoring goals, and above average in xG conceded.  It certainly wouldn't be hard to argue that, given more time, Ten Hag could've got them back to a similar position to that he'd managed throughout his tenure.  Those arguments, however, are for the journalists, podcasters and fans to mull.  The facts of the matter are that Man Utd have conceded the joint 5th most goals in the league, roughly 30% more than would be expected given the chances they are giving up.  It would be fair to say that Utd have been defensively inconsistent season-to-season, having boasted a top 4 defence one season, and a bottom 5 the next.  It's an area that deserves a deeper look.

 

The most immediate thing to notice is that Utd hae been busy defensively.  In an ideal world, they'd have enough of the ball to not need to be so involved.  They have talent and, by and large, the defensive players are grading out pretty well this season - with one exception: the keeper.  It would be easy to conclude that therein lies the problem, especially as we already know they are conceding above xG.  Replace the keeper and the issue is resolved, right?  Whilst there might be some truth to that, it's worth considering other reasons why Utd are conceding so many.  On average, opponents are creating 0.14 xG per chance, and converting at a rate of 12%.  This suggests that, from a shot-stopping perspective, our keeper might actually be doing okay.  Whilst our defenders might be grading well, the chance quality being given up is alarmingly high.

We could consider this as a tactical issue, which would be plausible if managers were known to evolve their tactics over time in FM.  We know there's a limitation in that respect and, as the system has been effective enough to finish 6th in each of the last 4 seasons, it is unlikely that alone is the problem.  Now is perhaps a good time to have a look at the last starting XI fielded by Ten Hag.

A reminder here that it is now November 2026.  The starting lineup contains only 3 signings since summer 2022.  There are no breakthrough youth prospects.  This is a squad that could be described, at best, as stagnant.  It is perhaps no surprise that after a number of seasons treading water, they have inevitably started to drown.  Uğurcan Çakır is the only "new" arrival - signed in June 2026 to replace De Gea who had departed for Al-Nassr.  He had been relegated to the backup role for Newcastle the past few seasons, and is notably poor for this level at rushing out.  Not an ideal quality for a keeper playing for a team that deploys a high defensive line.  It is surprising that De Gea had even lasted this long, considering Ten Hag's preference for a keeper who is comfortable in the passing game, yet alone for them to replace him with someone equally unsuitable.

The lack of evolution in the starting XI is perhaps the tip of the iceberg.  What the above image doesn't show is the available defensive reinforcements.  Excluding the 4 players shown, there is only 1 other senior defender: Raphaël Varane.  This all helps to paint the picture of a club who have got recruitment hideously wrong over the last 4 and a half years.

In Ten Hag's 4 full seasons in charge, Man Utd signed 12 senior players for just shy of £240m.  8 players have since left, recouping £155m.  Of those 12, only Victor Kristiansen and Maxence Lacroix can be considered regular starters, whilst Rodrigo Bentancur has been a solid squad option.  It's not been all bad - there are some players they've flipped for a profit - but ultimately very little of their transfer activity has actually helped improve the team.  Maybe that's not too surprising.  Without Champions League football in the offering, it's hard to trade on reputation alone.  Mauro Icardo is arguably the highest profile signing in that time, but he's not necessarily a player you'd pin your hopes on being the kind of player to bring back the glory days.

Europa League success has provided them the Champions League football that's been sorely missing, and so summer 2026 did result in a moderate transfer spree.

Uğurcan Çakır has been the only signing whose come straight into the starting lineup, with the other 6 only managing a combined 6 starts between them in Man Utd's opening 26 games.  There are definitely question marks over whether the club's recruitment policy is working, but there must also be questions pointed at Ten Hag as to whether he's given players the opportunity to shine.  Güler and Endrick are obviously two very exciting young players who could, potentially, be pieces to build around.

We started with the question: What went wrong for Erik Ten Hag?  Whilst it's difficult to pinpoint a singular thing, the knock on effect of the club's ventures in the transfer market have clearly been far ranging.  Poor recruitment, leads to a stagnant squad.  A stagnant squad leads to poor performance.  Poor performance leads to dismissal.  Structurally, there is a lot wrong with the setup at Old Trafford.  Iniesta might have a much bigger job on his hands than he expected.

[GIMN]

Squad Assessment

It's time to assess the squad, and see exactly what I'm working with.  As damning as I've been about the club's recruitment policy, this is definitely a squad with the talent to be doing better than they are.  The lack of defensive depth is concerning, and is likely to inhibit what I'm able to do immediately, but with a transfer window opening in 17 days there will at least be an opportunity to address that issue.

 Added to each profile below is a little DNA bar.  Based on the core principles identified many many posts ago, these represent (from left to right) First Touch, Passing, Technique, Decisions and Teamwork.

Goalkeepers

Let's be brutally honest here, neither Çakır or Henderson are good enough to be our long-term answer at keeper.  Çakır is definitely the better of the two, as he does possess elite agility and reflexes, and will almost certainly see out the season as the #1.

Defenders

Lacroix is a cracking centreback, and without doubt the best piece of transfer business this club has done in the last 4 and a half years.  Why Barcelona let him go for only £2m is beyond me.  That's not to say he's world class, but he's got the physical tools to excel in the Premier League, and has some positive mental attributes.  Dalot has the flexibility I want from my wing-backs, and is solid across the board, whilst Varane and Martinez are more than capable at this level.  Kristiansen can be solid, if he learns how to play at left wing, too.  Nicky Hagan has been drafted in to the senior squad due to our lack of depth.  He looks to be promising, but I really don't want to have to rely on him yet.  Defence will be a priority in the transfer market.

Midfielders

At 34-years old, Christian Eriksen might not be the player I intend to build around in the long-term, but he excels in the key areas I'm looking for.  Despite his age, his high natural fitness suggests he has another couple of years in him yet.  Arda Güler is the future and, possibly, the present too.  He possesses the technical qualities I am looking for, and is perhaps better suited to the style I want us to employ than Bruno.  Casemiro leads the trio of ball-winners and, like Zakaria, may find himself deployed in defence if the needs arise.  Summer signing Lepenant and academy products Mainoo and Iqbal are on the outside looking in.

Forwards

I expected Rashford to be the man I wanted to feature in the forward line, but Sancho is the star piece here.  He matches 4 of my core criteria and is the only player (other than Eriksen) with elite decision making ability.  Sancho is likely to be used as both a wide playmaker and false 9 depending on the situation.  Anthony and Madueke will likely fill that false 9 role when Sancho doesn't, whilst Endrick will have to perform well to displace Rashford in the starting lineup.  Understandable for a player so young, but his below average teamwork is holding him back in my assessment.  That said, I don't mind a selfish striker, as long as the output justifies it!  I'm less keen on a selfish winger/false 9, though, and Garnacho is a candidate for the transfer list.

Garnacho's inclusion as the 6th forward option is a pretty damning indictment on the 5 "senior" forwards that are not included here.  Nicolás González is a summer arrival whose Utd career is likely to be over before it began as I bring a system that just doesn't need a surfeit of wingers.  Shoretire, Hansen-Aarøen, Sanabria & Castro are all 22 and likely to be farmed out on loan.

Club Management

As part of the agreement to accepting the job, I made some changes to the backroom setup.  Under-21 Manager, Mark Dempsey was promoted to be my #2.  It was important to find someone within the setup here who shared my vision for how football should be played, and Dempsey fit the bill.  Born and raised in Manchester, and having been involved with the club since 1995 (aside from 10-years spent working alongside Solskjær at various other clubs), he also has a great connection to the area and the fans.

Whilst the goalkeeping and fitness coaches were retained, the regular coaches were all let go as I turn to my little black book.  Some from the Spain setup and some who have coached me in the past will be joining me.  Or at least, I hope.  Until contracts are finalised and work permits issued, we're going to be a little bit thin on the ground.

During the interview process, I agreed to work with Director of Football, John Murtough.  In principle this is fine, though my enthusiasm about this situation has somewhat dwindled given his track record during Ten Hag's reign.  Nonetheless, I have asked him for recommendations to reinforce our defence.  With a club vision to sign players under 23, he has largely suggested players nearer their thirties.  I'll get my scouts to do their due diligence.  Whilst I'd love to adhere to the club culture, we need to prioritise actually having sufficient depth to begin with.  A budget of £30m is not much in this day and age.

[_Ben_]

Cracking little intro there - really like the presentation as always! Can’t say I will ever truly be behind you managing Man Utd but…good luck!!

[GIMN]

6 minutes ago, _Ben_ said:

Cracking little intro there - really like the presentation as always! Can’t say I will ever truly be behind you managing Man Utd but…good luck!!

I know what you mean.  It's genuinely going to be a challenge to feel any connection with a team I have a strong dislike for IRL.  I usually try to avoid England for that reason.

[SixPointer]

Just catching up my man! Congratulations on the World Cup! And I love where the story has taken you!

It seems the AI has carried on what has been a real issue since SAF left United. Poor recruiting, although it seems the likes of Casemiro and Martinez in real life look to have been major success stories.

Endrick certainly gives you a real potential superstar to mould a team around for years to come and I can’t help but feel you’ll get the best out of him!

[john1]

Wow what a win in the World Cup Final And good luck with Man Utd

[GIMN]

A new club, means a new update style.  We'll start with an inforgraphic for a high level overview of what's happened, plus an indicator of what information will be supplied in spoilers (it'll make the post super long, so we'll hide it away to save your fingers from scrolling) - I will try and include 1 "article/feature" each month that will go into more detail on a specific area - that might be tactics, transfers, general performance, world news, etc...  I'll still be providing general commentary as well at the bottom, but will likely just be text.

Match Stats & League Table

Spoiler

An undeserved win on penalties, but a win nonetheless.  We needed to find a way to stop the rot, and this is a good start.  We created some good chances, but West Ham bullied us on set-pieces.

An undeserved win in 90 minutes, but a win nonetheless.  We're doing a good job of dominating the ball, but we stiffen up in advanced positions.  The 3-5-2 might be sufficient when we need to be more defensive, but I don't think Kristiansen or Dalot are good enough for us going forward.

7 goals in 3 for Rashford.  The change to 4-4-2 worked nicely.  Anthony looked decent as a substitute against Wolves and I think he's a better option in the False 9 role.  It also helps to get Rashford on to his strong foot side.  It was a devastating first half performance.

9 in 4 for Rashford.  Arsenal's numerical advantage in midfield meant they dominated possession, but we did a great job of creating chances.  We're into the top half.

11 in 5 for Rashford.  I think we've found our formation.  Kristiansen can't play as a winger, but that gets us another attacker on the pitch and Sancho has 3 assists in his last 3 games.

12 points makes a huge difference.  We're now only 2 points off our perennial position.  Rashford's doubled his league tally and now sits on top of the goalscoring charts.  We could do with some goals from other players, though.

How Iniesta Is Helping Rashford Finally Reach His Potential

Spoiler

How Iniesta Is Helping Rashford Finally Reach His Potential

When Man Utd unveiled Andrés Iniesta as their next manager, few were talking about how this would impact Marcus Rashford. As manager of Spain, a lot focus was on the midfield battle and development of his heir apparent, Pedri. Whilst it’s still very early days, and we are starting to see the hallmarks of Iniesta’s style, it appears the England forward might be the biggest beneficiary of the management change.

With 11 goals in his last 5 games, 10 of which were in the league, Rashford has now been catapulted to the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts.

Looking at the statistics for Rashford’s last 5 games compared to the 5 before it, the contrast is stark. The goal tally is obviously the highlight, but the underlying numbers show that Rashford is completing over 50% more dribbles, taking 25% more shots and, more importantly, that his average xG per chance has doubled to 0.22. These improvements come with a sacrifice, as Rashford has attempted 38% fewer passes. It is clear that Iniesta wants to focus on making the most of Rashford’s electric pace and movement.

Yet, ostensibly, Rashford’s role hasn’t really changed. Ten Hag had deployed Rashford as the most advanced forward, expecting to play off the shoulder of the last defender and become a threat in behind. Instead, it is the system around him that his changed. First Sancho, and more recently Anthony or Madueke, have been pushed further up the field to provide Rashford with a strike partner. Rather than facing up against two centre-backs, Rashford is able to isolate himself one-on-one or drift into the channels where there is more space.

This streak won’t last forever. Iniesta will be keen to see the goalscoring burden spread across the team but, until then, Rashford will be vital as Man Utd look to push up the league and into the European spaces.

We were second best in our first two games, but got the results, and ultimately that's all that matters.  We played 3-5-2 in both of those games, but decided to make the change to a 4-4-2 thereafter and start with a more positive approach.  The demolition of Southampton was flattering, but we deserved the win.  With the players at my disposal, it appears this might be our best approach.  To finish the month with a very complete performance against Middlesborough, shows we're going in the right direction.  Whilst the performance was pleasing, Middlesborough are rooted to the bottom of the league for a reason.

There's a few personnel changes I didn't expect.  The 4-4-2 allows me to have Sancho out on the wing, as unlike many wide players in the modern game, he doesn't have a propensity for cutting inside, and is able to both hold the width and cut in when appropriate.  He was also underwhelming playing up front, despite having attributes that appeared well suited.  Anthony, on the other hand, has 1 goal and 1 assist in his 2 starts at false 9, and I really like what I'm seeing from him.  Casemiro's desire to pick up bookings is concerning, and I think Bentancur might be a better option as our holding midfielder.

In fact, we've decided against entering contract negotations with Casemiro primarily for that reason.  We have extended Varane, and offered a new deal to Eriksen.  As we ticked over in 2027, work permits were granted for my backroom staff, and we now have some coaches available.

Our limited time in position, means we also have a limited number of players scouted.  Given how thin we are at the back, centre-back has been prioritised, and I've been alerted that Real Madrid's Josip Šutalo is currently transfer listed.  His asking price would use up my entire budget, and I'm not sure I like that idea, but we may see if we can bring him in on loan as a short-term solution.  If we can put an optional fee in there, perhaps we can consider it an audition, whilst freeing up money to be able to add in a couple more reinforcements.

Edited February 28, 2023 by GIMN
Formatting

[GIMN]

11 hours ago, SixPointer said:

Just catching up my man! Congratulations on the World Cup! And I love where the story has taken you!

It seems the AI has carried on what has been a real issue since SAF left United. Poor recruiting, although it seems the likes of Casemiro and Martinez in real life look to have been major success stories.

Endrick certainly gives you a real potential superstar to mould a team around for years to come and I can’t help but feel you’ll get the best out of him!

Yeah, it appears the SI guys have done a pretty good job of capturing the malaise that's dogged Man Utd in the last 10 years.  Endrick is definitely a nice bonus, although he's got one hell of a job to beat out Rashford who has been absolutely scintillating so far.  I'm more excited about Güler, who very much fits the profile of what I want from an attacking midfielder.

11 hours ago, john1 said:

Wow what a win in the World Cup Final And good luck with Man Utd

Thank you.  It still feels a bit of a shame that everything opened up far too kindly.  England were our biggest test in the entire tournament, and it would've been nice to have come up against any of the other big guys - especially wanted to face Brazil or Argentina.  Still, you can only beat what's in front of you, and it gives a nice platform to work from.

[GIMN]

Match Stats & League Table

Spoiler

Rashford cannot be stopped.  Another hat-trick in an absolutely ridiculous game.  Güler scored his first goal for the club, whilst Çakır made a hideous error for their equaliser.  The Turkish keeper has been surprisingly good up until that point.

I'm proud of the comeback.  Lacroix's daisy cutter from the edge of the area was no less than we deserved.  Stats suggest we should've won, but it's always going to be hard to do so when you gift the opposition a 2-0 lead.

A comfortable win marred by a dislocated shoulder for Varane.  Oshane Edwards had a huge game for Millwall.  Not by virtue of anything positive - he was responsible for injuring both Varane and Šutalo, and Millwall should be ashamed of their approach.

Look at the scoreline, and you might think this was an easy win.  It was anything but.  We were majestic in injury time, Endrick scoring 4 minutes after coming on, and us carving through Tottenham as they became increasingly desperate.  Truth be told, it could've gone either way in the first 90 minutes.

(Ignore the indicator on Martinez, it's not accurate)  We looked flat in the first half, and were perhaps fortunate to be level, but Endrick's fourth goal in four consecutive games helped put us in control.

A routine win against a team we were expected to beat comfortably.  24 teams progress from the league stage, and whilst we're too far away from the Top 8 to earn a bye, this win probably guarantees us a place in the next round at least.

The run of games is getting tough, and the players are starting to look very leggy.  Even with rotation and rest, we're just looking a bit off the pace.  Thankfully, Rashford is incredible, because we can feel very fortunate to come away with a win here.

A great performance against a team entering this round of fixtures in 2nd.  Considering how rotated the squad was, it was a surprisingly cohesive performance.  Endrick is proving to be very dangerous in the area, whilst Sancho has provided 6 assists and 3 goals in February so far.

A brilliant first half, and professional second half.  This is more like what I want to see.  Madueke was particularly impressive, winning the penalty and setting up Anthony's goal.

Our march up the table continues.  Tottenham keep on winning, and so they maintain the gap between us and them, but win our game in hand, and we'll be only 3 points of a Champions League place.  Erling Haaland won Player of the Month after scoring 8 goals, and yet he's only reduced the gap to Rashford by 1!

Counting the Cost of Chronic Failure

Spoiler

Counting the Cost of Chronic Failure

When Kvicha Kvaratskhelia steps out onto the field at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium for Napoli’s final home league game of the season, he is sure to receive a rapturous reception. It will mark the end of a sensational five years for the Georgian winger, who will be embarking on a new chapter at the Santiago Bernabéu after agreeing a pre-contract deal with Real Madrid. It’s a deserved reward for the 25-year-old who has established himself as one of the world’s best players in his position.

Carlo Ancelotti will certainly be happy to have got his man. Even more so, if the rumours are to be believe that Kvaratskhelia rejected a far more lucrative contract offer from Manchester United. It is perhaps a sign of The Red Devil’s dwindling stature over the last decade, as it’s been suggested they never realistically had a chance to pry one Europe’s best talents to Old Trafford.

A transfer window which opened with such lofty ambitions, can only be viewed as a disappointment when considering what could have been. The rejection of Kvaratskhelia will have been a bitter, but understandable, blow. Being beaten by Tottenham to the signing of Argentina’s Young Player of the Season, Matías Baldo, was just plain unpalatable.

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom, however. Real Madrid’s Josip Šutalo has arrived on loan to bring much needed reinforcements to a remarkably thin back line. The Croatian centre-back, who can also play right-back, has struggled to hold down a regular starting berth since moving to Madrid for £25.5m, and this is a great opportunity for him to get his career back on track. This could turn out to be a fantastic signing for Man United, who have an option-to-buy in the summer, but it is hard for supporters to get truly excited about the off-casts of teams they once considered their equals.

On the same day that Šutalo arrived, United also unveiled the signing of Dragomir Mladenović - a 19-year old Serbian midfielder from FK Partizan Beograd. Despite his tender years, the young playmaker has slotted right into the senior squad, often being called upon in relief to Christian Eriksen. Eriksen agreed a 1-year contract extension at the beginning of the month but, now almost 35, United will need to look at a succession plan for the Dane, and Mladenović looks like he could be a long term solution.

There is plenty to be encouraged by with Mladenović, who has an intelligence beyond his years, but United cannot rest their hopes purely on his shoulders. Eriksen may have another season or two in him, and that might be enough time for their new signing to develop and mature into a regular starter, but you cannot blame United fans for hoping they might turn to someone more established in the coming years.

Concerns about Mladenović pale in comparison to the questions raised about their final January signing, Gastón Ávila. The 25-year old centre-back arrived from Royal Antwerp for a fee believed to be around £7m. Whilst Ávila has been one of the standout performers in the Jupiler Pro League, he’s been the anchor for the leagues 4th worst defence.

Ávila is definitely a capable player, and adds further numbers to a defensive unit crying out for depth. He seems an appropriate understudy for Lisandro Martínez and was a relatively cheap addition who the club may be able to turn a profit on a few seasons down the line.

Whilst 3 players arrived, 5 have departed - all on loan. Mateo Sanabria (Peterborough), Shola Shoretire (Levante), Isak Hansen-Aarøen (Schalke), Omari Forson (Burton) and Kobbie Mainoo (West Brom) will all have a chance to showcase their talents elsewhere. The squad was very top-heavy going into the transfer window, and these moves have allowed Iniesta to streamline a midfield and front-line that was looking very crowded.

In some respects, it could be considered a successful January for Man United. Their uptick in form since Iniesta took over shows they have quality amongst the playing staff, and they have added depth without breaking the bank. They may have done enough to tie themselves over until the summer. Nonetheless, this is still a squad that has a number of areas that still need to be addressed in the long term, and none of the transfer activity in the last month has truly helped push the needle.

A fascinating month.  1 day after signing Šutalo, both he and Varane were injured.  It felt like 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards.  Varane will be out for 2 months, but thankfully it was a light knock for Šutalo and he was back within a couple of days.  Bruno Fernandes (10 days) and Arda Güler (3 weeks) have also both come down with injuries as fixture congestion has been super difficult for us.  Madueke and Garnacho have taken the opportunities that have come they way, though, and I'm starting to get a good idea of which players I can rely on.

There are some signs of squad unhappiness, though.  Nicolás González, a free signing in the summer, informed me within days of taking over that he wanted to leave on loan in January.  I agreed.  Subsequently, when it came to registering the Champions League squad I removed him to find space for Mladenović.  Chaos ensued, and the entire squad except Sancho and Rashford voiced their support.  An ankle injury nixxed González's chances of securing a loan.  He might get a chance in league games when he returns, but I'm not budging on the CL squad.

I've now been in charge for 6 weeks.  I've taken the opportunity to allow the existing staff to do their jobs, whilst I observe.  From hereon in, though, I've implemented my own training routines, coaching assignments and development plans for players.  By the end of February, I will have laid out my plans for recruitment.  Youth team development will eventually be under my remit, but this can wait until the summer.

[SixPointer]

Rashford is flying!

honestly really loving your writing style. I wish I could pull something similar off. It would also take me about a week to write a update!

after reading this I’ll be back on the game tonight for the first time in nearly two weeks after holidays and work!! Keep up the good work 

[GIMN]

2 hours ago, SixPointer said:

Rashford is flying!

For so many iterations of this game now, Rashford has been an absolute pain in the proverbial backside to play against.  It's quite nice to be benefitting from that now.  20 goals in 11 games is beyond ridiculous, though.  As Haaland's best league tally to date is only 30, that means Andy Cole's 34-goals in a season record is still in place.  8 goals in the final 13 games will be enough for Rashford to beat that landmark.

2 hours ago, SixPointer said:

honestly really loving your writing style. I wish I could pull something similar off. It would also take me about a week to write a update!

after reading this I’ll be back on the game tonight for the first time in nearly two weeks after holidays and work!! Keep up the good work 

Thank you.  I've got to give a lot of credit to @_Ben_ - being able to bounce ideas back and forth on skinning has been super helpful, as I've been able to tailor screens specifically for providing screenshots.  That's helped to free up a lot of time that would've been spent compiling images, and allows me to focus on writing the bits I enjoy.

I'm also super glad you're back from holiday.  Not to suggest that you shouldn't be allowed to take a break...but I've been waiting for updates on SV Ried!!!

[SixPointer]

4 hours ago, GIMN said:

For so many iterations of this game now, Rashford has been an absolute pain in the proverbial backside to play against.  It's quite nice to be benefitting from that now.  20 goals in 11 games is beyond ridiculous, though.  As Haaland's best league tally to date is only 30, that means Andy Cole's 34-goals in a season record is still in place.  8 goals in the final 13 games will be enough for Rashford to beat that landmark.

Thank you.  I've got to give a lot of credit to @_Ben_ - being able to bounce ideas back and forth on skinning has been super helpful, as I've been able to tailor screens specifically for providing screenshots.  That's helped to free up a lot of time that would've been spent compiling images, and allows me to focus on writing the bits I enjoy.

I'm also super glad you're back from holiday.  Not to suggest that you shouldn't be allowed to take a break...but I've been waiting for updates on SV Ried!!!

I think Ben has a huge influence on a lot of us. But your skinning seems to have caught his eye as well as your style of writing. I perhaps need to look into this. Writing is the part that slows my gameplay down so much as it takes me so long to put together.

I played a month today after work so hopefully update tomorrow (slow I know) 🤣

[GIMN]

Match Stats & League Table

Spoiler

Eriksen got his first goal of the season in a game that felt like Southampton were more interested in fouling than playing football.  Rashford made sure they didn't get there way.  Meinel's scored in both games against us.  We don't need another striker, but he's definitely piqueing my interest.

Heavy rotation for what should be an easy cup game, led to an awful start.  We bounced back quickly, though, and should've won it comfortably before Avila popped up with the winner.  Upset avoided.

Feels like we've missed an opportunity.  It was always going to be difficult to win the possession battle, but we did well in that regards.  Our lead was deserved, but we switched off at kick-off.  I can't believe Pedri would do that to me.

What an ending.  Lacroix's header 2 seconds after injury time should've finished was like watching prime Alan Shearer.  I thought we were in for heartbreak as Ayling's 30 yard effort almost snatched a point for Newcastle.

The exact opposite of the home leg.  Barca were the better team, but when they scored, we struck back immediately.  Barca probably should've won it in regular time, but they got the job done on penalties.  We're definitely left ruing are profligacy in the first leg.

(First game with the new patch) We started awful.  Defensive structure completely out the window.  A change to 3-5-2 and Rashford is now 3 goals away from the single season record.  Güler scored an absolute screamer from 30 yards.

Rashford equals Andy Cole!!  Bit of a funky game.  Very much a battle in midfield, but whenever either team created a chance, it was a real good chance.  Sancho's run to set up Endrick's winner was a thing of beauty.

A much better result after rotating the squad this time.  A dominant performance, but that is to be expected against a mid-table Championship team.  More importantly we managed to rest most of our players ahead of a big cup final midweek.

Victory over Tottenham helps us leapfrog into the top 4 which is, quite frankly, ridiculous.  Our ability to play through the press is particular pleasing, and we look so dangerous with Rashford's or Endrick's pace up front.  Our next league game is against Liverpool.  A real opportunity to jump into 3rd.  It also comes 3 days after the Carabao Cup final (which was moved to midweek to make way for the FA Cup game!?) against...Liverpool.

Could Sancho Be United's Answer At Wingback?

Spoiler

Could Sancho Be United's Answer At Wingback?

When Spain won the World Cup last summer, they did so primarily playing a 3-5-2.  By then, Iniesta had long eschewed the idea of fielding wingers - traditional or inverted - and even when the shape resembled a 4-4-2 he preferred to push his wingbacks forward or send his central midfielders wide.  Some players, like Oyarzábal, Pino and Williams were reinvented as strikers.  Others, like Asensio, were cast to the fringes.

It was perhaps surprising, then, that Iniesta was announced as the new Man Utd manager after the club parted ways with Erik Ten Hag.  During his tenure, United had amassed a surfeit of exciting wide forwards - Arda Güler, Noni Madueke and Nicolás González arrived in the summer to join Anthony, Rashford and Sancho in a front-line that could, at best, be described as crowded.  How on earth was Iniesta going to find space for all this talent in a front-2?

Sancho and Rashford were given the starting berths as Man United ended their winless run, albeit in unconvincing fashion, with victories over West Ham and Wolves.  Sancho had his best season in a United shirt last season, scoring 17 goals and adding 5 assists in 52 appearances.  He has the skill and mental acuity to play up front, but the sore truth was that Anthony looked better in his brief appearances as a substitute.

Whilst those victories were obviously a much needed tonic for United, Iniesta knew they needed to play better if they were to maintain those results.  A switch to 4-4-2 followed and, instead of pushing Dalot or Kristiansen into a more advanced position, Sancho was moved onto the wing.  Whether luck or judgement, it was a master stroke.  3 goals and 9 assists in the next 13 games saw Sancho became a core component of United’s impressive run.  With space to make the most of his quick footwork and blistering pace, he has started to look like the superstar he was tipped to be as a teenager.

But, as we thought United had found their rhythm, Iniesta made a change once more.  A turgid start at Turf Moor saw Burnley carve through the United defence with ease.  With barely 10 minutes gone, Iniesta had seen enough.  A rearrangement of the defence saw them revert to the 3-5-2, with Madueke turned into a makeshift wing-back.  It was a move that paid dividends almost immediately - United were 2-1 up by the 30 minute mark en route to an eventual 4-2 win.

The final goal in that game was scored by Garnacho, bundling in Sancho’s cross from 2 yards out.  Sancho, who had started the game on the bench, was playing at wing-back.  In the following game against Tottenham, Iniesta stuck with the 3-5-2 and Sancho remained on the bench.  Until the 72nd minute...

Once again brought on to replace Dalot, Sancho provided the telling moment.  Receiving the ball on the edge of his own area, he drove past two Spurs players, before cutting inside a third and playing the ball perfectly into the path of Endrick for the winner.  The travelling fans were off their feet.  United were up to 4th.

Sancho started the FA Cup game against Bristol at wing-back, playing a further hour before being withdrawn with eyes on Wednesday’s Carabao Cup final.  In 104 minutes in the position, he has 10 successful dribbles, 8 key passes and 2 assists.  He wouldn’t be the first player converted to wing-back.  Victor Moses mini career resurgence at Chelsea came as a result of such a move, but it’s rare to see it done with a player who has been so effective further up the field.  With only Dalot and Kristiansen as recognised traditional wing-backs, it was perhaps surprising United didn’t address this area in the transfer window.  Maybe the plan was there all along.  Maybe it’s dumb luck.  Either way, the signs are there that Sancho could be the answer to Iniesta’s wing-back dilemma.

We continue on unabated.  Results are good, even if there's been some defensive wobbles (since the patch).  I will do well to learn from these first 2 and a half months, though.  I do not want to take over a team mid-season again if I can avoid it.  73 days in charge.  22 games.  I should be devastated that we were knocked out of the Champions League but, truth be told, I'm relieved.  We need the rest.

There's a real possibility that not only will Sancho be trained as a wing-back, but Madueke too on the left.  3 centre-backs and an anchor man should provide enough solidity that the wing-backs defensive responsibilites will essentially amout to being bodies in wide areas with pace that makes it difficult to beat them.  There's a risk that might be a bit too cavalier a thought process, but neither Dalot or Kristiansen have convinced me they are long-term options in those positions.

The only other development this month is the setting of recruitment foci.  Nothing complex.

5 positional priorities, with 2 scouts assigned to each.  I've handpicked which scouts will fulfil which assignments, trying to either tie it into their coaching strengths, if applicable, or their playing careers.  For example, Fernando Navarro, who I brought over from the Spain set up, was a full-back and will therefore be responsible for helping us unearth our next right-wing back.  The assignments were set before changing back to the 3-5-2, but the player profiles I am looking for will largely be the same.  The wide-playmaker position is expected to be the mezzala in the 3-5-2 and I want that positional flexibility so I'm fine with that.  Depending on how Sancho and Madueke get on, I might need to switch which flank we're looking to strengthen.

The remaining foci are based on the remaining scouts areas of knowledge.  No specific positions, just give me a heads up on who you think might be worthwhile.

[warlock]

A thought: Rashford has spent his career coming in off the left; Anthony's natural position is attacking from the right. But you seem to playing them the other way round. Would be interested to hear your rationale for that.

[SixPointer]

Another great write up dude! I love how you cover a standard update then give us another key point to ponder.

In my system 532 let’s call it. I see my wing backs as attackers and merely a number or a body to cover space in defence I don’t tend to ask much off them and expect more from my DM or WCB’s to cover those spaces when the galvant forward. I’ve never considered an out and out winger for the role usually leaning towards and attacking full back but the Sancho dilemma certainly gives food for thought!

[_Ben_]

10 hours ago, SixPointer said:

I think Ben has a huge influence on a lot of us. But your skinning seems to have caught his eye as well as your style of writing. I perhaps need to look into this. Writing is the part that slows my gameplay down so much as it takes me so long to put together.

I played a month today after work so hopefully update tomorrow (slow I know) 🤣

You’re both too kind! I’ve taken a a lot of inspiration from some absolutely amazing posts in this forum - so my so, my ‘way’ of playing FM is now unrecognisable to what it was a few years back. Part of that is that I only spend half my time actually playing now I’m so addicted to skinning!

Edited March 3, 2023 by _Ben_

[_Ben_]

6 hours ago, GIMN said:

The only other development this month is the setting of recruitment foci.  Nothing complex.

Also love the simplicity behind this. Starting very broad to identify players, which - given your way of showing attributes - is important, before using analysts and scouts to drill down. But also that focus - which, in my eyes, would include the DoF too - to find the key positions needed. 

[GIMN]

6 hours ago, warlock said:

A thought: Rashford has spent his career coming in off the left; Anthony's natural position is attacking from the right. But you seem to playing them the other way round. Would be interested to hear your rationale for that.

Two separate answers here.  First: Rashford.  In my opinion he is a striker, not a winger - he's at his best when he's facing goal and trying to score.  That's not to say that he can't create, but he's better when he's focused on being the final part of a move.  And, that's how I look to use him here.  Whilst I play with 2 forwards, really it's only 1 - either Rashford or Endrick - with the other expected to drop into the midfield line and create the box/rhombus that allows us to dominate possession and progress the ball.

Coming in from the left allows Rashford to get the ball onto his stronger foot as he tries to face goal.  This is the exact same principle.  A lot of our attacking intent is focused on stressing the channels between the centre back and full-back, and having Rashford on his stronger foot side allows him to be in a position to get his shots away.

 

Anthony's position is, essentially, a byproduct of trying to get Rashford on his stronger foot side.  However, when playing this formation with Spain, I noticed that the false 9 also tended to do better when on their stronger foot side, whether that was Oyarzábal on the left or Pino on the right.  This is in part due to the absence of wingers - there is often space out on the flanks, and so there is space for the false 9 to carry into.  Having them on their favoured side allows them to push towards the byline and whip in a cross.  That said, he will drift around, so there is a lot of positional freedom that means footedness doesn't necessary matter.

The main focus, though, is getting him to be part of that midfield box, which is an important part of either the 3-5-2 or 4-4-2.  By having Anthony (or Garnacho) dropping deep, this puts the centre-back in a bind - do they hold their position, and allow us to overload the middle of the pitch, or do they follow and potentially open up space for Rashford or a deeper runner like Sancho to exploit.

 

Ultimately the principle I'm working from here is that the United have hired "Iniesta" on the basis of the work he did with Spain, and so there's always going to be an element of round-pegs-square-holes.  I have a system, and the players will need to find their place within it.  I can be adaptable in some instances, but the philosphy is going to be reasonably rigid.

4 hours ago, SixPointer said:

Another great write up dude! I love how you cover a standard update then give us another key point to ponder.

In my system 532 let’s call it. I see my wing backs as attackers and merely a number or a body to cover space in defence I don’t tend to ask much off them and expect more from my DM or WCB’s to cover those spaces when the galvant forward. I’ve never considered an out and out winger for the role usually leaning towards and attacking full back but the Sancho dilemma certainly gives food for thought!

Cheers.  I'm hoping that adding a "feature" for each month will help kind of fill in the gaps I've decided to leave by having the updates themselves be a little less detailed.  Regarding the 5-3-2, I agree.  The way I see it is there's loads of capable defensive players in central areas, so let's funnel the ball in that direction.  As a result, how good do the wing-backs/full-backs need to be defensively?  Granted, putting Sancho or Madueke out in those positions wasn't necessarily the plan, but the lack of depth in those positions has kind of forced my hand, and I've been surprised at how it's worked so far.  Sancho, in particular, has attributes to be a playmaker, too - so I'm going to look to see how he fares as a Complete Wing-Back, given license to roam and not be exclusively held to providing width.

1 hour ago, _Ben_ said:

Also love the simplicity behind this. Starting very broad to identify players, which - given your way of showing attributes - is important, before using analysts and scouts to drill down. But also that focus - which, in my eyes, would include the DoF too - to find the key positions needed. 

It seems ridiculous to say, but 4 months after FM was released, this is the first time I've actually touched the recruitment focus area.  Uthongathi did not have the quantity or quality, so I just left them to their own devices.  International football is limited.  I expect I will have to refine the parameters as I go, but keen to see how it goes.  I still intend on taking players recommended and looking at them through the metrics I've extrapolated in Looker Studio (progressive pass frequency, key pass frequency, tackle-to-foul ratio and turnover differential), and try and build on that further.  That will probably have to be a "feature" for the summer.

[warlock]

10 minutes ago, GIMN said:

Two separate answers here

Thanks for this... great explanation 

[GIMN]

Our next game is a cup final.  You know what that means...

A frustrating defeat, but can't be too disappointed.  It was an even game which Liverpool probably just shaded.  We had some very good chances, but we were too sloppy, too often in midfield, and we missed Martínez's pace in our backline (suspended for totting up).  The winning goal was pretty emphatic, too.  It's little consolation, but still a sure lot better than losing because of a defensive error.

[GIMN]

Match Stats & League Table

Spoiler

Gutted to lose, especially as we looked like we might win.  We did a great job of creating good quality chances, but not so good at finishing them off.

Not exactly the team I wanted to face 3 days after losing to them in a cup final.  A very similar outcome, too.  We edged possession, but had fewer shots.  We did again, do a great job of creating chances of quality.  More importantly Rashford breaks his tie with Andy Cole.  Most Premier League goals in a season!

The last couple of games has led to a slight change in tactics, with our line of engagement dropped to a mid-block and the roaming playmaker converted to a DLP.  The last worked marvellously, as Mladenović popped up with two assists, his second was a delightful ball over the top to Rashford whose filthy 20-yard lob was the standout moment of the game.

Continued the trend of resting players, despite a gentler schedule this month.  Garnacho was fantastic and could've easily scored 5.  Madueke chipped in with 3 assists.  Job done.

Only 2 league games this month, but we've managed to push a further point ahead of Tottenham with a game in hand, as their season has gone into freefall.  The draw with Liverpool keeps us arms length away from them in 3rd.  They're into the QFs of the Champions League, as well as the SFs of the FA Cup, so I'm hoping they might find themselves stretched during the final run-in, and we can perhaps nip in and steal their spot.

Le Masia De Manchester

Spoiler

Le Masia De Manchester

This article was written by ChatGPT (with a lot of suggested revisions)

Manchester United has embarked on a transformational journey under the stewardship of the illustrious former Barcelona midfielder, Andrés Iniesta. Iniesta's arrival has brought with it a fresh training approach that seeks to cultivate players' abilities in five critical areas: touch, technique, passing, decision-making, and teamwork. This approach is rooted in the legendary Johan Cruyff's Total Football philosophy, which emphasizes a fluid formation and interchangeability of positions.

The new training regime is a comprehensive program aimed at honing the players' aptitude in the aforementioned five areas. It is structured around the key tenets of fitness, tactics, possession, pressing, and match preparation. Each training session is meticulously designed to ensure that the players receive optimal development in all areas. The team works on possession most days, to develop their touch, technique, and passing skills. Tactical training is also prioritized to foster decision-making and teamwork, as players learn to work together to achieve their objectives on the pitch.

Furthermore, individual development plans have been implemented to provide personalized attention to each player's needs, enabling them to reach their potential. The community service sessions are not merely a public relations exercise, but a crucial component of the training regime. They aim to foster a sense of responsibility and social awareness, which is vital for players who represent a major institution like Manchester United. These sessions also help to connect players to their local area and fans, building strong ties between the team and the wider community.

To aid in the transition to this new approach, Andrés Iniesta has brought in three highly respected coaches: Toni Borrell, Jon Errasti, and Adrián Granado. These coaches have a wealth of experience working with Iniesta, and they share his vision for football. Hiring coaches with a familiarity of the new style is a shrewd move, as it can help to bring a cohesive vision to the team, making the transition smoother.

  

With Borrell, Errasti, and Granado, Manchester United has added a depth of knowledge and expertise that will help to propel the team to new heights. Their familiarity with the new approach ensures that they will be able to provide the necessary guidance and support to the players as they adjust to the new style. In addition, the coaches will work together to ensure that each training session is tailored to the players' needs, providing a level of personalization that is essential for success.

The impact of this new approach is yet to be fully realized, but it has generated significant interest from fans and pundits alike, who are eagerly waitint to see if the team can continue their impressive run of results.  There will undoubtedly be close scrutiny, but the signs are promising that Manchester United is once again a force to be reckoned with in English football.

I cannot express how happy I am to have 7 days between matches.  The squad is fit and well rested.  The performance against Sheff Utd was fantastic, and I'm sure it's no coincidence that it happened after our first full-week gap between games in my tenure.  Varane made his return from injury with a solid hour against Bournemouth.  That win has set up a semi-final against Leicester.  Not to count the proverbial chickens just yet, but that's a much more favourable draw than it could've been with Liverpool and Man City set to face off in the other tie.

After smashing one record (that isn't recognised by the game as Dixie Dean's 60 goals in the old First Division is considered the benchmark), Rashford is on the verge of breaking another. Rashford's 46 goals in all competitions so far has him level with Denis Law's club record set in 1963/64.  1 more will  make that record his own, although surely his sights have to be on breaking the 50 barrier.

We've had to refine some of scouting assignments - dropping our minimum standards a little and, in the case of the positional foci, targetting specific areas (UK & Ireland, Western Europe).  Based on the results so far, as well as previous scouting knowledge, we currently have a database of 337 players we have at least "reasonable" knowledge on, under the age of 28 and who have at least good First Touch, Passing, Technique, Decisions and Teamwork.  We'll keep it running until the end of the season, when we can then start diving a little deeper and identifying potential targets for the summer.

[GIMN]

An addendum on ChatGPT: thought it would be interesting to see how it can help.  I'm not sold on it, though.  I don't think the "article" is bad, but it probably took longer than had I done it myself, and I would've been able to explore things in more detail.  For anyone interested here were the prompts/revisions:

Quote

 

Write a newspaper article in the style of a broadsheet such as The Guardian titled La Masia de Manchester.  The article is about how English football club Manchester United, under their newly appointed manager, Andrés Iniesta, are bringing elements of Barcelona's fabled La Masia academy's training techniques to help the team adapt to a new style.  The training regime is focussed on developing players' ability in 5 key areas: their touch, technique, passing, decision making and teamwork.  This is an extension of Johan Cruyff's Total Football philosophy which requires players to move in a fluid formation, where players can interchange positions quickly.

On Mondays players work on fitness and possession.  On Tuesdays, players work on tactics.  On Wednesdays, players work on possession and pressing.  On Thursdays, players work on possession.  On Fridays players work on preparation for the match on Saturday.  On Tuesday and Thursday mornings the team engage in team bonding or community service sessions to ensure the team develops as a cohesive unit and serves the wider community.  On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the players work on individual development plans.

To help with the transition to a new style, Andrés Iniesta brought 3 coaches with him to the club: Toni Borrell, Jon Errasti and Adrián Granado.  All three coaches worked with Iniesta for the Spanish national team.

When writing the article, do not break down the daily activities in the way I have provided.  Include an intro that puts in context that this is a new change for Manchester United, and perhaps draw on other training approaches used in football.  The previous manager was Erik Ten Hag who, whilst not a graduate of the Ajax Academy, managed them for 4 years and would have implemented elements of Total Football himself.  Where possible, use any further information you are able to access about the subject at hand.  Add a conclusion that is open ended.

 

Quote

Rewrite the article with a broader vocabulary.  Please rephrase the paragraph on the training regime - do not break it down by daily activities, but talk about it in terms of how these areas develop players in line with the key areas.  Please rephrase the paragraph on the coaches - focus less on the facts, and more on how hiring staff with familiarity of the new style might aid United in the transition.

Quote

We're on the right path!  Rewrite with even more grandiose vocabulary, bordering on pretentious.  Expand on the training regime - is there a stronger emphasis on some training sessions over others, how does possession training help to develop the five critical areas, how does tactical training help to develop the five critical areas, what is the purpose of individual training plans, do the community service sessions aid development of the five critical areas or does it help in other ways and what impact might this have on the players connections to their local area and fans.  Be expressive.  This paragraph might need to be split across multiple paragraphs.

Quote

Fantastic.  Keep everything above, but add in the section about the coaches in the same grandiose style.  Explore how familiarity helps the transition to a new style and how hiring known quantities can help to bring a cohesive vision.

 

[GIMN]

Match Stats & League Table

Spoiler

A really dominant display, but 3 lucky goals.  The first was a parried save that hit the heel of the defender and bounced into the empty net.  The second was a parried save that fell into the path of Rashford, and the third a penalty.  Useless fact: Daryl Dike has twice played against one of my teams, and been sent off both times.

Like the Liverpool cup game, we were poor in the first half.  Man City moved the ball around us with ease.  A rocket up the proverbial backside did the trick at half time, and we probably should've won it by the end.  Still a point against the league leaders is no mean feat.  I'm not sure United fans would appreciate me saying that.

There might be no player more deadly from 5 yards out than Endrick.  A sensational 4-goal haul for our 20-year old wonderkid, all scored from inside the 6-yard box.

A funny game.  Toney must have wanted the day off, and it was never really a contest from that point on.  We tried playing Rashford and Endrick together, and it didn't really work.  It's going to be tricky to find a way to fit both into the team.

Goal number 48 (40 in the league) for Rashford was enough to see us get the win, but I've got to be a little concerned with how wasteful we were.  Both Rashford and Anthony should've scored from close range.  Thankfully Watford didn't punish us for our profligacy.

1 more win guarantees us Champions League Football next season.  You've got to feel like Rashford has won the top scorer award.  Otherwise it's still finely poised - Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal has opened up the race for second place.

United's Newest Graduates

Spoiler

United's Newest Graduates

Every April teams around the country let their academy hopefuls know which of them will be offered the chance to continue their footballing journey into the U18s.  We sit down with Manchester United's Head of Youth Development, Nick Cox, to run the rule over the newest crop of youngsters to grace the training ground at Carrington.

    

I wouldn't have believed it when I took the job, but we've got an outside chance of finishing 2nd.  If we win our remaining games, including our season closer against Chelsea, we are guaranteed to finish at least 3rd.  Finishing above Liverpool might be too difficult, but not impossible.  Liverpool did get knocked out of the FA Cup by Man City, but they're still in the Champions League (semi final, also against Man City) - that means they have 2 games a week until season end, so we can still hold out for fatigue causing a late season collapse.

Man City's victory over Liverpool means it's an all-Manchester FA Cup final.  We played well against them at Old Trafford at the beginning of the month, but the gulf in quality between us was apparent.  We're going to have one hell of a task to avoid finishing our campaign with two domestic cup final defeats.

That final also means that we have 1 extra game.  That's 1 more game for Rashford to reach the 50 mark.  Only 2 goals this month means he's currently on 48 in all competitions.  Hopefully he can get it before the final, but there would be something poetic about him scoring the winner and his 50th goal all in one stroke.

[_Ben_]

1 hour ago, GIMN said:

I wouldn't have believed it when I took the job, but we've got an outside chance of finishing 2nd. 

You've done a fantastic job turning around the fortunes of Man Utd. Which I guess means I have to ask: what are the long term plans for Iniesta?

[GIMN]

45 minutes ago, _Ben_ said:

You've done a fantastic job turning around the fortunes of Man Utd. Which I guess means I have to ask: what are the long term plans for Iniesta?

Certainly been a good start, but not actually achieved anything yet.  Obviously that might change if we can beat City for the FA Cup.  That's a huge if, though.  Generally speaking, I'm not going to actively seek another job, except Barcelona (for obvious narrative reasons) - and then only if I've been at Man Utd for at least 18 months.  As far as I'm concerned, Man Utd are a "big" club, so it wouldn't make sense for me to see this as a stepping stone.

That also means I can look at this in terms of building for the long term.  I'll be taking over youth development from the summer, as I look to develop our youth prospects in the mold of the senior team, hopefully creating a pathway from academy to first team.  Realistically, that's going to take a few seasons to come to fruition.

[GIMN]

Match Stats & League Table

Spoiler

And that's the 50!  Rashford scores two almost identical goals, running on to an angled through ball, to hit the landmark and take the spotlight away from Kristiansen who was involved in all 3 goals.

Oof.  That was looking like one of those games where we come away frustrated, but Endrick's late winner, tapping home González's cross inside the 6-yard box (of course!), got us the 3 points.  That's Endrick's 20th goal in all competitions.  Chelsea lost to West Ham, so we only need a draw in the final game.

We left it late again.  Güler's goal might've added insult to injury for Chelsea, but was absolutely beautiful - driving into the box via the left channel and drilling it low into the far corner.  Endrick turned provider for Garnacho's opener.

I decided against a massive write-up because 1) I'd only just done one for the Carabao Cup, and 2) I thought we were going to get spanked.  Truth be told, we should've been spanked.  Whilst we did a good job of containing Haaland, Man City were so crisp moving the ball, and we were grateful that Rodrygo's finishing left a lot to be desired.  We did score twice before full-time, but both were clearly offside.  Like the Chelsea game, the 2nd was more a reflection of the game opening up because City had to chase.  That said, I think part of the reason we were able to score at the end was because I held back one of our substitutes until extra time, allowing us to make 2 and have fresher legs for the final stages.  One of them, Mladenović was integral in both goals - starting the move for the first, and registering the assist for the second.

An absolutely phenomenal first 6 months.  I expected us to be in the hunt for Europe, but I was thinking Conference League rather than Champions League.  Technically we had a chance of finishing 2nd but, with Liverpool's final game being a home tie against Middlesborough, those chances were slim.  In the end Liverpool were 5-0 up by half time!

No "feature" this month.  Just my thoughts to end out the season.

We're good.  Maybe, even, very good.  We've got some way to go, however, to challenege Man City and Liverpool.  Our run has been spectacular, but we've also been fortunate that all our games against the other teams in the top 6 were at home (by extension, 5 of Ten Hag's 15 league games in charge this season were away to those very same teams).  Rashford has scored 40% of the goals during my tenure, which is actually less than I thought it would be.  It's been good that we've been able to spread the burden wider than I expected, but a total of 70 of our 92 goals have been scored by players in a striker position.  This is something I want to improve next season.  We need more goals from midfield (and from our defenders from set-pieces).

I'm keen to see how the 4-4-2 fares in pre-season next year.  I was quite quick to abandon it after the patch, and that might've been an overreaction to a poor start in the Burnley game, and attributing the uncharacteristic lack of structure entirely to the patch.  From that point on the games were all too high stakes to experiment, and I have more confidence in the 3-5-2 being defensively solid.  We made some further tweaks, as mentioned in a previous update, as well as become a lot more active in terms of opposition instructions.  Armed with these changes, I hope the 4-4-2 can be a viable option once again.

Our focus in the coming weeks will be squad assessment and transfer planning.  We've been given a transfer budget of £71m, which I hope to bolster with a couple of sales - although that relies on clubs being interested in buying players I no longer want who are probably on prohibitive wages for most.  That should be enough to get in a couple of top players to help improve the starting XI.  Or, maybe, one top player and some good-value squad options that can improve overall depth.  Obviously I want to utilise a data-driven approach (as always), but there's the added wrinkle of I don't know how the patch will have effected metrics.  Whilst it should standardise across most players, there may end up being a skew towards players who either played a higher proportion of their games before or after the patch.

A fun summer ahead!

Edited March 5, 2023 by GIMN

[13th Man]

Just catching up, but loving this write up.  Congrats on the World Cup win!  Loved the shapes and tactical write ups.

And...on Manchester United.  Ouch.  Hard for me to root for them.  When I first started watching European football the one thing I knew is that I did not like Manchester United (the people I knew who rooted for them were glory hunters, this was the 00s).  I have a bit less hate for them now but still.  All the same, it's the type of club that you at least answer the call from so it's a realistic move and all that.

Still, enjoying seeing what Iniesta is doing with them.  I also really like your style of assuming that he was hired to bring the kind of World Cup winning football to to Manchester, even if the personnel aren't quite there yet - square peg round hole and that.  Rashford looks to be enjoying life under Iniesta though!

Overall, decent first season(ish) in England even with the loss to Liverpool in the semi-cup Final.

On 03/03/2023 at 20:38, GIMN said:

An addendum on ChatGPT: thought it would be interesting to see how it can help.  I'm not sold on it, though.  I don't think the "article" is bad, but it probably took longer than had I done it myself, and I would've been able to explore things in more detail.  For anyone interested here were the prompts/revisions:

Find this hilarious and interesting at the same time.  I love the idea of being to plug in some stuff and have it come out differently than I would have been able to do myself, but also find that sometimes trying to work out the shortcut ends up taking as much time as doing it yourself!  Still worth looking into as it's fascinating tech and fun too.

 

Edited March 5, 2023 by 13th Man

[GIMN]

Getting a little ahead of myself here, but I've made a new graph that I want to show off, and get feedback on.

The essence of "moneyball" is not just using data, but identifying the key metrics that will indicate success and then using that to identify players who are undervalued.  Obviously working out what those key metrics are is the hard part, especially in a game as fluid as football.  As with turnover differential (possession won - possession lost), I'm keen to try and explore different amalgamated metrics that I think might be useful, in the hope that one of them sticks.

On that basis, I've created "Excitement Factor".  This is successful dribbles, key passes and shots combined.  The idea being which actions are likely to get fans excited:

Here I've measured it as proprotion of touches (x axis) and per 90 (y axis), with bubble size being actual goal output (goals & assists).  Proportion of touches is rather convoluted - it's exciting actions divided by possession lost + passes completed + shots + fouls won.  The idea being those four metrics at the end are all ways that a phase of play ends - you either lose the ball, pass it to someone else, take a shot or get fouled.

Obviously I have absolutely no idea if this will result in good signings, but surely buying someone who makes the fans stand on their feet can only be a good thing?

Looking in more detail, there's a few players who caught my eye. 

Arnau Puigmal is someone I know absolutely nothing about, which makes him standout compared to the more established players.  Apparently he is a former Man Utd youth player, and his goal output (7 goals, 7 assists) has been pretty impressive, especially considering Girona were relegated this season.  I'll need to take a look at how he's performing in other areas, but he's valued at £1.3m which suggests he could potentially be the quintessential "moneyball" target.

Andy Ritchie is unlikely to be a target, but I think this is where plotting the two values against one another is helpful.  The fact he does something exciting 11% of the time he has the ball is encouraging, but if it happens so infrequently over the course of 90 minutes for a team like Rangers, it suggests that he's not finding himself in the right positions to receive the ball in the first place.  I should add here, these are all players my scouts have reasonable knowledge of and have played at least 900 minutes this season.

Kenneth Taylor might be an example of a player who will be overvalued.  His goal output is very high compared to the actions he performs, and I would expect that to inflate his value.  If he performs like that over multiple seasons, he might actually be that good, but for now it appears he is an outlier.  A closer look at his history suggests the latter as he hasn't breached 20 goals & assists combined in any of his previous seasons.

48 minutes ago, 13th Man said:

Find this hilarious and interesting at the same time.  I love the idea of being to plug in some stuff and have it come out differently than I would have been able to do myself, but also find that sometimes trying to work out the shortcut ends up taking as much time as doing it yourself!  Still worth looking into as it's fascinating tech and fun too.

Definitely interesting technology, but I'm not sold on the idea of it currently being better than existing chatbots.  There's value to saying "I don't know" or "this isn't my area of expertise" and being able to guide people towards someone or something that will be more helpful.  Still going to keep trying and find ways it can make my life easier, though!!

[SixPointer]

1 hour ago, GIMN said:

Getting a little ahead of myself here, but I've made a new graph that I want to show off, and get feedback on.

The essence of "moneyball" is not just using data, but identifying the key metrics that will indicate success and then using that to identify players who are undervalued.  Obviously working out what those key metrics are is the hard part, especially in a game as fluid as football.  As with turnover differential (possession won - possession lost), I'm keen to try and explore different amalgamated metrics that I think might be useful, in the hope that one of them sticks.

On that basis, I've created "Excitement Factor".  This is successful dribbles, key passes and shots combined.  The idea being which actions are likely to get fans excited:

Here I've measured it as proprotion of touches (x axis) and per 90 (y axis), with bubble size being actual goal output (goals & assists).  Proportion of touches is rather convoluted - it's exciting actions divided by possession lost + passes completed + shots + fouls won.  The idea being those four metrics at the end are all ways that a phase of play ends - you either lose the ball, pass it to someone else, take a shot or get fouled.

Obviously I have absolutely no idea if this will result in good signings, but surely buying someone who makes the fans stand on their feet can only be a good thing?

Looking in more detail, there's a few players who caught my eye. 

Arnau Puigmal is someone I know absolutely nothing about, which makes him standout compared to the more established players.  Apparently he is a former Man Utd youth player, and his goal output (7 goals, 7 assists) has been pretty impressive, especially considering Girona were relegated this season.  I'll need to take a look at how he's performing in other areas, but he's valued at £1.3m which suggests he could potentially be the quintessential "moneyball" target.

Andy Ritchie is unlikely to be a target, but I think this is where plotting the two values against one another is helpful.  The fact he does something exciting 11% of the time he has the ball is encouraging, but if it happens so infrequently over the course of 90 minutes for a team like Rangers, it suggests that he's not finding himself in the right positions to receive the ball in the first place.  I should add here, these are all players my scouts have reasonable knowledge of and have played at least 900 minutes this season.

Kenneth Taylor might be an example of a player who will be overvalued.  His goal output is very high compared to the actions he performs, and I would expect that to inflate his value.  If he performs like that over multiple seasons, he might actually be that good, but for now it appears he is an outlier.  A closer look at his history suggests the latter as he hasn't breached 20 goals & assists combined in any of his previous seasons.

Definitely interesting technology, but I'm not sold on the idea of it currently being better than existing chatbots.  There's value to saying "I don't know" or "this isn't my area of expertise" and being able to guide people towards someone or something that will be more helpful.  Still going to keep trying and find ways it can make my life easier, though!!

Really like your thinking behind this. I think moneyball is something very hard to nail down at times. I know the guy who does Tifo stuff on YouTube done a very good write up on a save he done in football manager. Before the data hub. It’s impressive I’ll try find the link.

I have tried my best this year to implement it to my best knowledge (which is limited still getting to grips with using data)

The Taylor phenomenon is something I cashed in on first season. I had Tin Plavotic a giant CB and placed him at the focal point of all my detailed attacking set plays. He scored 8 goals that season and won 90% of his headers at the heart of the defence. A player who was valued at 800 thousand at the start of the season soon shot up to around 2.5 million, then sold for 5 million. He never made the grade in France and now finds himself back in Austria. 

[_Ben_]

On 04/03/2023 at 16:38, GIMN said:

Certainly been a good start, but not actually achieved anything yet.  Obviously that might change if we can beat City for the FA Cup.  That's a huge if, though.  Generally speaking, I'm not going to actively seek another job, except Barcelona (for obvious narrative reasons) - and then only if I've been at Man Utd for at least 18 months.  As far as I'm concerned, Man Utd are a "big" club, so it wouldn't make sense for me to see this as a stepping stone.

That also means I can look at this in terms of building for the long term.  I'll be taking over youth development from the summer, as I look to develop our youth prospects in the mold of the senior team, hopefully creating a pathway from academy to first team.  Realistically, that's going to take a few seasons to come to fruition.

Interested to see how you approach this.

You are right though, it's a start. However, the rate in which you've won and turned the fortunes around makes me think you'll be up there challenging Man City next season. However, a move back to a probably-AI-destroyed Barca would be a really nice move to read about.

[GIMN]

On 05/03/2023 at 08:22, SixPointer said:

The Taylor phenomenon is something I cashed in on first season. I had Tin Plavotic a giant CB and placed him at the focal point of all my detailed attacking set plays. He scored 8 goals that season and won 90% of his headers at the heart of the defence. A player who was valued at 800 thousand at the start of the season soon shot up to around 2.5 million, then sold for 5 million. He never made the grade in France and now finds himself back in Austria. 

I'd never thought about moneyball from the other perspective - taking advantage of players being overvalued and cashing in!  It'd be interesting to see if there are other ways, like finding someone who is particularly dangerous at set-pieces, to help inflate someone's value.

23 hours ago, _Ben_ said:

Interested to see how you approach this.

You are right though, it's a start. However, the rate in which you've won and turned the fortunes around makes me think you'll be up there challenging Man City next season. However, a move back to a probably-AI-destroyed Barca would be a really nice move to read about.

Youth training is the bit that is holding up my progress.  There are some general principles which will trickle down from the first team approach, but need to settle on an approach. 

As for challenging Man City and Liverpool, I think that will ultimately come down to how well they do.  That's some Michael Owen levels of insight, there .  What I mean is that I feel we can compete, but we're not quite at the same level of quality.  If either of them play to the best of their ability all the way through the season, we don't stand a chance.  We need at least a couple of seasons of signings to transform the squad in my (well, Iniesta's) image.

[GIMN]

Youth Training

Confession time.  I've left this too late this season.  Before putting careful consideration how we're going to tackle youth development and playing pathways, I let contracts run out on propsects below the required level and gave my loan manager instructions to find first team opportunities for those who weren't going to be part of the senior squad.  As a result, I do not have enough youth players at the club.  Nonetheless, the work we're going to put in isn't just for this season, so we can still start to put a plan in action.

As mentioned before we have 5 core attributes we want to address:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Decisions
• Teamwork

Above is the main pattern for both Under 18s and Under 21s - the only between the two being Under 21s swap out one Physical session for an additional Possession session.  It's exceptionally boring, so I have to hope that my coaches have a broad repertoire of drills at their disposal to keep engagement high! 

A few editions ago, I went through each schedule to create a tool to help me understand what areas a schedule would impact.  More specifically, what percentage of time is being spent on which attributes.  The tool doesn't show "Teamwork" because the formula is wrong somewhere, but I know it's the remaining %, which in this case is 3%.  We're not looking to be min-max here.  It's not a case of wanting to make sure that we're getting the absolute most, but more to ensure that we're not completely missing the mark.  We've got a good balance across those core attributes, and that's what matters.  It's worth pointing out that because we're not using specialised sessions, the split between attacking and defensive unit is kind of redundant here.

That's the first part of the puzzle.  Part 2 is Individual Role training.  We're again keeping things simple.  There are 6 roles:

• Sweeper Keeper (all goalkeers)
• Ball Playing Defender (all central defenders)
• Complete Wing Back (all flank players)
• Deep Lying Playmaker (all defensive-minded central midfielders)
• Advanced Playmaker (all attack-minded central midfielders)
• Deep Lying Forward (all strikers)

The rationale is as simple as the approach - I want players working on individual roles that will develop skills in the general area of the pitch they're most likely to play in their senior careers, whilst prioritising those core attributes.  It's not important to us that they train in the role they will fulfil within our tactic.  This is about developing the skillset.

Part 3: Additional Focus.  Guess what?  This is simple, too.

5 core attributes.  5 areas identified.  10 months of training (July-April).  Change area every month, focus on each area twice over the course of a season.

Part 4: Tactics.  There's a theme forming here.  It's a simplified version of the main tactic.  As we're not going to be building this around specific players, it's more about familiarity with the style.  We've abandoned the midfield rhombus formed with a false 9, but we're keeping the midfield unit on support to encourage a passing game.

Will it work?  No idea.  Arguably, won't know until a number of years down the line.

[TCSSkin]

Everytime i read this thread it inspires me  to make my own again 😂

[GIMN]

25 minutes ago, bluestillidie00 said:

Everytime i read this thread it inspires me  to make my own again 😂

Do it! Do it! Do it!

[TCSSkin]

2 hours ago, GIMN said:

Do it! Do it! Do it!

not me writing 16000 words and then shelving it all over again 😂

[GIMN]

Let's Talk Transfers

WARNING: Long post - if you just want a summary, peek at the spoiler and ignore the rest of this post!

Spoiler

Having joined the club only 2 weeks before the January transfer window and with a specific need to be addressed (lack of depth in defence), our first foray into the market was very much focused on dealing with short term issues.  Summer is where I really get to make my mark on squad composition.  I do have to be mindful of the club's vision, though:

As far as I'm concerned, this doesn't mean that my signings have to exclusively be 23 or under.  We will instead pick and choose our moments where appropriate and, whilst I believe the game doesn't care if a player is 24 or 42 when it comes to fulfilling this criteria, we'll still try and aim to find players who are not too far over the age of 23 when we do fall foul of that vision.  With an average squad age of 27.5, a whole 0.5 above the league average, we could do with getting younger, but there's no need to be drastic.  We are also within our wage budget, and whilst £4.37m a week is an eye-watering amount, our spend is in line with exectations for our level:

Subsequently, when planning our transfer activities, we do not have to be overly concerned about wages, but I do want to be mindful that salaries are at least proportional.  Overpaying one or two players can have disastrous knock-on effects for every negotiation thereafter, and high wages can become very prohibitive when trying to move players on.  The only problem here is I don't necessarily know what "proportional" is.

Outgoings

With all that in mind, let's have a look at candidates for the chop, starting with those who have already made their intentions known in some way or another:

Before I'd barely stepped foot into Carrington back in December, both players were keen to let me know they didn't want to be here.  In the case of González, he was unhappy with his playing time and wanted to go out on loan.  An injury in January nixed those plans.  A succession of injuries followed, restricting him to a single substitute appearance (he did come on and register an assist).  With Juventus interested and a reasonably high value despite his struggles, it was an easy decision to transfer list him.  A fee of £45m was eventually agreed, £24m up front, and then 3 further instalments of £7m over the next 3 years. 

Having spent many iterations of FM leaving transfer dealings to the DoF, it's quite nice to take control of that element again.  Whilst I want to generate revenue to help bolster our £71m war chest, I don't need everything up front.  This gives me flexibility to take a similar approach with transfers in, offsetting spend against future revenue.  By ensuring we have instalments coming in, our offset spend isn't going to necessarily come at the expense of future transfer budgets.  Furthermore, whilst unlikely, it allows us to potentially renegotiate fees down the line should cash flow/liquidity become an issue for any of these teams, presenting a need for a short-term cash injection.

Back on topic, and onto Dean Henderson.  He didn't want to go out on loan, he was quite adamant that he wanted to leave.  No-one was interested in January, and no-one is interested now either.  I'm not surprised, given his £140k per week wages.  Eventually, we managed to get Sporting CP to offer £10m, but only on the proviso that we made a wage contribution of £69,000 for the remainder of his existing contract.  As he had just one year to go, thats £3.5m.  It sounds like a lot of money to throw away, but the way I see it is we've removed £140k per week from the wage bill, and made £6.5m from the transfer fee for a player who was barely going to feature.  I'm also not going through this process in chronological order, so we'll talk a little later about additional factors that contributed to this decision.

Next up, is a departure we've previously alluded to:

Casemiro's contract was due to expire at the end of the season, and he had been usurped by Bentancur in the starting lineup.  There is probably an argument for seeing whether he would accept a drop in wages and keeping him around as he is still a capable player at 35-years old.  With players like Eriksen and Varane around, however, we are not desperately in need of that veteran presence.

Finally, we're on to the controversial decisions:

Full disclosure.  It's been hard enough parking my distaste for Man United, and sadly I am unable to extend that grace to the moaning, diving extraordinaire that is Bruno Fernandes.  He played well enough down the stretch, but Güler is our future.  With one year remaining on his £250k per week contract, and at 32-years old, we might as well get as much as we can for him now, rather than see him leave for free next summer.  Like with Henderson, his contract was prohbitive, and we eventually agreed to pay £105k per week for the next year to get a team to bite.  That team was West Ham, and I'm sure I'll live to regret the decision to sell him within the division.  Even moreso for £20m (or £14.5m when you consider the wage cost).

Dalot is probably the most surprising leaver.  If you asked me in February, he was one of the first names on the teamsheet, however the switch to 3-5-2 has seen him lose his place to Sancho, and this is a position I can probably look to find a more than adequate younger and cheaper backup for.  He was also attracting the interest of Juventus.  And with that the decision was made, which he took absolutely in his stride:

Juventus bid the £60m asking price and with Dalot interested that would be that.  Or it should've been.  He rejected their contract offer.  West Ham came in with a bid of £55m.  He rejected their contract offer, too.  Eventually we sold him to Arsenal for £50m (£20m up front, £10m for the next 3 years).  Some people might accuse me of being careless, selling off players to other Premier League teams.  I prefer to view it as trying to establish some competitive parity.

Youngsters Santiago Castro and Shola Shoretire were also sold for a combined £20m as clubs were starting to show interest and neither were likely to make the grade at first team level.  Similarly Denis Zakaria was allowed to leave for AC Milan, as he was in the final year of his contract and very much on the peripheries of the squad.

8 notable players sold, £160.75m recouped (£91m up front), £723,500 per week, or £37.5m per annum, off the wage budget.  Considering none of these players were guaranteed starters either in the immediate future, or long term, this is a pretty pleasing outcome.  Of course, "success" is going to be hinge on who we've brought in to replace them.

Incoming

Up first is two reactive transfers.  Having just been relegated with Burnley, after conceding 71 goals, I saw a news article about a bid of £3m being accepted for a veteran international goalkeeper who, at worst, would be an improvement on Henderson and, with a bit of luck, might be able to compete with Çakır for the starting job.  I matched the bid, offered a 1-year contract for £55,000 per week and had wrapped up our first signing before the window had even opened.

We didn't have time to do our due dilligence, but it's a low risk move that doesn't prohibit us from signing another keeper if the opportunity arises.  His wages nicely mirror the savings from the Henderson deal, essentially meaning we have a lower wage commitment overall (£55k + Henderson's £69k compared to Henderson's £140k if he'd stayed) and made £7m in transfer fees.

The other reactive transfer was a player mentioned earlier when talking about "Excitement Factor".  Arnau Puigmal's low value was a direct result of a relegation clause and other teams weren't waiting around.  £1.3m for a player who will count as Homegrown for Man Utd is a no brainer.

He comes in as a "Fringe" player, and based on other transfers that would be an accurate assessment.  However, he's got a good spread of ability, some traits that suit the mezzala role, and the ability to play as a wide playmaker in a 4-4-2, and as such I hope he'll get at least some opportunities over the course of the season.

With Diogo Dalot on the chopping board, we wanted to bring in a RWB who would satisfy the sign U23s for first team criteria.  Based on players scouted, who are at least good in core attributes and have played over 900 minutes of football, we had 3 contenders: João Moreira (São Paulo), Vinicius Tobias (Santos) or Ivan Masi (Juventus).

 

 

A clear winner, who is arguably better than Diego Dalot (dark green) already in 3 of the 4 areas.  With a release clause of £10.5m and wage demands £50k per week below the Portuguese, I am happy to introduce Vinicius Tobias:

With Casemiro leaving (and eventually Zakaria, too) we needed a DM.  No concrete decision was made as to whether this would also be an Under-23 player, or not.  That was until I looked at the demands of the players who fit the criteria I was looking at.  We'd narrowed it down to Aston Villa's Boubacar Kamara who would've cost north of £70m or Vitinha, who wanted over £200k per week.  Whilst I think we can improve on Bentancur as our anchor, I'm happy with him in that role, and this can be an area for development.  Step forward 3 scouted youngsters who met our attribute criteria, but did not have enough minutes to dive into their statistical output.  In alphabetical (by first name) order:

  

Scalvini is unhappy at Juventus, but his price tag is prohibitively high.  He would be the ideal candidate, and we tried to lowball the Turin giants in the hope it would sow further discontent.  It didn't work.  Both Rumle and Aséko Nkili would be good options, but whilst the Stoke City midfielder is slightly behind his Bayern Munich counterpart in terms of talent, he's a little bit cheaper and would count as homegrown.  £16.75m is steep compared to other signings we've made so far, but doesn't seem unreasonable for a young, English talent.  There's some improvement to be made, but he's got a solid base to work from and should be a capable understudy to Bentancur.

Two more signings to go, and I'll try and keep it a little briefer.  You remember that Excitement Factor graph I was so keen to show off the other day?  Just below Puigmal was a 24-year old who didn't just grade out highly, but also had 24 goal contributions in Portugal last season.  This fella here:

Well, he's available for under £20m and should more than adequately fill the role vacated by my spiteful sale of Bruno Fernandes.  He will also earn considerably less than his predecessor at only £95k per week.  Welcome former Barcelona midfielder, Pablo Torre:

The last piece of the puzzle was already at the club.  We'd agreed an optional fee of £38m for Josip Šutalo as part of his loan for Real Madrid, and he performed admirably over the last 6 months.  If there was someone discernibly better at a fair price, we would've pursued them instead.  The closest being Arnau Comas, who was part of my World Cup winning Spain side - but Villarreal wanted over £55m.  Whilst I know both players can perform within my system, I've got to give priority to the player who already has some familiarity with the squad here, and so the deal for Šutalo was formally completed, and we only needed to give him a £6k per week pay rise:

The new arrivals have a combined wage of £385k per week; just over half of what we'd saved with outgoings.  We've sunk a further £140k into new contracts for Bentancur, who is now the de facto starter with us deciding to bring in youth at that position, and Lacroix, who was criminally underpaid at ony £73k per week.  Sancho and Rashford's contracts are due to expire in 2 years time, so I expect the remainder of our wage savings will disappear quickly!

And with that our off-season was complete.  I'm pretty happy.  We have arguably got worse, but only marginally and I've been able to bring in players who fit the profile of what we are looking to achieve.  I know it wasn't the primary aim of the transfer window, but we've done all that and made £70m profit at the same time.  I know that wasn't the 

[GIMN]

Match Stats (Community Shield Only)

Spoiler

I have too often used the idiom "better to be lucky than good".  Whilst there is always value to the pragmatic, results-driven approach, you can't rely on luck as a tactical plan.  Man City were the better team - maybe not be as wide a margin as I might've expected - and we struggled to deal with Haaland's physicality throughout; his goal being a prime example.  After outmuscling Šutalo, he then beat Varane for pace en route to goal, before calmly rolling the ball past Pickford.  Our equaliser came courtesy of a fine cross from Madueke, who had only come on as a substitute 2 minutes prior, tapped in at the back post.  It came down to penalties, and fittingly Ávila scored the winner (his missed penalty against Barcelona led to our CL exit last season).

Premier League Preview

Spoiler

Premier League Preview
(Predicted league finish based on in-game media predictions.  Stats taken from last season in all competitions.)

A solid preseason with little drama.  Real Madrid submitted a bid of £60m for Alejandro Garnacho which was rejected, and despite Garnacho being keen on the move he didn't raise any objections to the decision.  He later picked up an ankle injury after the Barcelona friendly and will miss the start of the season.  Rashford (£300k) and Sancho (£400k) both signed new contracts.  As crazy as the money seems, it's roughly a 20% raise for both players.

On the pitch our focus has primarily been getting players up to match fitness.  We tried to keep games as local as possible, and used reserve fixtures to ensure that the entire squad got plenty of minutes in the run up to the new season.  The Community Shield, as nice as a competition as it is, kind of disrupts my plans a little.  Ideally, we'd have had an additional "weak" opponent in the schedule with the Barcelona game being the "showpiece" friendly about 10 days before the season starts.  We'd then use the final weekend against semi-decent opposition just to give us one last chance to make sure players are sufficiently up to speed.

Pickford has earned the #1 spot, at least to start the season, whilst Mladenović is probably going to earn more starts at Eriksen's expense than I'd expected.

Some big games to start out the season, with 2 teams predicted to finish above us sandwiching a trip to newly promoted Brighton, before a sure-to-be-feisty derby against Leeds.

[SixPointer]

Summer signings check!

assault on the title pending….

 

[13th Man]

Excellent work in the off season.  Love the way you looked for value and are looking to build the whole club with a unified vision.  Curious to see how that turns out with the youth set up.

Rumble is a great name for a DM.

The excitement graph is also excellent.

[GIMN]

On 09/03/2023 at 08:51, SixPointer said:

Summer signings check!

assault on the title pending….

 

I'm looking forward to seeing how Vinicius Tobias, Torre and Puigmal work out.  Not massive sums relative to the stature of the club, but I've put a lot of weight into this completely unproven "excitement factor", so this'll be a good opportunity to see if I'm onto someting or completely wide of the mark!

On 10/03/2023 at 04:47, 13th Man said:

Rumble is a great name for a DM.

I know right!  I want to refer to him as the Rumbler, but that sounds just like an amateur wrestler!

I have a question to those lovely folk reading this.  I have two possible graphics for helping provide a summary of games.  Which do you reckon is better?