[FM24] The Salzburg Project... In Holland.

[Slipky]

The Salzburg Project... In Holland.

It's time to take my FM ideas to the next level, and, taking inspiration from @_Ben_ and @MattyLewis11's projects, The Norseman and The Ajax Way, I've decided to launch my own little project thread. Welcome to The Salzburg Project. The idea, which came from a friend of mine that also plays FM - Was that:
Basically, the main focus is to put a great deal of emphasis on the development of young talents and their sales to Europe's bigger clubs - thereby creating a financial base for the club, hopefully without harming professional progress, all while establishing the club as a local force to be reckoned with. Last year, we had a great deal of fun in Belgium. I took over Beerschot, and he took over SV Zulte Waregem - And we both had a great time taking these clubs to be an absolute force in the Belgian league.

This year, we're staying close to Belgium, but Holland it is. Seeing how FC Groningen relegated to the second tier, the team choice wasn't even hard for me. I love fallen giants, and when we have the likes of Arjen Robben, the Koeman brothers and Luis Suárez as club icons and legends, I just can't pick any other team. We might be promotion favorites from the Eerste Divisie, but I'm expecting a harsh season ahead of us due to the changes I'm planning to implement.

Let's begin!

[Slipky]

The Salzburg Project... In Holland.

THE SQUAD

Lots of talented youngsters here, most ahead of their prime. Leandro Bacuna was also here, but I've decided to release him as he wasn't a good fit for my tactical style. I'm heavily inspired by The Iron Tulip tactic that SteinkelssonFM created in his Ajax save and I have decided I want this to be the core tactic of the save. Looking at the experience matrix above, I'm relieved to see that most of the players I'm counting on to perform this season are either before their peak, or in their peak. Due to the transition to a CD-oriented formation, I have decided to train 22 year old Norwegian left back Isak Määttä as a WCB - I think he's the perfect fit for the role and having him with us, not having to spend anything on him in order to get and train him, was an easy choice. Click on his image below to reach his profile, and the same goes for every player I'll mention from now on. Another player I'll be putting my chips on this season is central midfielder Johan Hove, another Norwegian who I expect to be a creative dynamo in the midfield. Moving on, striker Romano Postema might be my top striker, but I desperately need a player capable of performing better in the Trequartista role - A role which I think the young Dutch can't perform as well as I hope. One main issue I have at the moment is the lack of quality substitutes on the bench to make a difference. I'll be sending my scouts on various assignments to try and find us some talents we can use from the bench or even in the first team, in order to make an impact.

 

 

Edited January 30 by Slipky

[rich ruzzian]

A club like Groningen belongs in the Eredivisie. Hope you an bring them back as soon as possible. 

[RogerC]

Following!! Good luck.

[Carambau]

Sounds good! Will be following  

[Slipky]

TRANSFERS ANALYSIS - MID SEASON MINI UPDATE

It's mid-season in Groningen, and things are looking... Rather bleak. We're sitting second in the league, way behind Cambuur who managed to rack an impressive forty-five points, ten points more than we managed to achieve, this, of course, is attributed to both our mediocre offense, and our leaky defense.
I've dug into the scouting package and sent my scouts far and wide - Before managing to find two Bulgarian gems, from both sides of the Sofia derby, to strengthen our struggling offensive line - One will be positioned into the Trequartista role, and the other, into the Shadow Striker role.

STANISLAV SHOPOV, 21, AM(R,C)/M(C)

Enter Stanislav Shopov. Our new creator in the AMC strata. Impressive chance creation, elite key pass output, very few boring passes and nearly 0.3 goals per 90 minutes have made their impact on me, and I decided to splash the money on 21 y/o Shopov to mix things up in the AMC position after none of the squad have proven worthy enough of getting me where I want tactically. Convincing CSKA Sofia to sell wasn't easy, but eventually, they settled for 2.8 million euros, and another 200,000 in bonuses - Bringing the deal to 3,000,000 euros total. Not a bad deal for someone that's expected to lock down the creative part of our midfield for years to come. Groningen fans may be "pleased" to know that Shopov played for arch-rivals SC Heerenveen and made just one appearance between 2020 and 2022. The Bulgarian has since returned to the relative safety of the Bulgarian league and has now been given another chance to impress on the Dutch football scene - as a creative player in a team that desperately needs one like him.

And yet, signing Shopov was only half the battle. I also needed a new striker, a trequartista, who knew how to move to the dead areas and clear the stage for Shopov - or alternatively, take advantage of the opportunities dictated by the schaduwspits, the shadow striker. Enter...

MARIN PETKOV, 20, AM(R,L,C)/ST

Right from the other side of the Sofia derby, arrives Marin Petkov - A perfect, all around Trequartista, much to my delight. Levski's attacking midfielder Petkov is going to play as the Trequartista in my formation and provide me with the attacking support that Shopov and wingers need to function properly. Petkov is a gifted scorer - statistically, he is responsible for 0.83 goals every ninety minutes, along with creating great goalscoring opportunities to his teammates (1.74 key passes per game and 91 percent pass accuracy) together with choosing high-quality goalscoring opportunities for himself: 0.21 xG per kick - quite the high-quality shots, when a clear cut chance for a goal will constitute about 0.15 xG. Petkov, similarly to Shopov, arrives at the same price, 3,000,000 euros - 2.5 in cash, 500,000 in bonuses.

Edited February 4 by Slipky

[Dr Naysay]

The whole concept and team you picked is right up my alley. The other thing with Groningen is it's the only city in the entire province so you literally have most of the province supporting you. Keenly following!!!

[_Ben_]

I had missed this but have a soft spot for Groningen after managing them a few years ago. You’ve made a good start - keep it up!!

[SixPointer]

Magical idea, drawing inspiration from two of the very best FM career updaters is always a good way to go.

Groningen is perfect for your plan as well. I just don’t like them cause they play in green and white (colours of my real life rivals)

Best of luck 

[Dr Naysay]

I am interested how you are getting on with Postema or what you have done with him in this save because I am starting to think he needs to be converted to be on the wing or in a SS role.

Edited February 5 by Dr Naysay

[Slipky]

On 04/02/2024 at 15:58, _Ben_ said:

I had missed this but have a soft spot for Groningen after managing them a few years ago. You’ve made a good start - keep it up!!

Thanks for the reply, Ben!

On 04/02/2024 at 22:11, SixPointer said:

Magical idea, drawing inspiration from two of the very best FM career updaters is always a good way to go.

Groningen is perfect for your plan as well. I just don’t like them cause they play in green and white (colours of my real life rivals)

Best of luck 

  Thanks!

On 05/02/2024 at 16:30, Dr Naysay said:

I am interested how you are getting on with Postema or what you have done with him in this save because I am starting to think he needs to be converted to be on the wing or in a SS role.

Ever since Shopov's arrival he's been used primarily as a sub. He's very limited and doesn't contribute a whole lot.

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With that being said, a new update is being written. I'll keep you all updated!

[john1]

Interesting project!

Hope you're still playing this?