darren1983

Congrats on the first completion of FM 24 - 8 days after the game actually came out

Let me see what I can cook up in the post season - thinking a complete rebuild of my staff to begin with

Usually when I'm in to this challenge I get to a point where I come up with the idea of trying to turn my side into a Ajax/Barcelona (classic Ajax not current one ) style side and have that running through my club, usually it happens when I'm in the Championship but for some reason at the end of this past season I have a desire to try it again. Now I'm not sure it's possible to really do it in this challenge as you can't go out and but the players you need to play that style and you're so reliant on what players come through, I'm certainly sure it's not possible to play that extreme possession and pressing style in Vanarama National league North but here I am trying to work out a tactic to try and play it like a crazy fool

You probably won't get the chance with transfers that are done with a board takeover. Will have to transfer list them and stick them in the reserves till they're sold. Just post a screen shot at end of season, if they're still with you, letting us know they've not played any games for you.

2025/26 season review Vanarama National league North League - A good season where I set about just trying to to get more points than the previous season, that will usually mean you finish higher as well so that's always the target. I find the 2nd season in a league can be the toughest as you're no longer on the high of promotion and you're older players are another year older while you wait for the young players to adapt. However this year we did well, we lost around the same number of games as last season and think we won a couple less, the issues was draws. Just far too many really. We had a spell of 5 draws in 8 games around new year where we conceded in injury time in all 5 draws. We had real issues holding on to leads this season and defending corners - we conceded 18 goals from corners this year. My usual shutting down tactic not working in this version. In the end though our ability to score goals (4 players scored 20 or more) meant we were always in with a shout and in the end we managed to beat last season's points tally by 6 points and managed to finish 7th and get into the playoffs. Here we faced a Tamworth side we took 4 points off in the season and only finished 3 points behind. A 3-1 away win put us in the semis against Hereford who took 4 points off of us. We started well and took the lead then gave it away almost from kick off. We held them off but 2 goals from 2 corners in the final 20 mins meant we lost. Honestly the top 3 were so far and above the rest of the league this season that I'm not upset, though one of them (Hereford it turns out) will still be here next season and the relegated sides look strong too so I think next season will be even tougher than this one. FA Cup - Made it to the 2nd round proper which was a nice little run. Got one of the hardest games we could as Bolton were 3rd in League One at the time. Far too good for us but made some money in the run FA Trophy - Annoying to lose in the 3rd round to a team in the league below us but we're still running with a small squad so getting out of the cups before the new year maybe isn't the worst thing for us Transfers - none in and none out. Very quiet. I hope to be starting to loan players out next season though Finances - Cup runs and being at a decent club means we're pretty solid here. managed to ask for upgrades to Junior coaching and youth recruitment which were accepted but not shown up on my facilities page just yet Youth Intake - the preview promised a good one (though not as good as some) and it turned out alright. Tagged 7 players with a handful more just missing out. means our U18's have depth now so I can start to move some up to be part of the full team now. We're gonna need that depth next season I think. Ben Owen YP26A - this guys looks like he will be an decent option as one of our inside forwards Keiran Simon YP26B - left winger with decent acceleration and OK crossing and dribbling, nice player to have off the bench I think Archie Bartam YP26C - a full back which we really need as our only RB in the squad is actually a CM I had to train there Jay Ward YP26D - a nice little looking CM Joe Dunn YP26E - while we have 2 players able to play LB neither really excite me so good to have a young player there Steve King YP26F - am retraining him to be a RB as think he offers us more there than as a winger. If it doesn't work out I reckon he could be a decent author Jamie Walker YP26G - when I saw a keeper on the list I was excited but he's fine, nothing more Career Overview Season League Position Junior Coaching Youth Recruitment Notes 2024/25 VNN 13th Adequate Average Got first coaching badge 2025/26 VNN 7th Adequate Average Lost playoff semi finals. 2nd coaching badge

I think I hate you for this

My keeper is going to cost me any chance of getting out of this league. 8 games in to the new season we've faced 22 shots on target and he's conceded 15 goals. Man couldn't save a game on the playstation and yet he's still all I've really got as we only had 1 keeper in the youth intake and he's even worse

Season 2024/25 Review Vanarama National League North League - A mix bag of a season really, we started well but then our small squad caught up with us as we struggled in November and December, found some form again but then our only keeper broke his arm and missed the final 3 months of the season and then our top scorer also missed 2 months so I pretty much just speed ran through the end of season till the youth intake but 13th for a side predicted 22nd is pretty good, our main issue was conceding goals and I don't think that's getting better any time soon so we cold be here for a while FA Cup - had a good run in this, made the 1st round proper but it came just at the start of our down turn in form (it may even have been the first defeat in our run of 7 straight from memory) but made a little cash and had some fun so not bad FA Trophy - another decent run in this before losing to Oldham who were midtable in the league above Transfers - none in but lost some CM depth (nice to see they've fixed the issues of not being able to remove non contracted players off the transfer list ) but losing Zuk to Crewe hurt, he'd have been a class RB at this level but was on a non contract and wouldn't talk about a new deal so he left before we got to use him. Other than that no one else moved basically as we couldn't afford to lose anyone else. Youth Intake - well the preview wasn't great and the actual intake was, I dunno, fine I guess. 1 player who think could make something and a few others look OK Tagged Players: Paul Spencer YP25A - DM/CM who ticks a lot of boxes for me, needs some work obviously but those mentals are decent Andre Monteiro YP25B - Portuguese attacker, think he's more a wide option than through the middle though Christian Kamga YP25C - French CB but with his height I may be tempted to use him at DM Sam Jones YP25D - Young CB, bit on the slow side but has decent jumping reach so, with some work, could be added depth at CB John Wilkinson YP25E - Full back that can cover either side Career Overview Season League Position Junior Coaching Youth Recruitment Notes 2024/25 VNN 13th Adequate Average Got first coaching badge

Just lost the only keeper at the club for 3 months with a broken arm - which just happens to be the rest of the season. I forgot how much I hate this game Edit: 30 mins into the next game and the grey keeper I'm using also gets injured. This game man

Thankfully mine's not that bad, have enough to play people in their positions (aside from right back but that's when training comes in) but that moment in a youth challenge when you're desperate for the intake and you get the preview... Oh

Safe to say our small squad (we have 16 players) is catching up with us

OK, full game out now it's time to really start after the false start with Dulwich. I'm sticking with England with FC United. Starting profile How the club and squad look at the start:

As is likely clear by my lack of any update I've not really taken to the Dulwich save but I do have an idea for another team. Will wait till Monday for the full release before starting as not going to have a massive amount of time to play before then anyway.

I really want you to complete it with them so best of luck!

So been playing around with a couple saves waiting for full release but I've yet to play more than 2 league games with a side as I can't connect to a save knowing I'm going to stop in a couple of weeks so screw it, I'll start now. I return to Dulwich Hamlet after 6 or 7 years when last time I only got as far as the Championship. This has been my plan since I saw they got relegated back in May so let's see how it goes Starting Profile

Haha, good. You're the reason I even attempted this challenge years ago with your strikerless team in Sweden (I think?) so it's good it's come full circle Know what you mean though, I've been playing around a little as wanted to hold off starting the challenge till the full game is out but I can't get into anything as I know it's only a 2 week save at most so I'm thinking I'll be starting here properly sometime soon.

Ah that's a spanner in the works, Japan might be as hard as somewhere like England now - just for different reasons.

Only if it's me But yeah that's a good shout.

Just seen this over in GD so yeah might be best holding off Japan till full release

Beta, sorry, Early Access has only been out 25 hours and we're already on 3 pages. You lot make this thread so much fun each year, am looking forward to being a proper part of it this year rather than just popping in every few weeks like last year. Many thanks for making this such a popular way of playing the game. This probably should have been in the OP now I've written it

Heard there is still some licensing issues to be signed off in Japan so maybe worth waiting till full release before trying there?

I have a feeling Japan is going to be popular - at least at the start

Bugger

With all that done, beta is out -