warlock

Post a pic of your tactic. I'm no tactical genius but I'm happy to brainstorm if it helps!

Still going well, especially in a promotion season. FA Cup run in the new year?

You can send players on a leadership course.

Really well done on the promotion. My first thought when you started the thread was you'd chosen one of the toughest (if not the toughest) clubs to open with. Money will always be your greatest challenge until you get to the PL - a small ground coupled with a limited catchment area, compounded by local rivals. You're sandwiched between Blackburn Rovers and Burnley, with the Manchester clubs not far away, so you're depending on a good cup run until you get that big TV money. KUTGW

In your screenshot - Play out of Defence, Work Ball into Box, and Be More Expressive.

Agh! If the laptop died while saving, the save is almost certainly corrupt and beyond redemption. You, on the other hand, are not beyond redemption. First thing to do in your next save is go to preferences, select auto-save and to select 3-file rolling backups, saving every week. That way you shouldn't ever lose more than a match or two

Not a bad start, especially if the improved form continues. Dodgy finances seem to be pretty common this year across a number of countries and leagues. Those average attendances have to be good, but I suppose a decent FA Cup run would be a massive help. Good to see Bannan still getting it done - I loved him in a Wednesday save I did about three years ago.

No problem. You remember that row about the Super League and how UEFA were against it? This is how they dealt with the problem - by creating their own Super League

Or, you know, you could do something about that. I've played more than two seasons in my current save and had two red cards in total. Because I watch games, and know who the reckless/aggressive players are, I can tell them to ease of tackles, or sub them off, if they pick up a yellow. If you're picking up 6 red cards in three games you know your tactic is broken.

That's how European competitions are going to be in future. Officially confirmed by UEFA.

There you go

Don't worry - FM frustration is universal. As much as I try to be positive about it, even I'm struggling with players blazing shots over the bar from all over the pitch

I seem to remember that being raised as a bug during beta. I thought SI had addressed it, but it might be one of the things waiting for the next update.

Are they actually declining? Usually, those down arrows signify minor (decimal point) drops, say from 11.4 to 11.3 (in the case of Technique in your screenshot). From week-to-week or month-to-month those kinds of 'declines' are normal and may be no more than physical tiredness having an effect. The only way to judge the issue is to compare highs and lows from season to season. If you get genuine drops, say from 13 to 11, then you might have a problem. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

I've just had four injuries to key players in the last week of pre-season. As often seems to be the case, two of them were to players in the same position, making life particularly difficult. But we must remember the rules of the General Discussion forum: 1. If you see a thing once, it means it happens to everyone, all of the time, and is evidence that the game is broken and unplayable. 2. If you don't remember seeing a thing, it means it never happens to anyone, ever, and is evidence that the game is broken and unplayable. 3. Your save embodies everything that is possible in FM. Anything you deem 'unrealistic' is evidence that the game is broken and unplayable. Carry on.

Good man

Not actually in a managed game, but one of my young GKs out on loan was red carded last week.

Yes, it's fantastic. Loving the variety of goals scored (and conceded!), improved dribbling in all areas of the pitch, and just not seeing the long-ball problem (I'm giving up a handful of goals per season that way, which doesn't seem unrealistic). There are a couple of very minor issues that could do with improving... 1. It seems like far too many shots are fired over the bar. I'm not asking for more goals, but it would be good to see a greater variety of missed shots or saves in the games. 2. There isn't enough variety in the way the ball is deflected from blocked shots or crosses. Almost every time, the ball goes up in the air but continues on the original trajectory rather than being deflected to one side or the other, or rebounding towards the kicker. Otherwise, the ME is great and just a couple of minor tweaks away from being the best we've ever had.

Hopefully someone will, but I'm afraid it won't be me. I have no plans for a save in the EFL this year, having done it to death in recent FMs. I'm planning on exploring the European leagues in FM23 since I've only done a handful of saves there in all my years as an FM manager. Time for pastures new.

Can't beat @XaWbut 2,000 hours is easily doable. My numbers for FM22: I have no doubt I'll match that in FM23.

Wouldn't go that far, but in my beta save he was very streaky and got off to a very slow start. He's frustrating, for sure! If I do another United save I'd probably look to move him on if I could get close to value for him (unless, like all the new signings, he gets an attribute boost at some point).

You know that's realistic, right? UEFA announces new format for club competitions to be introduced as of 2024/25 season | Inside UEFA | UEFA.com

It's another tool to manage my players - boost morale or warn against complacency. Adds to the sense of realism and immersion. Your mileage may, of course, vary.

Same as always. But in the interests of positivity, I'm very happy with FM23 - love the ME, my defenders aren't broken, squad planner and scouting focus could do with some work but they're fine for the way I play the game, and I actually like press conferences and player interactions as a bit of a challenge. I have no doubt I'll clock up another 1,000-plus hours in this year's game.

Well played, and a great season. Are you planning on moving to FM23 or will you carry this one for a while? If the latter, I've also found the step up from VNL to L2 quite easy, and the next promotion to L1 not too difficult (life gets really hard in the Championship ). Current squad is probably good enough to survive after promotion, and just a couple of upgrades might see you pushing for another playoff/promotion season. Of course, if that longed-for takeover eventually happens things might get really sunny in Oldham!