[Have You Chosen Your FM22 Save Yet?]

Started unemployed with Continental B badges and National Experience. I've took over Southampton who sat rock bottom of the PL without a win in mid-November. I'm now 17th, 1 point above the relegation zone with 8 games to go. Hopefully will keep them up, but I think I'll be given the chance to bring them back up if we go down. Really enjoying it so far.

[What camera do you use?]

Thanks guys. Sideline seems popular which is the formation I've been using so far. 

What about length of highlights? I've been watching on Extended mostly.

[What camera do you use?]

Just wondered what Camera people watch their games on and what their preference is 

[Give Me a Save Idea]

1 hour ago, Yuko said:

I could, but I think you're missing out on a very nice part of the SI forums: https://community.sigames.com/forums/forum/60-fm-career-updates/

 

Read up on some of those threads and you will gain some exposure to how people are treating the experience. From the last 2-3 versions of the game, I'm pretty sure you will find people with saves that are relative to what you want to achieve here.

 

My way of avoiding these regrets is to set targets.

 

So you want to take Red Star to the top league and stick around a bit more? 

I'd say that you tell yourself you're not leaving until you reach a European place. You could challenge yourself further and say that you're not leaving until you win at least a cup. After you make Europe, you decide if you want to play it out, or just leave instantly. 

You could definitely join Lyon, Marseille or Monaco if they have a free position once you achieve Europe with Red Star. That would allow you to win the league within 2-3 seasons if they're not bankrupt. Marseille may be the one to struggle with finances between those three, but Monaco has a sugar daddy and Lyon has good enough finances.

 

If you win the French league, it also means that you can compete in Europe. If you advance far there, you can take any big job that comes your way. The opportunities will present themselves and they will be plentiful. No need to rush on the first big job that comes unless you don't feel very secure about maintaining your level, or even form. The game typically isn't very realistic with these things so if you win the French league with Lyon you could end up with a Manchester United or Barcelona job offer. 

 

The whole process just needs to have a plan. If you're just going with the wind, you may end up regretting not sticking around a bit more.

Cool, thanks man. I guess there's no guarantees that it will go to plan. But yeah, I guess you're right, I should try and take Red Star as far as I can, then probably move to one of the bigger clubs to win the French League. Which I guess discounts PSG as we would be rivalling them. Then take it from there and start to move around the big clubs around Europe.

As mentioned though, I've never really managed and lower league sides like Red Star, so guess I'd be relying on the DB telling me which players are best suited to their positions and then hoping for a decent scouting network to help me pick up some decent players.

Just need to decide if this is the route I want to go down, or whether I go down the English route.

[FM2022 French League Thread]

Tempted to start one with Red Star Paris or Paris FC... Any thoughts?

[Give Me a Save Idea]

2 minutes ago, Yuko said:

 

Well, Thomas is one option, if you are like me and want to pick random names, google can help you a bit. I got this link that shows the meanings as well which is what I like to do when I pick Scandinavian/German names for my saves: https://kidadl.com/articles/fabulous-french-boys-names-youll-adore 

Cool, will take a look at that. As much as I've played FM for years, I've never really made a save with lower league small club where you don't know any of the players etc. Do you have any advice if I was to go with Red Star on some good things to do?

My only worry is that I'd probably get them where I'd want to be in Ligue 1, then guessing I'll get offered another job somewhere and would probably want to take the move, but then regret it haha. But I would like a career path where I manage 5/6 big clubs across Europe and hopefully one day become the top manager in the world. Thoughts?

[Give Me a Save Idea]

17 hours ago, Sideshow Robbie Earle said:

I'd been thinking about some interesting saves that could turn into something long-term, and jotted them down.  Maybe the challenge of trying to win the Bundesliga with a former East German champion club could be good for you?

 

 

 

Southend – VNL.  Fallen on hard times, but new stadium on way.

 

Wrexham – VNL.  Under-achievers, and Hollywood ownership raises expectations further.

 

Red Star (Paris) – French Champ Nat. Small club with history & culture, up against might of PSG.

 

Steaua Bucaresti – Hungary 2^nd Div.  The “original” Steaua?

 

Berliner FC Dynamo, FC Carl Zeiss Jena, FC Magdeburg, Hallescher, Chemnitzer, Zwickau, Energie Cottbus, Lokomotive Leipzig - East German team in Liga 3, or lower. First 6 are former EG champions.

 

Ceuta, Melilla – Spain.  Clubs located geographically in Africa.

 

Hey man, thanks for the list of clubs. The Red Star Paris idea has certainly got me thinking. Although, as I mentioned in previous posts, I'd like to try and follow a realistic career path like some of the current top managers in the game now have. But I think starting with Red Star Paris could accomplish that. I don't want to start with no badges/experience as although it could quite fun, I just don't see it as realistic. Get me?

12 hours ago, bakersdozen22 said:

This is my choice for this season. Going try and just have one save to last me all of FM22. 
 

I just started unemployed with no badges and Sunday league experience and got the Cork City job in the Irish 2nd division. I will do what I can at Cork with the money provided and then try and move around different clubs to get to the top and eventually win the top leagues in England, France, Spain, Germany and Italy. 

Yeah that's cool man. As mentioned above, I think the idea is cool but I just don't see it as a realistic career path. 

12 hours ago, TheShooter said:

I think I got an save idea for you!

Besides a main save with Anderlecht (every year) I mostly have multiple saves during the game cycle, hopping from one to another. To counter that this year I set myself the following challenge: a realistic scarf/shirt journey-save-thing.

In real life, I just obtained my UEFA B license (two below the pro License), have only sunday league playing experience and I'm coaching the youth of a professional club in Belgium (Lierse K, in second division). So I will create myself in the game, with previous background but I will take charge of the senior team of my club. 

From then on I can only go to clubs whose scarf or shirt I own, which are from different countries (Austria: Graz, England: Newcastle and Manchester United, Holland: PSV, Germany: Union Berlin and Dortmund, Spain: Barcelona, Italy: Roma, Portugal: Sporting Club, ...). I think I can only leave when one of those clubs put out an offer, and can only apply for a job once I have won some silverware. Meanwhile installing the type of football I want to play in real life in these clubs. 

If you don't have many scarfs/shirts you can replace them with holiday destinations, or do some sort of raffle with countries and clubs.

I wish you a lot of fun and hopefully you'll find the right challenge soon!
 

Kind regards

That's a cool idea you've got going there man! Unfortunately I'm a pretty die hard United fan, so haven't travelled to see many other teams play in other countries 

10 hours ago, grimbo88 said:

True to form, I constantly see Preston fail in Playoffs whatever league. They also fail to reach the Premier League on every save. I wonder if SI have hard coded it 

 

There's some big teams in L1 that could be good, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday are the obvious ones but Portsmouth and Charlton don't often get mentioned. Wimbledon and Bradford (if you want to drop to L2) also could be good, Wimbledon to relive their glory days and Bradford get twice the attendance of other L2 clubs, with a 25k stadium they have the stadium to be an established Championship team, if not higher.

Yeah last year I started with Sunderland as I don't live far away from them. Got them up to the PL and then moved to Spurs but then never quite finished my journey.

5 hours ago, Prepper_Jack said:

Well, I've found some saves I've started with a unique hyper-focused holistic plan for a squad were the most memorable. One I used some time back was a very young semi-pro squad in which I trained only quickness and endurance, which amped up their stamina, pace, acceleration, natural fitness and work rate to absurd levels for players of their ability. The idea was to exhaust the opposition to oblivion through extreme tempo, and it worked. In another save I trained the entire squad in marking, as well as the more passive defensive positioning system in order to gain massive numbers of intercepts per game. You could also specialize your team entirely around set pieces, hiring the biggest lads in the nation, and training them in jumping, heading, corners, long throws, and all that fun stuff. All sorts of crazy things you can do in the regard.

One I'm considering right now is on the order of a lunatic cult. Will try to engineer their personalities to the level of "Devoted" as well as low sportsmanship, favoring players with extreme aggression. I'll trash all the other clubs in the media, making rivals of everyone. Fans love the rivalry matches too. There won't be any problems getting them motivated before and during a match (they're the enemy!). Players will be cheap to maintain, nobody will want to leave, and nobody will want to buy them anyway. See if I can't find some people with the "gets crowd going" and "winds up opponents" traits to train everyone in so opposition has a complete mental breakdown during home games. Could be fun, I suppose.

Haha that's awesome! A manager that has a defined style... I like it 

3 hours ago, gunner86 said:

I’d say slightly above middle if you’re wanting to go championship level

I guess national experience with A/B badges if I was to go that level. Just undecided exactly what level to start.

1 hour ago, Yuko said:

 

I really like this list. I'd add Bolton, Wigan, AFC Wimbledon and Portsmouth from England.

 

Maybe from Germany you could add the option of Magdeburg (one of the greatest fanbases out there). They're also top of the league at the moment so they should be a decent shout for a promotion bid. There's aslo Braunschweig who were in the top division not too long ago. 

 

You could consider the following from:

Italy: Triestina, Padova, Lecco, Mantova, Pro Vercelli, Cesena, Imolese, Modena, Lucchese, Pescara, Siena, Reggiana, Catania, Foggia, Catanzaro, Palermo, Taranto, Monopoli, Latina, Bari, Avellino, Messina

 

There's a wide variety of teams to select here. If you're willing to spend something like an hour max to go through a quick check on their history, fans and cities you will definitely find at least 3 to fall in love with. Then you pick which region you want to pick (A -> north or northwest, B -> central and/or northeast, C -> south)

 

Spain: Deportivo La Coruna, Racing Santander, Salamanca, Atletico Baleares, FC Andorra, Gimnastic Tarragona, Sabadell

 

Spain's lowest division has a few teams that beg to be either resurrected or elevated to a proper first tier level. Two division system is making things interesting with the playoffs at the end.

 

France: Auxerre, Toulouse, Sochaux, Le Havre, Ajaccio, Grenoble, Caen, Guingamp, Paris FC, Bastia, Nancy, Dunkerque, Dijon, Valenciennes... honestly, any Ligue 2 team.

For France since the competition is different it is better imo to start from the 2nd tier rather than the 3rd. It's ultra competitive, especially if you don't pick a side that could challenge promotion. Could take 3-4 seasons there to build a winning squad and then you'll probably get pounced back to the 2nd division if you don't make smart moves. If you pick a stronger side you could establish yourself as a top-half side in Ligue 1 within 2-3 seasons.

Some of these teams have solid facilities as well, so that could be a factor.

If you wish to go for the third tier, some interesting picks are: Le Mans, Orleans, Sedan, Red Star, Boulogne and one that I'll definitely have a go with, Avranches just because they sport the St Michel castle on their crest.

 

I would go on to recommend clubs from other mid-tier leagues but I think that's way off of what you're intending to do here.

Thanks for that man. Really helpful. Really tempted to start as a young Frenchman and go with Red Star Paris based on a few of the posts above... I guess that would be a realistic starter for a career path. I'd love to start with them, build them up, then obviously get a move to a bigger club, repeat, repeat etc. then finish my career with lots of big clubs & trophies on my CV. 

If I did go ahead with a Red Star Paris, what badges/experience would you recommend? I'd also need an idea for a French name. My name is Tom so could definitely use Thomas as a first name 

[Give Me a Save Idea]

Yeah unemployed could be a decent shout and see where the FM world takes me! What recommendations for badges and experience? Middle ground?

[Give Me a Save Idea]

1 hour ago, jsx7ste said:

Nottingham Forest is fun. Only really need to strengthen lb and striker and they are able to challenge for promotion.

 

Yep thought about Forest! Got family ties with Derby County though so would be a little reluctant to start with Forest haha. Derby would be a good challenge to start, but don't want to take that job away from Rooney.

[Give Me a Save Idea]

2 minutes ago, StatboySpurs said:

FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark was really fun on FM21.  Good youth system, and enough money in the bank to improve facilities quickly.  Not sure about their money situation in 2022, though, but I'm guess it's strong again.

Cool, thanks. Will bare them in mind! Just need to decide whether I want to start as an Englishman in England, or whether I start as a foreign manager but in their own national league. So if I go Italy, I'd create an Italian etc. just to keep it more realistic. As not really realistic for a 35 year old English guy to start in say Denmark or whatever. I know the odd occasion where it is true though like Graham Potter!

[Give Me a Save Idea]

10 minutes ago, MasterKano said:

Pick an unfamiliar former club that has fallen from grace in a lower league and rebuild them to former glory?

England: PNE, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Ipswich, Derby 

Scotland: Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs 

Germany: Kaiserslautern, Dynamo Dresden, TSV 1860 Munich

Yeah that's my idea. I think I'd like to start with a fairly lower club like those Elite managers have but then work my way up to the top clubs.

For England I'm thinking League 1/Championship type level if I was to make my save as an Englishman. Also tempted to start as a young foregin manager too and start in their league. Decisions, decisions 

[Give Me a Save Idea]

39 minutes ago, MasterKano said:

Self restricted continental journeyman save is an idea I quite liked.

Somewhere you're unfamiliar with such as South America, start in the lowest division and spend no longer than 5 years at each club, once you've done all the countries in a specific continent pass onto another continent such as Asia.

Think I'd prefer to stay in Europe to follow a similar path to those managers mentioned.

[Give Me a Save Idea]

Hey guys, I'm after a save idea to really get stuck into on this FM. Been an FM player for years, and a big Man United supporter (ST holder).

Don't want to make a starting save with United at the minute, as hearing it's pretty easy and everyone saying they're too OP. Although, will create one at some point to have a save with Ronaldo whilst I still can!

However, I'm looking for a few ideas to get really into a save. I'm keen on the idea of starting with 'middle grade' badges and experiences and starting with a Championship/League One level club and then working my way up from there which I think is a realistic managerial path. When you look at the top coaches in the world right now (Klopp, Tuchel, Guardiola, Conte, Simeone Rodgers etc.), most of them started at 2nd division type club like Mainz, Watford, etc.

I do like the idea of a 'journeyman save' but let's be honest, starting with no badges and experience and then ending up at a top club by the end is not realistic and would rarely ever happen.

Therefore, based on the above, I'm keen to hear your thoughts on a save idea! I'd like to start as a 35/36 year old, and I think as an Englishman. But would be open to starting as a young German, Italian, Spaniard etc. if people recommend 

Thanks in advance!

Tom

[[FM20] Derby County - Why manage the Rams? / How are you getting on?]

Hey guys,

I'm a big United fan (ST Holder) but have great family connections with Derby County, since the majority of my family are from there and most still live there, with both my cousin and uncle being ST holders. I've always had Derby as a team I keep close to my interests, and especially now with the addition of Rooney.

On FM I've got a great United save going (Currently in 2025) and on the verge of domination. So as lockdown continues I thought it would be good to start a new challenging save to keep alongside my United save, and what better way than to start a career with Derby.

Therefore, today I will start a new save with Derby.... So before I start, and tips / recommendations?