The phoenix from the flames

Scunny got took over by a Qatari tycoon. David Hilton finally sold out. But this was happening several times, mostly with A.I. Hilton rebuffing the approach after a few weeks in. FM23 console save loaded into FM24 console. Bit frustrating during transfers windows as you miss out on players. But finally happened now and got an £80m injection for transfers. Still can't sign Jude Bellingham though from Dortmund, even got Jobe in and asked him to try and convince his brother to sign

Here you go.

Undoubtedly, I have done this myself on current Scunthorpe save. My point was that it would be great if the game gave options for you to focus on long term replacements for certain areas, but in reality, yes, you need coverage for multiple positions, with the chance that one or two could break into the first team squad. You think about it real life...a manager will have discussions with the academy manager, know which players could have the potential to breakthrough, earmark talents to watch. Lot of factors for it to work and fail. Small percentages potentially, but still a possibility of it happening. I'm yet to bring anyone through to first team yet on current Scunthorpe save, although spent nowhere as much as original poster on youth academy investment. Got a longer path to tread though. Just layed out a further £1.6m to go from adequate to average youth facilities. Next youth intake preview rated C's only, but encouragingly now far more squad coverage than what I was previously getting - typically just 4-5 players in fewer positions, with maybe 1-2 elite talents. This was lower leagues though, on the ascent. I've had to release all academy players to date as simply not up to the standard I need. I did even go through unattached players, scouted some, brought them in on frees, trying to rebuild the academy, but didn't work. Now my Mexican chief scout just points me to promising South Americans and other Europeans. Signed a Dutch 19 year old goalie and now he's a wonderkid. Just wish I was getting that through academy invest, but guess its the long game.

Off topic a bit, but I was messing around with customise views. There are a few training options that you can't see from the squad page by default. So created a custom view with training for positional, individual etc etc, all on the same screen. As long as you have player name and position you should know who is who if managing in the lower leagues. Might also speed up setting individual training because currently (training tab>individual) I have to click through each member of first team squad, set training, next player etc. If all players are on the same screen, sorts that issue out. Still doesn't sort out moving players between squads. Without a mass player select option (I run on xbox series s with mouse and keyboard - irony sold separately), I can select about 5 players max before my selection gets reset (could be the mouse is on the way out ). Then right click and move them to first team squad.

Defo no fun, but it may at least give them a chance of getting into first team squad if there is a place up for grabs. Say you have a player who is 33 and rather and go out to find the right replacement, the academy could present some options. Or you could ask for positions to be recruited for in the long term. Otherwise they're being retrained

Would be good if youth setup identified which areas of first team squad needed long term replacements, more depth etc. Rather than the game generating youth players in positions you don't need or they have no chance of getting to first team squad.

Problem is, if assistant manager is doing the training, then you don't know what is being trained each week. Also, they will set random individual retraining to your players. So retraining new positions etc etc in individual training. Have a look at that. I had to change all of mine because assistant put players to random positions. Some were ok, but some weren't. Training isn't as great as it was. Before, your assistant/coach would tell you if the retraining you were trying would work or not. So you knew if it was worth getting the player to 'move with ball down the right' for example. Now you only have one staff member (assistant) and no feedback.

Thanks @Zachary Whyte So no preset is getting you to build your own scenarios? I've been doing this anyway, so all good I didn't try any other match plan template. Wasn't sure if messing with those preloaded ones would overwrite the defaults

Turning tempo down and all this other stuff should protect player conditioning. And you should keep the ball more at the same time because of shorter passing and ball retention. If you are having more of the ball, you'll also see post match that opposition player conditions will be orange, red etc. They've had to chase after you more trying to get the ball back from you. On training, sounds like you are doing the right things, you have good possession and creating lots of shooting chances/attacking. But yeah rotate as you say because there will be games where tactics, defending etc will be needed. Ideally you would do more than one main training session focus in a week, but you can only choose one, do keep rotating the ones that are working.

Yeah so if you're going with a 6 pointer at top or bottom of league, big match is a good idea. Just keep mixing it up. High tempo will tire the players faster, so when you're winning easy, just turn the tempo right down, more shorter passing,turn the counterpress down, play for set pieces, waste time on, pass into space off, low crosses to keep the ball.

Pre season, yes physical only. I've stopped seeing a pre season prompt on the different types of intensity that used to be offered at the start of pre season (tactics, heavy, very heavy etc). I can't work out if that was between fm23 console and fm24 console Get loads of friendlies in. Even play against your reserves. If you let the assistant arrange friendly matches (in staff responsibilities, last option in list for me), they'll usually get you a tour and try and book several in pre season. Just go in and manually book more friendlies. Maybe 6/7/8. Sounds a lot, but the idea is that your whole squad are getting fitness, not just the first team. Even players on the transfer list. That is also great during the season because assistant manager will book friendlies outside of the reserve leagues. Can help keep your first team squad fitness up (but make sure they actually play). On training, I'll rotate most apart from physical during the season. I try set pieces during weeks with cup games, as you would hope that includes penalties!! Then just logically pick the rest depending who you are facing. Check the schedule and see when the tougher teams are, then go big match/defensive/tactical, maybe even posession or technical if you think you'll have more of the ball and will carve out more chances. Attacking when you are the favourites and should win. You'll notice by rotating the training, if you check your players' information tabs, they should be positive to the type and variety of training sessions offered.

I've put a video of this on the cloud also. 1532b3cb-eeda-47eb-bf0c-c471ccb12337.mp4

I posted this in general discussion, try it: Workaround Clicked tactics and subs button, top right of penalty dialogue box popup Clicked penalties tab Dragged and dropped player who I wanted to take penalty, to top of pen takers list (maybe try that with whoever you want to take the penalty) Confirmed and back to match engine It's just like drag and drop when you choose your penalty takers in tactics.