SuperRedditch

The Spartans Season 8 - 2029/30 Scottish Premiership - 4th Place A steady improvement over last season; we were outclassed by the top teams less often and were far more consistent against the bottom half. Indeed, we made 4th place very much our own; never threatening the top 3 but also creating a sizable gap between us and 5th place. We've gone full circle tactically, and eventually settled on a 4-4-2 that I think I'll use going forward. We're just a couple of Wingers away from a really well balanced squad. We reinvested the Donald 05c money into two increases to both Training and Youth Facilities. As for Europe? Well, we eased through the Conference League 2nd & 3rd Qualifying Rounds with aplomb. Our 4th round draw was distinctly difficult and cruel, however; requiring us to navigate past Portuguese side Famalicao to make it to the group stage... Alas, 'twas not to be. It was this match that convinced me to swap my 4-1-3-2 to a 4-4-2. We also made it to the Betfred Cup Semi Final, disappointingly getting knocked out by Aberdeen in a game we should have won. The Squad Everyone is still here, although Cormack 05a and Cepkauskas 05b are wanted by bigger clubs and ask to leave every 3 months. A quick word from captain McCutcheon 00a sets them right every time. I activated their 3 year contract extensions so they ain't going anywhere any time soon. Deividas Cepkauskas 05b - ST - Goal a game man. Has surpassed his strike partner McLelland 04a in every way. Bryan Parker 06a - MC - Ends up filling in at ML a lot of the time, but I feel bad for being disappointed when he came through the intake. Very solid all-round game. Ali Underhill 07c - DC - Kinda slept on him when he came through the intake, but his transfer value makes me believe he has some serious potential. Finances Transfers Youth Intake Come on, game. Still no wingers. We got a GK though, which I do need and have been baited by a couple of times in the preview. This time, we might be in luck. In fact, the lads tagged a - c all might make first team players. Although, it's my 3rd promising DR in 3 years. And yes, my HoYD's favoured formation has wide players, it's Sunil Chhetri who likes 4-4-2. Sean Wright 08a - GK - Fantastic personality, although he's got a ways to go in terms of ability. Still been playing him though, that's how badly I've needed a GK for the last couple of seasons. Callum Smith 08b - ST - Personality changed from Mercenary to Balanced within a couple of weeks, so hopefully the squad is having a positive effect on him. Really high transfer value for a 16 year old and finally offers back up in attack (that isn't a League One standard Target Forward). Next Season Make the Conference League group stage! Maintain top 5 finish. Sell soul to devil in order to get wingers/wide midfielders in intake.

I reckon this is very smart business. Get less money now rather than potentially more at some unknown point in the future. I can immediately reinvest in facilities and it basically means I sold Donald 05c for £9.6m.

@aldojags I played a 4-1-3-2 last season, because we've had 0 wingers come through, so I packed out the central midfield - he played the holding DM role. I get very attached to players and hate selling them, but I'm resigned to it in this instance.

The Spartans Season 7 - 2028/29 Premiership - 5th Place What a blast in our inaugural Scottish Premiership season. Our success was down to an absolutely explosive strikeforce; we scored a whopping 72 goals, but you see that goal difference. Yeah, we conceded 71. I don't like playing football that way, and I don't know if it's down to tactics or just our defence being by far the weakest area of our squad. That said, we were good value for our top half finish before the league split. Afterwards? Oof. We lost against the top 4, but so did Aberdeen and we played them last. In true Spartans style, we drew 3-3 cementing 5th place. As for European qualification, that hinged on the result of the Scottish Cup Final; between Celtic and Aberdeen. The league champions did not let me down; winning 2-0 and ensuring that we will have continental football next season. And after all that I'm still not a club icon. The Squad We saw our first big sale, losing our star Advanced Playmaker (Attack) for £3.3m to Chelsea. A big loss, but it's the strikers I fear for. Losing them would instantly transform us into a relegation team, and they both have release clauses. Like I said, we're really bad in goal and defence. We've played the same DC for 7 seasons and he is not cut out for this level. Deividas Cepkauskas 05b - ST - 25 goals. Lethal. 3rd place in NxGn. Grant McLelland 04a - ST - 28 goals/10 assists. Called up to Scotland squad, European Golden boy and 2nd place in NxGn. Only wanted by Dundee Utd at the moment, but we will lose him. Sean Cormack 05a - DM - I'd legit sign him if I was a English Premier League team. Unglamourous but essential. Bryan Parker 06a - MC - Was a bit disappointed last season with the intake, but he's grown incredibly well. Superb all-round midfielder. Transfers Finances Youth Intake The full-backs I'm happy with; I'm just about done with my DL at the moment. A 2nd DR in two years gives us depth there and a DC that might eventually push for a spot. However, they're all a ways off competing for the first team, so we've definitely got to take a long term view. Luke Montignani 07a - DR - Solid full back, great personality. Ian Lamb 07b - DL - Nice tackling and no weaknesses. That fickle personality can cause problems though. Next Season Think about tactical options (to improve defensive stability) and consider the playing time pathways of some of the lads in the U18s knocking on the door of the First Team squad. Have fun in Europe.

Sad times, but the money is gonna keep us profitable for the next couple of years. A few more of these though and my team will be decimated.

The Spartans Season 6 - 2027/28 Championship - 2nd (Promoted via Play-offs) A nailbiting ending to a season full of ups and downs. We played some beautiful stuff sometimes, blowing teams away. Dundee spent one week top of the league, the final week. Massive fitness/jadedness issues affected our final 10 games, and we limped to the end of the season allowing them to pip us to the title. Their form was incredible though, they only lost 1 game from September onwards, being undefeated in all of 2028. So, it was the Play-offs. Again. We had to play Partick Thistle. Again. We rested players for the second leg, knowing that the final would take place 4 days later and my first team would be wrecked by fitness issues if they all played. We scraped through. Last year's runaway winners, Falkirk, were our opponents in the Premiership/Championship Play-off final - to be played over two legs (I hate finals that do this). We dominated the first leg at home, but drew 1-1 whilst resting a couple of players. In the return leg, I went slightly more defensive and it paid off. Don't look at the Shots. Or the XG. It's the goals that count, right? The GOALS. Pure relief. We've done it, we're up, we're turning Professional and maybe the living nightmare that has been my fitness and financial issues is over. Maybe. The Key Men Steve Bass 03f - DC - Stevie B! Physically dominant centre-back, Player of the Season. Logan Todd 03i - MC - Proof that Ability Stars mean nothing. Lethal passing range as a Mezzala with 26 assists. Deividas Cepkauskas 05b - ST - Top scorer, played a lot for Lithuania U21 and had jaded issues. Grant McLelland 04a - ST - Still feel he can do better, but once I trained him to beat offside trap it was like he was a different player. 23 goals/10 assists. Angus Donald 05c - AM - Sometimes unplayable, driving into the space created by 2 Advanced Forwards. 12 goals/13 assists. Finances Transfers Youth Intake After last season's actual genuine golden generation, this was disappointing. The best player is an MC, the one position we have a lot of strength and cover in already. Most of the others signed up have already seen their PA * drop. Bryan Parker 06a - MC - He is a good player. Good personality and has already seen a bit of game time. I'm really hoping for cultured passers of the ball though and he's very much a jack-of-all-trades. Bryan Grady 06c - DR - The only other lad capable of being in the first team squad (mainly because my defensive cover is terrible). Next Season Figure out a more defensively solid tactic (that still doesnt utilise wingers because I don't have any). Probably a 4132. Survive, develop players, tie everyone down on long-term Professional contracts.

The Spartans Season 5 - 2026/27 Championship - 2nd (Lost in Play-off Semi) Challenge Cup - Winners As I write this I'm coming off of the heartbreak of a Play-off Semi Final defeat, but it would be unfair to let that sour the mood of the season. Any fears of a relegation battle were swifly put to bed. Falkirk romped the league, but Livingston and us fought for 2nd place. Our players developed very well over the season, putting us in great stead for the future. Ultimately though, I feel our youth and inexperience got the better of us at the end and massive fatigue issues hampered our effectiveness in the Play-offs. That said, we were victorious in the Scottish Challenge cup, overcoming Livingston and Raith (amongst others) to lift the trophy. In worse news, our Youth Setup costs increased 10x upon promotion last summer, so we lose roughly £150k per month. The small nest egg I was building for turning Professional was evaporated in months and despite receiving £500k for finishing 2nd, and operating at a profit before the Youth Setup costs are deducted, we've lost £750k this season. I also messed up the contract of my 2nd choice GK, who is joining Bristol C for free in the summer; leaving me very short on cover, and lower Scottish Premiership teams are starting to sniff around my better players. The Key Men Steve Bass 03f - DC - Partnering record appearance maker and captain James McCutcheon 00a at the back, he has come on leaps and bounds. I made a mistake all last season, training him as a DM Jack Strachan 02c - MR - Assist leader for the 2nd season running, although not quite as explosive as in League One. Player of the Season. Grant McLelland 04a - ST - The only good thing to come out of last years intake. Has developed insanely well. Not quite clinical enough at times but I think he might be the one that big teams start to look at. Finances Transfers Youth Intake I thought "Okay, this is a bit overkill in central midfield", but actually, it gives me way more tactical options in terms of formation. Also, two 3* (and a 2.5*) CA players - that's nuts. We might be haemorrhaging money because of our Youth Setup, but it's paying dividends on the pitch. Sean Cormack 05a - DM - I like playing a standard DM (rather than a playmaker) so he's perfect. Deividas Cepkauskas 05b - ST - Awesome nationality, top tier personality, very promising player. Angus Donald 05c - CM - Basically made to play CM(a) in this year's match engine. Already scored 4 goals in 7. Next Season Promotion? I dunno, the relegated Premiership team is always so much stronger. Play-offs at least though. I'm also going to make a new tactic - I basically only know how to build a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3, but I want to play 2 up top and incorporate all the new CMs. I'm thinking a 4-3-1-2. Off to https://www.youtube.com/c/BusttheNet I go.

The Spartans Season 4 - 2025/26 League One - 1st Place (Champions) Sometimes this game is beautiful. Either last year's intake strengthened the team enough to be able to properly compete, I'm a secret tactical genius, I'm lucky, or a combination of the above. I said I was going to redesign my tactic and so I did. I tried really hard and it just worked. We went on a 5 game winning streak in late Autumn and then a 7 win streak in Feb/March, winning the league with one game to spare. Additionally, we drew Hibernian away in the Scottish cup, obviously getting hammered, but netting us 150k in gate receipts. Combined with 129k for finishing top, we've made a modest profit over the course of the season, which is all you can really hope for. The Tactic Just wanted to showcase the tactic here. Tried to not over-complicate the instructions and specifially tried to create space. We had to play a 4-4-2 (with the personnel I have) but previous attempts had been lacking in passing options; being very flat and one dimensional. People were always dropping and moving in between the lines this season, finding pockets of space and attacking the opposition in unpredictable ways. The Key Men (I'd list more, everyone contributed and played their role; 14 players over 7.00 Av Rat) Jack Strachan 02c - MR - Devastating on the wing. 8 goals/13 assists. Player of the Season. James McCutcheon 00a - DC - Just integral to everything we do defensively. Jamie Viola 02a - ST - Happy with the Target Forward. 13 goals/9 assists. Needs someone better alongside him to take the pressure off. Transfers Finances Youth Intake Pretty disappointing, to be honest, apart from one player. Bad personalities on the higher potential players and lackluster CA in the areas that I would like to strengthen. Grant McLelland 04a - ST - All we've had is Target Forwards come through. I prayed for someone with some pace and we got him. Solid personality and his weaknesses can be mostly dealt with by training Attacking Movement. Put him straight into the first XI and have high hopes for him next season. Next Season Survive! I didn't think we'd be ready for the Championship but maybe we are. I'm curious to see what the finances are like in that division; probably pretty dire. There are some big names in there (Kilmarnock and possibly Motherwell to name two) but I have faith. I get the impression that the step up from L1 to Championship is massive compared to L2 to L1. It's also time to say goodbye to the rest of the hold-outs from the original squad. Blair Henderson and Kevin Waugh, you're both heroes and your service will never be forgotten. Godspeed, gentlemen.

How is this fair? How am I meant to win a game vs a Play-off rival with half the team on U19 international duty? They'll miss the next game against another Play-off rival too. Mental scheduling. Rant over.

The Spartans Season 3 - 2024/25 League One - 6th Place Mid-table mediocrity, always a few points off the play-offs but never able to put together enough form to threaten them - not that we deserved to go up or are good enough anyway. Not much to say really, I moved on a lot of the older "original" squad to make room for the youngsters, which resulted in an awkward start to the season that got better after Christmas. Flip-flopped between a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3, and still can't decide. I have a tendency to try and revert to things I knew worked in previous saves - but those were managing better teams with better players. Going to take some time to redesign a new tactic for the new season; from the ground up. We made the Semi-Final of the Challenge Cup, but as Championship clubs play in that too, we got destroyed 2-5 by Inverness. The prize money (for all competitions) is a pittance, though. Any repeat of last year's Scottish Cup run, including drawing Rangers away for a nice payday, were cut tragically short as we got knocked out by non-league Clachnacuddin. Embarrassing. The Key Men Kevin Waugh - DC - Assist leader at centre-back! He takes set-pieces. If anyone used to play PES and remembers Jaric, the DC in the Master League Original Squad, this is him. Jamie Viola 02a - ST - Top scorer but primarily from corners. Struggles in open play. James McCutcheon 00a - DC - Wanted to leave at the start of the season and wouldn't discuss a contract, but managed to tie him down in the new year. Captain. Transfers Finances Youth Intake Two full-backs was amazing. I hoped for one on each flank and the FM gods duly delivered. After the preview I was saddened to see an E ranking for CM, but two came through who went into the first team. In fact, from this intake alone FIVE players immediately went into the first XI. Much better personalities thanks to my new Model Citizen HoYD. Zach Szemis 03b - GK - 1* better CA than my current GK, who was okay. Bad Aerial Reach but I can't do a thing about it. Darren Cordery 03a - DL - Look at him! Just a really, really solid DL with no glaring weaknesses. Best Youth Product I've ever had in terms CA star level. Next Season Play football matches. Win some, lose some, draw some. Get knocked out of cups. Lose money. Not turn professional. Tinker with tactic too much. Have all strikers on goal droughts simultaneously. Finish mid-table. Question what I'm doing before starting the following season with renewed optimism anyway.

I read that the Judging attributes are only relevant because he can give you reports and Working With Youngsters because he can technically coach in the youth squad. I've never considered knowledge, but I don't think it matters at all. As far as I'm concerned: Personality - by far the most important Formation Style of Play Attributes In that order. I've also read that you want a HoyD with 3 stars reputation at the very top level, but that's moot while you're climbing up.

Genius! I could actually kiss you.

The Spartans Season 2 - 2023/24 League One - 3rd place (Lost in Play-off Semi Final) (The kit bug was caused by player nicknames. As soon as I deleted all the nicknames in my squad it was fixed - so no more player tagging for me) Cant complain with that. The league is basically split up 50/50 Professional and Semi-Pro and whilst we very clearly couldn't compete with the top two, we were certainly "best of the rest". The Play-off Semi Final saw us lose 0-2 away to Airdrieonians before drawing 2-2 at home after 90 minutes. We scored in the 91st and 93rd minutes to make it 4-4 on aggregate. However, their Professional fitness levels were too much for us, and we conceded 3 in extra time to bow out. Rather excitingly, we made the Quarter Final of the Scottish Cup - and drew Rangers away. You know what that means? £££££££. 500k deposited in our account which I want to save up for turning Professional, if possible. I don't see the point of improving facilities until the players are training every day. The Key Men Blair Henderson - ST - Still banging them in, but is sloooow. Player of the Season. James McCutcheon - DC - Was part of the intake before I joined, has developed the most of anyone in the squad and is now my best centre-back. Robert McDonald - MR - Assist king but hasn't developed and might find his spot under threat by a new arrival. Transfers Finances Youth Intake Messed up taking a screenshot of the candidate squad (with all the personalities) so this will have to suffice. Better personalities this year though. Jamie Viola - ST - All I have is Target Forwards at this club. He's really solid though. John Dow - ST - He's actually called John Doe. Incredible. Gonna play him up top because he's the only lad with any pace. He's also MASSIVE, so it's floated crosses from here on. Next Season Don't get promoted - those Pro Championship clubs scare me. I don't know if I need to get promoted to turn Professional or if we can do it in League One, but we need time. I'm gonna be blooding a lot of youth next season.

Has anyone had this graphical bug, or know what causes it? There is one player in my team who always has the wrong kit. Their shirt is always the wrong colour. It is also always whoever is playing in the left ST position on my tactic. I had the same in my Aachen save, it was always the left CM. I also had the same thing in my FM21 YA save. The YA saves are the only saves this happens in, which is really weird.