Woolly

I just about made it to the end of a seriously injury hit first season finishing in 8th. I lost Onana for about 15-20 games, at one point I had no fit RB, one fit first team GK, my first choice back four all either injured or just returning from injury and one striker yet the board still expected me to win. Then got sacked . On a positive note in that save I did find a gem of a Central Defender in Schlotterbeck who I signed from Dortmund for just under £50m who replaced the Saudi bound Varane. Now starting the save again in the hope of a less injury hit season and a better result.

Got £60m out of Al Nassr for Varane, Seemed a shame not to say no considering.

I always like to start my Beta here and this year is no exception. Once the full release is out I'm planning to go for a lower league team haven't decided who yet.

I managed them in last years game and eventually got in to the Premiership, still got the save on going and have just taken up the Belgium job on a part time basis. My aim is to firstly win either the league cup/FA cup then get into European competiiton on a regular basis. It will keep me busy I think.

I've started a Man City save just to see how many I can get him to score, however, I seem to have got the wrong Haaland as he is injured!! Mind you the replacement Alvarez is knocking in the goals for the team...

You ar never too old to play a game you love, I started with CM2 (I was inspired after seeing someone playing the original CM but the second edition was new out so I got that) been playign ever since now 53 and hop to have a load more years in me.

Depends on how the save goes to be honest, I've had some beta saves which I still play on earlier versions and others which just went no where. In FM22 just played around with the beta and it wasn't until mid July that I started a sav I could get to grips with. This time round going to see how things go and make a decision once the final version arrives.

We have lift off!

Frustration or what, doesn't COD realease FM2023 is far more important than any remake of a shot them up.

May go for a LLM save this time, I've had fun getting Rochdale into the Premiership this year. Altrincham could be an interesting proposition as it's their first season as a professional club. Outside of that I may just select 3 countries and go for a rando team. Definitely not going for one of the big names as I've found they have becoe less of a challenge

Many month's back I started a long term LLM save with Rochdale with the aim of taking them further than they have ever been before in the League. Since then I have posted updates in between periods when RL has got in the way. After back to back promotions I made it into the Campionship (the first time the club had every reached those heady heights), so every league place above 24th was going to be new territory. I knew getting out of the Championship is hard enough for clubs with large money reserves and decent sized grounds but for a club like Rochdale with poor resources, a small ground and barely adequate youth facilities it is near on impossible. Well I've just finished my 4th season in the Championship and have just been crowned Champions which can only mean I have finally obtained the 'Holy Grail' of promotion to play with the Premiership big boys. The more amazing thing is I achieved it without spending millions on players (my record signing is a yound Dane called Ollie Okonkwo who has yet to estbalish himself in the first team) my squad has been made up of young hungry players disgarded by the likes of Liverpool, the two Manchester Clubs and the odd London club. Now the real work begins which is to stay in the Premier League next season and to build on what has already been achieved. I won't be posting anymore updates. My aim was to get Rochdale into the Premiership I've done that now so it's time to move on to see if I can achieve similar success with another club.

2025/26 So Close to The Promised Land for The Dale It was always going to be a big ask for a bunch of cast off youngesters to defy the odds but my Rochdale team always have defied the odds. Promotion to the Premiership was within touching distance right up until the last game against Norwich. Indeed it was a winner takes all game with 2nd place on the line. Unfortunately it was a game to far. It started so well with club topscorer Etete home fans into ectasy after just 2 minutes. Leading still at half time the fans were daring to dream of trips to Anfield, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge. Then came the second half and a rude awaking by Carlos Vincius once more (he had scored twice alread in the away fixture) with two goals to send the pucky Rochdale players into the lottery that is the play offs. The play offs saw the club firstly facing Yorkshire Rivals Barnsley a club the 'Dale have had many tough game. The first leg was over at their place and things did not get off to a good start despite 'Dale taking the lead through Powell the club went into the dressing room at halftime 3-1 down. The promotion dream was hanging by a thread. It was a tough ask to win and indeed the two goal advantage did make it tough. The second half allowed us to at least cut the defect to one with a first club goal by Charlie McNeil who had recently returned to the side after 2 months out with a broken ankle. 3-2 with all to play for in the second leg. The Second leg was nailbiting to say the least both clubs were fighting hard for the place in the final at Wembley. Both sides were so closely matched in the first half and it looked increasingly like Barnsley were going to hold out for a draw. A penalty was to change that, Powell powered the shot past the hapless goalie to level the score in the 66th minute. No more goals were scored in normal time so it was on to extra time. Legs all round were getting tired and mistakes were beginning to creep into both sets of players game. All that was needed was for one player to go for glory. The inconsistent McMilian was that man two goals in extra time meant the dream was back on. On to Wembley and Sheff Utd. After a tough long season it was all down to one game. Could we do the impossible and nick the win. Sadly for the Dale fans Wembley was a damp squib clearly Utd were not only up for it but they were vastly more experienced than us and the contest was over effectively by half time. It ended 3-0 to Sheffield and the dream was over for another season. Now I need to pick these players up off the floor and prepare them for next season. Year on year the club has got stronger, how long I can rely on making rejects into stars is up for debate, it is getting harder to make any sort of profit with a small ground and no real reputation but I live in hope. We've had 3 seasons in the Championship now all three of which the club have been expected to fight the drop and all three where we have defied the odds but even the most dedicated fan knows that it may change at anytime. Oh well on to next season and maybe just maybe the Promised Land of the Premiership will become reality. Up the Dale, pride of the little guy!

Thought it was time for a quick update on my Rochdale save. This little North-West Club with a Icelandic Manager continues to defy the odds. Now into my 3rd season in the Championship and with 5 games to go promotion is within our grasp currently sitting in 2nd place and guarenteed the club's highest league position ever no matter what. Yet another year where I have spent little (broke the club transfer record however, by signing Charlie McNeill from Rangers for £800K) £811.5k and sold high, incomings £9.5m (Brighton paid £7m for Owen a 19 year old former academy player, which is also a club record). I'll do another more detailed update at the end of the season hopefully it will be a celebration of Rochdale achieving the impossible and becoming a Premiership Club. In the mean time, Up the 'Dale!!!! Watch out City and United we are coming for you.

It been a few weeks since I last posted on my Rochdale journey. Currently at the half way point in my 3rd season in the Championship and still this small club from Greater Manchester continues to defy the odds. This season the bookies have predicted a mid-table position for this squad of big club youth rejects, free transfers and youth team promotees some what more promising that the relegation fodder prediction of the last two seasons. However, as per usual this club doesn't do as expected. It's now the 1st January and Rochdale are not even close to mid-table. The air is getting thin as the club now sits firmly in the play-off places in 3rd. I don't know how these players are managing to defy predictions yes a couple have the potential to play in the premiership but not just yet. Hopefully I can maintain a push for the play offs as it not only will mean we once more record a highest ever position but could also lead to promotion (something I feel would be a season too soon). Highlight of the season so far has to be hitting the top spot in the league all be it for a few days only.

Once again I have high hopes for my signings. Betrabtcourt was signed to replace Southampton bound Eckersley as mentioned earlier yet his signing wasn't the only one this window. I also picked up two defenders. Sorensen a 19 year old Danish CB from Midtjlland has the potential to develop into a better player than my two first choice CB but it will require careful management, Badley-Morgan will primarily be used to begin with as LB as my first choice Zak Swanson is recovering from a broken leg going forward he may also move into a more central position. Finally we come to Mexican Marcelo Flores another CFwd who joined us when his Arsenal contract ended he is slightly ahead of Betrabtcourt at this time mainly due to being a few years older, he was signed not only due to his potential but also due to the fact he has holds a UK passport alongside his Mexican and Canadian ones so there was no need for a work permit. All four signings have made their debuts for the club and have performed well.