Barnsley

Have pretty much had a phase like this in every season in the 10 i have completed so far as FC United. I can be absolutely flying, and will just suddenly lose 8-9 games on the bounce with nothing I can do or change to help it.

FC United - Season 10 Ahhhh so close so so so so close, we made it to the playoff final with an incredible run. I was in the top 4 for most of the season, dropped out the playoffs with 10 to go and went on a crazy run of winning 8 on the spin. We came 3rd in the end. We beat South Shiels in the playoff semi until we faced Kidderminster who lost out on the title by goal difference. I was of course not expecting to win, but I was not expecting the manner in which we went at FT after a tight game at 1-1. gutted and also super pleased with the progress. Big season coming up!

The next batch of games went badly as I knew it would. In such a terrible mood here - i thought season 10 was the one it all went horribly wrong and i cannot stop it. I just can't win. Somehow managed to get 13 points behind top of the league from the position I was in. I am not sure what other people do in this situation? but there is nothing i can do it to stop it or change it. I feel like i dont influence it and it just happens.

and just like that we drop to 4th it was obvious and it was always going to happen! big second half of the season to go.

Season 10 mini lil update FC United - we are on to something at the minute. I don't know how or where as i haven't changed a thing. I guess another season together and another year older. But we have started like a house on fire! Although i have drawn 4 of the last 5 league games and haven't been playing the best. This is my longest unbeaten run throughout. I am using a 4-2-3-1 (yes I know), on FM22 I did a clean sweep with Forest Green playing a 3412 from League Two to CL winners, and I really want to emulate that here as it felt brilliant to win that way, but the players just dont suit yet. I have always wanted to get a 4-4-2 working too but never been able to find the balance. I concede way too many goals so i just need to try and outscore everyone i can, which is working currently. 4 clean sheets in 18 games total explains the issue we have. but we fire the goals in. (after I post this - i know i will now go on a losing streak of 5-6 games and completely ruin the work )

Ah, yeah that's a great idea. I am only Part time though so will only let me add one year to most deals but still, it buys me some more time with my players. Cheers guys forgot about that option that helps massively.

I am at that stage again where I have a good player for this level, but he wants the squad strengthening and wants to explore options. Unable to keep him and he will now leave on a free, this is the 3-4th best player i have had do the same thing and i cannot stop it. However, we have started the season P3 W3! Connor has just rifled in his 350th league goal for us, and our season tickets have risen for the first time in 9 years from 2056 to 2158. We have 10 year progress!!!

I mean, those groups are pretty brutal!

FC United Of Manchester - Season 9 It was an incredible season, we were in the playoffs for most of the season, and we ended up dropping out with 10 games to go, we managed to win a few more and push ourselves back into the playoffs on the final day of the season. We faced Solihull Moors, a team we had beaten both times in the season but they were strong and came down from the National last season. I was 2-0 down after 20 mins, came back to 2-2 immediately however we went on to lose 6-4 (yes crazy game) and were eliminated from the playoff rounds. I am incredibly happy, with the progress and also disappointed I felt overall we were good enough to go up that season. The youth intake wasn't the best, not one player to come into the starting 11 so will be the same lineup again. Positives, Team is actually quite good now I feel in areas, Anthony Connor is continuing to smash the league apart he currently sits on 391 goals in 388 games accordingly to the best 11 stats overall - if i could just tighten up at the other end (my keeper is appalling though). We go again! Few screenshots below of progress. Star Man Anthony Connor: Any advice on how I can make this neater to read appreciate online excel isn't the best.

matchday 12 to matchday 35, I have been in the top 6. just dropped out of it now FM strikes again! 11 games to go, come on!

congrats @the_hdkawesome. Some incredible players, cannot wait for my system to produce that type of player!

After all that moaning previously, it some how seems to have clicked in season 9. Made the FA cup proper for the first time, actually round 2 home to Fleetwood. We drew 1-1 and a replay was had. The 3rd round tie awaiting for us? Man United at Old Trafford, yes what i have been dreaming of since starting the challenge. United v Fc United at OT. Replay kicks of, we race into a 2-0 lead after 11 minutes, (Fleetwood are bottom of L1 so a decent tie) - 5-2 down at HT. FT 6-3 Gutting isn't the word! However the league is going superbly so far - although i am losing my CB as he wants to consider his options - im unable to get him to stay. Have asked him twice, discussed with him - hes sacked his agent and then agreed he will reconsider - still unable to get him to agree a deal or negotiate with me (possibly a bug). Could it finally be the time!

wow! what a player that is!!

These graphic summaries are awesome - what do you guys use to create them?

I am really struggling to get to that next level, 8 years in, I just can't do it! I get a win, and then lose 2. can't find any consistency to push me forward.

I do youth recruitment and Jnr coaching as much as I can, and then try to save as much as possible for the facilities. Need a big chunk of money for facilities so takes time!

FC United Of Manchester - Season 8 I am a bit stuck for progress at the minute, going into my 9th season shortly. My youth players are okay, everytime I get a new one who i think will add strength, one of my other good ones considers his options and wants to leave. The part time and only being able to offer 1 year deals is really frustrating currently. I am not sure how to get out of this but I am nowhere near the top, and unable to get anywhere near it! I think if i did get promoted i would come back down with the least amount of points possible. But if i could somehow get to Pro status, i would be able to develop the players better and this will give me the best chance overall going forward! Have tried every formation going, cannot stop conceding the goals balls over the top and one and one. Progress below of the 8 seasons to date:

Saving up for that 100k seater stadium!

welcome to Hell mate it is tough down here!

Apologies double post, the next 4 games - all defeats. I genuinely cannot change it again theres nothing i can do, morale meetings/praise criticise/take over training and employ team bonding sessions etc. nothing stops the rot how can I be flying to christmas change nothing, and completely do this. I was hopeful playoffs were achieveable this time with how i was going my team was flying.

Absolutely capitulated what do people do when they are winning games, you know FM is going to let them come back but you can't stop it no matter what instructions or mentality switches you do. You can be cruising 2-0 and within 10 mins be 3-2 down. I was 4th at christmas. The 2 games in a row against Alfreton and Kettering were 2-0 up after 65mins and went on to lose. I thought i was on to a winner again by the next games and then after that complete white flag held up. 4th and pushing for promotion, down to 11th - 5 points off playoffs but no sign of any revival in results. I Can't stop the rot

FC United of Manchestaaaaaaaaaaaaaa - The Red Rebels Season 6 2028-2029. Was a good season in the end, A tough baffle but with ten games to go we managed to find a streak of wins using 4-2-3-1 which propelled to safety. Had previously been using 5-2-3 and 5-3-2. Had to make a change as I lost my best defender to Wycombe, for 10k - he is now worth £6m and i couldnt do a thing about it he just wouldnt sign a new contract. It is difficult to get contracts sorted in this league, all part time and only minimal terms so alot of youth players do tend to slip on by without being able to do much about it. I really do need to get out of this league. Youth intake was a bit fun, i got a polish, albanian, guinea, cameroonian and an austrian within my intake in April. nice bit of a miture. not really anyone notable to help the team, 1 or 2 squad fillers who hopefully will improve to use. Anthony Connor - the manchester born hero he is basically my whole club. He has made the game enjoyable so far for me. but I am not sure now how long i can keep him - he is way too good for this league. his goal scoring record is obscene. 222 goals in 225 games and still only 21. Progress sheet below, slight improvements constantly - junior coaching and recruitment now exceptional which is great. Stagnated on the facilities however due to finance they just won't upgrade further. But tbh i think i am at a decent enough level to be able to make it work. It has been a long hard 6 seasons to date, alot of work gone in and alot of stress - but also alot of reward. Once we can finally achieve professional status i think things will change alot with development. I Wish i could stop conceding so many goals! but whatever games are fun! (Not sure how to make the below neater - i only have the free online excel)

yep! similar, i have my defensive line so far back but most goals are just long balls and my defenders step out and they are in one on one every time. (i have them set to low line, drop off more, but they still do what they want) frustrating! I am sure it will click, i am sure!

I am really struggling to find any kind of consistency. Work so hard to get a win, throw away so many leads when flying in the game, amount of games i am leading at HT and get hammered and concede an obscene amount of goals. I finally feel my team is a top half team now, but genuinely cannot get away from the bottom and relegation zone. I Just can't win a few games on the spin to move anywhere. Very frustrating!

Have encountered a minor problem. My best Centre back won't sign a new contract because he wants the squad to be significantly strengthened. We have a major problemo with that as he is going to have to be let go on a free!