Search the Community

Last year, I was one of those players who basically played their saves and kept it to themselves, mostly. Not this year. I intend to take up the task of getting my hometown's football team, into the Premier League, and if possible? Beyond that. What they have asked of me should be doable this season - hopefully. So let's look at their current team, alright? (Colour Coding: Green = GKs, Blue = Defending Players (excluding DMs), Yellow = Midfielders, Red = Attackers) So, in the squad, we have 2 goalkeepers, with 1 reliable but very old backup goalkeeper (37 years old), who we will likely save for cup games, and 1 younger goalkeeper who will start every game (Matt Gilks and Alex Cairns). We have 2 Rotational Defenders with 1 who will see the First Team regularly and 2 Backup, with Ashley Eastham, Peter Clarke, Jimme Dunne, Harry Souttar and Nathan Sheron respectively (the latter likely playing more in the DM spot than as a defender.) We have two defenders that will have to be interchanged with each other, and hope for the best. (If not, then go for the youth.). That will likely be something we'll want to improve. Then, we've got 2 First Team Midfielders, 2 Rotational Midfielders and 1 Backup Midfielder in Jordawn Rossiter and Paul Coutts, Jack Sowerby, Kyle Dempsey and Nathan Sheron (who again will likely spend time being a backup DM.) respectively. Additionally, we have a 3 and a half star player that will actually make playing 4-4-2 a possibility. Interesting. We've also got a wealth of Wingers and Strikers, each of the Wingers capable of playing as backup strikers if one of the two main ones go down. Then, we'll try to build upon that, and build a good system to get us to where we want to be. My intentions are a solid defensive asymmetric tactic to overload one side of the pitch to loosen up the other. Hopefully it works! So, here's our tactic, an asymmetric 4-3-3, which will be tweaked as the days go on, but here it is with our first line-up. Then, not even a few days into the season, not even a single game in, and our main goalie is injured for 6-7 weeks! So, Gilks replaces him in the line-up, and we go into our first friendly, against St. Mirren. Then, this was the result. Not bad, if I do say so myself. But I think I'll call it a day from here.

Barnsley FC "Welcome t' Tarn" Life has been a challenging task for Barnsley fans, over the last 10 years having suffered two relegations and a promotion in the space of just 4 years. Barnsley haven't hit the heights of the Premier League since the 98/99 season and have spent more time seasons than any other in the second tier of English football 77 years to be precise and that is were I hope to return the club at the first time of asking. The club has undergone a number of “life cycles” over the last few years, resulting in multiple changes to how it does its business from the dark days of signing past it journeymen like Jonathan Greening, Emmanuel Frimpong and the Prince of Egypt Mido, to being one of the first sides to invest in young home grown talents like Alfie Mawson and Conor Hourihane and sell them on for profit a concept very similar to that of “Moneyball”. but now a change has arisen under the new stewardship of Gauthier Ganaye. Under the new stewardship of Gauthier Ganaye headed by owners Chien Lee and Paul Conway who took over from the late Patrick Cryne. Lee is also the co-owner of Nice Football Club with a similar recruitment strategy as ourselves, in developing young players to be sold for a profit, since the takeover in December 2017 there has certainly been a change in recruitment with Head Coach Daniel Stendel at the forefront of the change on and of the pitch. After a successful 2016/17 season, where Barnsley were comfortably stationed above the drop zone in 14th position the Sky Bet Championship, exceeding all expectations. Since then things have taken a dramatic turn for the worse for the Reds with a large influx of new players joining in the summer of 2017. 13 in total including; Cameron McGeehan from Luton, Liam Lindsay from Partick Thistle, Ethan Pinnock, Mamadou Thiam, Brad Potts, Matty Pearson, Stevie Mallan, Jason McCarthy, Lloyd Isgrove, Zeki Fryers, Dimitri Cavare -and breath-, I’m sure you can see the problem already. This without naming several loanees. And to manage this hapless bunch was the equally useless Paul Heckingbottom (still a divisive issue), which I won’t get in to. The 2017/18 was definitely a season to forget for Barnsley fans ending with relegation on the final day of the season at Derby under another useless manager, Mourinho’s cone man Jose Morais -If only we’d BELIEVED a bit more- sorry only Barnsley fans will get that reference. I think it was fairly obvious the players didn’t enjoy playing for the last two managers and s neither did the fans something that couldn’t be further from the truth under Daniel Stendel. There were little positives to take out from last season two of them being the emergence of Oli McBurnie and Harvey Barnes both of which are now crucial parts of top Championship teams, which gives me real hope that the club still has a great eye for a player, if only lacking the financial clout to compete for the players we would really like to. Maybe that will change under the immensely rich new owners -who knows-. The summer of 2018 took a decisively different turn to the previous, with very few arrivals coupled with minimal departures means we enter the 2018/19 season with largely the same squad as last season. The incomings being Kenny Dougall from Sparta Rotterdam for roughly £350,000 a bargain price on evidence so far. Mike Bähre (Loan to buy) from Hannover, Jordan Williams from Huddersfield, Cauley Woodrow (Loan to be confirmed as permanent in January) and Callum Styles from Bury (Loaned back to Bury until January ). With Stevie Mallan heading to Hibernian, Tom Bradshaw to Millwall (Loan to be confirmed as permanent in January) and the illusive Christoph Knasmullner to Rapid Wien who I never actually saw play for the club in his brief spell in English football. And my job is to try and return us to the Championship at the first time of asking.

FM YouTube channel ⚽️ https://youtu.be/LQjIlI3NWEE CHECK IT OUT! Join the Banter and the journey! Would love to see you there !!!! Nostalgic FM talk, career saves and journies up the leagues. Current save with Portsmouth as we await FM 19 - SOOO EXCITED! SUBSCRIBE IF YOU ENJOY! https://youtu.be/LQjIlI3NWEE

Introduction Welcome to 'Paul Cook: A Latics Revolution' my first post and career update thread on these forums I've always browsed about on the site, reading the many stories on show and finally decided to give in and do one for myself. I've been playing this game for years, for as long as I can remember really, I simply grew up loving football, so if I weren't playing it in the garden or at the park, I'd be watching it down at what was the JJB Stadium, or now known as the DW Stadium to watch the tics... Now, many will be familiar with the 'Latics' and can already guess who this story and career will be with, but for those who perhaps don't know who they are, it is the nickname of League One side Wigan Athletic, who were most recently in the Premier League in 2013 and beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley thanks to a Ben Watson header. (Cue the 'We beat Man City with a Watson goal song...) It makes sense, or at least to me anyway. I have never really sat down and played out a save with the team I support - I have always been tempted away by bringing someone up from the Conference North or South to the Premier League to do so, however this year I want that to change. With our relegation back to League One after a dismal season, mostly thanks to Warren Joyce, it means another chance to rebuild and reassess. Once the Championship season concluded, all eyes were on chairman David Sharpe, the grandson of Dave Whelan, to bring in someone who would not only get success this season, but could guarantee it for the future. After a few poor managerial appointments in the past since Roberto Martinez left the club for Everton, in which have featured the likes of Owen Coyle, Uwe Rosler and Malky Mackay, as well as Gary Caldwell who won promotion with us last time around, many weren't confident.However, the fans were proven wrong. Paul Cook was the man to be appointed as the latest Wigan Athletic manager, abandoning his post at Portsmouth, who he led to the League Two title that season. Paul was a manager who had a good track record wherever he had been, having stints at Accrington and Chesterfield prior to that at Portsmouth where he brought success not expected before at the two clubs. And that is where the story begins, Paul Cook will be beginning his preperation ahead of what will be a tough season for the Latics. A season full of optimism, promise and high expectations from the board, players and fans alike, will he be able to handle the pressure in the hotseat at the DW Stadium, or will he prove to be another disappointment?

Hi, I have completed fixtures for: Scottish Premiership. English Premier League I will also be doing: Championship League 1 League 2 I will up date you as an when I have completed these. League & Data & Fixture update_3119A416-0199-4E1E-9F8B-33D7EEA79B79.fmf League & Data Updates (Scotland Fixtures)_C67C4067-6046-479B-8F96-F3A631FAD1BE.fmf

Won League 2 pretty easily, and have had a bit of a re shuffle of the squad. (You can see the story in Career Updates) Will show my squad below & Transfer Targets, any recommendations, advice etc would be great... It is the 2nd of July so plenty of qualit free players available, I have 500k in the budget but hoping to save to bring in quality Frees and wait for better quality to become available. though I have had a bid of 800k for Graham Carey, 350k bid for Wabara & 500k bi for Campbell-Young. I sadly lost Arnold Garita who scored 39 League Goals on loan, will wait & wait to try and bring him back. I have a few Free players accepted contracts but have delayed most transfer for a week at the minute. SQUAD GK Luke McCormick- Was 1st choice last Year but looking at Free Agent Ben Garratt, Marc McCallum- Back up last year, May loan out as he has good potential. DR Reece Wabara- Played most of last year, May accept Rangers 350k offer though. Colin Campbell-Young- Was in & out last year, has potential but tempted by Sunderland's offer of 500k! which is great profit on last years free transfer. DL Kris Tonnesen- Bought for 28k last January, Only looking a LB to cover him. Gary Sawyer- Extended his Contract as Back Up, not really good enough though. DC Sonny Bradley- Was awesome for us last year, will give him a chance. Alex Finney- Another who was awesome last year, depends who we can bring in. Steve Arthurworrey- Was back up last year, may loan out or keep for back up again. MC Jake Forster-Caskey- Free Transfer, quality for this league. Ben Sheaf- Did okay last year, has good potential, make or break year. Harley Black- Was a good free last year, played well & have turned down bids of 350k Ovie Ejaria- Loaned in again after joining in Jan, Did well & is versatile. Connor Smith- Surpassed all expectations last year, deserves to be in the team. Z Benedicic- was a free in Jan, good player but gets booked a lot. Oscar Threkheld- Started last year but faded after Xmas, good versatile back up player. RW Cornelius Bencsik- Cost 10k!! Decent potential, he may go on loan though. Jack Dunn- Came in in Jan for cheap, played well at RW, LW & up top. Alex Kiwomya- Loaned in Jan & have extended for this season, brings pace. LW Graham Carey- A key man last year, may sell if I bring in anybody better wide. Dean Brotherson- A good free transfer with potential but will loan out to a league 1 team. Max Clayton- bought in on a free will be a key man at RW or LW ST Ryan Seager- Cost 165k in June, No Garita but can fill the void. Matt Knox- 78K for this wonderkid, hopefully will perform well. TRANSFER TARGETS GK BEN GARRATT- Have delayed the FREE transfer, he is a no brainer though with Prem potential. ROSS TURNBULL- Probably wont sign as Garratt is better and he is not much better than what I have. MITCH BEENEY- Can get for 100k but again, better than my back up but no Garratt. RAP SPEIGEL- Can get for 85k, similar to Beeney though, good potential. DR BRIAN LENIHAN- Have delayed his FREE move after leaving Hull, He is quality for this league though, may need another RB though as I have had bids for Wabara & C-Young. DL ZEKI FRYERS- He only wants 2k a week on a FREE, Would give good competition to Tonnesen. ABNER- Former Real Madrid man youngster, his club only want 50k... not defensively great but potential. DC OSHILJA- Former Cardiff CB on a FREE, Looks a machine for this league. SEMI AJAYI- Another ex cardiff man available for free, again looks really good league 1 player. DAVID WHEATER- Would bring instant League 1 quality on a free, not sure if the other 2 would be better. BAILLY CARGIL- Can get on loan from Brmouth, would be my best CB. HARRY LENNON- Can sign from Charlton for 100k, looks to be quality and good potential. MC CALUM AINLEY- Crewe are stuck in League 2, would cost 400k but has great potential. KEAN BRYAN- Ex Man City youngster, with good potential. CALUM CAMPS- Listed by request, would cost 600k so means a bit of selling but has loads of quality. JOHN LUNDSTRAM- Can get for 500k very similar to Camps & Ainley. GEORGE SAVILLE- Have delayed his FREE transfer, would be a good player. JAY FULTON- Listed at Swansea for 125k, really good player and good potential. LW & RW JAMIE MACKIE- Ex Argyle man been released and would be a key man on the right and back up striker. DEMETRI MITCHELL- Would be a back up on FREE with good potential. CONOR MCALNEY- Ex everton winger would be a starter on either wing, may sell Carey if I brought him in. ST J CLARKE-HARRIS- Ex Rotheram man didn't play last season but has good stats as a cover option. DARREN BENT- The Ex England man wants to come in as a player coach, would surely still score as a poacher. LUCAZ JUKIEWICZ- Has spent time at the club before, would be a great League 1 forward. SAM GALLAGHER- Southampton are my parent club though I have Seager already.

Hello fellow FM'ers In a bit of a rut in my FMT save with Bristol Rovers, despite the board expecting us to battle against relegation this year(First season), I've managed to get the boys to top of League 1 at the start of Jan. However, in a routine 2-1 win over Walsall at home, my keeper(Kelle Roos) caught a meaningless cross in the 89th minute and broke a finger......now out for 6-8 weeks. Along with Matty Taylor getting injured in training for 2 weeks(Top scorer with 21 goals so far) then returning and not scoring for 2 games, we out of the blue lost 4 games in a row(albiet 2 were against 2nd place Rochdale and 4th place Sheff UTD) conceding 13 goals, despite having the 5th best defence in the league and top scorers in the league before this run of defeats. Our GD has gone from 21 to 9, and we've dropped from 1st with a 6 point gap to 4th. It is tight at the top, and we've already put together some good league runs this year including 11 games without losing so I'm not hugely worried, but surely this all can't just be because I've lost the keeper?! I'd love some tips if anyone has experienced similar to get the team out of this rut of form as I can't put my finger on whats going wrong. I haven't majorly changed the tactics or players, surely we haven't just been drastically over performing all year and now its all going to come apart?! Secondly, if anyone has any recommendations for some good level championship signings for to get in in the summer I'd love to hear them, assuming I go up. Got a fair few very average squad players who definitely wouldn't cut it in the championship with contracts running out, along with 6 loan deals ending, 2 of which are very key players this year. The squad will need some talent in the summer if we are to survive going up, I can't imagine I'll be given anything major in terms of transfer budget so if anyone knows of players with contracts running out at this level in Summer 2017 in the game I'll check them out. Want to get started early on scouting. Thanks for any help, and sorry for the lengthy post!