FM13: Borussia Dortmund - Echte Liebe.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Welcome to the Football Manager 2013 thread for...

A BRIEF BVB BACKGROUND

Borussia Dortmund are a German Bundesliga side who've become an iconic figure in the footballing landscape of Germany and Europe. Their greatest achievement to date was their 1997 UEFA Champions League triumph, a win which you'll read about later on. Borussia Dortmund - or BVB for short - are a club with ethics. With little funds available, especially when compared to the aristocrats of PSG & Manchester City, they've defied popular belief by winning two successive Bundesliga titles. An extraordinary achievement.

BVB - The History

Borussia Dortmund roots run deep into the heart of German football. After a group of parish-sponsored footballers, coached by the fearsome parish priest, they decided to form a professional football club - henceforth the establishment of Borussia Dortmund on December 19th, 1909. The decades to come offered little to celebrate, with relative mediocrity in the lower leagues. Bankruptcy reared it's unwelcome head in 1929, but a well-financed fan ensured that BVB weren't left red - or yellow - faced...

The name Borussia is derived from the nearby beer brewery which once stood in industrious heart of West Germany, Dortmund. Initially, the players donned a rather absurd mixture of blue and white stripes, a red sash and black shorts, but 1913 saw the introduction of the famous Yellow and Black vertical stripes - a colour scheme which has monopolised German football in the past couple of seasons.

The Third Reich regime, BVB's involvement in WWII and what ensued in post-war Germany;

The 1930s saw the rise of the Third Reich which restructured sports and football organizations throughout the nation to suit the regime's goals. Borussia's president was replaced when he refused to join the Nazi Party, and a couple of members who surreptitiously used the club's offices to produce anti-Nazi pamphlets were executed in the last days of the war. As the landscape of day-to-day Germany changed drastically, the footballing layout changed too. The club did have greater success in the newly established Gauliga Westfalen, but would have to wait until after World War II to make a breakthrough.

It was also during this period when Borussia Dortmund's now famous rivalry with FC Schalke 04 began. Described as the 'Mother of all German derbies', the rivalry is one of the fiercest in World Football - and it all came about due to Schalke's dominance of the Gauliga Westfalen, not to mention the close proximity of both clubs. To this day, it's still a much anticipated fixture in German football. Nothing has changed, and it never will.

As the allied authorities attempted to distance themselves, and the German citizens, from the recent Nazi regime, all institutions were dissolved. A somewhat far-fetched plan to merge two other clubs with BVB put into motion, but needless to say, that venture failed miserably. So much so, Borussia Dortmund made their first appearance in the national league final, losing 3-2 to Mannheim. It was only 7 years later, in 1956, when Borussia Dortmund tasted success by winning the Oberliga West title. In the years leading up to the Bundesliga's creation in 1963, Dortmund clinched another two Oberliga West titles. The Westphalia-based club's stock was certainly on the rise.

BVB's induction to Die Bundesliga;

1962, Dortmund. Plans were written up to establish Germany's first professional football league - the Bundesliga, a league which has harboured many a world-class player. After Borussia Dortmund's title-winning final season in the Oberliga West division, they were included in the first 16 teams to experience the Bundesliga. 1.Köln, who finished runners-up, also earned a place in the newly-founded professional division.

1965 saw Borussia Dortmund clinch their first piece of silverwear under a professional cub status. The German Cup, now the DFB-Pokal Cup, was the first title to grace the soon-to-be expanding BVB troophy cabinet. In 1966, an important year in the history of English football, saw Borussia Dortmund triumph over one of England's best - Liverpool Football Club. The 2-1 victory in the Final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup came at a cost. Dortmund's Bundesliga form halted, before the club relinquished their lead to 1860 Münich with just 5 games remaining; a bitter sweet moment for the Borussia faithful.

Relative mediocrity followed. It's a trend which has become quite a prominent one in the history of the club. After two cups wins in quick succession, the 1970's offered a much more dismal outlook. With financial issues again blighting the club's development, the club were relegated to the 2.Bundesliga in 1972. Four years in the 2.Bundesliga - split by the opening of BVB's current home, the Westfalenstadion, in 1974 - were put to an end after the club sealed a return to Germany's premier division. The 80's saw little change in Borussia Dortmund' future, once again the club suffered from lingering financial issues. Althoug, in 1989, a 4-1 triumph in the German Cup final over Werder Bremen proposed a much more successful decade.

The 90's - Cash flushed, the Champions League & Lars Ricken's goal...

Ottmar Hitzfeld will forever be held in high-estime. That UEFA Champions League win, that Lars Ricken goal - their all memories which will never fade from a Borussia Dortmund fan. The club's patience and perseverance was finally rewarded. An impressive UEFA Cup run in the '92-'93 season was the catalyst to later success. With former Stuttgart forward, the wily Hitzfeld, in charge, the club went on to clinch their first Bundesliga title in 1995, then their second just a season later.

Matthias Sammer - now director of football at Bayern München - was an integral part of that title-winning side. The ginger haired Central Midfielder come Sweeper scored many a vital goal in the run-in, while his all-round performances earned him great recognition: named the European Footballer of the Year in 1996, it was an accolade which only four Germans had won before him. He's in good company, too - Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Löthar Matthäus.

Moving onto one of the greatest moments in Borussia Dortmund's 103-year history. That UEFA Champions League win. A Juventus side, featuring the likes of Zinidine Zidané, Alessandro Del Piero and Dider Deschamps, travelled to the Olympicstadion in Münich on 28th of May, 1997. A brace from Karl-Heinze Riedle earned the hosts a half-time two-goal lead. The industrious, close marking of Zinidine Zidané by now Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert restricted the French maestro's involvement in the game to close to nothing. A goal from Juve legend Alessandro Del Piero offered the Italian Giant a route back into the game, but that goal from Dortmund boy, Lars Ricken, clinched the victory. A goal that will never be forgotten, a victory that will always be remembered - a wonderful chapter in BVB's history.

The 21st Century - a new start, a new Dortmund;

After Borussia Dortmund's UEFA Champions League triumph, the turn of the Millenium offered plenty to be excited about. With well-established stars arriving at the Westfalenstadion, or the Signal Iduna Park it's now known, plenty was being spent. With the first two seasons proposing little to shout about, the 2002/'03 season proposed plenty. BVB overtook Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen in the final leg of the Bundesliga to clinch the title, while another fine European cup run was brought to an end by Dutch giants Feyenoord. This successful season was to be the last for some while, as the financial implications of challenging at League and European level were starting to take effect on the Deutscher Meister...

In 2005, Borussia Dortmund were driven to the brink of bankruptcy, the second time in 80 years. Poor financial management coupled with poor results on the playing field, not to mention the increasing cost of players wages, meant that BVB were plunged into financial uncertainty. This makes Borussia Dortmund's revival all the more impressive. Dortmund narrowly avoided falling into administration, but at a cost of their competitiveness. The next couple of seasons (2005-'06 to 2007-'08) saw Borussia Dortmund continually fall down the Bundesliga rankings. As well as that, the BVB faithful saw their better players - most notably Tomás Rosický and Chritsoph Metzelder - leave the club.

Jürgen Klopp, in the Summer of 2008, was appointed Borussia Dortmund's first-team manager. The ex-Mainz manager was an instant success. In his first season, die Pöhler achieved a fifth place finish in the Bundesliga - narrowly missing out on qualification to the promised land, the UEFA Champions League. The eccentric, charismatic Klopp seemingly reinstated a long-lost belief and passion into the first-team squad. An important ingredient to any Borussia Dortmund team. The 2010-2011 season saw an even bigger improvement at Borussia Dortmund. Mario Götze made his breakthrough into the first-team, Nuri Şahin continued his imperious form while the centre-half partnership of Mats Hummels and Neven Subotić flourished. BVB completed the season as Bundesliga champions: a tremendous achievement for a magnificent team.

The 2011/'12 season only got better. Many questioned Michael Zorc's decision to let Nuri Şahin make his €10 million move to the Giants of Spanish football, Real Madrid. Those pressing questions of Borussia Dortmund's ambition and decision to let Şahin move couldn't have been more irrelevant. Another Bundesliga title, their fifth in the club's history, was won on the thirty-second matchday. Jürgen Klopp had defied popular belief yet again. In an injury-ravaged season, Mario Götze was unfortunate not to play a bigger part in BVB's triumph, but the likes of Jakub Błaszczykowski and Kevin Großkreutz more than impressed in the 19-year old's absence. The Polish bloc - Lewandowski, Blaszczykowski and Piszczek - all impressed, while Ilkay Gündoğan and club captain Sebastian Kehl forged a formidable midfield partnership.

Borussia Dortmund: Deutscher Meister 2010/'11, 2011/'12... 2012/'13?

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BVB - Infrastructure and Facilities;

THE STADIUM

The Signal Iduna Park - an atmospheric, fearsome football stadium. Ever since it's construction in 1972, the Westfalenstadion, as the fans still call it, has been a huge asset to the club. With it being able to hold 80,720, the gate receipts is a huge source of income for the club. Nothing's different on Football Manager 2013, though: good results on the pitch will bring good results on the balance books, with season ticket and ticket sales leading the clubs profit.

The name 'Signal Iduna Park' came about arounda decade ago, when the club was embroiled in worrying financial difficulties. As a extra source of income, the club's hierarchy sold the naming rights to Westphalia-based Insurance company, Signal Iduna. The clubs fans, as expected, were disappointed in the decision despite it being for the good of the club. Many still call it the Westfalenstadion, as do I from time-to-time.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND II STADIUM

The Borussia Dortmund II side, who play in the 3.Bundesliga, play their competitive home matches in the Stadion Rote Erde, which is situated in the shadow of Signal Iduna Park. At capacity, it holds an impressive 25,000 spectators. Built in the 1920's, the Stadion Rote Erde, at one time, was the home of the Borussia Dortmund senior side.

TRAINING FACILITIES

With player development one of Borussia Dortmund's priorities and beliefs, it's important that the players have the best environment to work in. They certainly have that in the Dortmund-Bracken training centre. The state-of-the-art facility offers everything a football team could want - from recovery pools to a plethora of UEFA standard pitches. The training centre also plays host to BVB's youth team games.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Borussia Dortmund on Football Manager 2013

BVB - LEGENDS

August Lenz (ex-player), Löthar Emmerich (ex-player), Aki Schmidt (ex-player)

BVB - ICONS

Dedé (ex-player), Michael Zorc (ex-player), Lars Ricken (ex-player), Norbert Dickel (ex-player), Ottmar Hitzfeld (Champions League winning manager)

BVB - FAVOURED PERSONNEL

Wolfgang de Beer (ex-player), Stefan Reuter (ex-player), Matthias Sammer (ex-player & manager), Jan Koller (ex-player), Jürgen Klopp (Manager; whom you replace), Stéphane Chapuisat (ex-player), Jürgen Köhler (ex-player)

DERBIES

Revier Derby ("The mother of all German derbies") vs. FC Schalke 04, Borussen Derby vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach

FIERCE RIVALRIES

FC Schalke 04 (Local rivals)

LESSER RIVALRIES

Bayern München (Competitive), Bayer Leverkusen (Competitive, somewhat local too)

BVB - The Trophy Cabinet

With the strong tradition of winning trophies a prominent feature in the history of Borussia Dortmund, you'll have to continue such traditions. After Jürgen Klopp's title-twosome, the pressure will definitely be on you, despite the rather limp financial backing. Ottmar Hitzfeld was the last manager to achieve the unthinkable - winning the UEFA Champions League - and you could be the next.

BVB - The Kits

Coming soon...

BVB - Expectations, Success, Destiny

A minimum transfer budget, as seen above, of £2.6 million is a fairly good one. As ever, you must take into account the club's Summer expenditure. Marco Reus, Leandro Bittencourt, Julian Schieber all arrived at the Signal Iduna Park for around £22.5 million. That's a hefty sum for a club with little spendable income. With a minimum of £2.6 million, plenty of bargains can be added to the BVB squad.

2012-2013 SEASON - BOARD'S EXPECTATIONS

UEFA Champions League qualification [4th place & upwards] | Transfer Budget: £2.6 million - Wage Budget: 775,000 per week

Bundesliga title challenge | Transfer Budget: £2.8 million - Wage Budget: £800,000 per week

Bundesliga Winners | Transfer Budget: £3 million - Wag Budget: £825,000 per week

For the first season, the expectation you should pick is the minimum one - finish in a UEFA Champions League qualification spot in the Bundesliga. The squad is easily good enough to achieve that, while a title win would be a healthy bonus. With the £2.6 million, you could easily nab a few bargains in a faltering market. The added pressure of having to win the Bundesliga title isn't worth the £400,000 difference in transfer budgets - predict low, but aim high.

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BVB - NICKNAMES

BVB (Ballspiel-Verein Borussia), Die Borussen (The Borussians), Die Schwarzgelben (The Black & Yellows),

BVB - PHILOSOPHY

In game, the club's only demand that you must adhere to is the promotion of youth from the ever fertile youth Academy. With first-team players such as Mario Götze and Marco Reus all products of BVB's youth system, you'll certainly have no trouble breeding through the talented youngsters. Despite not being included in FM13, the brand of football you favour is something which will influence the fans', and board members, opinions of you.

BVB - THE FANS

Passionate and enthusiastic are two adjectives which go hand-in-hand with die Borussen fans. With a 28,000 strong safe-standing section in the Signal Iduna Park, it generates an unrivalled atmosphere every other Saturday. Famed for their outspoken, almost partisan nature, the fans will take some pleasing. A Bundesliga title or two would go a long way to appeasing each and every one of them.

BVB - TRADITION

Borussia Dortmund, as you most probably know, is a club steeped in pride and history. Most German sides are. With eight division 1 titles, three DFB-Pokal Cups and a UEFA Champions League title to their name, silverware is a long-standing traditiion - a tradition which belittles any other. You're main aim is to win.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Borussia Dortmund - Squad Analysis

First-team squad list;

** - Denotes important first-team player | ** - Denotes promising, young talent

1. Roman Weidenfeller **

20. Mitchell Langerak

33. Zlatan Almerović

4. Neven Subotić

15. Mats Hummels **

21. Oliver Kirch

24. Chris Löwe

25. Patrick Owomoyela

26. Łukasz Piszczek **

27. Felipe Santana

29. Marcel Schmelzer

5. Sebastian Kehl

6. Sven Bender

7. Moritz Leitner **

8. Ilkay Gündoğan **

10. Mario Götze **

11. Marco Reus **

14. Ivan Perišić

16. Jakub Błaszczykowski

19. Kevin Großkreutz

32. Leandro Bittencourt **

9. Robert Lewandowski **

23. Julian Schieber

Notable BVB II & Under 19's;

3. Marc Hornschuh

28. Mustafa Amini

30. Koray Günter **

34. Marvin Ducksch

39. Marvin Bakalorz

-- Jeremy Dudziak **

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FIRST-TEAM | IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS

GOALKEEPERS;

Roman Weidenfeller | Vice Captain - #1 - 32 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £41,500 A WEEK

Ever since his move from Kaiserslautern, many a season ago, to replace the Arsenal-bound Jens Lehmann, the ageing Weidenfeller certainly hasn't looked back. Weidenfeller has become an integral player in the current Borussia Dortmund side - especially during BVB's first Bundesliga-winning season in 2010/'11. By far the superior 'keeper to both Almorevic and Langerak. There's a couple more season in him yet.

Mitchell Langerak | #20 - 24 YEARS OLD - AUSTRALIA - £8,250 A WEEK

Deputy to the ever impressive Roman Weidenfeller, the young Aussie's gametime in the BVB first-team has been limited. With rare starts in the Bundesliga, cup competitions such as the DFB-Pokal Cup offer a good stage upon which Langerak can perform and prove himself. He should be regarded as your second choice goalkeeper.

Zlatan Almerović | #33 - 21 YEARS OLD - SERBIA - £1,700 A WEEK

Almorević has been on the fringes of joining the first-team squad for a while now, but this season finally sees Almorević break into the first-team squad. With the young Serb unlikely to gain much first-team experience, a loan deal would be advisable - although do so at your own peril.

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DEFENDERS;

Neven Subotić | #4 - Centre Back - 23 YEARS OLD - SERBIA - £25,000 A WEEK

Jürgen Klopp brought many an asset with him from FSV Mainz: enthusiasm, good football and, ultimately, trophies. Despite those, he brought another equally important ingredient to add into the BVB concoction - Neven Subotić. Born in then-Yugoslavia, before being raised in Germany and later the United States of America, Subotić's childhood was a turbulent one. Joining Mainz at the age of 17, he flourished into a fine centre-half. After Klopp's departure to BVB, the Serbian international duly followed. Since then, Subotić has become a leading Bundesliga centre-back.

Mats Hummels | #15 - Centre Back - 23 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £67,000 A WEEK

Hummels is a product of the Bayern München academy, the academy in which is father was once head of. After making only one appearance in three tiresome years at the Allianz Arena, Hummels was loaned and eventually bought by Borussia Dortmund for a derisory £2.9 million. Strong in the tackle, dominant in the air and good with the ball, Mats Hummels is a perfect example of a fantastic, modern day defender. His elegant, assured approach has drawn comparisons with Franz Beckenbauer.

Oliver Kirch | #21 - Right Back - 30 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £13,000 A WEEK

Every squad needs an utility player - or in German, dienstprogramm spieler. Capable anywhere down the right-hand side and as a holding midfielder, Kirch caught the eye last season while at Kaiserslautern. Signed in the Summer of 2012 for €350,000, the 30-year old will prove to be a valuable member of the squad. Kirch could easily be branded as 'deadwood', but I suggest you not to judge hastily.

Chris Löwe | #24 - Left Back - 23 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £8,250 A WEEK

With Marcel Schmaelzer the standout candidate for the regular left-back position, the wily figure of Chris Löwe is certainly his back-up - despite his 'naturalness' on the left-side of midfield. Equipped with a good turn of pace and good attacking attributes, his defensive side of the game leaves a lot to be desired. It's something which you'll have to address; whether it be by finding a replacement, or putting in plenty of hours at the training ground.

Patrick Owomoyela | #25 - Right Back - 32 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £16,750 A WEEK

Since joining the club in 2008, Owomoyela has racked up 82 appearances for die Borussen. Possessing good defensive ability, coupled with experience and know-how, Owomoyela could be card to have in your hand. Yet another player which will be deemed as deadwood, but I beg to differ - for a season, at least.

Łukasz Piszczek | #26 - Right Back - 27 YEARS OLD - POLAND - £29,000 A WEEK

Łukasz Piszczek is certainly a player who's continually flourished as the seasons have gone by. Starting out as a fleet-footed winger, his transition from an advanced role into a right-back one has been extraordinary. Possessing great pace, power and attacking flair, Piszczek has become a fine attacking outlet for Borussia Dortmund. Despite his attacking tendencies, he doesn't forget his defensive duties. He's the perfect fullback for a team like Borussia Dortmund. Keep him at all costs.

Felipe Santana | #27 - Centre Back - 26 YEARS OLD - BRAZIL - £20,000 A WEEK

Santana is, and should be, the back-up to both Mats Hummels and Neven Subotić. Tall, robust and pacey, Santana has all the physical attributes to handle the Bundesliga. He's not quite as impressive mentally, while technically he leaves a bit to be desired. As an alternative to Hummels and Subotić, the Brazilian is certainly a good option to have at your disposal. There's no reason to let a good centre-half go when he's coming into the prime of his career.

Marcel Schmelzer | #29 - Left Back - 24 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £33,500 A WEEK

Signed in the Summer of 2005 as a raw 17-year old from FC Magdeburg, Schmelzer's rise to prominence has been remarkable. The title-winning season of 2010/2011 was certainly his best to date. The industrious left-back is impressive both defending and going forward. A contract extension certainly wouldn't go a miss. At 24-years old, a bright future lies ahead of Schmelzer, who's picked up 6 caps for die Nationalmannschaft.

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MIDFIELDERS;

Sebastian Kehl | Club Captain - #5 - Defensive Midfield - 32 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £50,000 A WEEK

Sebastian Kehl has been at Borussia Dortmund club for no less than 10 years now. Kehl is Dortmund through-and-through. A £2 million signing from SC Freiburg back in 2001, Kehl has certainly repaid the fee with consistently good performances. In recent years, Kehl's career has been blighted by injury, although he's no beginning to refind his best form - form which won him 33 caps for Germany in the past decade. With his contract expiring in 2013, I'd suggest to begin negotiations on a one-year extension right away.

Sven Bender | #6 - Defensive Midfield - 23 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £29,000 A WEEK

Sven Bender is yet another holding midfielder who's development has been knocked back by various injuries. Defensively incredibly sound, while offensively good, one can only imagine where he'd be now without the constant niggling injuries. Regarded as the long-term replacement for club captain Sebastian Kehl, Sven's got big boots to fill. With fantastic attributes all round Sven's twin brother, Lars Bender, currently plays for rivals Bayer Leverkusen.

Moritz Leitner | #7 - Central Midfield - 19 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £16,750 A WEEK

At 19-years old, young Leitner has a glittering career ahead of him. Comfortable anywhere in midfield, he's an energetic addition to BVB's midfield options. Attacking guile and creativity while able defensively, he offers another option for you to ponder over. With the likes of Götze and Gündoğan ahead of him, he's one for the future. Leitner will flourish with the right management.

Ilkay Gündoğan | #8 - Central Midfield- 22 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £30,000 A WEEK

The departure of Nuri Şahin was a cause of concern for many a BVB fan, but Nürnberg's Ilkay Gündoğan firmly allayed initial worries. Often the deepest man in midfield, Gündoğan offers much more than just a strong tackle; his ball-playing abilities are, arguably, second-to-none in the Borussia Dortmund squad at the moment. The deep-lying creativity and a forward-thinking mindset are just a handful of similarities drawn with the man he replaced, Nuri Şahin. Ilkay Gündoğan is the rudder of a sometimes misguided BVB midfield.

Mario Götze | #10 - Attacking Midfield - 20 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £77,000 A WEEK

He has it all: the talent, the ability, the potential. Courted by many a European Giant, it's imperative you resist all bids, however flattering. He's been branded as the 'future of German football', and I couldn't agree more. Quick of mind as well as feet, tricky or direct when needs be and capable of filling in anywhere across the front three, Götze is a prized Borussia and Bundesliga asset. The small, classy playmaker should be the focal point of your midfield - look to get him on the ball in advanced, threatening positions. He'll serve you well.

Marco Reus | #11 - Attacking Midfield - 23 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £67,000 A WEEK

As 'German Footballer of the Year', Marco Reus sealed a hefty €17.2 million Summer move to Borussia Dortmund back in January, although it's only now he joins the BVB squad. Much like Götze, he can play anywhere along the frontline. Marco Reus began his youth career at BVB, but made a name for himself at Gladbach. With electric fast, he's known to rip any defense apart with impressive ball control and a ruthless finishing ability when presented a chance. The present and future, both wrapped into one bundle of brilliance.

Ivan Perišić | #14 - Attacking Midfield - 23 YEARS OLD - CROATIA - £21,500 A WEEK

Signed from Belgian side Club Brugge back in the Summer of 2011, the young Croat enjoyed a fine debut Bundesliga season. Yet another incredibly versatile midfield, he'll add more depth and options to what is quite a small squad. At 6' 2", Perišić brings a physical edge to the BVB team too. As an alternative to the smaller, trickier players, Perišić is one of the best out there. Unlikely to be a starter, you should look to use him off the bench when deemed necessary.

Kuba Blaszczykowski | #16 - Right Wing 26 YEARS OLD - POLAND - £49,500 A WEEK

Last season proved to be a brilliant one for Polish national captain, Jakub Blaszczykowski - or 'Kuba', as he's fondly known. After Mario Götze's season was broken down by various injuries, Kuba stood up and wanted to be counted. Creating and scoring goals, Kuba pinned down a regular first-team position for club and country. Last season, he became part of an impressive 'Polish Bloc' in the Borussia Dortmund side: with Łukasz Piszczek and Robert Lewandowski supporting Kuba admirably.

Kevin Großkreutz | #19 - Left Wing - 23 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £25,000 A WEEK

Born in the Drtmund area, Großkreutz certainly understands the dynamics and traditions of Borussia Dortmund. He's a typical German stereotype: hardworking, efficient and effective. Predominantly a left winger, Großkreutz can fill in through the middle, at left-back and on the right-hand side too. With the addition of Marc Reus to the squad, Großkreutz should be used in a substitute role and in away games, where defensive duties are a priority.

Leandro Bittencourt | #32 - Attacking Midfield - 18 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £8,250 A WEEK

Born in Eastern Germany to Brazilian parents, Leandro Bittencourt certainly has a good footballing pedigree in terms of his dual nationality. After impressing at Energie Cottbus last season, a £2.3 million deal was agreed during the 2011/'12 season, but only joins the club this Summer. He fits into the BVB attacking midfield contingent well; cunningly creative, the advanced midfielder is another player who should be nurtured and pampered.

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FORWARDS;

Robert Lewandowski | #9 - Striker - 24 YEARS OLD - POLAND - £25,000 A WEEK

Lewandowski is much more than just you run-of-the-mill goal scorer. Able to run the channels, hassle the opposition and hold up the ball, it's his dynamism which makes him the striker he is today. Fitting into the BVB system perfectly, and with his contract expiring in 2014, I'd advise you to begin negotiations on a new long-term contract right away. If played in the correct set-up, Lewandowski will be a significant player for your BVB team.

Julian Schieber | #23 - Striker - 23 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £21,500 A WEEK

Deemed as Lucas Barrios' - who left for the far reaches of Chinese football - replacement, Julian Schieber certainly has some act to follow. The £5.2 million spent on him certainly heaps a fair amount of pressure onto the 23-year old's shoulders, too. Scoring only 6 goals in 49 appearances, Schieber isn't a prolific scorer but certainly is a hard-worker - a value which appealed to Jürgen Klopp.

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NOTABLE RESERVE & YOUTH TEAM PLAYERS | IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS

Marc Hornschuh | #3 - Centre Back - 21 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £3,900 A WEEK

The centre-half come right-back has yet to play for Borussia Dortmund's senior side, despite being at the club for the majority of his career. Appearing 9-times for Germany's U-21 side , the young Dortmund-born Hornschuh could have a future at BVB, but that's entirely up to you. I'd suggest a DFB-Pokal Cup role for the first season. You can then make up your mind from there on.

Mustafa Amini | #28 - Attacking Midfield - 19 YEARS OLD - AUSTRALIA - £1,700 A WEEK

Known as "Musti", the former Central Coast Mariners playmaker became the latest Aussie to make the transition from A-League to Bundesliga football, following in the footsteps of compatriot and team-mate Mitchell Langerak. Possessing the basic attributes to develop into a good attacking midfielder, the Australian U-21 (Young Socceroo, thanks Nick1408) international has a fine future ahead of him - preferably at Borussia Dortmund.

Koray Günter | #30 - Centre Back - 18 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £1,700 A WEEK

The German youth international is, arguably, one of the best players to come from the Borussia Dortmund youth academy since Mario Götze. Powerful and tall, he has the physique to become a good Bundesliga player. His ability to read the game adds another dimension to his game. Born in Germany to Turkish players, he's yet to decide which nationality he wants to represent at senior level.

Marvin Bakalorz | #31 - Defensive Midfield - 22 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £2,200 A WEEK

A regular for Borussia Dortmund's II team, Bakalorz signed a new two-year contract last season. At 22-years old, he's relatively old to make his Bundesliga breakthrough and he's still waiting for it. Sadly, I don't believe Bakalorz has the potential to improve. The DFB-Pokal Cup offers a good chance to see him in action.

Marvin Ducksch | #34 - Striker - 18 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £1,700 A WEEK

Alongside now-Liverpool striker, Samed Yesil, the blonde-haired, burly centre forward formed an impressive partnership for Germany's U-17 side in the 2011 U-17's World Cup. Lacking pace and agility, Ducksch more than makes up for it with his natural finishing ability - something which you could harness. Bare with him; he will improve.

Jeremy Dudziak | #n/a - Left Back - 17 YEARS OLD - GERMANY - £55 A WEEK

Much like Koray Günter, he's regarded highly within Borussia Dortmund's youth ranks. Described as a 'future Dortmund first-teamer', the versatile Dudziak has a big future ahead of him. For the first season at least, Dudziak's development is best served in BVB's U-19's side, but that decision is one for you to make.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Borussia Dortmund - Realistic Transfer Targets

TRANSFER POLICY

Without the "back door funded" finance of many a European club, the Borussia Dortmund hierarchy run a tight ship. With a reasonable annual transfer budget, you'll have to get the best value out of your money. BVB have a strong tradition of buying, and developing, German talents and it's something you should look to continue. Don't be afraid of delving into the European and Global market too. Most European leagues, the Brasileirão and even the MLS are good sources of talent.

DOMESTIC TARGETS

Here are 5 targets who all play in Germany. As ever, the prices will vary.

Marc-André ter Stegen Position: GK | Age: 20 | Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach | Nationality: German | Value: £6 million

With Roman Weidenfeller not getting any younger, it would be advisable to start thinking about possible replacements. Marc-André ter Stegen should be the number one target. A fine shot-stopper and good with the ball, he's very much capable of fitting into the BVB ethos of play. Regarded highly at Gladbach, you'll have to fork out at least £15 million to acquire ter Stegen's services. He's worth it, though.

Jan Kirchhoff Position: CB | Age: 22 | Club: FSV. Mainz 05 | Nationality: German | Value: £3.5 million

Mats Hummels, Neven Subotić and Felipe Santana are the only recognised centre-halves at the club, making the need for another a priority. Kirchhoff would certainly be a good option. With outstanding attributes - for instance, his pace and anticippation are '16' and 18' respectively - he'd be a fine addition to the squad. His contract expires in the Summer of 2013, so move hastily.

Sebastian Jung Position: RB | Age: 22 | Club: Eintracht Frankfurt | Nationality: German | Value: £2.3 million

Energetic, agile, forward-thinking, composed, penetrative - the young Sebastian Jung is a good example, even if lacking in experience, of a modern day right-back. At 22-years old, he'd be a good candidate to deputise for Łukasz Piszczek before, eventually, replacing him. Patrick Owomoyela, who currently plays back-up to the Pole, should leave once his contract expires in 2013.

Sebastian Rode Position: DM/CM | Age: 22 | Club: Eintracht Frankfurt | Nationality: German | Value: £3.9 million

Yet another Sebastian from Eintracht Frankfurt, the robust Rode has taken the Bundesliga by storm. Able to perform a plethora of roles, Sebastian Rode would over another dynamic option for you to ponder over - that's if you sign him, of course. With Rode regarded as "indispensable" to Frankfurt, it will take at least £8 million to prise him away from the newly-promoted club's clutches. Big future ahead.

Patrick Herrmann Position: RM | Age: 21 | Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach | Nationality: German | Value: £3.7 million

A player you should be looking to sign, the industrious wideman, Patrick Herrmann, first came to prominence last season. His clever runs, coupled with a good finish, ensure the right-sided midfielder bags a few goals a season; while his direct dribbling and blistering pace often causes problems for the opposition. A fee of around £10 million should loosen Gladbach's grip on the German U-21 international.

OTHER TARGETS

Goalkeepers: Ron-Robert Zieler (23; Hannover; £3.6 million) Defender: Serdar Tasçi (25; Stuttgart; £6 million), Matthias Ginter (18; Freiburg; £1.1 million) Midfielder: Aleksander Ignjovski (21; Werder Bremen; £2.4 million), Leon Goretzka (17; VfL Bochum; £150k), Takashi Inui (23; Eintracht Frankfurt; £4.8 million) Forwards: Ádám Szalai (24; Mainz 05; £4.1 million), Pierre-Michel Lassoga (20; Hertha Berlin BSC; £1.9 million)

---

GLOBAL TARGETS

Here are 7 targets from leagues all around the World. I've kept BVB's needs in mind, once again.

Rafael Cabral Position: GK | Age: 22 | Club: Santos | Nationality: Brazilian | Value: £3 million

Making three caps for the Brazilian national side, Rafael was once regarded as the long-term 'keeper of the famous footballing nation. Recently, he's gone off the boil slightly, but time is certainly on his side. At around £5 million, you'd be bringing in a assured, talented understudy to Roman Weidenfeller with the view of replacing him in the long-term. The domestic options are better, though.

Aleksander Dragović Position: CB | Age: 21 | Club: FC Basel | Nationality: Austrian | Value: £875,000

The Vienna born central defender has attracted many a big club in the past 12 months, most notably Premier League duo Arsenal and Newcastle United. Strong in the tackle, surprisingly quick and an ability to read the game, Dragović is a good option to have. At around £2 million, the fee is surprisingly low, too. Cappd 15-times for the Austrian national team.

Yaroslav Rakitskyi Position: CB | Age: 23 | Club: Skakhtar Donetsk | Nationality: Ukrainian | Value: £5.5 million

Shakhtar Donetsk have been a stalwart in Ukrainian football during the past couple of years while Yaroslav Rakistkyi, the burly, powerful centre-half, has been a stalwart in the Shakhtar defense. Recently turning 23-years old, he's already an established Ukrainian international and is only waiting for that 'big' move. Borussia Dortmund would be a great place for him to develop. You could make it happen.

Ricardo van Rhijn Position: RB | Age: 21 | Club: Ajax | Nationality: Dutch | Value: £1.9 million

A product of the famed Ajax youth academy, van Rhijn has become a household name in Dutch football. To be used as an understudy to Piszczek, the Dutch youth international would be a good addition to the squad. There are plenty of right-back options, though. I'm just offering a few, lesser known names.

Jordy Clasie Position: CM | Age: 21 | Club: Feyenoord | Nationality: Dutch | Value: £6.25 million

The Eredivisie, as ever, is a hotbed for young talent - Jordy Clasie, who's stylish, but aggressive approach has won him many a plaudit, continues the tradition of promoting youth. A battling deep-lying playmaker, Clasie is an all-round midfielder with a big future ahead of him. Already a first-team regular at Feyenoord, you'll have to delve deep into the club's pockets.

Tomáš Rosický Position: CAM | Age: 31 | Club: Arsenal | Nationality: Czech | Value: £5.75 million

Once a Borussen, always a Borussen. The Arsenal playmaker, nicknamed 'Little Mozart', left Borussia Dortmund back in 2006 as the club was thrown into financial uncertainty. Rosický has had his fair share of injury problems, but another midfield option wouldn't go a miss. Keep the faith. Rosický will return home.

Léonard Kweuke Position: ST | Age: 25 | Club: Sparta Prague | Nationality: Cameroonian | Value: £2.5 million

The distant relation to Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o, the burly striker is certainly in good company. After a brief spell in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, Kweuke joined Sparta Prague. Scoring an impressive 25 goals in two seasons, Léonard was thrust into the limelight and is now interesting some of Europe's biggest clubs. You certainly won't regret buying this Cameroonian.

OTHER TARGETS

Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (23; FC Basel; £550k) Defenders: Stefan de Vrij (20; Feyenoord; £2.6 million), Vasilis Torosidis (27; Olympiacos; £.8 million), Nicolai Boilesen (20; AFC Ajax; £1.9 million) Midfielders: Victor Wanyama (21; Celtic; £3.9 million), Lucas Biglia (26; RSC Anderlecht; £2.9 million), Cidinho (19; Botafogo; £1.9 million) Forwards: Gonzalo Bruno (19; Nacional; £1.9 million), Waris Majeed (20; BK Häcken; £450k)

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Borussia Dortmund - Tactical Advice

PLAYING STYLE

For anyone who's yet to watch Borussia Dortmund play in real life, they play an expansive, attacking brand of football - a brand which has earned them many plaudits. With the likes of Marco Reus, Ilkay Gündoğan, Moritz Leitner and Mario Götze in the squad, you should feel obliged to continue Dortmund's strong tradition of good football. Solid defensively while efficiently powerful in attack, it will be hard to replicate the Klopp style to good effect.

A medium-to-high defensive line, default passing, allowing your players to roam and a quick tempo are all imperative to playing the Jürgen Klopp way, in my opinion.

Hopefully, in the ensuing feature, I can lead you on the right path to making your time at BVB a successful one.

Suggested Formations and first XI;

4-2-3-1 Left to Right: WEIDENFELLER; SCHMELZER, HUMMELS, SUBOTIĆ, PISZCZEK; KEHL, GÜNDOĞAN; REUS, GÖTZE, KUBA; LEWANDOWSKI

This should be the default set-up for your save. Not only does it accommodate the lethal trio of Marco Reus, Mario Götze and Kuba Blaszczykowski - all supporting the prolific Robert Lewandowski - but it also provides a solid core upon which matches can be won. Mats Hummels and Neven Subotić should be your primary pairing in the centre of defence, with Marcel Schmelzer and Lukasz Piszczek either side of the two. You should give both fullback's the licence to get up-and-down either wing. The midfield pivot of Sebastian Kehl and Ilkay Gündoğan provides a mix of experience and sprightly, creative youth - follow the above set-up, with a few minor tweaks, and you should get the best out of both.

As mentioned previously, the quadrident of Marco Reus, Mario Götze, Kuba Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski is what will score the majority of your goals. Allowing Götze freedom as an AMC, with Kuba and Reus supporting will ensure a platform upon which Lewandowski can score twenty-plus goals a season from.

Deep (2 DM's) 4-2-3-1 Left to Right: WEIDENFELLER; SCHMELZER, HUMMELS, SUBOTIĆ, PISZCZEK; KEHL, GÜNDOĞAN; REUS, GÖTZE, KUBA; LEWANDOWSKI

Detailed analysis coming soon...

4-4-1 Left to Right: WEIDENFELLER; SCHMELZER, HUMMELS, SUBOTIĆ, PISZCZEK; GROßKREUTZ, KEHL, GÜNDOĞAN, KUBA; REUS, LEWANDOWSKI

Detailed analysis coming soon...

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Reserved for future use...

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Reserved for future use...

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Reserved for future use...

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Reserved for future use...

[Kyle Seddon]

Sheer Class!

[BCFC_Mike]

Have said it before and will say again, the amount of effort you put into your posts is unbelievable. Not just in the OP, but in general as well.

Will be following this thread.

[ryzymillzy84]

Been waiting for this thread to pop up! Great OP.

Just finished my first season with Dortmund. Won the league by 4 pts on last day of season with a 5-0 win away to Furth!

Highlights/Lowlights:

Lost Supercup final to Bayern on pens.

Beat Schalke at home 3-0 and bayern at home 1-0.. Lost to schalke away in leage but drew 1-1 with Bayern away to all but secure the title!

Beat Chelsea away in GL Group stage but still came 2nd in group.

Knocked Man Utd out in first KO stage of champs league on away goals with a 3-2 away win after being 2-1 down at home in first leg!

V. disappointing German cup losing 3-1 to St. Pauli with 10 men in 1/4 Final.

Lost to Juventus in CL 1/4 final, 2-1 on agg, they then went on to beat Barca in semis before losing to Real in final 1-0 aet.

Players:

Perisic and Blaszczykowski were stand out performers after struggling to hold down a start early on in season. Both finished with 18goals from AML/AMR positions. (Perisic scored 11 in last 5 games of season!)

Lewandowski had a great season before going on an 11 game goal drought towards end of season, still finished 2nd top scorer in lge with 22 goals.

Reus had an injury plagued season and struggled to get regular place back from Perisic/Blaszczykowski. Hoping he'll really kick on this season.

Gotze and Hummels were 2 highest Avg. with 7.36+!

Oh and signed Marc-Andre ter Stegen in janury for 15m after the board allowed me to renew ambition to winning the league!

Only signing was Ruben Yttergard-jensen for 2m to cover Gundogan as my DLP.

Bittencourt did well from bench when called up on Leitner went out on loan after xmas.

2nd Season:

Got 15.5m to spend for a Title Challenge.

Missed out on getting Llorente on a free, he decided to go to Milan for an extra 15k a week! I begrudgingly offered him £93k/week!

Just sold Grosskreutz for 8m to Stuttgart (his contract was gonna be up at end of season and want to start bringing Bittencourt/Leitner in more).

signed Jan Kirchoff for 13.5m to give some defensive competition.

signed Harthez from Werder for 9.5m to challenge Schmlezer at left wing back.

also got Ademilson for 5.25m (buy out clause) incase Lewandowski forgets how to score again! 1 for the future too.

Just beat HSV 1-0 in german super cup and thats as far as i've got so far.

Squad is looking a bit thin, I was quite lucky with injuries last season so might have to get a few depth loans in just incase.

[SRL88]

Cracking start fella

[london boy]

It's the best time to manage Dortmund since the Champions League winning era. They have a very solid squad.

[Brad_Lufc]

What formation did you play to win the league first season

[ryzymillzy84]

my team was mainly like this this.. pretty similar to how they line up irl.

------------------------- ter-stegen -------------------------

- piszczek (wb) - hummels (bpd) - subotic (cd) - schmelzer (fb) -

------------ bender (bwm) - gundogan (dlp) ------------

-- Blaszczykowski (if) - gotze (ap) - perisic (if) ----------

--------------- Lewandowski (dlf) ---------------

fluid

counter

short passing

high creativity

high pressing

I had Weidenfeller in goal untill January and Reus would rotate with Blaszczykowski and Perisic.

[Gooner88]

Great work on the guide Llew, top stuff

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Just a quick update: I'll be working on the rest of the thread as soon as possible. I'm likely to complete the Squad Analysis by tonight.

[tomtuck01]

Good start to the thread Llew_Arshavin23.

One pointer though; Under the bit about the stadium, you could possibly add that the fans still use the name Westfalenstadion as they don't like the fact that the naming rights to "their" stadium were sold for financial gain, even though it was for the benefit of the club.

Also, I've got a few photos of the ground before and during a game from when I was there in March if you want to use them somehow?

[tmason122]

Just out of interest... but where did Lucios Barrios go in IRL?

[Robert the Spud]

If you have access to internet you have access to google/wikipedia. He went to Ghuangzhou Evergrande in China. Probably on huge wages too. Shame.

[fidelitywars]

Just out of interest... but where did Lucios Barrios go in IRL?

He's with Marcello Lippi at Guangzhou in China...apparently earning over £100,000 p/w.

[Rubentus_Juventus]

Player in his prime with a hell of a lot of quality, going there in search of cash at his age is very disappointing.

[tmason122]

If you have access to internet you have access to google/wikipedia. He went to Ghuangzhou Evergrande in China. Probably on huge wages too. Shame.

Very true, but I felt it was just as easy to ask and thought it may start up a decent conversation. It's a shame that such a good footballer has moved to China, though I guess one can argue it'll do a world of good for Chinese football.... possibly.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

First of all, thank you everyone for the praise on the thread. As you've probably figured out, I haven't quite finished it yet, but I certainly will do so before the weekend. Keep an eye on developments.

I've just completed the Squad Analysis - I hope you all enjoy it

Good start to the thread Llew_Arshavin23.

One pointer though; Under the bit about the stadium, you could possibly add that the fans still use the name Westfalenstadion as they don't like the fact that the naming rights to "their" stadium were sold for financial gain, even though it was for the benefit of the club.

Also, I've got a few photos of the ground before and during a game from when I was there in March if you want to use them somehow?

Thanks for the kind words, tomtuck.

I'll integrate that now under the 'Signal Iduna Park' section. I believe I included it in the history section, but it will do no harm

[Tommo1]

Great thread Lew.

How has Dudziak progress for you guys?

[tommonufc]

Top team. Top thread

[nick1408]

Mustafa Amini | #28 - Attacking Midfield - 19 YEARS OLD - AUSTRALIA - £1,700 A WEEK

Known as "Musti", the former Central Coast Mariners playmaker became the latest Aussie to make the transition from A-League to Bundesliga football, following in the footsteps of compatriot and team-mate Mitchell Langerak. Possessing the basic attributes to develop into a good attacking midfielder, the Australian U-21 (Socceroo) international has a fine future ahead of him - preferably at Borussia Dortmund.

Great thread and I love playing as Dortmund. Just wanted to correct one thing - Soccerroos is the senior team, Olyroos is the Olympic team, Young Soccerroos is the U-21 and Joeys is the U-17's.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Great thread Llew.

How has Dudziak progress for you guys?

Top team. Top thread

Great thread and I love playing as Dortmund. Just wanted to correct one thing - Soccerroos is the senior team, Olyroos is the Olympic team, Young Soccerroos is the U-21 and Joeys is the U-17's.

Thanks for the praise, guys. Glad you all enjoy the thread. I'm hoping to complete it by tomorrow

Also, thanks Nick for the pointer. Just changed it

[Anxiietyyy]

Started my BVB save last night. In my first week, I lost Kehl to knee tendinitis.. 5 months out. Ouch.

[Ryan377]

Great write up, going to start a save with Dortmund now. Think I'll try and blood in some of the youngsters you've recommended from the U23 squad

[ig0rf]

I bought Schurrle for 23M (euros) and now i have the power trio Schurrle - Gotze - Reus

[neobih]

what tactic do you use guys ? What is best one ? I never did play with Dortmund and took challenge this year with them for start

[Spikester]

Great thread I will be starting up a Dortmund game as soon as a decent 4231 tactic is released, looking forward to it as Dortmund have such a great bunch of young, talanted players.

[suarez7carroll9]

Is it just me or is Gotze's form really bad ? Never 100% fitness and always very tired in the 65th - 70th minute of games. Has been like this for me since FM2011.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Great write up, going to start a save with Dortmund now. Think I'll try and blood in some of the youngsters you've recommended from the U23 squad

Thanks for the praise, my friend. Out of the youth players I recommended, I'm going to further recommend both Koray Günter and Jeremy Dudziak. Huge talents

I bought Schurrle for 23M (euros) and now i have the power trio Schurrle - Gotze - Reus

Good signing, especially at a fairly cheap €23 million. With that trio, you should be looking to make a huge push for the title.

Great thread I will be starting up a Dortmund game as soon as a decent 4231 tactic is released, looking forward to it as Dortmund have such a great bunch of young, talanted players.

what tactic do you use guys ? What is best one ? I never did play with Dortmund and took challenge this year with them for start

First of all, thanks for the kind words, Spikester. Although, why wait to download a tactic? One of the best parts about Football Manager is creating good tactics to reflect your preferred style of play For the record, I've yet to complete the thread so, once my game arrives sometime in the week, I'll start on the tactics section right away - something which you and neobih may be interested in reading.

Is it just me or is Gotze's form really bad ? Never 100% fitness and always very tired in the 65th - 70th minute of games. Has been like this for me since FM2011.

The Götze situation is a tough one. Mario hasn't had the best year in terms of fitness - with a niggling injury keeping him out for the most part of last season and he hasn't really recovered from it. As a result, some of his hidden Football Manager attributes may have been altered to reflect that. If you feel it's a bit too excessive, you could always bring it up with in HERE.

Enjoy your Borussia Dortmund saves, guys

[Anxiietyyy]

You ordered a hard copy, Llew?

[Llew_Arshavin23]

You ordered a hard copy, Llew?

I did, but there's been a few payment issues, apparently. Hoping to get it by Wednesday, at the latest.

Enjoy your save, Mason

[Anxiietyyy]

I did, but there's been a few payment issues, apparently. Hoping to get it by Wednesday, at the latest.

Enjoy your save, Mason

Bit of a p*ss take if you don't get it by Wednesday!

Cheers, you too.

[Anxiietyyy]

Drew 3-3 with Bayern in the DFL-Supercup thanks to a superb Lewandowski hat-trick! Managed to lose 3-0 in the resulting penalty shoot-out, though...

EDIT:

Finally started the league season, and started with a comfortable 4-1 win over Hoffenheim. Lewandowsku, Großkreutz, Reus and Götze - my whole front 4- getting in on the act.

One observation: Mario Götze is an absolute live wire. 2 or 3 times in the game, he picked up the ball just past the half-way line, ghosted past the opposition and put dangerous crosses in. Lovely!

[malikoi]

Great write up there Llew!

I will be looking to start a save with Dortmund on FM13. I did try a save on FM12 but couldn't get into it, but with Reus and Gotze at the club is sounds very fun, 2 of my favorite players.

[jerrakosss]

About halfway through my second season on a Dortmund save. First season was fairly successful, winning the league by a few points and the German Cup. Was knocked out of the CL in the group stages. My group was Real, Man City and Udinese so I wasn't expecting much... Was also knocked out of Europa in the first round by Napoli, 6-5 on aggregate.

Played the majority of the season using a 4-2-3-1. Lewandowski and Schieber were my top goalscorers. Whole team had a pretty amazing season, except for Reus.

Signed Dzagoev on a free! He arrived in January along with Steven Defour (Don't ask, just a player a really like IRL). Dzagoev has been amazing in the second season, Defour has been decent cover for Bender, Kehl and Gundogan.

Finishing up the first season, I was looking for a new keeper and potentially strengthening the back-line. Bought in ter Stegen to replace Weidenfeller in July 2013 (took me a long time), also purchased some youngsters but nothing else major!

On to the second season, where I was drawn another tough UCL group - Barca, PSG and CSKA - needless to say I was knocked out. Hoping for a strong performeance in the Europa Legue though. Also knocked out of the German Cup by Stuttgart in 3-3 thrilled which was decided on penalties Good news is I'm 5 points clear at the top of the League...

Really enjoying this save, although some additional funds would be nice. Need to add some depth to the defense, especially right and left back! Any recommendations? Potentially after a decent back-up for Lewy as well.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

jerrakosss - Looks as if you enjoyed a successful first season. The signing of Alan Dzagoev certainly is a good one; largely due to him being a free transfer!

Good luck with the rest of your season.

Great write up there Llew!

I will be looking to start a save with Dortmund on FM13. I did try a save on FM12 but couldn't get into it, but with Reus and Gotze at the club is sounds very fun, 2 of my favorite players.

Cheers, mate. I'm glad you enjoyed it

[AcidBurn]

Brilliant thread, I really will be trying to get to a Dortmund save at some point.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

Thanks, AcidBurn

For those wondering, I've yet to complete the thread. Should complete it during the week. Watch this space!

[Eugster]

I have the chance to buy Lewandowski for Arsenal in January of the first season for about €24 million. Can anyone tell me if I should go for it? I would be playing him as an advanced striker in a 4-2-3-1.

[Llew_Arshavin23]

I have the chance to buy Lewandowski for Arsenal in January of the first season for about €24 million. Can anyone tell me if I should go for it? I would be playing him as an advanced striker in a 4-2-3-1.

It's something you should seriously consider, yes. As mentioned in the squad analysis, Lewandowski's a very dynamic front man. At €24 million, I'd try to haggle the fee down a little bit. €20 million would be a great price for him

[Eugster]

Think I'll go for it.

I've been trying to court Gotze all season but he says he's not interested.

Maybe one day.

[Bluebeard]

I'm also trying a Dortmund save. After five matches, we are top of the league having won four and drawn one (away to Wolfsburg). Unfortunately we lost the super cup to Bayern 4-2 (ominously outplayed) and also lost 2-0 at home to AC Milan in the Champs Lge. The other two teams are Galatasaray and Olympiakos so we still have a chance of making the knock out stages.

I only brought in one player, Neil Taylor for cover at left back. I sold a few back up and reserve players but still didn't scrape enough cash for another centre back - although tbh that wouldn't have been necessary so far, as Hummels (appointed club captain) and Subotic have played every minute so far.

As you'd expect, the best performers are Lewandoski, Gotze and Reus, who have each got 3-4 goals. Schieber has an even higher average rating, having scored a couple off the bench, but I can't justify starting him really.

My formation is 4-2-3-1, as follows:

GK: Weidenfeller

DR (WB automatic): Pizscek

DCR (central defender): Subotic

DCL (cover): Hummels

DL (FB automatic): Schmelzer

DMCL (DM support): Bender

MCR (DLP support): Gundogan

AMR (winger attack): Reus

AMC (AM support): Perisic

AML (IF attack): Gotze

FC (DLF support): Lewandowski

Blazs... is only averaging around 6.8 and is being kept out of the team by Perisic. Valencia are interested and I might sell unless he improves, as he's worth over £12m and I could use that money on some more youngsters, I reckon.

[speculoos]

Nice and clean thread, you have got a fan. Good luck.

btw Pierre-Michel Lassoga -> Lasogga