Moonshine Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 New FM. New story. After a couple of years of only buying people with specific names, I've decided to change tack. All kinds of players are back! Hooray! Anyone can be signed! Huzzah! It took me 7 or 8 starts to get 'in' to this FM. I'm having a problem with the match info screen which doesn't help. I don't like the new scouting model, it confuses me. I tried a couple of 'gamey' games - one where I was only going to play as teams on the coast, one when I was only going to sign players beginning with 'A' (then 'B' then 'C' and so on...). But in the end, I decided to go classic. Vanilla. Boring. A typical LLM-style game, no cheating, only using scouts to find players, start at the botton and go on up. Act realistically. Boring? Maybe. But I'm having fun. So meet Nemo Poisson, my slightly silly named French/Englishman. This is him at the moment (spoilers) in November 2017. In fact, this is him yesterday if we were to judge IRL. Leagues: Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine (all playable); Brazil, Argentina, China, USA, Mexico (Top divisions, view only) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 FC United of Manchester - Pre-Season 17/18 English Vanorama North I started off unemployed, and quickly found myself a job at FC United of Manchester which makes not a lot of sense, but I'm not complaining too much. The squad was... unbalanced but playable. Just one left back, not much decency in centre back, no right back of note, some real talent upfront and on the wings. Tom Walker was unreal for this level, but wouldn't sign a contract: The AI had arranged a couple of signings before my joining, a centre back and a right back. Hooray, AI! They weren't astonishing, but they were young and both went straight into the first team. I didn't sign a DL due to not having the opportunity to scout one. Callum Lees Joshua Murray: Then I played a friendly match and I have no idea what even happened. Apparently I won, but meh. To the league! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 FC United of Manchester - August 17/18 (sort of) English Vanorama North Yeah, so I'm in November, so these tables are a bit skewed. But they are close enough. August is intense in the Vanorama. 7 games, 6 wins. I was actually top after August (ignore the below. Salford drew their next game). I was playing a 4-4-2 with an AMR as an inside forward in Joel Logan. Tom Walker was on a frankly ridiculous 7.85 off four games (he did his hammy against Southport, and Connor McCarthy in the DLF role was banging them in with 6 in 7 games. I don't think I've ever started so well in my entire FM life. Also, those attendances are mad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 FC United of Manchester - September 17/18 (sort of) English Vanorama North September... was less good, exposing the fluke of August (oh, I won manager of the month. Normally I screengrab that, but I'm in the future, innit.) we were **** against Leamington, shitter against Blyth, and just downright dull against Darlington. Then I had an exciting FA Cup win and we cheered up against Tamworth, with new signing Jordan Jowers (seen below while he was on trial) on the scoresheet. My excellent August was enough to keep me third (ish - again, I'm using old saves to recreate here and have an October win to add to the above) despite the shitshow that was September. Sufficeth to say I didn't win manager of the month Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 FC United of Manchester - October 17/18 English Vanorama North Back to winning ways in October, and Jason Gilchrist has learnt how to score. Despite, ostensibly, being a 4.5* player, 2 goals in 11 prior to October wasn't fabulous. 6 in 5 for October was more like it. Let's pretend Alfreton never played us... In the cup we nearly lost to Isthmian Farnborough, but two late, late, late Craig Lindfield goals set us up for Ebbsfleet in the First Round proper. The board liked that. They even sent me on a coaching course after I asked nicely 4 times. (Interestingly, they initially said no because it would 'improve my CV and other clubs might want to poach me' which is a really interesting idea and reason in the game) Second in the table, me lovelies! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 What Formation and Roles are you using? I am playing with FC United also and can't win.......in last place. Matty Hughes and Lewis Lacy are whining about Callum Lees taking their place and when I play them I might just as well have statues! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 Some tidbits: I released Stefan Gonzalez and Danny Brady. They were pointless and ****. I still don't get the new scouting system, or the point of scouting packages. Though I keep just scouting randoms who present themselves to the club which I htink is why my scouts are slooooow. I signed up for a couple of packages and hen ran out of money. Don't get it. FC United aren't rivalled with Manchester United in any way, which is either an oversight, a bug, or me being stupid. Pick one... Despite regular 3,500+ attendance, my fans are invisible (or watching from highrises and not stands): Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 Also NEVER play Adriano Basso as a Goalkeeper if possible. He makes Joe Hart look good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 3 minutes ago, Hootieleece said: What Formation and Roles are you using? I am playing with FC United also and can't win.......in last place. Matty Hughes and Lewis Lacy are whining about Callum Lees taking their place and when I play them I might just as well have statues! Current tictacs: Lundstram is a new loanee signing from Crewe. I was playing a BWM instead of BBM, but I had four red cards in that position so decided to change it up. Might make the CM attacking for home matches against crap teams, often play counter away against top half opposition. Idea is two banks in defence, with a front three scoring the goals (and Walker chippping in occasionally.) Might get rid of push higher up and/or close down more soon. Experiments! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 FC United of Manchester - November 17/18 English Vanorama North Great in the cups, **** poor in the league... The Gainsborough loss was the first time in 13 games we hadn't scored, though, so there's a positive. But against Telfor we were 3-0 down, and we went 4-1 down against Harrogate. I changed it up - went structed and counter - against Ebbsfleet (of the National) at home, and had 13 shots on goal and 6 (!) CCCs. Not sure how. Forrest Green await in the 2nd round, as does bags and bags of cash. Sticking power... Talking of bags of cash... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share Posted November 6, 2017 What a game. What. A. Game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Cro Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 regarding your stadium, how other lower league stadiums look?? i mean, are there any improvments in their shape/look/ design this year's game? can you put some screens?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 You're doing well Moonshine, shame it's with FC United. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesbfc1887 Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 Going well so far (apart from November), keep it up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 FC United of Manchester - December 17/18 English Vanorama North A spectacular month, kicked off by that epic FA Cup win against League Two opposition. Yes, four of those games were at home, but Brackley were fourth and Salford third when I played them. we were actually worst against bottom-placed Spennymoor. Jowers suddenly looks the part after 1 goal in his first 9 games, Gilchrist is popping up with goals (including that hattrick) and we are dominating. I went structured after changing up against Forest Green, to try and be defensively sound against them, and it's really worked with just those two Spennymoor goals and the one against a pro outfit against in the month. Next up it's an away trip against Salford again, and then an absolutely massive FA Cup third round game against and absolutely massive team. Oh no, wait, I drew Charlton at home. Balls. Also of note, we spunked some of our hard earned cash (we've made £70k out of our FA Cup run) on some new training facilities. Swish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 11 hours ago, Luke Cro said: regarding your stadium, how other lower league stadiums look?? i mean, are there any improvments in their shape/look/ design this year's game? can you put some screens?? Spennymoor is the only away match this month, as I said, but they also have no fans/stands: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 48 minutes ago, Jamesbfc1887 said: Going well so far (apart from November), keep it up! 2 hours ago, Nobby_McDonald said: You're doing well Moonshine, shame it's with FC United. Cheers fellas! This is very strange to me. I can only assume its the greater resources, and the fact I seem to have stumbled upon a tactic that works... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 No surprises in the World Player of the Year award: Messi, Dybala, Ronaldo (in that order) were also Ballon D'Or and World Footballer of the Year. We seem to have three big awards now... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 And Dzenis Bernic won Golden Boy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 My bloke just took a shot from kickoff. It hit the bar. I've never seen that before in my life. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share Posted November 7, 2017 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Good start there, especially in the cup. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 FC United of Manchester - January 17/18 English Vanorama North A poor month, all told. Possibly the thinness of my squad finally bit - I've played with prettty much the same starting 11 whenever throughout, with the exception of the central midfield where the partner for Lundstorm (who came in November) has rotated between club captain Irwin and Michael Connor. It started well, with a second win in a row, this time away, against Salford and an easy victory over Southport. We didn't embarrass ourselves at the Valley, nor at National League Guiseley, but we really did againt bottom of the table Curzon Ashton who thrashed us a Bloomfield Road. The Blyth result, too, was saddening - we were 2-0 up in the 91st minute, and two stoppage time goals guaranteed the draw. Henry Cowans was signed on a freein the midfield - and scored on his debut - weakening 2nd place AFC Telford in the bargain. And some me news: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Good Job getting an extension and another badge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 FC United of Manchester - February 17/18 English Vanorama North A perfect month, all told. Gilchrist had a blinder to put us 3-0 up after 47 minutes against Nuneaton, before a backs-against-the-wall job saw us though. Easy victories at home to Chorley and Stockport followed, before, most impressively, we defended for our lives away at second placed AFC Telford to leapfrog them in the table. We had 3 shots to their 18. We shouldn't have won. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 FC United of Manchester - Youth Intake 2017/18 English Vanorama North Utter *****. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 FC United of Manchester - March 2017/18 English Vanorama North We plsyed away at top of the table Harrogate and thrashed them to go(briefly) top ourselves, before a draw with upper mid table Boston, and a loss to lower mid table Bradford PA. Once again, Jowers' goals help - he's on a goal every 98 minutes, 10 minutes more than any other player in the league. Meanwhile, Our best player, left winger Tom Walker, is injured for a month against Boston - as is wanted by Fleetwood and Blackpool in League 1. He's on non-contract terms, so I've resigned myself to needing a new left winger in the Summer... Our win against Leamington, however, guaranteed me the pplayoffs. Harrogate's four consecutive losses - starting with their game against us - has consigned them to fourth, and, with five to play, any of the top four can realistically go up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 One game (and one win) later: Everyone has played everyone else big. It's up to us (and them) not to **** up... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 Game One... upsetting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 Game two somewhat better... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 And it goes to the wire... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 FC United of Manchester - Game 42 of 42 English Vanorama North Three teams go into the final match day with a chance of being champions: AFC Telford on 83 points, FC United of Manchester on 82 points and Harrogate Town, on 80 points. Harrogate will be champions if they win with at least a four goal swing from Telford and 3 goal swing from FC United, AFC Telford lose and FC United don't win. FC United will be champions if they win and Telford don't, or they draw and Telford lose by two or more. AFC Telford will be champions with any other result 6th placed Boston United are at home to AFC Telford, having already qualified for the playoffs. They will play Blyth in 7th in the first round no matter what the result is. FC United of Manchester are at home to 21st, and already relegated, North Ferriby. Harrogate Town are at home to 22nd, and already relegated, Curzon Ashton. They have just 21 points from 41 games to date. Peeeeeeep.... 7 mins - The worst possible start for FC United as Charliee Dunkerley makes it 1-0 to North Ferriby 15 mins - In Boston, Kibongo Tshimanga scores for the hosts to put AFC Telford on the back foot... 21 mins - Harrogate lead at home to Curzon Ashton, to go second and only two goals behind Telford 30 mins - Harrogate make it 2-0. Another goal for either them or Boston will seee them top... 32 mins - Billy Chadwick scores a screamer from 30 yards to make it 2-0 to North Ferriby against FC United HALF TIME 49 mins - Boston Utd go 2-0 up against AFC Telford. Harrogate go top! 50 mins - Joel Logan pulls one back for FC United. It's 2-1 68 mins - Harrogate make it three! Telford need a two goal swing back in their favour... 74 mins - Connor McCarthy equalises for FC United. 2-2, a goal for them, or a goal for Curzon, will win the league for United. The table, on 74 mins: 88 mins - With everyone up for a freekick, North Ferriby break and score to make it 3-2 91 mins - Joel Logan scores again! It's 3-3-! But wait... he's offside. It's ruled out! 93 mins - Harrogate go 4-0 up FULL TIME Losses for both us and AFC Telford mean that miracles do happen for Harrogate, who are up by the slimmest of margins... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 The excitement doesn't stop. Jesus, this end of season is giving me a heartattack. We play Blyth in the final. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 Oh Christ. My Goalkeeper has fractured his wrist, and so Owen Wheeler will make his debut in the playoff final, facing the league's top-scorer in Blyth's Dan Maguire (32 in 42). Awks. So with a change of goalkeeper, we.... lost. Maguire sored two. We weren't very good. Argh. Oh well. Here's to next season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeeD Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Doubly unlucky there with the last day of the season and the play-off final. Themed careers are fun but, as you are proving here, just selecting a few leagues and seeing how far you can go makes for a great save as well Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajcardall Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Unlucky to lose your GK for the final. Gotta be looking at autos next season though Always dread the VNN/VNS because of the higher chance of playoff finishes, what with the solitary automatic spot! Good luck for next season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 FC United of Manchester - End of Season 2017/18 English Vanorama North The League: Missed out on promotion by losing to relegated North Ferriby at home and then losing the playoff final. We should be here or hereabouts next season. Scored loads, too. Couldn't defend, mind. The Squad: Goals galore across the 3 strikers, and an incredible Tom Walker. Awards: Fan's Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and My Player of the Season: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Shocker you losing at home to North Ferriby and Harrogate spoil two parties in one fell swoop. And don't get me started on playoff heart ache. I feel your pain there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hootieleece Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Rotten Luck about your GK.........there's always next year! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andychar Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Wow very unlucky end to the season. Playoffs are great and everybody but how can anybody justify a team finishing 7th deserving to be promoted! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Wow, that was so tight at the top! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 14, 2017 Author Share Posted November 14, 2017 6 hours ago, andychar said: Wow very unlucky end to the season. Playoffs are great and everybody but how can anybody justify a team finishing 7th deserving to be promoted! Dartford in the VNS were also promoted, and also in 7th! 5 hours ago, deltablue said: Wow, that was so tight at the top! There was a moment before we conceded again (on overload, with our goally up for a freekick) when I thought it was going to finish with one goal separating all three teams. I mean I didn't deserve to go up with a performance like that, but still... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 14, 2017 Author Share Posted November 14, 2017 Inevitable. Sad but inevitable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 14, 2017 Author Share Posted November 14, 2017 Around the World: England: Premier League: Arsenal (Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City) Relegated: Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Brighton Championship: Middlesborough (Ipswich, Wolves) Relegated: Bolton, Sheffield Utd, Burton League One: Bury (Southend, Rotherham) Relegated: Walsall, Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury, Doncaster League Two: Luton (Exeter, Chesterfield, Colchester) Relegated: Newport Co., Accrington Stanley Vanarama National: Ebbsfleet (Eastleigh) Relegated: Guiseley, Barrow, FC Halifax, Bromley Vanarama North: Harrogate (Blyth Spartans) Relegated: Spennymoor, North Ferriby, Curzon Ashton) Vanarama South: Whitehawk (Dartford) Relegated: Concord, Eastbourne Boro, Hungerford Tier 7: Kettering, Altricham, Stalybridge, Billlericay, Dulwich Hamlet, Hereford FA Cup: Stoke 0-1e Tottenham League Cup: Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea Europe: BELGIUM: KRC Genk FRANCE: PSG GERMANY: Bayern Munich (x6) HOLLAND: PSV ITALY: Juventus (x7) PORTUGAL: Benfica (x5) RUSSIA: Spartak Moscow (x2) SCOTLAND: Celtic (x7) SERBIA: Red Star SPAIN: Barcelona SWITZERLAND: Sion TURKEY: Besiktas (x3) UKRAINE: Shakhtar (x2) Champions League: PSG 1-0 Man Utd Olympskiya, Kiev Europa League: Arsenal 0-1 Villareal Groupama Stadium, Decines-Charpeau (Lyons) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted November 16, 2017 Share Posted November 16, 2017 Stoke in a cup final. Billericay promoted. A good season in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 16, 2017 Author Share Posted November 16, 2017 World Cup 2018 Hosts: Russia; Holders: Germany Out in groups: Russia, Ireland, Bosnia, Uruguay, Spain, Hondura, Portugal, Australia, Ghana, Iran, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, South Korea, Japan, Tunisia First Round: Algeria 4-0 Wales USA 1-1p Mexico Ivory Coast 0-0p Brazil France 2-1 Poland Holland 3-2 Italy Chile 1-2 Argentina Germany 1-2 Croatia Belgium 2-0 England Quarter Finals: Algeria 0-6 Brazil Mexico 0-3 France Argentina 0-1 Croatia Holland 1-0 Belgium Semi-Final Brazil 0p-0 Holland France 2-1 Croatia Third Place: Holland 4-4p Croatia Final Brazil 0-0p France Spartak Moscow, Moscow Player of the Tournemant: N'Golo Kante Golden Boot: Arkadiusz Milik Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 18, 2017 Author Share Posted November 18, 2017 FC United of Manchester - Pre-Season 18/19 English Vanorama North Board Expectations: VNN: Top Half; FA Cup: 4th Qualifying; FA Trophy: 1st Round Media: 7th Bookies: 11-1 Transfers: We got rid of a bunch of players on frees at the end of the season - players who had played only a couple of games, or were costing the club wages and doing sod all. Out too went Tom Walker, sadly. He was a class above the whole division to be fair, and wouldn't sign a contract in a million years. So he's off to League One Wycombe, where hopefully he'll shine. I'll keep an eye on him. In came a new starting right winger in Will Annan, on stupid money, to work as my Tom Walker of the team. In, too, a new 18 y/o centre midfielder in Matty Longstaff, and first choice centre back and left back in Callum Williams and Anthony Breslin, with some depth at right back in the shape of Taron Hare. Ignore Stretch, who didn't get a work permit (he's American) and was released the day of signing. As far as pre-season goes, this was a success. But as we know, friendlies mean nothing... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 19, 2017 Author Share Posted November 19, 2017 FC United of Manchester - August 18/19 English Vanorama North Despite an undefeated pre-season, including wins against National League opposition in Tranmere and Fylde, I was worried after three games. The 2-1 against relegated Barrow was flattering - they had 60% possession, and we scored in the 92nd minute. The victory over Guiseley was equally fortuitous, coming as it did in the 89th. Hell, even the win against Salford was lucky, if incredible. 3-0 down in the 82nd minute, a 4 minute hattrick for Gilchrist won me the game in the 87th. In fact, its probably the fastest hattrick in history. Sadio Mane did it in 2 minutes 56 seconds. Gilchrist's first strike was on 83'30. His third came on 86'17, meaning the hattrick took just 2 minutes 47 seconds. WOW All that said, we've had a seriously difficult start to the season - playing two of the relegated sides, and the teams that finished 2nd, 4th and 6th last season. The rest should be far simpler. Though no doubt we'll be up and down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted November 19, 2017 Author Share Posted November 19, 2017 FC United of Manchester - September 18/19 English Vanorama North Seven games played, 25 goals scored, 12 conceded. Never let it be said that I don't entertain. In fact, my 1-0 win over Northern Premier Farsley was the most drab game - though I played 8 second string players. Outside of that, my great escape mentality continued - 5 second half goals when two down to Southport, and then 92nd and 95th mintue Jordan Jowers goals turning a 2-1 loss into a 3-2 victory over Bradford PA. A thrashing of Stockport, and then, again, a 90th minute winner in a topsy turvy game against Altrincham which I only led for the 6 minutes of stoppage time, while down to ten men. I may need to work on defending. Oh, and discipline: Nevertheless, I top the league - and have scored 12 more goals than any other team, averaging over 3 a game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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