FM18: Man Utd - Awaken the Sleeping Devil 👹 !

[goqs06]

 

Welcome to the FM18 Man Utd thread! 🙏

The appointment of Jose Mourinho has brought us mixed results for the 16/17 season. Though we won the Europa League, Community Shield and the League Cup, achieving 6th in the league was poor. Our squad depth is quite good, with the likes of De Gea to Bailly to Pogba to Lukaku. However, we still have room to improve the squad and bring up talented youngsters like Gomes and Gribbin.
With the financial backing of a mega-money league TV deal and the pocketbook of well-known owners, the Glazer Family, Man Utd is ready for you to take control and continue to guide the club to return to its glory days.

 

Club Details

Team Name: Manchester United

Nickname: The Red Devils

Year Founded: 1878

President: Ed Woodward

Current Manager: Jose Mourinho

Club Captain: Michael Carrick

Vice Captain: -nil-

Country: England

League: English Premier League

Media Prediction: 2nd

Fierce Rivals: Liverpool (Local), Manchester City (Local), Leeds United (Historic)

Other Rivals: Arsenal (Competitive), Bolton (Local), Chelsea (Competitive)

Legends: Bobby Charlton (Player), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manager), Eric Cantona (Player), Bryan Robson (Player), Ryan Giggs (Player), Duncan Edwards (Player), Dennis Law (Player), George Best (Player), Matt Busby (Manager)

Icons: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Player), Roy Keane (Player), Paul Scholes (Player), Steve Bruce (Player), Gary Neville (Player), Ruud Van Nistelrooij (Player), Peter Schmeichel (Player), David Beckham (Player)

Favoured Personnel: Cristiano Ronaldo (Player), Robin Van Persie (Player), Patrice Evra (Player), Brian McClair (Player), Nicky Butt (Player), Phil Neville (Player)

Philosophies: Play attacking football, Develop players using the club's youth system

Expectations: Reach QFs of European Champions Cup, Qualify for European Champions Cup (top 4 in the league) and reach Finals of the FA Cup

Budget: Transfer budget of £42 million, Wage budget of £3.5 million per week

 

17/18 Squad

 

Goalkeepers

We have a world-class goalkeeper in the form of David De Gea. We also have Sergio Romero who is a decent backup. In terms of youth, you should look to develop talents like Theo Richardson, IIias Moutha Sebtaoui & Joel Pereira.

Transfer Suggestions

If Sergio Romero is out with an injury, I would suggest snapping up Ventura on a free.

Left Back

Hopefully, you'll be able to keep Luke Shaw fit, as he has a lot of potential.  At the start of the game, he is out injured so you can use Daley Blind who can do a decent job. Others like Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian could do the job as well. Going back to youth, I would say that Cameron Borthwick-Jackson would be an ideal choice when he comes back from Leeds on loan.

Transfer Suggestions

If you're still unconvinced by these options, look out for Aaron Martin, a 21 yr old LB, from Espanyol.

Central Defender

If things go well, Eric Bailly & Victor Lindelof may very well be the next Ferdinand & Vidic. You'll also have the decent backup in the form of Chris Smalling & Phil Jones. According to the coaching staff, Axel Tuanzebe and Ro-Shaun also have good potential, so maybe instead of looking around for replacements in your first team, these two lads are the way forward? It's also worth noting that Ro-Shaun Willims is a local lad, so all the more reason to develop him. This is definitely a position of strength within our youth system. 

Transfer Suggestions

-nil-

Right Back

For me this is a position that needs attention, not desperately, but still needs attention. We have Matteo Darmian and Antonia Valencia. I do prefer to use Valencia further forward, so for me we only really have one recognised right back in Darmian and he isn't in my opinion top class or even close to that. The more worrying thing for me personally is that we have no real cover in this area, especially if your like me and don't really want Valencia in this position if possible. 

Youth... Tyrell Warren & Lee O'Connor - Personally I don't think Tyrell Warren is good enough, but there's so real potential in 15 year old Lee O'Connor, so if you don't feel you have the funds to improve in the right back position, I'd definitely look at giving Lee O'Connor some game time and look to have him as a future right back.

Transfer Suggestions

More to come...

 

 

[pizzachips]

was awaiting for one of these.

 

end Dec, top of league by 2 pts and only signed perisic.

mata, fellani, smalling gone so far

[Sherkey]

Definitely need a new LB, especially since Blind has little to no pace. Jose Gaya or Keiran Trippier are recommended - both are reasonably cheap at the start, and both do a brilliant job, especially if you need attacking FBs

Additionally, to comply with HG rules, and because I rather like him, I got in Rafael after selling Darmian. Ashley Young is a must-keep atleast for a year, as he can slot in at both LB and RB, and do a rather good job at both places.

CB, I'd honestly recommend getting someone (de Ligt?). Smalling is no longer the beast he was last season, inconsistent. The same with Jones, although he can still put in a shift. Bailly is beastly, and Rojo is good once he gets back. Tuanzebe can grow up to be pretty immense.

In CM, pretty much stocked. In case you run out of funds for elsewhere, you can keep Fellaini, does a good job as B2B and BWM. 

In wingers, I got in Bernard and Pulisic, mainly because I rotate a lot. You can also get in youth prospects and Pulisic, and rotate him - he plays on both ends.

AMC, I got in Correa on loan, to rotate with Mata. You can also start giving chances  to Gribbin and Gomes, both are pretty good.

I sold Blind, Romero and Darmian to get in more funds to buy players.

[scott MUFC]

I sold Fellaini and zlatan got upset... didn't help team harmony either.

Lingard is very handy right winger for me as well, seems to work well with Martial/rashford on the left as Inside forward, anyway this is what I ended up with

[Sherkey]

1 hour ago, scott MUFC said:

I sold Fellaini and zlatan got upset... didn't help team harmony either.

Lingard is very handy right winger for me as well, seems to work well with Martial/rashford on the left as Inside forward, anyway this is what I ended up with

Zlatan always gets upset. And refuses to tutor youngsters. Letting him leave on a free in the summer. Along with Carrick and Young.

These were mine..

[Dong21]

I started my Man United career when the Beta came out so I have already been able to complete my first season. It went really well as we comfortably won the league and also won the FA Cup.

Transfers:

Note: I've omitted loans from the view so that all major transfers fit on one screenshot.

Table:

Cup:

Formation:

This is the formation I played for most of the season, along with the games' perception of my 'Best Eleven' (which is fairly accurate).

[sedge11]

19 hours ago, scott MUFC said:

I sold Fellaini and zlatan got upset... didn't help team harmony either.

Lingard is very handy right winger for me as well, seems to work well with Martial/rashford on the left as Inside forward, anyway this is what I ended up with

I haven't started my long term Man Utd save yet, as I'm currently carrying on my beta save with Wolves, but I intend to start it in the next week or 2 once I'm done with my Wolves game. Anyway I was thinking about Tierney at left back to replace Shaw, how is he getting on in your save?

[scott MUFC]

quite good, used shaw for one match so far, both are similar types.

[blue heron]

Just started my long term save this weekend after playing a bit on the beta. Sold Darmian but couldn't get any takers for Young as I'd hoped for. Brought in Jose Gaya and Mario (from Villarreal), for 17M euros apiece, as new full backs to rotate with Valencia and Shaw. They're doing quite alright at the moment.

 

Fellaini is already complaining that he isn't playing enough, and it's just somewhere in September!

[mattskelding]

19 hours ago, Dong21 said:

I started my Man United career when the Beta came out so I have already been able to complete my first season. It went really well as we comfortably won the league and also won the FA Cup.

Transfers:

Note: I've omitted loans from the view so that all major transfers fit on one screenshot.

Table:

Cup:

Formation:

This is the formation I played for most of the season, along with the games' perception of my 'Best Eleven' (which is fairly accurate).

Lets have a look at your tactic then?

[wakesta]

Has anyone replaced the staff?

[DannyFM87]

2 hours ago, wakesta said:

Has anyone replaced the staff?

I've not really replaced as such, but I've brought in a few of my go to coaches like Mcguinness (Ball control), Trares (Defending), and Brunner (GK coach)

[Dong21]

5 hours ago, mattskelding said:

Lets have a look at your tactic then?

[Dong21]

2 hours ago, wakesta said:

Has anyone replaced the staff?

Yeah I did quite a few changes:

[Chapman7]

1 hour ago, Dong21 said:

How did you play Lukaku?

[Smaldini]

4 hours ago, wakesta said:

Has anyone replaced the staff?

I focused more on changing staff roles & promoting rather than firing a load of them. I made Gerardo Guzman my DOF, John Peacock U23's Assistant Manager, Marcel Bout & Armand Benneker coaches, and Roy Beukenkamp a GK coach. Then I promoted Tony Whelan and Mark Hulse to the first team, and Tommy Martin to the U23s. I completely forgot about Paul McGuinness though, I'm going to bring him in now, even if I have to get rid of someone to do it.

[Chapman7]

What formation is everyone using? I'm old school so I tend to play around with the thought of 4-4-2 at some stage in the game. But feeling we have more than an adequant squad to play 4-2-3-1 with more than enough to have players rotating in and out from the reserves too as I'll be looking to bring in some of the better younger players to the first team.

[Dong21]

12 hours ago, Chapman7 said:

How did you play Lukaku?

I also played Lukaku as an AF in this formation. I know that paper he is probably as best as a TM, but I wanted to ensure there was room for my AM and IF, so selected the AF role. The frustrating thing was he picked up 5 injuries, total ling over 3 months out. He still had a good season though, scoring 22 goals and getting 5 assists in 32 games in all competitions.

[Dong21]

10 hours ago, Chapman7 said:

What formation is everyone using? I'm old school so I tend to play around with the thought of 4-4-2 at some stage in the game. But feeling we have more than an adequant squad to play 4-2-3-1 with more than enough to have players rotating in and out from the reserves too as I'll be looking to bring in some of the better younger players to the first team.

I stuck with 4-2-3-1 pretty much all season, although I do have a 4-4-2 trained as an option.

Yeah I'm also going to try and bring through some of the most promising youth. For example, I gave opportunities to Gomes and Bukhart and they certainly took them!

[blue heron]

15 hours ago, Chapman7 said:

What formation is everyone using? I'm old school so I tend to play around with the thought of 4-4-2 at some stage in the game. But feeling we have more than an adequant squad to play 4-2-3-1 with more than enough to have players rotating in and out from the reserves too as I'll be looking to bring in some of the better younger players to the first team.

Playing a 4-3-3 with a flat 3 midfield, an AMR and AML and ST. The midfield combination is CAR/S - DLP/D - AP/A (with forward runs) so I have enough runners from midfield. Gives a bit more defensive stability.

[Chapman7]

5 hours ago, Dong21 said:

I also played Lukaku as an AF in this formation. I know that paper he is probably as best as a TM, but I wanted to ensure there was room for my AM and IF, so selected the AF role. The frustrating thing was he picked up 5 injuries, total ling over 3 months out. He still had a good season though, scoring 22 goals and getting 5 assists in 32 games in all competitions.

I've gone got an injury to Lukaku in preseason up to 6 months 

[Dong21]

5 hours ago, Chapman7 said:

I've gone got an injury to Lukaku in preseason up to 6 months 

Ah that’s frustrating! Silver lining is that Martial and Rashford will benefit from the additional game time.

[thim1993]

Noticed a couple of people have been able to pick up goretzka in first summer. Is that just by unsettling him?

going to start Utd save over the weekend. Thinking of bringing in tierney at left back, another cm option and possibly another centre back as not convinced by smalling or rojo in game

[goqs06]

17 minutes ago, thim1993 said:

Noticed a couple of people have been able to pick up goretzka in first summer. Is that just by unsettling him?

going to start Utd save over the weekend. Thinking of bringing in tierney at left back, another cm option and possibly another centre back as not convinced by smalling or rojo in game

His contact expires in June 2018 so you can buy him on a free in January. He’ll ask for a lot of wages, though.

[Dong21]

11 hours ago, thim1993 said:

Noticed a couple of people have been able to pick up goretzka in first summer. Is that just by unsettling him?

going to start Utd save over the weekend. Thinking of bringing in tierney at left back, another cm option and possibly another centre back as not convinced by smalling or rojo in game

I tried to buy him and was quoted £100m+, then I declared him as a transfer target which unsettled him and they sold him to me for much cheaper (£25m rising to £30m). Wages were reasonable, around £85k. Played great and has developed in one season to be my best CM besides Pogba. Bonus of signing him was it unsettled Meyer who I was also able to snap up 

[scott MUFC]

I tried to unsettle Ozil to stop him signing a new contract, he did.. so he is off the list now might try for goretzka

 

[thim1993]

26 minutes ago, scott MUFC said:

I tried to unsettle Ozil to stop him signing a new contract, he did.. so he is off the list now might try for goretzka

 

Lucky escape if you ask me! Mata and mikhi work harder and are more consistent if you want to play with an amc

[scott MUFC]

my AMC is Angel Correa, who got injured :(, Mikhi on the right wing.

[thim1993]

23 minutes ago, scott MUFC said:

my AMC is Angel Correa, who got injured :(, Mikhi on the right wing.

Interesting I noticed he is available quite cheaply and develops well. Shame he got injured, would be interested to hear how he does for you

has anyone tried to copy the Woodward blueprint and target some big names like griezmann or bale?

[scott MUFC]

got Sanchez on the. bu..... try and get for free list if someone good comes along I will buy them

[Chapman7]

21 hours ago, Dong21 said:

Ah that’s frustrating! Silver lining is that Martial and Rashford will benefit from the additional game time.

Yeah, was playing them Left wing but will be rotating them around between the wing and striker now. May have to keep Wilson and use youngsters in low cup games to rest few players

[scholesvolley]

Anyone played Ibrahimovic regularly instead of Lukaku? 

I play with 4-3-3 (3 strikers, something I always did from FM 2010 or 11), I used him as AF and in the center, he is scoring so many goals. He came back from injury during Christmas fixtures and I'm April end and he has scored 25 goals. Scored twice against Barca away in semi finals second leg. 

His physical attributes are going down which is expected. When I started the save his acceleration and pace was 8, now it's down to 7 and going down. That didn't stop him scoring but I haven't offered him contract as next season it might go even lower. So not sure what to do. Also I have lukaku who is more suited to play in the centre of 3 strikers and bunch of regen strikers I have signed. 

 

So anyone had huge success with Ibrahimovic this season or you guys going with long term thinking and playing only Lukaku? 

 

Edit: also looks like this time offloading players isn't a big problem. In Beta I couldn't offload Young as he kept on rejecting any contracts, this time I offloaded him for 3 million to Brighton.  

 

Also offloaded these players (I don't remember the exact sum)

Darmian - To stoke for around 20 Million 

Smalling - Everton for 18 Million

Jones - Chelsea for 25-30 Million (Both chelsea and Spurs made bids)

Fellaini - Leicester for around 12 Millon

Lingard- PSG. Biggest surprise they offered straight 30 Million. His value is way overrated. He was valued at 32-34 Million, I offered him for 40 million, PSG came up with 24 Million, asked for 30 and they agreed)

Rojo - Some Chinese club made 18 Millon bid which can go up to 22-24 Million. 

Mkhitaryan - IIRC it's 30-40 Millon to Madrid. 

 

Signed

Rugani - 28 Million,

Arthur - 25 Million and he is superb

Alex Vidal - 7.5 million he is transfer listed, he has the highest rating out of all players. Has more than 10 assists in league alone. I would recommend him very highly as RBs are hard to find. 

Romero - around 2.5 to 3 million. Previous edition's wonderkid. He has good allround stats and versatile. Decent back up.

Zeca - 9 million. Had signed him last year for RBL. His weakness for big matches but this season as per scouting report he relishes big games. He can play as RB and LB. 

Dollberg - Around 20 Million. Fantastic prospect and a complete forward. 

Dembele - I think 10-15 Million. Signed him as I play with 3 strikers, so needed depth. Signed him last year wit RBL and he won CL scoring huge goals. Lost league when he was injured. His finishing stats was around 14 but he scores a lot. Same this year, scored whenever played but got injured for months. 

 

[shaggydo]

On 11/14/2017 at 18:39, blue heron said:

Playing a 4-3-3 with a flat 3 midfield, an AMR and AML and ST. The midfield combination is CAR/S - DLP/D - AP/A (with forward runs) so I have enough runners from midfield. Gives a bit more defensive stability.

out of interest, which players did you use in each of those midfield roles?

[shaggydo]

And what is everyone doing with Pogba? How to get the best out of him? In 2017 I played in as an AP (A) in the CM position where he did pretty well but is anyone having joy playing him in the AM position?

[toemouse]

Just now, shaggydo said:

And what is everyone doing with Pogba? How to get the best out of him? In 2017 I played in as an AP (A) in the CM position where he did pretty well but is anyone having joy playing him in the AM position?

Currently 10 games in and playing Pogba in a CMA role. Not blow-you-out-of-the-water brilliant but he's my best player. He's not the heartbeat of the side which is what I wanted. 

I'm having real problems with my left IF, it's Martial or Rashford and I'm not getting anything out of them at all. Anybody care to help?

[thim1993]

1 hour ago, shaggydo said:

And what is everyone doing with Pogba? How to get the best out of him? In 2017 I played in as an AP (A) in the CM position where he did pretty well but is anyone having joy playing him in the AM position?

I have been playing him as Segundo Volante on attack in first few games and he is destroying it. 6 games in, 4 goals and 4 assists average rating 8.54

[chapperz92]

Just at the end of the first transfer window, really happy with my business

IN

Geronimo Rulli from Real Sociedad 9mil

Matthias De Ligt from Ajax 13mil

Alessio Romagnoli  from Milan 20mil

Jonny from Celta Vigo 8.5mil

Mousse Dembele from Celtic 18mil

Total IN 69mil

OUT

Sergio Romero to Lyon 13.75mil

Phil Jones to PSG 45mil

Chris Smalling to Spurs 25mil

Matti Darmian to Southampton 30mil

Ashley Young to Brighton 8mil

Total OUT 119mil

Made 50mil and IMO all my signings are cheaper and better than their predecessors. 

 

[blue heron]

5 hours ago, shaggydo said:

out of interest, which players did you use in each of those midfield roles?

Ander as CAR/S

Blind or Matic as DLP/D

Pogba or Mata as AP/A - but Mata was first choice on AMR position

 

[Chapman7]

On 15/11/2017 at 17:32, Dong21 said:

I tried to buy him and was quoted £100m+, then I declared him as a transfer target which unsettled him and they sold him to me for much cheaper (£25m rising to £30m). Wages were reasonable, around £85k. Played great and has developed in one season to be my best CM besides Pogba. Bonus of signing him was it unsettled Meyer who I was also able to snap up 

What'd you do with Matic? Rotate with him or pogba? 

[DannyFM87]

I'm enjoying a fantastic start to the season.  Lukaku, Rashford and Martial are ripping teams apart!

 

[wakesta]

Who should I look at to buy for wing back/right back

[scholesvolley]

4 hours ago, wakesta said:

Who should I look at to buy for wing back/right back

If you are starting new save then Alex vidal will be transfer listed. He is superb RB. 

[toemouse]

20 hours ago, DannyFM87 said:

I'm enjoying a fantastic start to the season.  Lukaku, Rashford and Martial are ripping teams apart!

 

@DannyFM87 what tactics are you using? I'm really struggling.

[DannyFM87]

4 hours ago, toemouse said:

@DannyFM87 what tactics are you using? I'm really struggling.

 

[Dong21]

On 11/17/2017 at 14:19, Chapman7 said:

What'd you do with Matic? Rotate with him or pogba? 

Yes just rotated Matic, Herrera, Pogba and Goretzka frequently. Matic started 28 games in all competitions.

[Dong21]

Just about to start my second season. Won the Community Shield by beating Spurs on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

These were my transfers:

Prioritised signing Alli and Dier and dedicated most of my budget on achieving this. Ibrahimovic and Carrick also retired in the summer, which isn't included on the outgoings list.

[Chris21]

De Gea

Valencia Bailly van Dijk Tierney

Matic

Herrera(c) Pogba

Griezmann                     Sanchez

Lukaku

Subs: Pereira, Lindelof, Theo Hernandez, Winks, Goretzka, Asensio, Rashford and Martial

 

That is my current line-up midway through my second season. Playing some beautiful stuff at the moment. First season I only managed a 2nd place finish and no trophies but looking better this time around. Got good balance in the team now which was lacking before. Most of my signings have been bargains in this day and age in all honesty, Goretzka (free), Sanchez (free), Theo Hernandez (£4.8m), Winks (£9.75m), Tierney (£18m) and even Asensio who I just brought actually only cost £28m. Not sure what Madrid are playing at there although he has just recovered from a broken leg. Griezmann (£89m) and van Dijk (£46.5m) are what I'd consider my big money deals. Having sold quite a few players too my net spend isn't that high which is pleasing. 

[Mancunian Red United]

1 hour ago, Chris21 said:

De Gea

Valencia Bailly van Dijk Tierney

Matic

Herrera(c) Pogba

Griezmann                     Sanchez

Lukaku

Subs: Pereira, Lindelof, Theo Hernandez, Winks, Goretzka, Asensio, Rashford and Martial

 

That is my current line-up midway through my second season. Playing some beautiful stuff at the moment. First season I only managed a 2nd place finish and no trophies but looking better this time around. Got good balance in the team now which was lacking before. Most of my signings have been bargains in this day and age in all honesty, Goretzka (free), Sanchez (free), Theo Hernandez (£4.8m), Winks (£9.75m), Tierney (£18m) and even Asensio who I just brought actually only cost £28m. Not sure what Madrid are playing at there although he has just recovered from a broken leg. Griezmann (£89m) and van Dijk (£46.5m) are what I'd consider my big money deals. Having sold quite a few players too my net spend isn't that high which is pleasing. 

Couldn't post screenshots of your team instructions, could you?

[wakesta]

On 18/11/2017 at 01:02, scholesvolley said:

If you are starting new save then Alex vidal will be transfer listed. He is superb RB. 

Thanks for the recommendation cost me £34M as he had this as release clause.

[wakesta]

Does anyone use the director of football or  do you sack him?