It's a Sky Blue World

[vivu]

Starting off again with my second save in FM20 after the first one crawled to halt with the huge amount of leagues running and the mammoth DB i loaded up.

For this save, decided to go with a moderate amount of Leagues and about 50% of the players loaded as before.

Plan is to holiday a season and take over one of the promoted team in Bundesliga 3.

I will be loosely sticking to LLM rules (real life exp and signing only scout able players) and only major rule would be to stick to one team and hopefully make them changes of Europe/World. I would be changing clubs only if fired or if I run down the contract, apply for jobs only once I am out of club and any job change have to be realistic.

1 promoted second/reserve team meant my choice was limited to Fortuna Koln, Burghausen or:

No particular reason why I went that way other than that they play in Blue and was the oldest among the promoted clubs (was getting tired with a succession of Red teams in previous save )

No big expectations and the decent sized stadium is a plus point.

[vivu]

There is nothing much in the u18 squad or reserve squad. About 8 players are having their contract negotiations on going when I joined up

Only 1 staff at the club

This is his assessment of the squad

And the best 2 players

[vivu]

10 hours ago, vivu said:

 

 

Bloody hell.. My best player refused the contract offer made before I had joined up and left on a free... That's a big blow

[vivu]

Jun '20

Team is still adjusting to my tactics. The team is definitely light in center of the park and the matter want helped by 2 players getting sent of for direct reds in our second game. I am pretty satisfied by our first month in the league. Dropped 2 points in first match by conceding an equalizer in closing mins and secon match we put up a fight despite being down to 9 men within 20 mins. A true smash and grab in the final match of the month sees us well placed in mid table.

Transfers:

Few of our players left on a free, including our best sriker. Most of the first few weeks was spent on getting staff in and asking them for suggested signings. Sow was recommended and came in for a trial and we had an able replacement for the departed striker (he has struggled for goals though).

Pedro was recommended by a spanis scout I hired and he too came in for d a trial before joining up

Emanuel adds some steel to the midfield Dennis takes over the LB spot. Both were released by Bundesliga 2 teams and we were happy to snap them up.

This was the one my new scout was raving about. Looks like we have a future international on our hand. Only player I spent any cash on (almost free though )

Vella came up for a job and he was angling for a playing/coach role. Donth think he would be playing much, but is a very decent coach.

[vivu]

 

[vivu]

Aug '20

We are struggling with the strikers misfiring and defence leaking late goals and midfielders picking cards aplenty. I am tweaking my tactics on an ongoing basis and finally seems to have got Sow firing. Biggest issues to fix is my team's habit of shipping in late goals and the card issue. Lost two games with late late goals, nearly blew the 3-0 half time lead against Rostock and was a man down against Kaiserslautern within 40 mins (also managed to concede from a late penalty to lose the game). The Rostock win ensured we just about kept our head above the relegation zone.

Eventhough Sow picked up two league goals, my other striker is firing blanks.

[vivu]

A bit of sunshine among the gloom

The scouts have been about the young gun. He has laid out 4 assists in 8 games for us so far.

[vivu]

Sep '20

First true drubbing followed by some reults that looks promising on paper, but was anything but. Lead 3-0 against bottom team before hanging on for a win followed by  an early lead against Osnabruck followed by a dire game of holding on and last min interventions till they score at death. The game against Halle was worse as we lost a 3-1 lead against a relegation rival. At this rate, we would soon be in the relegation zone. Only bright spot have been Sow finding himself among the goals.

[vivu]

Oct '20

It's more liking surviving Babelsberg. The lone victory of the month kept us just above the relegation zone.

The situation with my second striker came to a head. Bugger missed training twice and became unhappy when I fined him. Finally offered him a mutual termination and he accepted.

On the plus side my scouting team has identified some really good freebies. Most are in on trials, problem would be fitting them in the wage budget.

[vivu]

Nov '20

The team is struggling and it is a miracle that we are not in the relegation spots. We can't buy a goal if our life depended on it. Only goal of the month came from a scuffed cross

[vivu]

That's that then

[vivu]

Dec '20

Mini revival this month as we were unbeaten and more importantly kept 2 clean sheets. Far from safe, but we have a chance as compared to hapless Bughausen whose manager became the first casualty in this league.

Our team was refreshed with 7 more signings, but the key one was a German GK who offered his services.

Angel was expected to be the big difference maker as my new DoF recommended the ex Getafe forward. I had spent a big chunk of my spare wages on him and he got injured promptly in the first match. Thankfully he is on a 8 month contract with 1 year option, so if he is injury prone, I can cut my losses.

[vivu]

It seems we have another international in our ranks... The youngster chose Benin over Germany and would miss a chunk of our season

[vivu]

This should help

[vivu]

Jan '21

Another good month and one in which Angel stormed back from injury, scoring 5 of the 6 goals and assisting for the other one. Even after the excellent run of form, we are still only 4 points above the relegation spots.

[vivu]

That felt monumental.. Why? Coz that is the first time my team had come from behind to snatch a late win. We are usually in the habit of blowing solid leads in final 10 mins

[vivu]

Feb '21

Another solid month, that unfortunately ended badly. 7 points in the month was more than what I was expecting though.

[vivu]

Mar '21

Another good month where we solidified our position in the table. The lose in the final game hurt as our strikers forced zero saves from the opposition GK

[vivu]

Apr '21

We live to fight another season. Team was absolutely brilliant as we ensured survival in the league with a month to spare. Survival was anything but guaranteed till the turn around in form around the winter break.

The scouts need to work overtim, as I have about 10 first team members going out of contract at the end of the season.

[vivu]

May '21

A really mixed end to our season with the team reverting to old habit of conceding late. I am really happy with the top half finish, considering that we were nailed down for relegation as per pre season expectations. The team]s Achilles heal is a goal scoring striker. 52 goals over a 38 game season is just not good enough, especially as I was playing with attacking mentality. Not one single player hit double figures.

[vivu]

[vivu]

I got a nice pay rise for the good season we had

However I will be hamstrung in transfer market as the wage budget cut by 3k

[vivu]

2021 - 22 Pre Season Update

Made my transfer moves early and I have a pretty decent squad in place well before the new season kicks in and the pre season odds reflect that.

Couple of players retired and we ended up releasing 9(5 of whom were from 1st team)

I had moved for two young CDs on loan, 4 freebies and had spent cash on a young GK my new scout recommended. The Ivory Coast youth International has French second nationality and looks good enough to take up the starting spot as per my scouts and the back up slot as per my coaching team.

Couple of them left for some cash, One was a german midfield enforcer who had joined us midway through last season and he had become upset when I rejected an initial offer from a Bundesliga 2 team. He moved to Rostock who was relegated to regional div . Other one was Croatian back up keeper (who was the first choice when I came in).

[vivu]

Another youngster brought in for cover at RB on loan

The Bundesliga 3 restriction of no non-EU is begining to hurt us as the scouts are finding some interesting options and recommendations. The same scout that recommended the GK had recommended a 4.5 star striker who I cant make a move for because of this

[vivu]

Some baby steps

Unfortunately the proposal for the youth facility was rejected.

Another indication that we are moving in the right direction

 

[vivu]

Jul '21

Only blemish was the last gasp equalizer conceded against Dreden

[vivu]

Aug '21

Unbeaten month saw us very much in the promotion race.

[vivu]

The board was in a very obliging mood

[vivu]

Sep '21

Absolutely cracking month for us. Team has been absolutely miserly in defence and we were getting key goals at critical junctions in game. We ascend to the top of the lot for the first time.

This fella had been outstanding this month scoring over 50% of the teams goals.

[vivu]

The new loaned CB partnership is leading our charge

[vivu]

Oct '21

Victories against direct opponents at top gives us a 7 point cushion as our unbeaten start rolls on.

[vivu]

Probably the worst injury I have had in my save. Not ideal as the DL position is the position where we have least cover. Quick search led to a retiring legend joining up till he retires at the end of the season. He doesn't have the legs and cost a decent percentage of our wage budget, but I am hoping his experience helps us in the promotion push.

[vivu]

* Game crashed and had to replay the last game of the month and the first one of Dec...

Nov '21

The run continues

 

 

[vivu]

I am so looking forward to this....

... NOT

Edit *

More green after the crash, but still a poor crop

[roeelo]

I took them few years ago, after I did some research and found that they can have a good and solid fan base.

But I failed every season until got sacked.

[vivu]

Was looking dire early on but on a roll since the winter break in first season. Bundesliga 3 is tough due to the no non EU player rule. The loan market is really working well for me. Dependent on them and freebies as we are draining money pretty badly.

[vivu]

Dec '21

Bad loss at home to end our 19 game unbeaten run, but we bounced back to get a huge win away at Dresden.

[vivu]

Jan '22

Injuries starting to creep in and January was an unsettling experience with many European second tier clubs bidding incessantly on my Liechtenstein International. Thankfully the captain talked him out of being upset. I am not too worried as he is on a 5 year contract. But last offer was really tempting with Fiorentina offering over 1 mill. But they balked at 40% sell on fee

[vivu]

It finally happened. The deal was too good to be true; Werder came in with a 2 mil bid, I put in a sell on clause and 1.5 season loan back at 0% wage contribution and negotiated for 4. Was shocked when they stumped up 3.2 million with those terms.

He has been a very reliable performer for us and have been coming up in leaps and bounds. The money will help us a long way and I get a player for free till end of next season

[vivu]

Feb '22

The team was unbeaten but we are struggling with injuries to key players. Both my LBs are out and Rafinha is struggling to hold down the position.

[vivu]

This is getting worrisome. Both my first choice wingers out along with my LBs

[vivu]

Mar & Apr '22

Forgot to take screenies at end of March, so a joint update.... WE ARE GOING UP

The injuries hurt us bad in April. I had to try a winger less formation unsuccessfully till we got one of the wingers back to romp home in final game. The defence held strong and ensured we only lost 1 game, but we had a mini crisis with a non winning stretch. The work begins now with as I believe I will have to upgrade most positions except my GK. Got some money o play with too as the board provided some decent money for a club of our size.

[vivu]

Time to put the scouts on overtime

[vivu]

May '22

Clinched the title on the final day.

Finding a regular goalscorer is again our biggest challenge. There were 2 who hit the double figures this term, but 62 goals across a 38 game season indicates a struggle in Bundeliga 2.

Thankfully the scouts have found a South African youth international who looks really promising (potential to be a Bundesliga player in the future and a Bliga 2 star as per my scouts and contract running out soon). I have made a cash bid to lock him down at the earliest.

[vivu]

The youngster has been immense since he landed up and is rated as Bliga 2 star already by my staff.

My strike partnership. The second record shows all that is wrong with the team.

The board expects us to stay up next term

 

[vivu]

No individual awards this season. But we dominated the team of the year.

[vivu]

Got a very small hike as I only wanted to sign a 1 year deal and the club was pushing for a 2 year deal. I will see how the season goes before committing to the long term. I am really optimistic of survival as we have identified some really good targets with the scouting and non-EU signing limitations removed. But I feel it will be wise to keep the options open as my only real rule in this save is to not move until out of contract or if I am fired.

[vivu]

Finally got the board to improve recruitment. Our Junior coaching also got a good bump (had that improved last season too, but somehow th board not very keen on youth recruitment)

My Kosovan striker is on the move after average 1.5 years at the club. I was shocked by what was the amount on offer. Put him on the list just in case he backs out of the move

Much needed reinforcements are in to fill out the squad.

 

[vivu]

Transfers

Out:

Couple of fringe players and two oldies who will be hanging up their boots. They will be joined by a rotation striker.

In:

1 youth prospect, 1 back up GK and 5 who moves into the first team squad.

[vivu]

Very happy to land the youngster on a decent contract as his Fulham contract ran out. Would provide back up to Toure.

A young DC who my scouts and staff agree are playing at a decent Bundesliga 2 player right now with plenty of room to grow. Would be a critical cog in my plans as I was only able to retain 1 of the 3 young loanees from last year.

A young Kazakh prospect who moves ino my u19.2nd team. He can provide back up if necessary, but currently operating at Regional level only as per my coaches.

A versatile youngster who seems to have an attitude issue. Was listed at Gremio and I was happy to snap him up. for a bargain price. Currently at Bliga 2 level and can be Bliga 2 star as per my coaches.

Paid out the release clause for the Colombian youngster who will compete for starting role in right wing.

Blew most of my budget on this Romanian youngster who can play anywhere across the Left side. My scouts and coaches both rave about him.

And the player I am most excited about. He could improve on his finishing, but a no risk youngster who I picked up for nearly free. He is already a full South Africa international.