Football Manager 2011

[Silva'sGold]

Thanks guys, think I may try Napoli? I tried Celta Vigo, as I thought it would be a nice challenge, but I had 4 coaches. Literally. So I tried hiring new ones, and even after asking the board to increase coaching allowance, which they did, they were restricting the coaches I could have, so it was just ridiculous!

 

[Pride_In_Battle]

Thanks guys, think I may try Napoli? I tried Celta Vigo, as I thought it would be a nice challenge, but I had 4 coaches. Literally. So I tried hiring new ones, and even after asking the board to increase coaching allowance, which they did, they were restricting the coaches I could have, so it was just ridiculous!

With teams like Celta Vigo (basically any team predicted to finish outside European positions) don't bother with training. All those coaches add to your wage bill, and the players you have will be replaced by better ones within a couple of years, so training isn't going to affect their stats enough to make them good enough for a title challenge.

In the same vein, don't give players contracts longer than 2 years unless they are good enough for top teams, otherwise they'll be on your books but not good enough for the team.

Get your scouting up before your coaching, find excellent unknown players really cheap, and then get training to push the top 2/3 teams.

And one last thing, from experience, the Italian league is horribly boring, very low scoring due to how defensive 90% of the teams are. You'll have much more fun with a Spanish team, trying to break up the Barça/ Real chokehold!

 

[Motty]

Kinda new to FM. I know how to play the game, the staff just confuse me! Can anyone recommend what to do with City staff? I.e who to sack.

I'd keep some of them at the start, especially Salsano and Carminati. Kidd is all right, not the best assistant manager ever, but he's good enough. Platt and Lombardo are the worst ones and if you want to sack anyone, sack those two. Don't get rid of lots at the start because it's good to have some staff with high 'Club Player Knowledge', as then their advice is likely to be more trustworthy, if you have lots of people on your backroom staff who have just joined the club, then this would take a while to happen.

As for the scouts, Poynton and Rigg are the best ones, especially as Rigg has knowledge of a wide range of countries. Terry John and Dave Harrison (I think that's his name) are quite good as well, but I think it would still be good to hire a couple of foreign scouts. Roberto Bettega, Roberto Baggio and Sandro Orlandelli (from Arsenal, you don't have to pay a lot of compensation) could be very good options.

As for teams to be, Athletic Bilbao might be quite good, they have some very good players in their squad, but on the other hand you can only buy Basque based players. Might have a go myself with them in the future if I get time.
In Germany, there are some good teams like Hamburg, Hoffenheim or Schalke, and Lille from France may also be good.

 

[Rushton121]

having a stormer in the FA Cup with Wrexham, through to the quarters if I can beat Villa in the 5th round replay :D

 

[Silva'sGold]

Doing Atletico Madrid now :) It is such a shame, as I would really love to have a career with City, but it is too easy :(

 

[Blueboy Danny]

Bored of City as many have said too easy! I have however started managing England, not doing bad played 5 won 4 and just slogged out a 1-1 with France.

 

[Pride_In_Battle]

Doing Atletico Madrid now :) It is such a shame, as I would really love to have a career with City, but it is too easy :(

Macclesfield Town is a bit of a toughie! No transfer funds, hardly any wage budget, decent stadium, but poor training facilities and all the way down in League 2, with the board expecting mid-table mediocrity once again. Got them to the Championship in consecutive seasons, and then started to struggle, as the board wouldn't give me funds to improve enough for promotion.

 

[MCFC 4 EVER]

At Torquay at the moment drew first league game and then played the youth team against MK Dons in the league cup lost 1-0 the fans were allegedly devastated that a league 2 teams youth team lost to a league 1 side in a cup that is of no importance to the board!

 

[Jay Division]

Highly recommend FC Twente, just started my fifth season. Up to now I've won 3 league titles, 2 Dutch Cups and Champions League in my fourth season. Beat Barca 3-2 on aggregate in last 16. Totally surprised I won it. Went for a much more high tempo'd short passing tactics in Europe and it paid off. Beat rags in final; Luuk de Jong winner in the 86th minutes :D
If any of you do start with Twente, try and get good prices for Douglas and Ruiz (a lot of clubs come sniffing). Sold both for about 18mil combined and invested in young talent & coaches.

Athletic Bilbao is lots of fun as well. It's just keeping your first team in good shape, as back-up is quite poor, so invest in good physios! Played 4-2-4(high wingers), with Munian poacher, and Llorente supporting complete forward, both bagged me 20+. finished 3rd 18 points behind Real in 2nd. Still a long way to go. Got some beast of a regen that just came through my academy in second season, will post screenie tomorrow.

 

[Villan10]

Just retired from my most successful ever game. :(

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