Started a new save, my second with FM 14, loaded all the british isles leagues and found, arguably, the most forlorn team: Moyola Park. Northern Ireland's 3rd division: the Belfast Telegraph Championship 2. Media Prediction: 16th of 16 teams. Wage budget: 83 pounds per week. We sell 30 season tickets. Our attendances start around 80-85 and by the end of the season are around 90-95 for home games in the league.
Observations:
(0) we only had like 16 players under contract, at all. This is classic mode, so we don't have an under-18s. Perhaps that would make a huge difference. None of them had a weekly wage, appearance fee, or any bonuses. Totally free. They are totally irreplaceable as no one would sign under such terms.
(1) being careful, we can sign players willing to be non-contract, take 20 pounds for an appearance, and they count very little toward the weekly wage budget. Although we play them each week, they are listed as "backups" and thus the calculation assumes they should play rarely. We end up signing about 9 players like this, nominally counting about 65 pounds per week toward our wage budget.
(1a) I found two 17 year olds unemployed, with no team, who were willing to sign for only 2-3 pounds of appearance fee.
(2) There is virtually no limit on the "transfer window". Nor is there a squad registration. At least in classic mode. You can sign anyone, at virtually any time. I did not try to loan players in or out.
(3) Our best players are signed away and we have no hope of giving an equal contract. Also, we gain no money for them.
(4) Do not "offer contract" to greyed out players who fill in for your under-21's side. Upon the success of item (2) above, I figured perhaps other 17 year olds would sign for cheap. They do not.
(5) It took some doing, but I tweaked my 433 tactic and, after three league losses, I went undefeated and won the league with 3 or 4 games to spare. At which point, my players apparently celebrated constantly, making winning additional games in the league impossible.
I can post this tactic, but it may only work in classic, as it may be hard to gain the needed tactical familiarity with an amateur side. I don't know. Also, I got the feeling any tactic might work.
(6) We loose money. Average of about 1000 pounds per week over the course of the year. This is made up by the owners pouring money into the club.
(7) Despite (6) above, I'm lauded as having tight control over the wage budget LOL
(8) Friendlies: after a bit, no one will play us. Home or away. Or even play against my under-21s. As there are 2-3 week gaps in the schedule, we have to play the only way we can: against our own u-21 side, to maintain match fitness.
(9) Around the half way point of the season, people are willing to play friendlies again. Not sure why.
(10) I considered trying to upgrade my staff. It is somewhat disconcerting to have a scout with judging attributes of 3. First of all, you can't sign much better. Maybe 5-6. Second, it costs 1000 pounds to fire the guy I have. Since my annual wage total would be 83 pounds times 52 weeks = 4264 pounds, I feel 1000 pounds is too much and don't try mutual termination.
Staff contracts are rolling, so near as I can tell, I cannot just wait until the scout's contract is up and sign a new one.
Upon Promotion to the Promised? Land: The Belfast Telegraph Championship 1 (Northern Ireland's 2nd division).
I put off renegotiating my contract until after the season ended, and at that point, I applied for all open jobs. Maybe I should have been more targeted. I did not get any. At this point, I'm unsure if there is an interview stage, if so, I did not reach it.
When I started this save, I had a vague notion of wandering the isles, so trying to manage in Wales, Scotland, everywhere before England.
They did give me a new contract and I eagerly awaited the upgraded wage budget. It was stunning, but in a good way. Over 1300 pounds per week. No transfer budget, but I don't need one.
We got a youth intake near the beginning of summer. They all have potential to be far better then anyone at the club, according to my assistant manager, judging potential of 5. Should I get a second opinion? Nah, why spoil it.
Observations:
(1) We sign eleven players to contracts with weekly wages - so they cannot be signed away! I'm so happy.
(2) We can re-sign our own players onto contracts, but many refuse. They want amateur contracts. No weekly wage, they can walk whenever a better offer comes along. That said, only 2 players in this situation get contract offers from other teams. One, I am happy to let go. The second, I offer a new contract with a larger appearance fee. He stays with me. In total, I think I brought in about 10 new signings.
(3) Two of our youth turn 17 and are eligible for contracts. They seem to have 3 years left on some kind of contract paying them one pound per week. So I sign one to an appearance fee only contract (for like 4 pounds per game, and maybe 1-2 pounds per goal). The other I do not and...
(3a) A crowd of vultures descend onto this player, who still seems to be on a three year, so I'm assuming they have to negotiate a transfer fee with me. I'm wrong. He goes for free.
(4) This league is also very easy to win in. I'm undefeated again after 10 games and about 8 points in front.
(5a) Our attendance is only around 80 per game. Down from the end of last year by 10%.
(5b) We sold 31 season tickets, up from 30 last year.
(5c) We got a new sponsor providing a whopping total of about 6.5k per year, instead of 6k last season. We do get TV revenue, but as I recall, it is something like 3k per year.
(5d) Our main monthly expenditure is our youth setup, unchanged since last year.
(5e) The owners are still pouring cash into the club to keep us afloat and from the points above, I don't see profitability in the future.
Observations:
(0) we only had like 16 players under contract, at all. This is classic mode, so we don't have an under-18s. Perhaps that would make a huge difference. None of them had a weekly wage, appearance fee, or any bonuses. Totally free. They are totally irreplaceable as no one would sign under such terms.
(1) being careful, we can sign players willing to be non-contract, take 20 pounds for an appearance, and they count very little toward the weekly wage budget. Although we play them each week, they are listed as "backups" and thus the calculation assumes they should play rarely. We end up signing about 9 players like this, nominally counting about 65 pounds per week toward our wage budget.
(1a) I found two 17 year olds unemployed, with no team, who were willing to sign for only 2-3 pounds of appearance fee.
(2) There is virtually no limit on the "transfer window". Nor is there a squad registration. At least in classic mode. You can sign anyone, at virtually any time. I did not try to loan players in or out.
(3) Our best players are signed away and we have no hope of giving an equal contract. Also, we gain no money for them.
(4) Do not "offer contract" to greyed out players who fill in for your under-21's side. Upon the success of item (2) above, I figured perhaps other 17 year olds would sign for cheap. They do not.
(5) It took some doing, but I tweaked my 433 tactic and, after three league losses, I went undefeated and won the league with 3 or 4 games to spare. At which point, my players apparently celebrated constantly, making winning additional games in the league impossible.
I can post this tactic, but it may only work in classic, as it may be hard to gain the needed tactical familiarity with an amateur side. I don't know. Also, I got the feeling any tactic might work.
(6) We loose money. Average of about 1000 pounds per week over the course of the year. This is made up by the owners pouring money into the club.
(7) Despite (6) above, I'm lauded as having tight control over the wage budget LOL
(8) Friendlies: after a bit, no one will play us. Home or away. Or even play against my under-21s. As there are 2-3 week gaps in the schedule, we have to play the only way we can: against our own u-21 side, to maintain match fitness.
(9) Around the half way point of the season, people are willing to play friendlies again. Not sure why.
(10) I considered trying to upgrade my staff. It is somewhat disconcerting to have a scout with judging attributes of 3. First of all, you can't sign much better. Maybe 5-6. Second, it costs 1000 pounds to fire the guy I have. Since my annual wage total would be 83 pounds times 52 weeks = 4264 pounds, I feel 1000 pounds is too much and don't try mutual termination.
Staff contracts are rolling, so near as I can tell, I cannot just wait until the scout's contract is up and sign a new one.
Upon Promotion to the Promised? Land: The Belfast Telegraph Championship 1 (Northern Ireland's 2nd division).
I put off renegotiating my contract until after the season ended, and at that point, I applied for all open jobs. Maybe I should have been more targeted. I did not get any. At this point, I'm unsure if there is an interview stage, if so, I did not reach it.
When I started this save, I had a vague notion of wandering the isles, so trying to manage in Wales, Scotland, everywhere before England.
They did give me a new contract and I eagerly awaited the upgraded wage budget. It was stunning, but in a good way. Over 1300 pounds per week. No transfer budget, but I don't need one.
We got a youth intake near the beginning of summer. They all have potential to be far better then anyone at the club, according to my assistant manager, judging potential of 5. Should I get a second opinion? Nah, why spoil it.
Observations:
(1) We sign eleven players to contracts with weekly wages - so they cannot be signed away! I'm so happy.
(2) We can re-sign our own players onto contracts, but many refuse. They want amateur contracts. No weekly wage, they can walk whenever a better offer comes along. That said, only 2 players in this situation get contract offers from other teams. One, I am happy to let go. The second, I offer a new contract with a larger appearance fee. He stays with me. In total, I think I brought in about 10 new signings.
(3) Two of our youth turn 17 and are eligible for contracts. They seem to have 3 years left on some kind of contract paying them one pound per week. So I sign one to an appearance fee only contract (for like 4 pounds per game, and maybe 1-2 pounds per goal). The other I do not and...
(3a) A crowd of vultures descend onto this player, who still seems to be on a three year, so I'm assuming they have to negotiate a transfer fee with me. I'm wrong. He goes for free.
(4) This league is also very easy to win in. I'm undefeated again after 10 games and about 8 points in front.
(5a) Our attendance is only around 80 per game. Down from the end of last year by 10%.
(5b) We sold 31 season tickets, up from 30 last year.
(5c) We got a new sponsor providing a whopping total of about 6.5k per year, instead of 6k last season. We do get TV revenue, but as I recall, it is something like 3k per year.
(5d) Our main monthly expenditure is our youth setup, unchanged since last year.
(5e) The owners are still pouring cash into the club to keep us afloat and from the points above, I don't see profitability in the future.
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