I've finally started a save that's got me buzzing: a 'Youth to Gold' challenge with Schalke 04. For those unfamiliar, the rules are strict – no players over 30 in the first-team squad, and all incoming transfers must be aged 15-19. No exceptions. It's all about scouting, developing, and promoting youth to turn prospects into gold (world-class stars). Why Schalke? This club's a sleeping giant – Bundesliga legends fallen on hard times in the 2. Bundesliga. I love the underdog story, and with their IRL debt issues mirrored in-game, it's a proper grind.
Enter Stuart Ahmed: Me, a 29-year-old Englishman with zero rep. Sunday League footballer badge, no real coaching experience – just a guy who's managed virtual teams for years. I took the job in July 2023 with one mission: Rebuild Schalke from the youth up, promote back to the Bundesliga, and eventually dominate Europe. No sugar daddies, no editor saves – pure FM pain and glory.
The Setup: Stacked Squad, Youth Rules, and a Financial Nightmare
Schalke's squad is elite for 2. Bundesliga level – guys like Assan Ouédraogo (17-year-old wonderkid), Danny Latza, and goal machine Simon Terodde give us serious firepower. But my 'Youth to Gold' rules mean immediate squad surgery: Anyone over 30 gets demoted to reserves or sold/loaned out. Bye-bye to veterans like Terodde (35) in the long term – his contract's up in summer anyway. No signings in the first window either; I'm riding with what we've got, focusing on the U19s and scouting for teen gems worldwide.
Tactics? A high-pressing 4-2-3-1 Gegenpress to suit our young, energetic legs. We dominate possession (avg. 60%) and create chances for fun. Board wants promotion; I want sustainability.
The real boss fight? Finances. Starting balance: -€190 million. It gets refinanced early (FM wizardry), but we're still bleeding -€1 million per month. With youth rules limiting me to cheap teen transfers (none yet), breaking even feels impossible. No big sales yet to plug the gap – every euro counts. I'm scouting South America and Africa for free/cheap 15-19 year-olds, but January's my first real window to act.
The First Six Months: Dominance on the Pitch, Drama Off It (July 2023 – 20th January 2024)
We kicked off like a rocket. Pre-season was all about integrating youth – promoted a couple of U19 regens like 17-year-old CM Lukas Müller (solid potential, already rotating in midfield) and 16-year-old ST prospect Elias Becker (raw but pacey). First league game: 4-0 thrashing of Karlsruhe. Terodde? Absolute beast – 23 goals in 17 games, top scorer by a mile. He's carrying us, but at 35, he's not long for the first team under my rules. Summer contract expiry means we're scouting replacements hard – think 15-19 year-old strikers who can step up without breaking the bank.
As of 20th January: We're top of the 2. Bundesliga with 18 wins, 2 draws, and just one loss (a fluky 2-1 to Hamburg – dodgy ref decision, FM'd me hard). Goal difference? +50. Insane. We've scored 62, conceded just 12. Highlights include a 6-1 demolition of Hannover and a 5-1 cup win over lower-league fodder for some sweet prize money. DFB-Pokal progress is key – we're into the third round, eyeing that cash to offset the debt drain.
But drama struck in January: Assan Ouédraogo, our 17-year-old starboy (already 10 assists, 5 goals), gets poached by Chelsea for his £8.5 million release clause. Gutted – he's a generational talent, and losing him hurts the youth project. Silver lining? He's loaned back to us until season's end, so we keep his magic for the promotion push. That £8.5M influx is a lifeline – it knocks balance back to minus 18 million and gives me a tiny budget for January teens. Scouting reports are in: Aiming for a 18-year-old Brazilian ST from Flamengo (cheap release) and a 16-year-old German GK prospect from our own academy promo.
Off-pitch? The -€1M monthly bleed (pre-Ouédraogo sale) has me sweating. Wages are high for this level, and with no over-30s allowed, I'm rotating kids who aren't ready yet. Board meetings are tense – they love the results but hate the red ink. Fans are chanting "Ahmed's Army" after big wins, but one bad month could flip that. Media's skeptical: "English rookie betting on kids? Recipe for disaster."
Challenges Ahead: Youth Pipeline and Financial Survival
This 'Youth to Gold' twist makes everything harder – Terodde's goals are a short-term fix, but replacing him with a 15-19 year-old (without big spending) means potential dips. Promotion is crucial for revenue, but can a teen-heavy squad hack the Bundesliga? January window: No over-30s, only youngsters. Fingers crossed for bargains.
Save Stats So Far (20th Jan 2024):
Enter Stuart Ahmed: Me, a 29-year-old Englishman with zero rep. Sunday League footballer badge, no real coaching experience – just a guy who's managed virtual teams for years. I took the job in July 2023 with one mission: Rebuild Schalke from the youth up, promote back to the Bundesliga, and eventually dominate Europe. No sugar daddies, no editor saves – pure FM pain and glory.
The Setup: Stacked Squad, Youth Rules, and a Financial Nightmare
Schalke's squad is elite for 2. Bundesliga level – guys like Assan Ouédraogo (17-year-old wonderkid), Danny Latza, and goal machine Simon Terodde give us serious firepower. But my 'Youth to Gold' rules mean immediate squad surgery: Anyone over 30 gets demoted to reserves or sold/loaned out. Bye-bye to veterans like Terodde (35) in the long term – his contract's up in summer anyway. No signings in the first window either; I'm riding with what we've got, focusing on the U19s and scouting for teen gems worldwide.
Tactics? A high-pressing 4-2-3-1 Gegenpress to suit our young, energetic legs. We dominate possession (avg. 60%) and create chances for fun. Board wants promotion; I want sustainability.
The real boss fight? Finances. Starting balance: -€190 million. It gets refinanced early (FM wizardry), but we're still bleeding -€1 million per month. With youth rules limiting me to cheap teen transfers (none yet), breaking even feels impossible. No big sales yet to plug the gap – every euro counts. I'm scouting South America and Africa for free/cheap 15-19 year-olds, but January's my first real window to act.
The First Six Months: Dominance on the Pitch, Drama Off It (July 2023 – 20th January 2024)
We kicked off like a rocket. Pre-season was all about integrating youth – promoted a couple of U19 regens like 17-year-old CM Lukas Müller (solid potential, already rotating in midfield) and 16-year-old ST prospect Elias Becker (raw but pacey). First league game: 4-0 thrashing of Karlsruhe. Terodde? Absolute beast – 23 goals in 17 games, top scorer by a mile. He's carrying us, but at 35, he's not long for the first team under my rules. Summer contract expiry means we're scouting replacements hard – think 15-19 year-old strikers who can step up without breaking the bank.
As of 20th January: We're top of the 2. Bundesliga with 18 wins, 2 draws, and just one loss (a fluky 2-1 to Hamburg – dodgy ref decision, FM'd me hard). Goal difference? +50. Insane. We've scored 62, conceded just 12. Highlights include a 6-1 demolition of Hannover and a 5-1 cup win over lower-league fodder for some sweet prize money. DFB-Pokal progress is key – we're into the third round, eyeing that cash to offset the debt drain.
But drama struck in January: Assan Ouédraogo, our 17-year-old starboy (already 10 assists, 5 goals), gets poached by Chelsea for his £8.5 million release clause. Gutted – he's a generational talent, and losing him hurts the youth project. Silver lining? He's loaned back to us until season's end, so we keep his magic for the promotion push. That £8.5M influx is a lifeline – it knocks balance back to minus 18 million and gives me a tiny budget for January teens. Scouting reports are in: Aiming for a 18-year-old Brazilian ST from Flamengo (cheap release) and a 16-year-old German GK prospect from our own academy promo.
Off-pitch? The -€1M monthly bleed (pre-Ouédraogo sale) has me sweating. Wages are high for this level, and with no over-30s allowed, I'm rotating kids who aren't ready yet. Board meetings are tense – they love the results but hate the red ink. Fans are chanting "Ahmed's Army" after big wins, but one bad month could flip that. Media's skeptical: "English rookie betting on kids? Recipe for disaster."
Challenges Ahead: Youth Pipeline and Financial Survival
This 'Youth to Gold' twist makes everything harder – Terodde's goals are a short-term fix, but replacing him with a 15-19 year-old (without big spending) means potential dips. Promotion is crucial for revenue, but can a teen-heavy squad hack the Bundesliga? January window: No over-30s, only youngsters. Fingers crossed for bargains.
Save Stats So Far (20th Jan 2024):
- League Position: 1st in 2. Bundesliga (18W-2D-1L, +50 GD)
- Key Players: Simon Terodde (23 goals in 17 games – farewell tour), Assan Ouédraogo (on loan-back, 5 goals/10 assists), Lukas Müller (youth promo, 3 goals/4 assists)
- Tactics: 4-2-3-1 Gegenpress (Positive mentality)
- Finances: -€20M balance (post-refinance), -€1M/month after Ouédraogo sale
- Biggest Headache: Finding a teen striker to replace Terodde without tanking form
- FM Difficulty: Standard, no mods. Youth to Gold rules enforced.
