FM2011 as Rovers

[DonnyNoel]

Keep calm and carry on, that's what I go with. Keep churning out results in the hope that they'll cock up. Pressure the f**k out of Liverpool and they may crack. When it comes to it, go for the mind games with the manager.

That's a good point, I never do go for the mind games much. So much for my doom and gloom around Liverpool though - its January and they are now 7th. Spurs are top, 5 pts clear of a congested chasing pack which includes me in 3rd. I got out my CL group and face Sevilla in the second round and I have got to the League Cup final again. Couldnt strengthen in January but got some promising youngsters in and loaned them straight back out. Also got my board on the case of finally sorting my youth set up out.

[RedJ]

Sounds promising. Keep pushing them all the way, and hope for a few lucky breaks along the line. In my current save, I've bullshitted my way into a position where any one of 6 teams could go up as champions on the last day.

[DonnyNoel]

Well in the end it all went very Pete Tong. Finished 7th (so no continental qualification), lost in the second round of the champions league, the 5th round of the FA Cup and the final of the league cup. My best striker did he cruciate and my second best striker went to pieces withot him so I took the silly money Barca were offering. Also some of my more established players let me down a bit.

That said, I just completed the season after (2019/20) with much better results. Still no trophy to report but I finished 3rd. I was top by a point with 5 games to go but bottled it. My re-jigged defence was very solid but goals have dried up and I've got a succession of £7m Justin Jacksons in my reserves. The positives are that I have 3 great young players on the cusp of my first team, I'm back in the champions league and my new 31k stadium as already been expanded to 45k with me filling it regularly.

[Akinfenwa]

So I ended up winning the World Club Championship easily beating Corinthians 4-1 in the final. That's another trophy to add to the growing collection. I'm about 2/3 of the way through this season and I'm top by 2 points with 2 games in hand with Aston Villa and Tottenham being the main challengers this season. I'm hopeful of winning the league again as I seem to have the most consistant team, even if it's not the best on paper. Still no sign of a new stadium though. The option to ask for new one or an expansion is greyed out.

[RedJ]

Great stuff guys. Interesting to see how important a good youth system appears to be (well obviously it is anyway, but..). As I keep saying, keep pushing and the PL will come. I keep restarting because I get irritated that I can't go up first time even with the good frees I've signed and decent lads I brought in on loan.

[RedJ]

Bit of a cop out, but I saved my game before I played the semi final then final of the playoffs took me several attempts but finally went up, with largely the same squad as SO'D has now, complete with Euell. Megginson from Aberdeen's worth a shout. I'd also sign Liam Rosenior.

[bessacarrover]

I decided to start with rovers again got the same line up though

but i didnt sign basso

my line up is

sully
wilson demerit o'connor/davenport coleman
oster stock keegan copps
sharp wood

subs:woods,ranger,mills,sergio,anderson silva

so i think ive got a better team this time round

also just beat super leeds 3-2

got derby next come on rovers

[RedJ]

Not so super Leeds, eh? ;-)

[RedJ]

Here's a question for you - how do you criticise a referee/'s decision? I saw one of the \"hints&tips\" it gives you when processing or saving or whatever, and it said to be careful not to do it too often, I didn't even know they still had the function to do that! How do you do it?

[DonnyNoel]

I think its in the post-match press conferences but I don't do them (ROK does) so I can't be sure.

Well 2020/21 finally saw me win the league with an underwhelming 79pts although it did include a 21 game unbeaten streak. I got to the same situation as the year before - 4 points clear with 5 to go. I won only one of my last 5 but Man U's tricky run in meant they couldn't catch me. Would have liked to have romped home in style but a great achievement none the less. All cups have still avoided me so theres still plenty of room for improvement.

My stadium is about to be expanded to around 50k seats but the costs of the new stadium are crippling me and I can just about afford one new signing per window. There aren't many established names in the game anymore. Previous star Mancienne is a 33 yr old squad player and a 35 yr old Wayne Rooney has just signed for Burnley after leaving Spurs. The only other name in my team that might be recognised is Kyle Walker. I have 4 England internationals and most of my players turn out for their respective nations.

[RedJ]

Hmm.. may have to scour the game's forums.

That sounds quality. I managed to get us to the Premier League, as I said above, and then I got loads of money from various things you get for going up, also let players go as their value rises massively upon promotion, like Gillett, Brooker, Sulli, and replaced with the likes of Vieira, Djibril Cisse and Roy Carroll (looking to replace him, he's good but a tad dodgy).

[george-friend]

I started off and let my assistant take control of the friendlys.

I signed Jose Baxter on loan for the season,also signed Alwnick on loan for 3 month.

First game i drew 2-2 away at Norwich,they scored a last miniute freekick.

Then i drew 0-0 at home to Chesterfield in the leauge cup and lost on penalties.

Then i lost at home to Barnsley,1-0

Then i lost 3-0 away at Swansea.

However my last game away at Coventry i won 4-1 and was delighted,Billy with a brace.

I have just signed fullback Callum Woods from Dumferline for a straight swap with Simon Whaley,im 15th in the leauge.

Anyway fire away with your tips,i think i'll need them

[RedJ]

Decent start, I'd get signing players such as Rosenior, keep tabs on Davenport, and get DeMerit in.

[george-friend]

Decent start, I'd get signing players such as Rosenior, keep tabs on Davenport, and get DeMerit in.

Right i started again as i lost 5-0 against Boro and got relegated,
Im determined to succeed

[DonnyNoel]

Well my title defense season (2021/22) didn't go so well. I finished third, again struggling to break the 80pts target as Man U romped to the title with 88pts. I'm three games into the following season so too early to say how things are going. Stadium has been added to for the last few seasons and my attendances are now 59k which is handy when I have 3 players over £100k p/w!

[RedJ]

Decent start, I'd get signing players such as Rosenior, keep tabs on Davenport, and get DeMerit in.

Right i started again as i lost 5-0 against Boro and got relegated,
Im determined to succeed

Yeah, it is very difficult. If you decide to restart again, when you decide which leagues you want active, have Brazil as one, cos it lets you start in December, which makes it easier.

Well my title defense season (2021/22) didn't go so well. I finished third, again struggling to break the 80pts target as Man U romped to the title with 88pts. I'm three games into the following season so too early to say how things are going. Stadium has been added to for the last few seasons and my attendances are now 59k which is handy when I have 3 players over £100k p/w!

I'm finishing around 15th each season now - third in the Prem. Had a bit of a mare half way through my second, flirting with relegation until 3 games left, which I then stormed up to 14th. Wage bill is massive now - around the million mark Best thing to do, I guess, would be to try and get in a bags-of-goals striker on loan late in the year to help fire you that bit further, if you can of course.

[george-friend]

HOW DO YOU START IN DECEMBER.

I have followed the instructions step by step but i cant do it.

Firstly i am...

Selecting new game.

I then choose england as my country to manage in

Then i see a warning that more leauges could slow gameplay down.

So i see another list of countries to manage in but Brazil is not there.

How do i do this,its driving me mad.

[RedJ]

You know the screen with all the league tick boxes in? click the box next to Brazil, as well as England obviously, then once the leagues have been selected (either on this screen or next) there should be a little drop down about half way down. It should already have \"Brazil (December 2010)\" in it, because of alphabetical order. Post again if you've not managed it.

[george-friend]

Im actually excited about my first season,i have had a couple of attempts and realised that its really hard so im having a different approach this time round and making drastic changes.

Chris Riggott (free)
Mustapha Riga (free)
Miachel Brown (free)
Febian Brandy (free)
Gavin Mcann (free)
Jay Spering (loan till end of season)
John Bostock (loan till end of season)

My starting 11 is ...

.................. sully
chambers,riggott,killa,jimmy
...................brown...............
Spearing .................... Riga
Bostock, ...... Billy.........Brandy

Bench
Mcann
Coppinger
Shiels
Hayter
Stock
Oster
Woods (Martin)
Muzzy
Hird.


Im going into my first friendly and im going to try and play a 4.1.2.3 formation,i have some real quality in there and expect to stay up tbh.
All im looking for now is a gk,hopefully i can offload Shiels and Hird and bring in Smithies but im not sure yet.


THOUGHTS ?

[RedJ]

That's a good squad to be fair. I'd strengthen with a few loanees, like Wilson from Liverpool and Smalling from United. I'd keep Shiels, as his versatility is invaluable (shame it doesn't translate to real life ). Sign Adriano Basso too - quality keeper.

[george-friend]

That's a good squad to be fair. I'd strengthen with a few loanees, like Wilson from Liverpool and Smalling from United. I'd keep Shiels, as his versatility is invaluable (shame it doesn't translate to real life ). Sign Adriano Basso too - quality keeper.

Well i could not find enough time to scrape the cash together to buy a decent keeper and i knew i could not cope with a ageing Sullivan in goal so i went and got alwnick on loan for the season and in fairness hes doing well.

Brandy has been my find of the season SO FAR with 12 goals to his name and he looks a great considering he is only 21,one for the future.

Also i tried signing Wilson from Liverpool and the loan bid was rejected before they finally sent him to Bristol City for the season.

After a message from my assistant i decided to give Simon Gillett his chance after i was alerted that he was fantastic in training and he is expected to play a massive part in my team in the future,so i played him in the last 6 or 7 games and wow what a different player,he has been on the scoresheet 4 times and 4 goals in 7 games is a decent record for a midfielder,he is important.

Im having much more fun playing and winning a bit more than normal and its quite fun,i am 10th and 4 points from the play-offs and im in mid december at the moment.


How is everyone else getting on then ?

[RedJ]

Best part is, Basso is free Brandy is amazing, yes I wouldn't worry too much about getting anyone new in in January, maybe look at Rosenior, as I said, if he's not taken.

It's a lot better when you're doing well, I'll admit good luck hitting the playoffs!

[george-friend]

Best part is, Basso is free Brandy is amazing, yes I wouldn't worry too much about getting anyone new in in January, maybe look at Rosenior, as I said, if he's not taken.

It's a lot better when you're doing well, I'll admit good luck hitting the playoffs!

Well i can forget the playoffs,9 points off now.
Just accepted a bid off 500k for Friend and im going to keep that cash until the end of the season so i can improve my squad then.
How are you doing mate ?

[RedJ]

Just took a 3-1 hammering to Arsenal at home. 16th in the Prem now, but should stay up - mid November, bottom 4 doing unbelievably badly, including one set of Blunts ;-) I'll probably type out my squad list at some point, when I can be bothered. As for the playoffs, don't rule them out until mathematically impossible. I made them once in the very last game. Keep the pressure on.

[george-friend]

Just took a 3-1 hammering to Arsenal at home. 16th in the Prem now, but should stay up - mid November, bottom 4 doing unbelievably badly, including one set of Blunts ;-) I'll probably type out my squad list at some point, when I can be bothered. As for the playoffs, don't rule them out until mathematically impossible. I made them once in the very last game. Keep the pressure on.

I would be near the top of the leauge if it wasnt for conceding late on.

This is the fifth game this season where i have conceded twice in the last 5 miniutes after leading. Bloody stupid.

[RedJ]

What I suggest you do, then, is change your philosophy (I trust you know how to do this) to defensive, and maybe change to a five across the back system, or at least an anchor man.

[george-friend]

i finished 16th with 1 win in my last 15 games but pleased.
Brandy won the championship golden boot and young player of the year.

[RedJ]

He's quality. I'd now look at raiding the free agent market, and bringing in a few loanees once the window opens again. A bargain or two, maybe with big names (if you can), can only help.

[george-friend]

He's quality. I'd now look at raiding the free agent market, and bringing in a few loanees once the window opens again. A bargain or two, maybe with big names (if you can), can only help.

Another restart is needed.
Sacked half way through the season due to  the poor harmony amongst the squad.
Gutted but i will have to try again . lol

[george-friend]

Right i have tried to sign some quality but not too much this time round,sounds stupid i know but im trying to keep the players happy by giving them all a chance.
I have adopted a more defensive approach to the games but still start with 3 strikers up front in Murphy,Sharp and Brandy. I signed Murphy on loan from Arsenal for the season.

The defensive approach seems a good tactic,ok only 2 games in but im yet to concede. I drew 0-0 with Forest in the leauge and beat Macclesfield 2-0

Just had a small blow with Stock being ruled out for 3 week with a broken toe,he scored against Macclesfield.