FM2011 as Rovers

[george-friend]

Oh, GF - my save corrupted again because my computer crashed I've got the squad I always had, but it starts me just before the first game of the season I'm starting to doubt if I'll ever reach November!

Keep trying mate,I haven't played it much but will be over the weekend

[DonnyNoel]

Well I finally got round to doing my 2024/25 season, I also took the England job for a bit of variety and sit top of my WCQ group after 6 games.

A really successful season again as I blooded a couple of youngsters and a few senior players really stepped up. I romped to a 3rd successive title with 90pts, 9 clear of second place Man U. I lost the European Super Cup to Man City although I won the World Club Cup at a canter. Key injuries at the wrong time cost me my Champions League crown in the quarters as Real Madrid beat me to avenge me beating them in the final the previous year. My reserves/kids got me to the League Cup semis and I managed to complete a double by winning the FA Cup.

I lost one of my main stikers, he wanted £200k p/w so I flogged him to Man City for £32m. I'm also fearful that my mdifield playmaker (20+ assists per season) is out of contract in a couple of years and wants £180k p/w. I can afford it but I have a couple of youngsters ready to step in.

Hoping to start the 2025/26 season in a few days.

[RedJ]

Well I finally got round to doing my 2024/25 season, I also took the England job for a bit of variety and sit top of my WCQ group after 6 games.

A really successful season again as I blooded a couple of youngsters and a few senior players really stepped up. I romped to a 3rd successive title with 90pts, 9 clear of second place Man U. I lost the European Super Cup to Man City although I won the World Club Cup at a canter. Key injuries at the wrong time cost me my Champions League crown in the quarters as Real Madrid beat me to avenge me beating them in the final the previous year. My reserves/kids got me to the League Cup semis and I managed to complete a double by winning the FA Cup.

I lost one of my main stikers, he wanted £200k p/w so I flogged him to Man City for £32m. I'm also fearful that my mdifield playmaker (20+ assists per season) is out of contract in a couple of years and wants £180k p/w. I can afford it but I have a couple of youngsters ready to step in.

Hoping to start the 2025/26 season in a few days.

All sounds very good - seems the key to success is a good youth set up. I'm still trying to get to the end of October in 2010 because my file keeps corrupting

Who would you say your best youngster (who's real anyway) is/has been? and most influential purchase (that exists)?

[DonnyNoel]

Well I finally got round to doing my 2024/25 season, I also took the England job for a bit of variety and sit top of my WCQ group after 6 games.

A really successful season again as I blooded a couple of youngsters and a few senior players really stepped up. I romped to a 3rd successive title with 90pts, 9 clear of second place Man U. I lost the European Super Cup to Man City although I won the World Club Cup at a canter. Key injuries at the wrong time cost me my Champions League crown in the quarters as Real Madrid beat me to avenge me beating them in the final the previous year. My reserves/kids got me to the League Cup semis and I managed to complete a double by winning the FA Cup.

I lost one of my main stikers, he wanted £200k p/w so I flogged him to Man City for £32m. I'm also fearful that my mdifield playmaker (20+ assists per season) is out of contract in a couple of years and wants £180k p/w. I can afford it but I have a couple of youngsters ready to step in.

Hoping to start the 2025/26 season in a few days.

All sounds very good - seems the key to success is a good youth set up. I'm still trying to get to the end of October in 2010 because my file keeps corrupting

Who would you say your best youngster (who's real anyway) is/has been? and most influential purchase (that exists)?

You've certainly got to get them young - even with a transfer kitty of £50m every summer I struggle to get anyone in to go straight into the first 11.

Most of my current team are regens now but off the top of my head I'd try searching for:
Dennis Borodin (Russian CB)
Jack Butland (English GK)
Thomas Horava (MC)
Lima (Brazilian CB)
Aythami (Spanish CB)
Robert Beres (Hungarian LB)
Pontus Wernbloom (Swedish DM)
Robert Kubala (DC)
Mihai Matei (Romanian AMR)
Hurmaci (Turksih AMR/L)
S Pettinari (Italian striker)
M'Poku (AM, think he gets released by Spurs early on)


Those are ones who really transformed me from relegation battlers to title challengers but not necessarily helped me make the jump to title winners (as it took me 6/7 years to start to challenge) - I havent got my game loaded but I've just consulted my notebook for previous signings!

My two best ever players may not exist at the start of the game:
Gilbert Ndiweni (Zimbabwean ST)
Martin Janda (Czech CM)

Recognised names who have done well for me:
Joe Lewis
Gael Kakukta
Kyle Walker
Aaron Lennon
Kyle Laffterty
Scott Parker
Carlos Vela
Michael Mancienne
Yves Ma Kalambay

[RedJ]

Cheers DN - I'll have a look when I get on it next.

[herouk87]

I managed to win the Prem in my fourth season and have Dzeko (actually really good compared to real life), De Jong, Miguel Veloso, Henrique, Alex Smithies, Alan Hutton.

Depending on which update you have I'd say the best path is as follows:

Sell Dean Shiels to Bristol City for ~700k
Sell Locky for about 200k and Brooker for anything you can
Sign Jose Goncalves on a free (still gets a game in Champs league for me)
Sign Leigh Griffiths for ~300k (He's gone to Wolves in later updates, scores about 20 a year)
Keepers - Adriano Basso on a free or splash out on ALex Smithies from Huddersfield, he turns into the England keeper
Loans - Since Friend is poor in the game i got George Elokobi from Wolves. Also get Danny Wilson from Liverpool at all costs. JET is also available

There are a couple of Italian medfield free agents but i wouldn't bother as our midfield is pretty solid

Calum Davenport is available in January and is better than Martis, Thomas, Hird etc. If you've got the wage budget then sign him and flog him for a mill next season

Hope that helps....and that you comp doesn't crash

[RedJ]

Don't forget Jay DeMerit, also on a free. Some quality tips there guys although personally I keep Shiels as his versatility has been invaluable to me on so many occasions (as has JET's)

[DonnyNoel]

Don't forget Jay DeMerit, also on a free. Some quality tips there guys although personally I keep Shiels as his versatility has been invaluable to me on so many occasions (as has JET's)

I kept Shiels for a long time too. Not just for versatility, I read something on the SI forum that two footed players perform better than one footed players with simliar attributes.

[RedJ]

Really? Did it say why or just that they were?

[herouk87]

Oh i forgot Danny Shittu. Absolute quality for me in 1st season. Got about 10 goals and gives you some much needed height.

Wasn't sold on Jay Demerit tbh. Found Goncalves and Shittu much better

[RedJ]

I was in talks with Shittu but I think it was Cardiff snapped him up. Wasn't happy

[DonnyNoel]

Really? Did it say why or just that they were?

I think its to do with a lot of wingers being able to score goals by cutting inside. Therefore two footed players can play naturally on either flank and go both outside and inside their man and either create or score.

[RedJ]

Oh, that makes sense didn't think about it like that! does it go for all players or just the ones who can play on the wing?

[DonnyNoel]

Oh, that makes sense didn't think about it like that! does it go for all players or just the ones who can play on the wing?

Not sure, but the match rating system is skewed towards players who score goals so its highlighted more for wingers/forward players. Its useful in full backs too - I always like to have a couple of D R/L's in my squad.

[RedJ]

Oh, me too! not because I knew that - I didn't! - but just because I do like versatile players I like a bit of total football

[DonnyNoel]

Oh, me too! not because I knew that - I didn't! - but just because I do like versatile players I like a bit of total football

Only problem I've found is that as the years go by less versatile players get produced - I can't get a decent AM RL for love nor money as I always like to have a couple as cover.

[herouk87]

I always find that your youth academys best player is always in a position of your best player.

I signed a wonderkid from Sheff Utd for £11 as a 16 year old and he's already a full England international at 18...for the last 3 years the best player to join the Academy is always a left midfielder

[RedJ]

Oh, me too! not because I knew that - I didn't! - but just because I do like versatile players I like a bit of total football

Only problem I've found is that as the years go by less versatile players get produced - I can't get a decent AM RL for love nor money as I always like to have a couple as cover.

I noticed that too!

I always find that your youth academys best player is always in a position of your best player.

I signed a wonderkid from Sheff Utd for £11 as a 16 year old and he's already a full England international at 18...for the last 3 years the best player to join the Academy is always a left midfielder

Seriously? or did you mean £11k?

[herouk87]

I actually meant £11 mill.

Thats once they got relegated from the prem too. If he wasn't better than Nani, Nasri and Bale by the age of 18 then i'd be bitter.

[RedJ]

Sounds like I should make my youth set up a priority.

My save files have corrupted YET AGAIN so I still can't write about my game :angry:


The most annoying thing is I was top of the league with 23 to play.

Anyway, Joe Mason is quality - a must sign if you can afford. (I offered 350k up front then 400k after 50 appearances)

[george-friend]

Sounds like I should make my youth set up a priority.

My save files have corrupted YET AGAIN so I still can't write about my game :angry:


The most annoying thing is I was top of the league with 23 to play.

Anyway, Joe Mason is quality - a must sign if you can afford. (I offered 350k up front then 400k after 50 appearances)

Looks like your going to have to buy a new copy ?
i am starting a nrw one

[RedJ]

I have a feeling it's my computer to be honest I'ma start making back ups of my files

[RedJ]

Restarting tonight.

[RedJ]

Just a bump. GF - how are you doing? should be ready for an update myself soon.

[DonnyNoel]

Well I played on it for the first time in a week or so over the weekend and got half way through the 2025/26 season. Currently my best season to date despite a slow goalscoring start but I sit top of the league after 25 games, W22, D3, L0, only conceded 9 goals and 11 pts clear. I was winning a lot of early games 1-0 so whilst I wasn't flying it was good to grind out the results. My youth team drew an early blank in the league cup but have got through 2 easy rounds in the FA Cup. A couple of strange defeats in the CL group stages meant I only finished second so got my old friends Barca in the next round.

I broke my transfer record (£16m, previously £10m) on signing a 19 y/o right back who could well dominate that position for the next 15 years. The core of my team is still very young so I try not to buy for the sake of it.

I qualified for the World Cup with England by winning 9 of my 10 qualifying games so looking forward to the summer. I've also changed my news feed so I get notifcations from the Spanish and Italian leagues. I'm not bored with Rovers as such but after failing miserably in Italy with FM10 I'm curious if I could succeed on this version.

[RedJ]

Well I played on it for the first time in a week or so over the weekend and got half way through the 2025/26 season. Currently my best season to date despite a slow goalscoring start but I sit top of the league after 25 games, W22, D3, L0, only conceded 9 goals and 11 pts clear. I was winning a lot of early games 1-0 so whilst I wasn't flying it was good to grind out the results. My youth team drew an early blank in the league cup but have got through 2 easy rounds in the FA Cup. A couple of strange defeats in the CL group stages meant I only finished second so got my old friends Barca in the next round.

I broke my transfer record (£16m, previously £10m) on signing a 19 y/o right back who could well dominate that position for the next 15 years. The core of my team is still very young so I try not to buy for the sake of it.

I qualified for the World Cup with England by winning 9 of my 10 qualifying games so looking forward to the summer. I've also changed my news feed so I get notifcations from the Spanish and Italian leagues. I'm not bored with Rovers as such but after failing miserably in Italy with FM10 I'm curious if I could succeed on this version.

Sounds as if you're cracking on nicely still :-) Just curious - how long (and how many manager points) did it take you to get the England job? it probably says on here, but I'm knackered and I can't be arsed to read back

I ended up betraying my own principles of not buying for the sake of it when scheisse loads of young, good (or potentially good, for some) midfielders and strikers cropped up.. so I'm gonna start again

[DonnyNoel]

Well I played on it for the first time in a week or so over the weekend and got half way through the 2025/26 season. Currently my best season to date despite a slow goalscoring start but I sit top of the league after 25 games, W22, D3, L0, only conceded 9 goals and 11 pts clear. I was winning a lot of early games 1-0 so whilst I wasn't flying it was good to grind out the results. My youth team drew an early blank in the league cup but have got through 2 easy rounds in the FA Cup. A couple of strange defeats in the CL group stages meant I only finished second so got my old friends Barca in the next round.

I broke my transfer record (£16m, previously £10m) on signing a 19 y/o right back who could well dominate that position for the next 15 years. The core of my team is still very young so I try not to buy for the sake of it.

I qualified for the World Cup with England by winning 9 of my 10 qualifying games so looking forward to the summer. I've also changed my news feed so I get notifcations from the Spanish and Italian leagues. I'm not bored with Rovers as such but after failing miserably in Italy with FM10 I'm curious if I could succeed on this version.

Sounds as if you're cracking on nicely still :-) Just curious - how long (and how many manager points) did it take you to get the England job? it probably says on here, but I'm knackered and I can't be arsed to read back

I ended up betraying my own principles of not buying for the sake of it when scheisse loads of young, good (or potentially good, for some) midfielders and strikers cropped up.. so I'm gonna start again

I first got offered the England job in 2022 I reckon but I turned it down. No idea how many points I had but I'd probably only won two leagues and one cup at the time although I was probably the top English manager. Got offered it again in 2025 after loads more success and decided to take it for a bit of variety. I don't think its hard to get once you are near the top with a national reputation. It helps that there aren't a lot of decent English managers in my game. Just me, Mike Phelan and Michael Owen. The other top bosses are foreign.

[RedJ]

Hope I can manage to work my way to the top I always bugger my game up somehow well done

[DonnyNoel]

Well I finished the season 2025/26 unbeaten in the league. Drew 4 games and won the rest. Scored 96, conceded 12. 106pts, 18 clear of second placed Man U who got a very decent 88 points.

My youngsters got beat by Liverpool in both cups. The only sour note of the season was losing to Man Utd in the CL semis.

Currently doing the World Cup campaign with England, despite a shock defeat to Japan in the group stages I've just got into the quarters against the Argies but got my pre-season contracts and transfers to sort first.

[RedJ]

Good luck with the WC I hate summer, I always end up signing loads of players, most of which I don't need and quickly move on..