Football Manager

[mgoblue2290]

FM 2012 should have a job interview in the the way press conferences are done. It'd be cool to actually have to give responses and stuff rather than just click apply.

[BigHouseUSA]

I have about eight games left, CL semi's, and FA Cup final, yet have no motivation to play, think I might not start one in the Bundesliga.

[mgoblue2290]

Its because of that article isn't it? I've been wanting to for the past few hours because I think its so awesome that fans own the a majority of the clubs. I want to play as Bayern because of Lahm but they're so good its almost like cheating.

[calgaryballer]

I find you can't go wrong with almost anyone in Germany. Koln is next on my list, need my fill of Podolski

[calgaryballer]

Been running a 4-2-3-1 formation lately. Decided to start letting my wingers start swapping positions, and the results have been nice. All my wingers are as good on both sides, so hopefully it creates some havoc in the defence

[Bigpapa42]

Its because of that article isn't it? I've been wanting to for the past few hours because I think its so awesome that fans own the a majority of the clubs. I want to play as Bayern because of Lahm but they're so good its almost like cheating.

I honestly don't think Bayern's squad in FM11 is that much ahead of everyone else's in the Bundesliga. They are very good, and have bettter depth that most other German clubs. There are a lot of quality sides in the Bundesliga that can go toe-to-toe with Bayern. Besides depth, money to spend on new players is the biggest advantage of running Bayern - no other club in Germany will give you near as much to spend.

Dortmund is a great choice - they have more quality young players already in the first team than almost any other side in the game. Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke also have the quality to do well from the start. Sides like HSV, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim, etc, need a bit more work.

[BigHouseUSA]

I've done the Bundesliga before, just all the talk on here has made me want to do it again.

Also, heels, what was your path to delete the fake German team? I've gone through two different places to delete them, but I still can't get the real team.

[mgoblue2290]

Where is the 1130 folder and what do you mean by reserves not working properly?

Still not sure who I'll go with. If I do use Bayern I'd limit myself and only go after German players and lesser known guys from other countries. Although I would likely sell Ribery or Robben and try to get Podolski.

[calgaryballer]

Just had a £11 mil offer for Joe Hart accepted. His wage request was huge though, so I dunno if I can make it happen. Might sell Ilunga and Noble in January, so this may be something to revisit. I like Green, and he has played great, but Hart is another level

EDIT - Doesn't matter anyway, rejected me as it's a step back. Fair enough

[calgaryballer]

Rooney has 20 goals in 16 games, still in December. Tevez, 17 in 14. Jesus. Top scorer last year was Rooney on 21, that is going to get smashed

Tom Cairney back at the top of the assist charts with 7. Also has 4 goals. Get this man an England cap before the dirty Scots do!

[mgoblue2290]

Todays match got me too pumped up. Going back to my Liverpool game I had going before playing as PSV.

[calgaryballer]

Squad thoughts before the winter break

GK - Robert Green, a god. Makes great saves, good distribution, etc. It would take someone like Joe Hart to unseat him now, but I do have to start looking towards the future

LB - Ivan Fatic came back, and he is already offering so much that I have been missing down the left flank. Great attacking, even better defending, it takes a special player to get past him. Jordan Spencer filled in great while he's been injured, and he can play all along the back line. A definite keeper. Herita Ilunga, uggh. He is tutoring my guys, but when I put him on the pitch, it seems like an accident waiting to happen. May be sold in January

CB - Winston Reid and Matty Upson have formed a rock solid partnership. My new corner and throw in tactics have also let the two of them chip in with some goals. James Tomkins has played well in spot duty, but don't know if I trust him to take over as Upson ages. A new CB will be examined, or perhaps Onuoha will move inside

RB - Onuoha has been great here. His attacking attributes are bad, but his pace has allowed him to chip in with some assists and score some headers. Faubert has been surprisingly effective here, mostly against weak opposition. His pace and crossing have been a real asset. If I do move Onuoha inside, a new RB will be needed.

MC(R) - my defensive position. Scotty Parker has this on lock right now, but he is almost 32 (or 33, can't remember). A replacement will be needed eventually, and I think I have two candidates. Aron Gunnarson has been mostly played as the MC(L), but I think his real position will be an all action play breaker upper. James Collison was a forgotten man last season as he came back from injury, even demanding a transfer. It's a good thing I didn't, as he has very similar attributes to Parker and could be a natural fit. Josue had this position last year, but his already low pace disappeared and he is limited to garbage time against crap teams

MC(L) - an all around position. Gunnarson has been playing here primarily during league games and doing well. Hitzelsperger plays in the cups and Europe and has also shown some good passing, if not some extremely wasteful long shots. However, when I really want the pedal to the metal, Tom Cairney slots in here and works his magic with Thiago ahead of him. I think this may be his best position, but I'd like the marking/tackling stats to go up

AML - set to wingers, but all my guys are right footed so they naturally cut inside. Fine with me. At the start of the season, Junior Stanislas had this on lock after taking over from Demba Ba. He got hurt, and I brought in Ignacio Stocco who has been a revelation. Wonder goals, carving runs, great passes. Love him. Once Stanislas returns, he will get some chances here, but primarily a backup for now.

AMC - Cairney is a leader in the assist charts, primarily from here. He's increased his goal scoring as well, so no complaints. Thiago has also been really good, though mostly in cups/weaker European teams. Think he has a goal and 8 assists in 14 apps.

AMR - Lautoro Acosta is my primary guy, a 23 year old Argentinian with blistering pace. He is on 8 assists, using his pace to get to the byline and then pulling it back. Prone to injury though, so he doesn't play as much as he should. Patrick Hermann is a loanee, and he has played solid if unspectacular. Gets in to good positions, only to blow the chances. Will probably pay the £3.1 mil stipulated in my deal to bring him on permanently. Pablo Barrera runs hot and cold. He probably has a future here, but with the people ahead of him, would not be surprised to sell him

Striker - Carlton Cole has been banging in them at a rate of 1.5:1. No real complains there. Robbie Keane is over paid, but his experience has let him chip in with some solid goals. Sergio Araujo has been growing in to the role, but his dangerous dribbling will make him key to the future.

Jan transfer targets

1. New CB/RB
2. New defensive mid
3. Prospects

[mgoblue2290]

David N'Gog gets a hat trick in a 4-0 win over United at Anfield. Had to play him because Suarez went down.

[calgaryballer]

WOOT! Jerome Boateng is joining in January. £4.3 million transfer fee. He will join on wages of £55k/week to start, but that will jump to £75k/week after 5 games. Definetley a big hit to my wage structure, but he is a beast of a CB

[Bigpapa42]

I'd love to play a game in Italy, but the ability to only sign one player a year who isn't an EU national from outside of Italy is a real pain in the ass.

Yeah, I always find that way Italy deals with non-EU players to be frustrating. Spain used to be annoying but they are a bit more open now. Every so often, I get an itch to have a run with AC Milan (the first ever side I used in FM) or Roma, but those rules usually make it think better of it.

BTW - was that Ajax AMC a regen, Heels? Or one of their youth players?