Re-posting from another site as I am lazy... Since going back to FM (I love you, new computer!), I have tried Ajax and Leverkusen (both more than once) and Bayern, and even looked hard a game with Arsenal. Nothing quite "clicks" and I end up moving on to anothe rnew game before I get very far. I have started up with HSV and though I am not quite yet into the season, it seems as though its "clicking" in that way I hoped for. I used to really enjoy running Hamburg back when they had van der Vaart, Kompany, and de Jong. All gone, obviously, and the complete lack of funds at the start was a concern.
Unlike with Bayern, I had no issue with dumping a number of HSV players right at the start. Pretty necessary. Didn't hesitate to sell of Romeo Castelan, but I was a bit less sure on Piotr Trochowski and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Trochowski was quite good for me with HSV back in on 07 or 08. His technical skills are really strong, but he's really really lacking in the mental department. I offered him out at 6m, had several offers come back, and then when the deal was all but done, it fell through since Marseille lacked the money. I debated going through it again, but his performance in some friendlies made the decision pretty easy. My side would put together a really nice, long series of passes, buliding up and moving forward... then Trochowski would get the ball and unleash at goal. From any range and never come close to scoring. Even with Long Shots set to low, his decision-making was just continually poor. He ruined the great build time and again. I dropped him out of the friendlies after a couple of matches.
With RVN, I wasn't a fan back in his United days, but he's still very skilled. He just didn't seem like a good fit for my single-striker formation and first few friendly matches confirmed that. He's a pure poacher and I needed someone more active. Hoping Guerrero will fit in well.
So with a bit of money to play, I managed to snag most of the players I was eying up. Putting everything over 48 months with nothing up front really stretches the funds out effectively. Got Enyeama for an immediate upgrade in goal. Grabbed Shaqiri and sevearl other young midfielders to provide the side with much better depth and potential. I was a bit unsure which direction to go for a striker, so I ended up going for youth by grabbing a 16 year old Bosnian striker from a Dutch club (name and club elude me at the moment, sorry).
I'm still looking at adding another defender. Since I prefer to play Kacar in midfield, there isn't much beyond Westermann and Mathijsen. I signed a veteran Georgian defender (again, name escapes me) but would like add a prospect as well. I do have a regen center back who looks to have top potential, but he's all of 15 right now. I was going to try to sign Leonel Galeano, who is good enough to play now and seems to have some potential to get better. The Argentine club looks to want 8m plus, so that's not happening. Matias Jorgensen doesn't have as much potential but he should be less - my concern is that my scout doesn't think he would be interested in HSV right now. The next option, which might be the better option anyway, is Omer Toprak for about 6m.
I'm not expecting to win the Bundesliga in the first season, but I do think I should be capable of being near the top. European qualification at least. I'm really looking forward to getting things rolling on this one.