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Red Star Alliance: Shithousing the Shithousers (Socceroo Style Survival Tactics)

Red Star Alliance: Shithousing the Shithousers (Socceroo Style Survival Tactics)

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After two seasons playing variations on the Allardyce 4-5-1 (4-3-3) system, I decided it was time for a change.  Considering we had grossly overachieved with Red Star Wrexham and gotten into the Championship ahead of schedule, I am faced with the daunting prospect of avoiding relegation.  Given that we’ve already mastered the dark arts of defensive, pragmatic, resultism football, where else could we go? How does a team of shithousers get even shithousier? After a few days of reflection, the…

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Taking on the World | FM Story | #2

Taking on the World | FM Story | #2

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Welcome back to the Football Manager 2020 story ‘Taking on the World’. This FM20 story is a classic journeyman save as we attempt to travel around the world and ticking off as many countries as we can. The aim of this FM20 story is not to stay at the same club for more than one full season. I am not allowed to accept a job offer from another club in the same country if I am already managing a club…

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Pacific FC – The Spring Season

Pacific FC – The Spring Season

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Spring surprises for us & based upon the 2019 seasons final standings, the though of Pacific finishing near the top appears to be a pipe dream. The pre-season was intense & challenging but the players are prepared for what’s ahead. More signings joined the squad with a full squad of 23 players. One huge frustration is being able to bring a squad together when the salary cap is so low.

Young Devils – Samba United and The Magic Box

Young Devils – Samba United and The Magic Box

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There are two ways to creating tactics in Football Manager 2020. One that most FM players, myself included, use is to start with an idea of what kind of tactical style you want to achieve. Then look at your team and try to mold your players into the roles that fit such a style. Sometimes this can work very well, especially when starting with a squad that worked under such a system before. For example it will be easier to…

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FM20 | Moneyball | Part 2

FM20 | Moneyball | Part 2

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Welcome back to my Moneyball series. If you missed part 1 you can check it out here, and if you have no idea what Moneyball is you can check out my FM19 series here. This time we will be looking at how the tactics I’m using are shaping my search for signings. We’ll also take a dive into my results so far, and compare my January targets with similar players and my own squad.

Total Football, Total Balance: The Most Important Attribute

Total Football, Total Balance: The Most Important Attribute

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Young Devils Guide Football Manager is a cultural phenomenon because it is a game that is built around numerical statistics and spreadsheets. And at the core of all the stats, are player attributes, representing their technical, mental and physical ability. Which in on themselves are simple collections of numbers. Yet they can make us whoop with joy, when you first see that wonderkid regen with green 16+ values across the board. Or sigh in frustration when confronted with down-pointing red…

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Pacific FC – A CPL tale

Pacific FC – A CPL tale

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The Canadian Premier League is a new challenge. I’ll be taking charge of Pacific for the 2020 season is by no means an easy task. It’s one that presents several obstacles such as working under a tight financial restraint. Did you know that the overall squad wage must not exceed £11,250 P/W? That’s for a full squad of 23 players which just seems bizarre to me. But that’s something I’m gonna have to work through whilst building a squad that…

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FM20 | Moneyball | Part 1

FM20 | Moneyball | Part 1

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Welcome back to Moneyball. It’s been a while. After starting my Data Analysis Masters this September, I haven’t had as much time as I would have liked to sink my teeth into FM20 and get started with my Moneyball series. With a gap in the calendar, and a free January, I’ve decided now is a good time to get writing.

Jóvenes Diablos – The Spanish 4-1-4-1 Armada

Jóvenes Diablos – The Spanish 4-1-4-1 Armada

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And How to Use the Best PPM in FM20 The summer 2020 has been one of many changes at Old Trafford, both in the locker-room and tactical drawing board. As a result of endless tactical tweaking, I think I arrived at a tactic that I am finally happy with. It is a good old 4-1-4-1! This article will show you I think it is the best formation in FM20, and how one particular Player Trait can make it even better….

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Young Devils – Total Football DNA and Two Johans

Young Devils – Total Football DNA and Two Johans

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Or how to use Club DNA to keep your FM20 save interesting The influence of Total Football has been far-reaching in both time and place. Since its dramatic entry into the world in 1974 it changed the face of the sport as we know it. Marcelo Bielsa, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola were all influenced by Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels in 1970s Netherlands. If not for them, Spanish Tiki-Taka would not have existed. In this followup to my last…

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