Taking on the World | FM Story | #2
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 in that country. There are no limits on how many times I can manage in one country – but I cannot return until at least two seasons later.
From America to China to India, we’re trying to cover the globe!
I selected ten countries to manage in, including China, America, Germany and Africa. In the last post I began my career in Chicago, USA, taking charge of a Chicgao Fire side sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference. They had a very slim chance of qualifying for the MLS Cup Play Offs. In this post, we are at the end of the MLS Season, where I will show the final league table and results, and any transfers I made (there won’t be many…)
Transfers
With a huge lacking of squad depth, I needed more players, but with a very limited budget I was only able to make one free transfer as left-back/rightback Connor Lade joined the club until 2022.
Ideally I would have liked to bring in 5 or 6 players but sadly due to budget restraints this was not possible. I only had a squad size of 22 players which meant I was relying on no injuries
End of Season Results
9 games. That was all I had to turn around Chicago – it was never gonna be easy. With just a squad of twenty-two players and just 500k to improve the squad and with the club in such bad form before I arrived. The chances of reaching the Play-Offs were next-to-none.
However, things went really, really bad. In my nine games, I won just a single game, with two draws and three losses. This was down to a number of factors including:
- There was a lack of players, just 22 including some youngsters
- A lack of transfer funds to improve the squad
- Lacking of a squad harmony
- A lack of fitness
End of the Season Standings
After thirty-four games, we finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 5-12-17. We scored 35 goals whilst conceding 56 goals leaving us with a goal difference of minus 21. We finished on a total of 27 points, a record low in the history of the franchise.
Regarding the Supporters Shield, we finished 24th – bottom of the league, winning the Golden Spoon (there is an actual trophy!), we finished six points shy of 23rd placed Vancouver.
I am disappointed to finish one place lower than we were when I took charge. I feel like in reflection, Chicago was the wrong club to take over, and I should have spent more time looking. Easy to say looking back though.
Board Confidence
Altogether my board confidence is a C. Breaking it all down, I have been given Cs for my Club Vision and Squad, whilst getting a C+ for tactics and a C- for matches, which I am surprised is that high considering the recent form.
I am happy with my overall confidence, and feel it is fair considering the circumstances I am managing under.
Tactics
I have switched between playing a 4-4-2 and a 4-4-2 Diamond. Due to a lack of centre backs, I had to play Bastian Schweinsteinger as one of my defenders. Dax McCarty and Djorde Mihaiovic played almost every game as the midfield partnership as they became a dynamic duo.
Connor Lade, the only signing I made, started three games at right back and made three other substitute appearances, making appearances at both left back and centre back, likewise due to a lack of defenders.
A quick round up.
Nicolas Gaitan made the most appearances throughput the season, whilst also topping the assists chart with 12 and finishing second on the goals tally with 8 goals. The man who scored three more goals than him to take home the title of top goalscorer was Nemanja Nikolic, as he netted 11 goals and adding one assist to his name.
Leaving Chicago…
After six months at the helm of the Fire, I decided to resign at the end of my contract. I decided that due to the financial situation at the club, it was best to part ways. I will now be looking for a new job in another country as per rules of the series. Its time to start taking on the world…
Next Time…
In the next installment of ‘Taking on the World’, we will review the next two seasons of my managerial career with my new club, whoever that may be. The next installment will be released on March 9th at 6pm GMT.
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