Some seasons Ferrisin'

Got sick of getting sacked by shite clubs in my other career, decided that I've now won so many things in FM that I've transgressed managing players who earn less than £40,000 a week. The ship sailed and we landed in the MLS.

The MLS is by far my favourite league in FM, its totally unique, the wage cap, the trades, the DPs, top stuff. Love the league because of its parity and the fact you can turn any team from shite to a force within two seasons. Its just a great fun league and a welcome change from the normal drab FM has to offer.

Gonna play at least three seasons and then see where I'm at. I've already had a brief stint in the MLS in FM14 and I made four playoff appearances but never brought the MLS title home, looking to change that this time round. Next post details why I gone chose who I chose to manage.

Look at my fancy wee banner thing at the top, behold as I manage the mighty DC United. Famous for Eddie Pope and Freddy Adu. Picked these badboys for these reasons;

1. They were once THE MLS team, won about fifteen MLS titles in the 1990s
2. I can't recall ever managing them in FM, ever.
3. I've been reading loads of old MLS pages on the net, DC United speak to me man.
4. They have Eddie Johnson, used to tear shit up on FM06 or some shit.
5. They have Sean Franklin, my second favourite MLS RB of all time behind Marvell Wynne

Already played a few friendlies and I don't think the squad will go through too many changes, want myself a new LB and a creative MC. Beyond that I see little need to change anything.

So coming in we were already cutting it fine on the wage cap, something like 34k, and the cap is 36k. Considering we have no DPs that's a bit worrying, but only a bit. Because within the team are some great MLS veterans and some great MLS talents. The likes of Jeff Parke, Bobby Boswell, Eddie Johnson (EJ henceforth) and Chris Pontius are certified legends of the MLS game (and Jackass in the case of Pontius).

I won't be looking at DPs just yet, want to get a real feel for the squad and what exactly everyone is capable of. Overall I like the balance and the squad has depth, which is vital in the MLS. We have two internationals on the books and 6 slots, so potentially I could go out and get four foreigners, but I won't. I want to keep things settled and preferably American. Just in the process of adding an ast man and scouts now, not much quality out there so the men I bring in are nothing but stop gaps.

I will make everyone here a half promise; we will play 433, and we will win.

Forgot to mention, DB wise I've went large and retained all internationals and players from top flight clubs in both North and South America. Done this to ensure I have loads of good youngsters to scout and pick up from the likes of Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Aruba, etc. Looking to bring in a few 18/19 year olds over the next two seasons and sell them for a few mill hopefully after they've been seasoned.

Also hoping that the large DB will throw up some decent DP prospects down the line, I have fond memories of an Arshavin / Sturridge DP attack in Colorado on FM12.

Good luck chief.

I'm already knocking back bids from MLS teams for my international slots, no bids really standing out for me though. I'd prefer to keep my international slots for two reasons; firstly, they obviously give me the option of stacking up on foreign talent if my American homeboys aren't getting it done or if I find some Colombian gems down the ol' coffee mines. Secondly, they can prove very handy when negotiating deals for players who currently ply their trade in the MLS.

In years gone by my bread and butter in MLS transfers have been Central and South American gems and players released from my fellow MLS clubs. But every now and then you'll identify a perfect MLS based player you want, and in those situations you throw your damn international slots into the opposition GMs face like its nobodies business.

YOU WANT ALLOCATION MONEY? NAH SON, UP HERE IN DC WE DEAL IN INTERNATIONAL SLOTS, B-B-B-BAM. HAVE TWO.

Bagged my creative MC, wages on the high side but I think his technical ability and creativity are exactly what we need. Realistically he's only going to get worse, but that's fine, at this point all I want is one season and at least an average rating of 7.00 from him.

After Milanetto enters the unknown I bring in an MLS vet to play LB. Well, by MLS vet I mean Heath Pearce has probably played more games in Europe than the MLS. But still, MLS VET.

Beyond them two I don't expect any other signings, in an ideal world I'd go out and grab myself more depth at FB and a real badass DMC. But we have next season for that kind of thing.

We're predicted 17th out of 19 teams, I'd happily take 5th place in the conference and me sneaking into the playoffs. Would be elated if we could pull that off actually, there's definitely goals in the team but I'm a little worried about our defence, especially if injury takes hold. Time shall tell.

After 10 pre-season games I'm settling into a 433 and a backup diamond formation. The 433 should work well due to my pacey forwards and I think the wingless diamond is exactly what we need as a plan B, wingerless, direct, attacking.

My three forwards;







As the season progresses I'll also be working on a third tactic, for the most part the team instructions will remain the same. I just want us to have a few different shapes, both for player rotation and tactical deadlocks.

Also, throughout my FM14 time I've really struggled to get good, consistent performances from my DMC, in any formation. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Debating just ditching the DMC and pushing him forward to a more defensive MC role, I've also thought about deploying a sweeper instead.

Trudging along, form started really well but we've hit a horrible little patch recently. I'm still 7th in the East mind and if I can stay in the running for 5th then I'll be happy.



Brought this kid in from the academy, doesn't count against the cap and I need some cover in midfield just because of all our injuries.

Ruthless.

My own poor form has seemingly been addressed, a nice little six match unbeaten run has pulled us up the table. Don't think it will be enough for us to make the playoffs mind you.

Three games left, playoffs all but beyond us.

Requested a new contract and the board have agreed to offer me it, thank the lord, couldn't handle leaving DC at this point, we're building baby.

Possibly the final update of the night, tied these three boys down to new deals and in doing so I took 1.1k off the wage bill through agreed pay cuts. Good business right there.

This season was probably a 6.9/10. We were only three points off 6th in our conference and overall we finished 12th even though we were predicted 17th. Real bouts of inconsistency let us down though, we went on two horrible runs during the season where we just kept losing and losing, injuries didn't help but its still not good enough.




Eddie Johnson was obviously goals galore, but his 6.99 rating just shows how inconsistent the poacher role can be. 10 goals in 4 games can become 0 goals in 5 games in no time at all. I want more goals from my wingers certainly, so that's something to address heading into next season. There'll be the usual chopping and changing and I'll be looking for one or two more players from our academy to step up.

Also in the transfer market I'm wanting a decent set piece player, I want my Laurent Robert. Aside from that expect initial forays into playing a sweeper, the regression of the DMC role and a vice-Johnson.

The annoying MLS transfer system is playing up like, don't get why you can't enquire for players or have the whole 'live' negotiations where you suggest terms. All you do is blindly guess the value of a player and chuck whatever you have draft, allocation and slot wise at the opposing team into getting him.

Annoying as I want Roy Miller.

You should try a 'draft only' game, would be annoying as hell.

Only just seen this thread as it doesn't have IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII on the end.

Time to ditch Addickted To Winning sadly, the series served her purpose. I'll release them as an e-book one day on FMSkacel.com though.

How's that site coming along btw? Been working on that for a few years now.

About as well as Max's book.

Currently have my hands on the 2nd, 6th and 10th picks in this years draft. Hoping for a deep draft class so that I can rebuild the team a little, scouting the draft prospects as we speak and if they aren't up to the billing then I'll start shopping my draft picks.

I'm so NBA.

You mean Diary of a Functioning Retard will never see the light of day? ITK ROSS.

Reports are in, some tidy talents so I'll hold onto my draft picks. Going to really try and plan the draft properly instead of just doing the norm of drafting players willy nilly. Want the picks to have an actual impact on my season, so I will be SYNERGISING between by potential draft picks and my current transfer targets.

The media keep linking me to some gash CB in the draft, apparently I'll be drafting him even though its his dream to play for LA Galaxy. As far as I'm concerned LA can have him, I got me a Bobby Boswell.

At least I've seen excepts of his book.

Increase on the salary cap, up by nearly 2k, suits me nicely. Also got a new batch of youngsters in the academy and I'll definitely be bring one or two of them into the squad. Need to be careful though, you're only allowed X amount of reserve and draft players iirc. Trial and error as always in the MLS.

Sorting through the squad now, wages sit at 26k out of the 38k budget. I have one winger coming in on a pre-contract who has wages around 1.5k if I remember correctly. Lots of space to move with that, I want myself a starting LB, a starting MC, a backup MC and a backup ST.

Will pickup the backups through the draft, no LBs of note in the draft and the MCs aren't of a starting quality either, so will have to bring them in as I go along.

Dished away my 10th pick in the first round for this guy from Vancouver. I'm looking at the draft and I'm looking at what I need and I think this makes the most sense. I can 100% draft a backup ST from the draft, there's three guys I have my eyes on and I have 2nd pick, so that's fine. Next up I'd either want a backup GK, starting LB or a backup MC from the draft, GK wise I'll just go pick up an experienced backup on a free later and there are one or two MC candidates I like.

As I said before there are no decent LB in this draft class, so I decided to deal the 10th pick for something I really needed, a starting LB. He's old, but he's physically decent, a good crosser and has the right stats to slot in at MC and possibly CB.

Didn't Max already finish the book?

Draft results are in, your number 2 pick of the 2014 MLS draft is......



Not my first target, but he will do the job. Has enough pace about him for the lone striker role and I'm digging his mental stats. His left foot could offer interesting options from an AMR berth too. We shall see.



Best MC available and he's still rather average, he'll be a bench player and nothing more.



Took a risk on this kid, I love his versatility though and I think he has solid enough stats to pull off being half decent at MC, AMR and AML from the bench.

Finally, I signed this lad to a contract from my academy, he's a nice all round CB and should start some games next season;

Gor my set piece guy and also someone who is more than capable of starting for the team. Had to deal an international slot for two years and 100k in allocation money but I reckon Davis will prove to be more than worth that.

Also currently working on bringing in a Brazilian MC, beyond that I think my business will be near done.

Decent transfers there Skacel

I'm tempted to give MLS a go. Thinking about taking over Real Salt Lake, any suggestions?