[FM22] Trip to: France (w/ Paris Saint-Germain)

etc.

It's almost 2022 and I'm back playing Football Manager, who'd have thunk it?

I've not played Football Manager 2020* since 1 January 2021, and that was only for max. 30 minutes iirc - before that, I think it was around August 2020 and that was only for an ill-fated pre-season with Russia's CSKA Moscow. So, the last ‘proper’ time I played the game was in June 2020, which was when I was last posting on this wonderful site.

*I didn't even purchase Football Manager 2021.

With the release of Football Manager 2022 and the apparent changes (at last!) to the match engine, I've managed to muster some excitement for this game for the first time in what feels like years. Who knows how long I'll stick with it, obviously in an ideal world it would be all year and beyond - hopefully so, but I know myself too well to know that's not incredibly likely. We'll see!

With the beta soon to be out and ready to play, I've decided to do a save for the X amount of weeks with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain. Original, I know! I'm giving myself the best possible chance to fully immerse myself back into FM, if I can't enjoy it with Leo, Kyls and Ney (cringe - that's the last time I'll be using nicknames, don't worry!) then I have no chance when it comes to - albeit my favourite game mode - the rigours that come with a journeyman save.

This will (hopefully) be my fourth “Trip to” career post on sortitoutsi, with previous visits being: China (w/ Guangzhou Evergrande), South Africa (w/ Orlando Pirates) and the United States (w/ Cincinnati). I was, harshly imo, sacked by the Chinese club, I lost interest in FM during an actually fun time with Captain (!) Jack Sparrow's bunch and likewise (though slightly less enjoyably) with the American lads. Hopefully this goes better than that trio.

Lastly, and I'll say this right at the start: Do not, even with PSG, expect me to have success in this story! I am most certainly not a great FM player, I only play the game (well, until the aforementioned relatively recent period, of course) for fun. If I can achieve success then fantastic, but I can get just as much enjoyment from failure too to be honest - shown by the fact that in my last journeyman save in June '20, I went 9 jobs without a single trophy (or any major success, a few lowly promotions aside) and still kept playing the save file for as long as I did!

Thanks for taking the time to read this! I plan to do an actual post whenever Miles and his minions agree to release the beta.

(if you're reading this in December or later and I haven't posted since… well you can guess how pre-season went and if I'm still playing the game or not!😂)

YES!! You're back!! Actually saying that I've hardly been active on forums for a wile myself. I'll be getting the beta too but won't be posting anything until the full game comes out.

Happy to be back, even when I wasn't enjoying the game itself I'd still like posting on here - honestly part, along with the (hopeful) ME improvements, of why I've purchased the game again; sortitoutsi should get a commission from SI, to be honest.😂

Look forward to reading your posts come November 9th! 👍

I got 21 just didn't get into it, but am hoping 22 I can get back into it like I used to be. I still regularly play FM17.

Glad to see you've got the bug again mate.

FM17 was, evidently, great! Looking at my Steam account, I had over 1,368hrs (~600hrs is the best I got from any other FM since FM14, bar unpurchased FM18/21) playing it - and had my favourite save (and longest post on here) from that game.

Post 01: Pre-Pre-Season:

Patrice Ben Arfa (yes, named after France's two greatest ever players…) has arrived at the Parc des Princes! The globally known ex-footballer and continental pro licence holder has signed a three-year contract with the Parisians.

Expectations: Nasser Al-Khelaifi & Co. are expecting Mr. Ben Arfa to win Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, whilst reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League; they do not class the Trophée des Champions as important. Club vision entails the board's wish to "sign high-reputation players" and "play attacking football", while the 5 year plan includes growing the club's reputation, increasing commercial revenue, maintaining the club's status as the most reputable team in France and to work within the wage budget. They also wish to become one of the world's best teams as soon as possible.

Pre-Season: The club's owners have already set up a pre-season tour of Qatar, as they'll meet QNB Stars League clubs Al-Duhail, Al-Sadd, Al-Gharafa and Al-Arabi. They'll initially face their second team in a warm-up friendly before heading out to the Arabian Peninsula.

Season Proper: PSG's season will get underway on 1 August 2021 at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel with the Trophée des Champions as they take on reigning league champions Lille. Their Ligue 1 campaign gets underway a week later with a trip to Troyes, before they take on Strasbourg (H), Brest (A) and Reims (A).

Tactics: “I plan to use a 4-3-3 initially. I haven't put all that much thought into it at all and fully expect to tweak it regularly throughout pre-season and beyond. What a squad PSG have, with the likes of Ángel Di María and Mauro Icardi still on the bench! One early problem we have is that most of the squad will be unavailable until the first few days of August, meaning a second string team will be used for the first competitive match against Lille at least. Darn internationals!”

Next post: end of pre-season 2021-22.

Post 02: Pre-Season:

Patrice Ben Arfa has spent his first pre-season campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, a team who are expectedly the bookies' favourites to claim Ligue 1. With a tour of Qatar scheduled, let's see how their build-up to the 2021-22 campaign went.

Pre-Season: PSG won three, lost one and drew (lost on penalties) one ahead of their cup opener against Lille. Their second team were beaten 2-1, as Mauro Icardi netted a 94th-minute penalty winner; Wilson Odobert had put the first-team ahead, before Nehemiah Fernandez equalised for the B-team. In Qatar, Al-Duhail and Al-Gharafa were defeated with ease, though Al-Sadd - managed by Barcelona legend Xavi - came out victorious thanks to a strike from Hassan Al-Omari (assisted by former Premier League and La Liga player Santi Cazorla) and Al-Arabi won a penalty shoot-out; one that saw the returning Kylian Mbappé miss in.

“Given I had a severely depleted squad I'm satisfied with pre-season. We played well for the majority, got three comfortable wins to go with narrow losses. Bring on Lille!”

Transfers: “Rather quiet on the transfer front, which is obvious given our already secured star power. I did make one signing though, as Manchester United's Anthony Martial arrived on loan for two seasons. He was carrying an injury when he arrived so hasn't featured much, though did look a little lively in parts off the bench. Three players have departed, though the trio - Ilyes Housni, Christ Mukelenge and Ismaël Gharbi - are all youngsters.”

Next post: end of August 2021.

Martial on loan?!?! Have you not got enough talent up front already 🙂

Good early showing mate.

I'm planning my beta save as P$G might post it on here

Ha, right! I actually wanted a stronger back-up (other than just Draxler) behind Neymar at LW, where the depth isn’t as strong as CF (Mbappé, Icardi) and RW (Messi, Di Maria). I was thinking about going for his Man United teammate Amad, but Martial was happy to join in a back-up squad role so it worked out… except he insisted I put his chosen playing position as CF, so don’t tell him!🤫 Mbappé is also set to leave at the end of the season/contract, as based on real life rumours, so a two-year loan gives us an option.

It’d be interesting to see how someone else does with PSG; so post it if you do! 👍

Ahh I see, I am thinking just go all out attack and see where it takes me haha. I'm starting tonight after work and thinking of having Messi at AMC as a shadow striker, Mbappe & Neymar swapping at AML & AMR with Icardi as lone striker in either Treq or DLF attack. 

I think it's hard coded that Mbappe won't sign a new deal, I saw a comment in one of the posts on the SI boards about it. If I get through to season 2 in the next 2 weeks then I'll see what I can do, whilst he goes on a free it'll release a bit of wage budget and PSG wont be short of interested players will they.

Actually will post my progress and then can compare with how you're getting on mate

That's basically my motto, too!😆

Post 03: August 2021:

Patrice Ben Arfa's squad head into August 2021 off a good, if not perfect, pre-season campaign. With the Trophée des Champions curtain-raiser against Lille and subsequent Ligue 1 matches against Troyes, Strasbourg, Brest and Reims on the schedule, here's how the new boss kicked off the competitive fixtures.

August 2021: “Mauro Icardi, take a bow! An incredible start to the campaign for the Argentine from Rosario, who has netted a magnificent 10 goals in 5 matches. He saw Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Lionel Messi & Co. and said ‘Look at me! I’m the captain now!'. Two hat-tricks for Icardi, deadly! It does cause me an issue as I need to fit in Neymar, Mbappé and Messi, but this man is forcing me to leave at least one of those three out at the moment.

Strasbourg draw aside, it has been a terrific first month in charge. Icardi on fire, but another great performer has been Rafinha - if not for the Argentine, he'd be my player of the month. Another thing to happen this month was the UEFA Champions League group stage draw, as we were drawn with Manchester City, Ajax and Olympiacos - we should be OK with that, City and Ajax could be difficult though. Elsewhere, I kept Marquinhos as captain and made Neymar vice-captain."

Next post: end of September 2021.

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Post 04: September 2021:

Patrice Ben Arfa and Paris Saint-Germain headed into September off the back of an unbeaten August, as the team beat Lille, Troyes, Brest and Reims by an aggregate of 14-0; as Mauro Icardi ran riot with 10 goals in 5 matches - the only blemish to start the campaign was a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Strasbourg. September would see four more Ligue 1 fixtures and the commencement of the UEFA Champions League group stages, with Ben Arfa's boys facing Olympiacos and Manchester City. Let's see how the year's ninth month went.

September 2021: “Wow! I can't ask for more than that, can I? The month just kept getting better and better, as shown by the scorelines literally rising as September went by. It all culminated with a frankly ridiculous 5-0 thumping of Manchester City - as a United fan, that pleased me immensely, I must say.

Mauro Icardi hasn't been quite as prolific, yet the Argentine still managed four goals - which included a hat-trick, his third of the season already, against strugglers Montpellier. Kylian Mbappé has been the star man of September, with the Frenchman netting five goals as he notably netted a brace against Lyon. Seventeen goals scored and just one conceded, we are looking like an absolutely fabulous team right now - long may it continue! We sit 5pts clear of second place Monaco. Off the pitch, the board gave me a B rating (harsh?!) for the month, while unfavoured and unused Juan Bernat has penned terms on a January transfer to Premier League moneybags Newcastle United.”

Next post: end of October 2021.

Good going mate. My save I've won every game, drawing 0-0 with Brest who sat with 11 men behind the ball. I'm not posting the beta save as I've not been making any screen shots.

I'll get the exact numbers but Messi is a machine at AMC as shadow striker, he's got like 12 in the league, a few in Champs league. Mbappe, Neymar & Icardi don't have the same number combined as Messi does alone.

Nice. Brest are to you what Strasbourg are to me! Who'd you get in the UCL group?

Messi has been very good for me, scored a couple of great goals, but Icardi (August) and Mbappe (September) are my guys atm - probably be Messi or Neymar for October!😁

Post 05: October 2021:

Patrice Ben Arfa headed into October off a brilliant September, where his side not only picked up four Ligue 1 wins from four but also won back-to-back, including a five-goal thrashing of Manchester City, to kick-off their Group H campaign in the UEFA Champions League. October would see another four league matches, alongside a match with Ajax to reach the midway point of the UCL group stage. Here's how they got on:

October 2021: “One blip aside, October was another pleasant month. Marseille narrowly beat us in the derby at the Orange Vélodrome to inflict our first loss, but we got victories over Rennes, Angers, Ajax and Lille - the latter were defeated 4-0 as Mauro Icardi netted a hat-trick, which is exactly how it went down back in August in the Trophée des Champions; we have Jocelyn Gourvennec's number, that's for sure! Our lead, due to that defeat in Le Classique, has been shortened to 2pts by Monaco, who we don't actually face until mid-December. Off the pitch, it is all rosy.”

Next post: end of November 2021.

Post 06: November 2021:

Patrice Ben Arfa took his Paris Saint-Germain side into November in very good form, having won twelve of their last thirteen fixtures in all competitions. Sitting top of Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League Group H, PSG went into 2021's penultimate month aiming to cement top spot domestically and secure progression on the continent. Here's how the club got on in matches against Ajax, Bordeaux, Nantes, Olympiacos, Saint-Étienne and Nice.

November 2021: “Our worst month of the season, yet we still came out of it unbeaten. We qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockouts in November's opener against Ajax, as that meant we could no longer finish outside the top two - we'd then secure top spot next time out with a simple home win over Greek champions Olympiacos, meaning with one game to spare we've completed our objective; hopefully we can get 18/18pts at the Etihad Stadium in December, but I'm doubtful as I plan to rest everyone for that match-up; for fitness, but also as we meet Ligue 1 title contenders Monaco days later.

In the league, we disappointingly failed to beat Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne on the road. We did, at least, defeat Nantes and Nice. Mauro Icardi has continued to be the one I can trust most, after he netted six times this month to take his tally to 25 goals in 21 games - his career record in a season is apparently 29 goals, so he is well on course to break that! We go into December six points clear of Monaco, though they have a game in hand. Elsewhere, we've been drawn away to third tier Créteil-Lusitanos in the ninth round of the Coupe de France.”

Next post: end of December 2021.

It's good to see you return to the careers section @Skinner_ and I thought I would've been the only one managing Paris Saint-Germain in the BETA. I'm not at all surprised to see you're top of the league as I'm top myself, still unbeaten after the opening 6 league fixtures but I'm finding it quite difficult to get the best out of both Messi and Neymar ffs.

I just love how you got Manchester City in your Champions League group while in my group I got Atalanta, Villarreal and Legia. 😀

Shedender, legend! Great to see you back posting, more like!

Neymar hasn’t been truly on fire for me either, though has a decent amount of assists iirc. Messi hasn’t be insane, like he has been for @bigmattb28, but nearly all his goals for me have been long range screamers it feels like. Mauro Icardi is my main man 🐐, have you had any luck with him?

As for City, it’s best for me as I’d probably embarrass myself with the teams you got! 🙃😄

He's bagged a few goals for me here and there but I'm using Kylian Mbappe as my main lone striker. 

On the Neymar situation, I was playing him on the left winger in several roles (IF, IW, W etc..) but just couldn't get him to perform so I've put him and Messi (currently injured) as attacking midfielders - Neymar's currently playing as an Enganche and is doing slightly better but still expect a lot more.

Yeah, I should probably try Neymar in differing roles too, but I kinda don't mind him not being at 100% as that means I won't get squad disgruntlement when Icardi benches one of Neymar, Messi and Mbappe.

Post 07: December 2021:

Patrice Ben Arfa's Paris Saint-Germain came into December off the back of an undefeated November, though that did include two disappointing Ligue 1 draws with Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne. December would see PSG reach Matchday 19 in the league, whilst they'd also complete their group stage commitments in the UEFA Champions League; having already won Group H. The Coupe de France would also get underway for them, as the club would travel to third tier Créteil-Lusitanos,

December 2021: “It started rocky, but December ended up being another solid month in charge. That Lens draw was not good enough granted, but that Manchester City loss is an outlier given I rested my entire first-team line-up - bar Presnel Kimpembe and Idrissa Gueye - for what was a dead rubber for us; City needed a win to qualify so were expectedly all guns blazing. We also played a few kids, while Ander Herrera's red just after we had made it 3-1 didn't help. In the knockouts, we've been drawn with La Liga giants Real Madrid - tough draw, that!

We ended the month with three straight victories, including one over title wannabes Monaco as Argentine duo Leandro Paredes and Ángel Di María netted. Créteil-Lusitanos were dispatched in the Coupe de France, as we again rested our entire first eleven before a Ligue 1 win over Lorient days later. We actually play that aforementioned team in the next round of the cup in the first match of January. Lastly, some transfer news: Samuel Noireau-Dauriat, a youth team player, has penned a move to Basel - he'll move in January, as will the already known departure to Newcastle United for Juan Bernat - who I actually gave a few minutes, his first of the season, at the end of the cup tie - Noireau-Dauriat also had a couple minutes (was actually subbed on then off due to Herrera's red, poor kid) in the UCL MD6 game.”

Next post: end of January 2021.

I thought I'd take a difficult challenge rather than going for a money job like Newcastle United...😁

Great to see you're still going, despite that unfortunate lost save. I'll try and catch up with your most recent save - which looks interesting based on the current team(s) at least! - soon.

I got Atalanta, who gave me my only loss so far, Sporting Lisbon and Dynamo Kiev in the Champs League Group. Won every game apart from the 0-0 with Brest and 2-0 to Atalanta. Mbappe is moaning at me, Neymar wants reinforcements too, most of the squad hate me apart from Sergio Ramos. I can see a player revolt coming soon and me getting sacked haha

Great write up as usual mate. Bernat is my starting left back, he's injured at the start though. I'm not far off January myself but no one will pay for Mbappe and I need to sell him really. Oh I also got Martial but had to pay 33 million for him

Ouch @ Manchester City tearing you a new one @Skinner_ but also LOL at you scoring your only attempt in the entire game. 😀 Never change, FM.

I actually had Sergio Ramos have a moan about his lack of game time @bigmattb28 even though he's not bloody available until the beginning of October due to an injury. He's cool though and is def. one of my starting CB's as he's Ramos. I'm now 10 games into the season and still unbeaten, dropping just the two points so far and that was a 1-1 draw away to Reims.

apart from Sergio Ramos? That's actually impressive, ha! He is perfectly fine for me but is always “aggressive” in his body language etc., I'm just like "calm a little, my friend!". Hopefully you can turn the squad dynamics around - my players love me, just sayin'… 😎

I, for some reason, just didn't fancy using Juan Bernat back when I selected my ‘ideal XI’ back in July, instead choosing Layvin Kurzawa (with Nuno Mendes as back-up) who has been excellent for me. Has Martial been any good for you? I've barely used him, but he fills a gap at least.

Well, we won the group stage battle 6-4 on aggregate, so have that, Pep! … (inb4 he knocks me out of the UCL later down the line!😬)

Same thing happened to me with Sergio Ramos, in terms him coming for a meet - as soon as he was available, before he could even play, he came moaning to me.

With myself and @bigmattb28 beaten, you're the only one who can keep the unbeaten run going - no pressure!