FM22 - Money Mode

Money Mode: With no badges, licenses, or reputation (or knowledge of or skill at FM21) try to sponge as much money as possible.

TL;DR Skip this section if you don't want spoilers!

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Management positions
Dewa United FC 9 July 2021 -
Vanuatu 11 July 2021 -

Milestones:


Complete competition record:
2021 Liga 2: 4th in First Phase, 4th in Second Phase (Joined mid-season)

2021 Piala Indonesia: Second Round

2019/21 OFC Nations Cup (World Cup Qualifiers): Semi Final (Joined mid-season)

2022: Liga 2: 2nd in First Phase, 4th in Second Phase

2022 Piala Indonesia: Second Round
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Can finish skipping

The first thing I do is apply to every vacant job. After many interviews the job I get paid the most at is Dewa Utd (£950pw). They're top of the Indonesian second tier (the Liga 2), and am only asked for a top-half finish. Come in the top four, and I go to the Second Phase and get a shot at victory. Oh, and to get more money I also get the Vanuatu job (£575).

The club doesn't have any staff apart from the Chairman and myself, and our only right midfielder is suspended. Unsurprisingly, we lose our first game 2-0 at home to Swirijaya FC, but stay top of the league. I also have to personally take charge of youth team games. My first port of call is to hire an assistant manager, easier said than done with no filters but eventually I find a way. For our next match, our only player at left mid who is a grey, disappears and my main striker is suspended but at least I have stars so I can more or less see how good the players are. I don't get my left midfielder back. By the way, I'm using a 4-4-2 with Direct Counter-Attack.

In the next game we win 2-1 away to bottom of the league Tiga Naga. My players are absolutely shattered by the end. My next decision is to hire a manager for the youth teams as well as a Chief Scout. In our next game it's another huge 2-1 win at home to Perserang Serang, and after three games in six days my players are finished, and deserve the upcoming week-long break, but they come back with a 1-0 loss away to Cilegon after a red card. Our next game is in the First Round of the cup, the Piala Indonesia, where it takes us extra time to beat non-league Persika. 1-0 up for the whole second half, we conceded in the 86th and 91st minute before scoring in the 94th to force it to extra time. But at least we got through. For the next game, our only right mid is suspended and remember we still haven't had a left mid this whole time. A 3-1 lost to Persekat Tegel, who hop out of the relegation zone as a result, means my lead at the table is just one point ahead of three teams with 10 games to go. And in the next match, we have an in my view undeserved 2-1 loss at home to PSMS as we drop to 3rd. Even worse, our two best CMs have picked up injuries. Another red card is another loss in the next game, 2-0 against Semen Padang away and we've now got work to do to reach the second phase: it's our third consecutive loss, and our fourth in a row in the league. But a 2-0 win away to Badak Lanpung in the next game means we stay in the top 4 with now just seven games left.

A 1-0 loss away to PSPS in the cup knocks us out, but the board don't mind, as they only targeted being "competitive", but a 2-0 loss at home to them in the league straight after puts even more pressure on. I'm still in the top 4 with six games to go, ahead of Muba Babel Utd on head-to-head. But the biggest and most important game of my career so far is about to come, with my first game in international management...

So the first game for me in charge of Vanuatu is a huge FIFA World Cup qualifier semifinal against New Zealand, over two legs. Losing the away leg 3-0 is not ideal, but is, to be honest, expected. Before I have the second leg I once again have no right or left midfielder for Dewa United as we travel to Persis Solo, and lose 3-1. So, to the second leg, and obviously, we have no chance. We lose 4-1 and go out of the FIFA World Cup, but the FA do not judge me.

So, back to Dewa United, and a huge game comes up against Muba Babel United who are a place below us in the table, and we get a massive 1-0 win. This puts us 3 points ahead of them with 4 games to go as we look for a top 4 spot. Sriwijaya FC are next, and we get a 1-1 draw away. Fortunately, Muba Babel also draw, so with 3 games left we have a 3 point cushion still. A 2-1 win at home to already relegated Tiga Naga is far from ideal - it involves a red card and a penalty stop - but it gets the job done. The red card is once again, for our only right midfielder (the fourth suspension he's earned this season), and it puts me five points clear with two games to go as Muba Babel draw. And after a 1-0 win away to Perserang, which relegates them, we are confirmed to be heading to the Second Phase! It's then the October international break, we have a friendly away to Kiribati which we win 2-0 on a pitch which is made out of sand, this is followed by a 3-0 win away to Tuvalu, also in a friendly.

The final game in the First Phase, at home to Cilegon FC is next, and it is a dead rubber so I try a new 4-2-3-1 formation. We win 2-0, which ends up relegating them as the team in 10th win and leapfrog them on head-to-head. In August, I brought in some players as the transfer window opened, but couldn't register them, and forgot about them. While it means I have coverage at all positions now, they are mostly a disappointing bunch. I can now register them for the Second Phase though, and look to bring in new players. We are drawn with Kalteng Putra, Persis Solo and Persiba in Group A of the Second Phase: to have a chance of going up, we need to come in the top two of the group, where we play eah team once. It will be difficult, but I'm looking forward to it.

So, the first game, at home to Kalteng Putra, is considered a good chance to win, but it's not helped when after just 250 seconds my new right back gets sent off on his debut. Great. But exactly 180 seconds later we go 1-0 up, putting a prospect of a nervy game in front of me as I switch to Very Defensive... but seconds before half-time my AM (L) gets a second yellow putting me on 9 men, a situation I cannot remember being in before on FM, especially before half time. And in injury time, they make it 1-1 before the break. And in the 73rd minute, a long range goal puts them ahead. We lose 2-1, and the actions of those 2 players may have ruined my entire season as promotion now seems very difficult.

Next we are away to Persis Solo in a game we are a clear second favourite for, third if you count a draw. And in the 15th minute they go 1-0 up from a corner. A great strike just before half time makes it two and any chances of promotion seem gone. But a glimmer of hope appears in injury time when we make it 2-1 at the break from a corner. In the second half we press and press but can't break the door down, but get given a lifeline in the 82nd minute when they get a red card. But our wastefulness in front of goal costs us as we fall 2-1, a result that makes it official: we cannot get promoted this season. In the last game against Persiba, we lose 1-0, harshly compared to xG and we definitely deserved points from that group. That ends our 2021 season and we beat the targets we were set but it was disappointing as promotion was not to be. We still have two more games in the year, as Vanuatu manager: away friendlies to Tahiti and New Caledonia. A 0-0 draw in the first game even with a man advantage is sub-optimal, but a 1-0 win against New Caledonia after going a man down is a good result.

Next season, the Dewa board want us to advance from the Second Phase. It will take a lot of work, but bring it on...

Last season ended in November, and it's not until June that Indonesian football gets underway again. Skipping through to March (the next Vanuatu game), I seem to have bought an utter shitload of players as every week or so I think 'oh go on then' and buy some random midfielder on a free transfer for £500 p/w

In March, Vanuatu have a friendly away to Papua New Guinea and get tonked 3-0 and deserve it. The first pre-season game for Dewa United meanwhile is a 3-1 friendly win away to Persikad of the division below us, and then 4-0 away to Persitara who are also a tier under the mighty Dewa, and 5-1 win away to Persika Karawang who are also a level beneath us. Next is a 2-2 draw away to RANS Cilegon who played in our division last season and got relegated to Liga 3. Our final friendly is a 1-0 win away to Liga 3 Perserang. Not the best performances but I'm still confident of at least getting Top 4 on our side of the league, which is the requirement to have a shot at promotion.

Our first game is away to Badak Lampung and we lose 1-0, not an ideal start. It was the first competitive game for eight of our players who I signed in the spring. The fans are furious I haven't "deviated" from my formation enough in one game. They should know I don't get paid any more money if I change my formation. In the next game it doesn't get much better, a 0-0 draw at home to Persita. The next game is a 1-1 draw away to PSMS and it's the same story as we're miles ahead on xG, both goals are penalties. Our next game is at home to Persikat Tegel, and we are all over them: we were odds on favourites to win. It takes a penalty to put us in front though, and then disaster strikes. Our right back chops down their player who is through on goal, earning a red card, and they score from the free-kick to make it 1-1. We still dominate the game but give away a stupid penalty which they score to make it 2-1. But we get a point due to a comical own goal in the 95th minute. Another disappointing result and we are in the relegation zone early on. But we get our first win of the season away with a 4-2 triumph over Muba Babel United, and all four of our goals are from open play! Looking at the 'Club Vision' I also note that the board now only seem to require a top half finish of me in the league, so I only need to come 6th in this first phase rather than 4th. Right-o.

The next game is at home to the amusingly-named Semen Padang. 1-0 up through a penalty (of course), we go down to ten men as a player gets injured and with it being a midweek match and our players tiring earlier, I have already used all three subs. I change to Very Defensive and... immediately score. I love scoring on Very Defensive as it feels like you are beating the system, seeing as the game literally says Very Defensive means your players "try not to score, just defend". Afterwards we do just that for a very satisfying 2-0 victory that puts us into the top half but the loss of our left-winger for six weeks is not ideal. The next game though is away to promoted PSGC who are bottom with 0 points and we add to the misery with a 4-1 win, although we should have had more with missed chances and two goals ruled out, and we're into the top four. In the next game we get a 1-0 win over Persirjara at home which isn't the best result but it puts as top as our game is on the Tuesday and everyone else's is on the Wednesday...

But before the day of our next match, I get an interesting notification. Barito Putera, bottom of the top tier have offered me a job interview, saying they are "very impressed" with my performance. Sniffing more money, I attend the interview. But for now, life goes on at Dewa United. Our next game is away to PSPS and we get a 1-1 draw which is a fair reflection of the game even if we do have more chances.

An amusing part of this save has been the dealings with the vice-captain. He is a 3.5-star goalkeeper, but I have a better one (4-star). He has constantly demanded to play and I have ignored him, and how he has had an interview in the press having a go at me, under the false impression that I care. News that I do care about comes next though, and it's not good news. Barito Putera have not signed me, instead signing the manager of PSKC, who funny enough we're just about to play. But that means that for now I'll be at Dewa Utd, who are in a good place, 2nd in the table with 9 of the season's 22 games played. 

So as I said our next game is at home to managerless PSKC and we are having the most chances and find ourselves 1-0 up, but not dominating the game like I hoped we would. And we concede a sloppy 85th minute goal. As minutes turn to seconds I start to think to myself that it's not a disaster, but ooh hold on there's a highlight... oh my god. In the 94th minute my left-back has just scored a howitzer to give us all three points and put us four points clear of PSKC who are now in 5th. The next game is at home to Persik Kendal and we make it a bit harder for ourselves than we needed it to be (with a disallowed goal and hitting the woodwork three times) but we win 2-1 to make it ten in a row without a loss. The next game is away to PSLS in the fourth tier in the cup's first round, the board doesn't really care but wants us to "be competitive", whatever that means. Another player has demanded more time in an interview, but oh well. I start him for this game, and to be honest I'm not happy. Not just with him but with anyone. We're probably second best when the player who has just asked for more time decides to get sent off. Great. I decided to change from Very Attacking just to Positive and it helps us a bit as we score... but it's disallowed. In the end it goes to extra time and then penalties, and while we win on penalties 120 minutes is not ideal with another game in three days.

The next game is at home to Badak Lampung and we completely dominate but waste chances and find ourselves 2-1 down. Going to Very Attacking leaves our tired players exposed and we lose 3-1, costing us our eleven-game unbeaten run and our ten-game unbeaten run in the league. But we are still in second and four points clear of PSKC in 5th. For July we win Player of the Month, Young Player of the Month, Goal of the Month, and for me, Manager of the Month. The Young Player of the Month and Goal of the Month goes to winger Faby Ekra Puta who has been brilliant for us since signing, and probably the best player in the league. Next is an away game to Persita that we somehow manage to lose 3-2... they move into 5th and are just two points behind us, we are now 3rd.

Another job interview comes my way and it's another top-tier team, as PSM who are in the relegation zone want my services. But life goes on at Dewa, and it's a game at home to PSMS next, which we win 2-1 despite a comical own goal. PSM did not accept me, but again I'm happy with where Dewa United are. In 2nd (three points clear of Badak Lampung in 5th) with eight games to go and still in the cup, it seems like we can have a positive end to the season.

Next is an away game to Persekat which we win 3-1 without a fuss. I get another job interview, this time from Mitra Kukar, who are in Liga 2 but are on the other side (as there is a Group A and Group B in the First Phase). I accept, there is no reason not to, but again it is life at Dewa United that is my primary focus. Our next game is away to Tira - Persikabo in the cup, they are in the top tier and currently sit in 8th. On the advice of my assistant I decide to switch from a 4-2-3-1 Wide to a 4-2-3-1 DM AM Wide. We actually play quite well but succumb to a 4-2 defeat. Mitra Kukar have also rejected me, but with Dewa top of the league with just seven games to go I am alright with that. Our next game is at home to second place Muba Babel Utd. For this game the assistant suggests a 4-1-4-1 DM, which I accept. We are dreadful in the first half and go 1-0 down, and I am forced to change something anyway as our only right midfielder was only going to play 45 minutes. In the end I change to a 4-3-3 AM Wide but while we improve we lose 3-0, and while the scoreline is a bit harsh the result certainly isn't.

The next game is a friendly with Vanuatu away to American Samoa. On my current wage I've taken 30 grand off of Vanuatu's FA to do absolutely fuck all apart from stand there as this shite bunch of players makes no progress without regular football, completely in the spirit of this save. A 3-2 win masks our dominance, as we were all over them and their goals came from a penalty and a corner.

Back to Dewa Utd and our next game is away to Semen Padang. The game is non-descript and once again I need to change to a 4-3-3 due to a sub. We somehow score goals in the 87th, 91st and 92nd minute after no highlights apart from KO in the first half (on Extended) to win 0-3. We are in 2nd and with five games to go five points clear of PSKC in 5th. The next game is at home to PSGC who are bottom of the league and whose relegation we can confirm with a win. In the end we're not quite as dominant as I'd hoped but we still win 2-0 relatively comfortably. We go top and six points clear of Persita in 5th with four games to go. It seems like we're coasting to a place in the Second Phase, and all the Board expects is a place in the top half. A 3-0 win away to Persiraja is next, and it's just so easy for us. Three games to go and we're now seven points clear of PSMS in 5th. The next game is a 3-1 win at home to PSPS who are having a good season of their own (they just beat Borneo away in the cup, a team who are fighting for the Liga 1 title) which is hugely satisfying. We've qualified for the Second Phase! Up the Dewa. I have an A+ rating from the board, and they offer me a new contract of £1200 a week plus a 20% wage rise if we get promoted. On my current contract I have earned £60,257.14 from the club but tbh I have earned it and I also win Coach of the Month for September, as Dewa also get 2nd and 3rd in Player of the Month, 2nd in Young Player of the Month and 3rd in Goal of the Month. Two more games to go in the First Phase, and the next one is away to PSKC: it's a pretty poor 2-1 win where my right-back (who has been excellent all season bar a red card) scored both goals. What a signing he's turned out to be, an average of 7.33. In the final game we are away to already relegated Persik Kendal, we throw away a 2-0 lead at HT to draw 2-2, ending a five game winning run. But anyway, it is time for the Second Phase, and also the transfer window is now open. We are in agroup with Gresik United, PSPS, and Persijap, will play each team once and need to come in the top two for a chance at promotion. Up the Dewa.

So, three games to decide if I have a chance at promotion. All I must do is get a top two finish in this group, which now that I say it out loud is actually not easy at all. The first game, away to Gresik United.

The worst possible start. 10th minute. 1-0 Gresik. Fuck. We're dominant though, we keep missing chances. Eventually we put a free-kick into the box and my centre-back is immediately tripped over... penalty! In off the post. 1-1. Back in it now let's get to half time.... they score from a corner. 2-1 down at the break. We're so so dominant. We miss chances, hit the post, they save them, miss more chances. Why are you shooting from there... YESSSSS my DM scores a screamer from 30 yards. We press for the winnter. It doesn't come. Full time: Gresik United 2-2 Dewa United. Not ideal. Not a disaster. But not ideal.

PSPS away next. We are dominated. I don't know why we are so bad. 2-0 down at half time. PSPS aren't even meant to be that good. I don't get it. 89th minute. Very Attacking. 3-0. Don't care. Season's over, and I do not understand how they shit the bed this hard. Three players are on less than 6.0, and there's no reason for it. We got six yellow cards. When we dominate a match we have to score a screamer to draw, but when they do it it's an easy 3-0 win. But I'm still getting paid, I suppose. Then the chairman forces me to sell one of my starting centre-backs. Cheers mate!

It is not impossible. It's just really really difficult. Persijap at home next and we need to wallop them. We will not wallop them. But what if we do? But we won't. But anyway, time for the game. Three of my best players are suspended after totting up too many yellow cards. Great. Very Attacking from minute 1 but there is nothing we can do against them as we are already 1-0 down when a player on a yellow decides to make a stupid tackle to get us sent off. The season has come full circle. All 3 subs made I have no choice but to play with no left-back. And stay on Very Attacking. Somehow we only lose 2-0 but it's the same story as last season which is just so so disappointing. The Board seem satisfied with how I've done though. And now as the season starts again in June (?) it's a whole lot of 'Continue's for me.