Der Club, Dier Legende, Dur Ruhmreiche - 1.FC Nurnberg

Der Club, Dier Legende, Dur Ruhmreiche - 1.FC Nurnberg

I was looking for a new challenge on FM24 and one that will possibly my last as it will hopefully see me through to FM26 (assuming we are going to see that later this year). I decided that I wanted to take on one of the most challenging divisions in the form of the 2.Bundesliga. Why do I call it one of the most challenging - well because no less than 11 of the 18 teams competing in it have actually won the top tier of German football, the Bundesliga! Between those clubs they hold an impressive 39 Bundesliga titles and the most decorated of them all is FC Nurnberg (with 9), which is where I end up.

Nurnberg's last Bundesliga win was long, long ago though back in 1968 and in the last 10 years, they've actually only graced the top division with their presence for one single season. It's fair to say they're certainly not the team of old and need a revival.

In terms of my first season in charge, promotion is an outside chance, but not expected by media and fans alike. However, there is no reason that a title challenge couldn't be mounted with the right tactics and maybe a couple of signings.

The club has impressive enough facilities (as do so many of the lower league teams in Germany), boasting a 50,000 capacity stadium along with good training and youth facilities.

And when I turn my attention to the squad I inherit, it looks like an exciting one full of youthful talent that might just develop into something special in the coming years, assuming I can nurture it right. It's great to see that there's plenty of home grown German talent in there too.

I will have a little money to spend to make immediate improvements as well, with the club having a healthy bank balance.

So let's get cracking and take a look at the squad and set up some form of starting tactic in my next post.

Chapter 1
Squad & Tactic

Having a look over my squad, the best player in it is Robin Knoche. The centre back is one of my most experienced players and has played all of his prior career in the top tier with both Wolfsburg and Union Berlin. He will be at the heart of my defence and likely get the captain's armband as well.

Sitting just in front of him in central midfield will be 24 year old Florian Flick. The ex Schalke player gives me an excellent work rate in the middle there along with fantastic determination and teamwork - in fact, his mental attributes all round are some of the best in the whole team.

One of my key threats down the wings will be attacking full back, Oliver Vlladsen, who has been capped at under 21 level for Denmark. He hasn't progressed from there into the senior team, but he still has plenty of time on his side to keep improving and will be my first choice at right back this season.

We've got a decent full back on the other side too in the form of Brazilian Danilo Soares, again one of my more experienced players at 32 years old. Great to have some South American flair in the team.

We're not the strongest between the sticks, but my number one goalkeeper will be Christian Mathenia. I could definitely improve this position though and if the right player becomes available, I won't hesitate to move for a new keeper.

Options up front are not the greatest either, with my best striker being one that isn't even one of ours. Janni Serra is here on loan from AGF (a side in Denmark) and doesn't look good enough to be relied upon to score the goals to get us promoted.

So we've had a look at some of my first team options, and now it's time to look at the most promising youngster at the club. 17 year old, Winners Osawe looks like he's got a very bright future ahead of him and I'll be keeping a very close eye on the prospect over the coming seasons. I mean, with a name like Winners surely he is destined to be a star right!

With what I have at my disposal, this is the tactic I've set up with. I feel we aren't strong in attack so it's better to bolster with numbers in the final third and try to overload the opposition rather than rely on just 2-3 players to work their magic. The wing backs will both have an ultra attacking mentality and do most of their best work in the opposition half as well, whilst we look to keep the ball out wide both in attack and defence, having condfidence that my two centre backs and two defensive midfielders can deal with anything come into the central areas of the pitch. We will play counter attacking, high pressing gegenpress style of football, with our players running at the opposition with a narrow mentality.

There won't be any specific pressure from the fans for me to play a certain way, but I do favour an attacking style. What the fans do want to see is me bringing through talent from the youth system and that will be something I look to appease.

The five year plan as far as the board are concerned is to get the club back into the top tier. I'm hoping I can do it sooner than that, so let's get started!