Saving Chicago

A Football Manager Career by M3rlin

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Saving Chicago

2,956 6

M3rlin

8 years ago

6 months ago

04 May 2018 10:10:35

*These first parts are just of me getting to grips with the squad and some rules (which I understand nothing of), so bear with me.

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In light of the recent political situation in America, the Mayor of Chicago has recruited me to make Chicago Great Again and to put Americans First.....simply put, I'll aim to create a competitive squad consisting only of American Footballers (and certain youth players that I might be able to naturalize). Another ambition I have is to take U.S.A. to the World Cup Final.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/Dfx75By4wzSvaTghcgZT3pqPuxD5QDSbXPBqB2hx.jpg

My managerial stats have a great emphasis on youth development and man management and I've decided to go all out on the coaching badges, since I can't be bothered with the trivialities of studying for them.

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Young, Hungry and English....all the qualities required in a world class manager

Time to get cracking and first stop is to scout some American youngsters with Fire in their hearts (see what I did there, FIRE, as in Chicago FIRE)

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In all my time managing in Football, I've come to a single realization, which is that all sh*t teams have no scouting network. I mean this is basically Football 101.

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And colour me surprised, we have 3 brilliant youth prospects in our FIRE Academy (Ah, the cringy names). Ryan Craig is a beast at 16 and is as good as our best left back...he's going straight into the squad, while the other 2 will be on the bench.

Luckily for us, since Chicago finished dead last last year, we have ZERO expectations meaning I can take liberty with my squad and play the youngsters with no fear of getting sacked.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/L0Q4TRnfPAhsfk3FlmQnUrPxkLYle4jfdI20SG6i.jpg

Almost Instantly, one name stands out from the hubris of the squad, world cup winner and all round monster, Bastien Shweinstieger, He is the only Foreigner I'll keep.

That's it for today as I'll try to make daily updates to this story.
The next part will also be boring since I'll be trying to explain some of the rules regarding designated players and drafts and exchange between different clubs.
Why does America make everything so difficult for itself

'Til Next Time

M3rlin

8 years ago

6 months ago

04 May 2018 10:18:53

Just something you should all know, I'm using the latest database update for FM17 from this very site and all the real-life players have had their Birthdays brought back by a year, which makes this the 2017 season not 2016.
I know it's kinda daft, but that's how the update works.

M3rlin

8 years ago

6 months ago

04 May 2018 13:26:25

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This is just for your viewing pleasure and is otherwise a bunch of incomprehensible gibberish. I'm just going to learn from experience

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Clearly the board have a single overall objective set for my inaugural season in the MLS, which is to not get utterly humiliated. This is good, since if the fans have no expectations, they won't be disappointed.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/YZK33J6FbtrhwzA8JH27GiegBtdQZtpH1OK6CNpl.jpg

So my first transaction in MLS and it's an odd one. Seattle Sounders have come in with an offer to take one of my squads International Player Slots and have inquired about what I'd like in exchange.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/4VAJj0DlWYsnfPD7kHbRm1FZu9jeWyOYm9Tp03Jv.jpg

Some Rule Clarifications

General Allocation Money is how much my team has to spend on (I think drafts?) and on wages if I go over the senior player cap (which is 4,700 pounds).
International Player Slots are for registration purposes...There are some 160 slot in the MLS, equally divided upon the 20 teams, this means that each team had an initial 8 slots each for international players, but over the years the teams have traded them depending on their need for them. These trades can either be permanent or a loan for 1-5 years. For Example, Chicago Fire has 8 slots, on the other hand NY Red Bulls have 10 of these slots.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/xiTETOecSo6N8X5YW6ZLnE3Z1ZywiKfgwlizQ7rN.jpg

As seen in this transaction, Seattle have asked for a 2 year loan of my 8th International Slot, plus 110k in General Allocation Money.....In Exchange I have asked for their best young American Defender, seems like a fair trade in my opinion.

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Instant withdrawal, sad

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/dTu3TNNqdKgK8h2eHgC6EUc00V2deGauWaJWW77T.jpg

I accepted D.C. United's offer in exchange for their 2nd Draft pick next year, plus a reduced amount of General Allocation Money....Seems like a meh deal to me, since I haven't got a clue how valuable all these things are.

Hopefully next time I'll be rid of all these ridiculous rules

'Til Next Time

M3rlin

8 years ago

6 months ago

04 May 2018 16:02:43

STAFF ADDITIONS

I can finally start searching for some bargains

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As you might have noticed, it's an all American injection into my staff since my vision of the future is one of America First and America Alone.

Stand-Out Players

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The Best player in the entire division and it's an honour to work with a legend such as him...The only problem is that his contract is only 2 years long and odder yet still, is the fact he isn't even a designated player?!?!

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Our only designated player and he isn't even our best striker! and since I play with a single striker, he'll be playing as a sub.

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The best striker we have, but he's ancient.

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The only American worth mentioning.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/5OMFUXD9kPosozb5ZCsDN4Qyf50XzvutzTDOyRpE.jpg

Great youngster, but he ain't American. Plus, he's our only Right-Back

Current plan is to bring in some American youngsters who can replace these old chaps, and the only way I can see that happening is through the draft, so I'll be stockpiling draft picks for the 2017 season.

'Til Next Time

M3rlin

8 years ago

6 months ago

04 May 2018 16:21:30

Pre-Season Fixtures:

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/ypi6c7FDBNLUNJ7DfOIR6MYtsOC4BlAF7toJgY5o.jpg

January

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Conceding 2 goals in the first 15 mins doesn't bode well for anyone, but El Capitano managed to rally the lads and topped it off with an amazing come-back....the lads were clinical and showed the fight and passion I'd expect from a squad managed by me.
Only downside was the fact De Leeuw will be out for the next 3 weeks.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/wFdlWq0xUFfQGL19f4VAGQxyOgzBCwCREW82DqED.jpg

A world apart from the previous match. We completely dominated 'til the end, but the fact we'd have almost drawn against a f*cking reserve team if not for a 90th minute winner, is quite worrying.

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Not much to say apart from....we got outplayed in every area of the pitch and only Ramos showed fight....worrying signs.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/vOWOI1RjLZEExNB0fVrBQX4M01P38sknDjbePovI.jpg

A bang average set of results.

'Til Next Time

M3rlin

8 years ago

6 months ago

12 May 2018 20:18:59

FEBRUARY

I scheduled a couple extra friendlies for this month, as I was busy delving through the transfer market for promising youngsters....I've signed 6 players 'til now, 3 American and 2 Colombian (for profit purposes and draft blackmails). You see, I've realized that most valuable asset in the MLS is the draft pick and what comes after that, I hear you ask? Players!! So even if I have no intention to keep them 'cus they aren't American, they'll prove invaluable for future expansion.

1st Friendly Match

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1st Match of the month and it was a pretty straight forward affair, with 2 goals scored and a sensible clean sheet.

2nd Friendly Match

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Onto our next match and we absolutely bossed it against future MLS franchise, Minnesota United. Due to our leaky defense, which was in contrast to their previous performance, we required a sensational showing from our only Designated Player, Nikolic.

3rd Friendly Match

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Luck and mistakes from the opposition allowed us to stay in the game, but I'll take that against New York City. Also the MotM performance from Estrada gives me hope for his future.

4th Friendly Match

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Estrada continued to perform, but apart from him and De Leeuw, everyone else was shambolic as we only managed a draw against a shit team.

5th Friendly Match

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After just scraping a win against their B Team, we managed to do the same against a below par New York Red Bulls.

6th Friendly Match

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Another easy win for the lads and Ben Swanson got on the score sheet, he is one of my new signings who I'll mention in the next post.

7th Friendly Match

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This defense has me worried as we concede goals to another shit team, this inconsistency will hopefully be fixed with an incoming defender from Seattle.

8th Friendly Match

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Nuthin' to mention, apart from a brace from Qudus Lawal, who's another new signing

And that's almost it for pre-season!
Only a transfer round-up and a draft, in the next post, are left before we begin our kick-off of the new MLS Season

'Til Next Time

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