FM24 Ajax - Resurrecting de Godenzonen

Having just upgraded to FM24, and so with a need to get to grips with some of the new changes (set piece overhaul), I sought out a save with short-mid term possibilities that wasn't going to completely kick my arse out of the gate (I'll save Valencia for that ); given their horrendous season IRL, it seemed like a good time to return to an old favourite: AFC Ajax.

Day Zero

Having enjoyed a lengthy save with Ajax back in the days of FM10 (as well as fond memories of watching their 'golden generation' win the 1995 Champions League) the Dutch club have held a soft spot in my heart for a number of years now. The team I inherit in FM24 is somewhat different to that which I started with in FM10 (I meant that metaphorically, not literally, as FM10 was a long time ago now...).

IRL the club cashed in on Mohammed Kudus, Jurrien Timber, and Edson Alvarez among others, while captain Dusan Tadic and Davy Klaassen also departed. What's left is young, but talented with bags of potential and (hopefully) some strong veteran leadership in Jordan Henderson, Steven Berghuis, and Steven Bergwijn. The Board want a title challenge though, so I'm leaning towards adding a little more experience to help guide the team in the short term - especially with goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli out for 5-7 months due to a dislocated shoulder...

Centre back Ahmetcan Kaplan is also out for several months with a torn knee ligament, so extra coverage there is under consideration, but really it's a goalkeeper I am looking for in the transfer market - beyond that it's a case of looking for upgrades or quality youngsters to bring in for the future. A healthy £30m isn't backed up with a lot of flexibility in the wage budget however, so some adjustment is needed as I drop the kitty to £25m to give me some head room. A decision also needs to be made on Gabriel Misehouy, who has a lot of potential but is apparently intent on running his contract down and leaving on a free next summer; do I sell or do I hold and hope he changes his mind? Another decision to make!

Long term, I admit I would love to lure some former players back to the club, but that is a long way off right now.

Staff wise, club legend Dennis Bergkamp as a coach among a significant number of changes as I bid to make the club Staff the best it can be.

Tactically I've setup a structured 4-3-3, and 4-2-3-1 formation to start with - the intention here is to evolve this relatively quickly into a more Ajax-like free flowing setup.