National League.
 

Players were training well. After two defeats, some lads’ morale went down, but I told them we’re doing well and that we will bounce back.

I wasn’t wrong. We’ve won six games in a row now. We came from behind to beat Truro City 3–1 after conceding in the 7th minute,

then followed that up with wins against Yeovil Town (4–1),

Aldershot (4–2), Carlisle (3–2), Shrewsbury (2–0),

and Forest Green (1–0).

In the last match, the fans were buzzing and broke into a chant. It goes like this: 

„Tattoos on his neck and hand,
Looks like a criminal — but he ain’t one, man

Stands on the touchline, calm and proud,
Turns doubts into wins, shuts up the crowd

Not from a cell, not breaking the law,
Breaking the league — week after more

Call the police? Nah, don’t be rude,
He’s stealing three points — legal and smooth”

 

National League and FA CUP

The team atmosphere in the dressing room was very good. On top of that, I finally found the striker I was looking for. 
QPR agreed to send Cian Dillon on a one-year loan.

We extended our winning streak by another five matches.

We beat Dag & Red 1–0, Scarborough Athletic 4–1, Scunthorpe 3–2, and Hartlepool 1–0.

and our biggest rivals, Gillingham, 1–0 in the FA Cup.

Fixture:

The is more to say about this match but it going to be a new post.

 Pre Season and National League 

Pre Season

The season started with seven friendly matches. At that time, I was still in the process of rebuilding the team. In order to put together a squad at the beginning of pre-season, I promoted several youngsters to the first team. Some of them remained in the squad afterward.

National League

For a team that had been completely rebuilt and had just been promoted, we were unsure what kind of form to expect. However, we were pleasantly surprised when we collected 15 points from 7 matches.

In our opening match, we secured a 1–0 win against Woking. The game against Maidstone really showed the character of this squad. We were 2–0 down after just 27 minutes. Maidstone had only two shots on target, both resulting in goals — one of them from the penalty spot.

I was buzzing and shouted to the players to show character and play more attacking football. 
What happened next was incredible: we scored three goals and won the match.

Finn Mahner was the hero, scoring twice.

We then followed that up with a 1–0 home win against Southend, an impressive 6–2 away victory over Boreham Wood, and a 2–0 win against Solihull Moors.

Our unbeaten run ended with a 1–0 defeat to Rochdale, followed by a narrow 1–0 loss to Altrincham.

The Altrincham match was particularly frustrating. We had 27 shots, 13 on target, and an xG of 3.08, but it just wasn’t our day.

I couldn’t blame the players. After all, we were sitting second in the league, level on points with Oldham.

I use friendlies mainly to build match fitness and to help players become familiar with the tactics.
   • I don’t care about the final result. I usually schedule matches against teams of a similar level or slightly stronger. As I said, the score doesn’t matter.
   • In some cases, I use players in unfamiliar positions so they can learn those roles more quickly.
What I mean by that is, for example, when you have a centre-back (DC) who can also be used as a defensive midfielder (MC).

BONUS : Transfers Across the World on the Berserk Pack

It is almost impossible to sign players at the beginning of the season. Their demands are unrealistic, even for top teams.

TACTICS:
 

The 4-2-3-1 (Raf No. 303) was quite successful last season, so I won’t be making many changes. 
However, there are a couple of issues that need addressing.

The new signings are not natural inside forwards, so one of them will be used as a winger.

Ideally, I prefer a tall striker who can score headers, but unfortunately I don’t have someone like that available at the moment. 
As a temporary solution, instead of a Complete Forward (CFD), I will use a Channel Forward (CHF).

The transfer window is still open, and I am currently targeting a striker on loan. My wage budget is limited to €400k per week, so I will only be considering loan options with the lowest possible wage contribution.

I used also Grumpy Dwarf 343 downgraded slightly.

During the meeting with the players, I showed them a picture that hangs in my house. It represents the mentality and values I want them to embrace.

and told them that .. I don’t care about winning big right now.
I care about three points. It is all about progress.
When we go two goals up, we start enjoying possession.
Matches are won with effectiveness, with consistency, with decisions.
This is how you win titles.

Reporter: People say you’ve lost the dressing room. Is that true?
Me: People say a lot of things. Most of them are wrong.
I know I might not look like the typical manager, but the irony is that I’m well-educated and a man with manners. 
So let’s start properly—good morning, everyone.
I’ll take your questions now. 

Reporter 2: A month ago several players appeared unhappy. Managers who lose the dressing room usually don’t last long.

Me: That’s true—for managers without conviction.
I don’t manage emotions, I manage standards. If some players are uncomfortable, that usually means standards have finally arrived. 

Reporter: Some players have called your approach extreme. Madness, even.

Me: Madness? No. Clarity.
Football is full of excuses and comfort zones. I remove both. That scares people.

Reporter: You’ve signed twelve players aged 23 or younger. Critics say they’re too inexperienced to succeed.

Me: Critics always confuse age with weakness.
I signed hunger. I signed ambition. I signed players who still listen.
Experience is useless if it comes with complacency.

Reporter: People say you’re arrogant.

Me: Of course they do.

When you don’t ask for permission and you don’t apologize, people call it arrogance.
I call it knowing exactly who I am and what I want.
I’ve succeeded my whole life by trusting myself when others doubted me. This job is no different.
If the players want comfort, they should find another club.
If they want history, they stay with me.
 

That’s all. I have work to do. 
 

Transfers

In some cases, when other teams showed interest in the same player, 
I had to return to the negotiating table and improve my offer by increasing their wages.

My storyline on the other website is more advanced, so to catch up to the same point, 
I’ll be making a few posts per day. 
This isn’t my usual posting schedule, but it’s temporary.

A couple days after the celebrations, it was time to get back to business.
 

Jim called me into his office the very next day.

Jim: “I know you want more money, but we’re struggling to generate consistent income. I’m afraid giving you more funds for transfers isn’t an option.”

I replied calmly,
“Okay, boss. I just wanted you to know that I’ll meet with the players again and ask them to reconsider their demands. If they don’t understand the situation, we’ll have to part ways.”

Later that day, I met with the players.

“I’ve had a meeting with the chairman,” I told them. 
“He made it very clear that there will be no increase in the wage budget. I could have been more polite with my words, but the message was clear.”

“I appreciate what you’ve done for the club last year, but we’re still a semi-professional club and we lack financial stability. Therefore, you have two choices: 

1. Reduce your demands and we can discuss new contracts, or 
2. You will be released.”

This is going to be a very difficult transfer window. If we want to be competitive next season, the squad needs improvement. Unfortunately, some of you will be released at the end of the season, as I don’t believe your performances have been good enough to justify staying at the club.

The meeting didn’t go according to plan. I don’t think they understand that we’re on a journey. If we want to reach the top, sacrifices have to be made. I made several players unhappy.

In the end, they didn’t lower their expectations, which meant I had to rebuild the entire team. So, I went hunting.

I always look for free agents, especially players released by bigger clubs. With the financial restrictions in this 
save being significantly tighter, I have focus on signing young players who can later be sold for profit.

Contract Tips
   • Avoid the “Match Highest Earner” clause at all costs.
   • Try to avoid yearly wage rises.
       ◦ If unavoidable, cap it at 5% - 15% and make it non-negotiable.
   • Limit wage increases after promotion.
       ◦ I use 15% maximum, or turn this clause off completely if possible for players which are not in demand (you can always improve the offer later on).

Finding Free Agents
   • Go to Globe icon → Continents → Transfers → All Transfers → Released Players.
   • Searching for players in this version is very annoying:
       ◦ Search filters keep changing.
       ◦ Creating custom views is more time consuming, etc.
   • Because of this, I’ve turned off player attribute masking.
       ◦ If you keep it on, use trials as much as possible.

Lower League Transfer Strategy 
   • In lower leagues, target free agents released around 30 June / 1 July.
       ◦ This is when clubs officially let players go.
   • Don’t spend all your budget at the start of the transfer window.
       ◦ Free agents often lower their wage demands the longer they remain unsigned.
   • In lower English leagues, you can sign players all year round.
   • Always watch out for work permit rules in England.

Top Division  Transfer Strategy
1. GS Scout – Contract Expiry Method
   • Use GS Scout to create a shortlist of players whose contracts expire within 1 year at the start of the season.
   • Throughout the season, simply monitor interest and approach players who are willing to negotiate – January next year.
2. Manual Shortlisting (Old FM vs FM26)
   • In older FM versions, it was possible to manually add all players from top teams to a shortlist using keyboard shortcuts and later filter free agents.
   • In FM26, this method is no longer practical or even possible, making manual shortlisting very time-consuming.
3. Loan Strategy When Lacking Funds
   • When you don’t have transfer budget:
       ◦ Loan players out with an optional (not mandatory) future fee.
       ◦ This keeps flexibility in case the player improves, declines, or no longer fits your plans.
4. Target Transfer-Listed Players
   • Always look for transfer-listed players.
   • These players usually:
       ◦ Accept lower wage demands
       ◦ Are easier to negotiate with
       ◦ Can often be signed below market value
5. Exploit Release Clauses
   • Go through teams manually and check for players with release clauses, especially:
       ◦ Relegation release clauses
       ◦ Clauses active when the club fails to qualify for continental competitions
       ◦ Clauses triggered by promotion/relegation status
   • These clauses often result in significantly reduced price tags, making them excellent value signings. You can use a view for that and just import it when looking at the team.

You can create the same view for you shortlist (add all known player to the list and filter them out).

I told you, boss, I’m not selling dreams. I work hard every day to keep my word.

We’re top of the table, and we’re getting promoted.

I know you want me to avoid relegation next season, but we need more cash. Most of our players’ contracts expire at the end of the season. I’ve offered them new deals, but they’re asking for three times what they currently earn. We simply don’t have that kind of money.

He said, “If they don’t reduce their expectations, they can walk.”

Hmm. Easier said than done. What happens if we have to let them all go?

Jim replied, “We have youth players, don’t we? They can play too.”

Boss, I know this Irish lad, Finn, is quite good—and I will use him, even though he’s only 16. We still need more players.

Jim said. "That concluded our meeting. You can ask as much as you want—but my answer is no."

Honestly, this promotion has gone to his head. He thinks we can win things with just any players.

I’ll have to wait and see. Maybe they’ll reduce their expectations once their contracts expire.
 

Dover are predicted to finish 17th in the National League South.

I skipped media day. I’m not really a public guy.

My social media doesn’t exist. You won’t find my grumpy face anywhere. But who cares?

At my first meeting with the boss, he tells me we have to use a tactic created by one of the biggest FM influencers, Flashy Josh.
I won’t lie — I wasn’t annoyed… but I was getting there.

So I asked, why?

He said, “His tactics are always perfect. The best. Guaranteed success.”

I tried to stay calm, but this guy clearly visits FM Scout and Sortioutsi.net far too often.

“Listen, Jim,” I said. “I know I’m older and grumpier than him, but experience comes with age. I’ve got a tactic built specifically for your team.”

It’s a 4-2-3-1.
I’ve called it RAF 303 Squadron.

“What?” he asked.

Me: Out of respect for the Polish pilots who fought against the Nazis during World War II. They were just as mad as I am.

Then he said, “I think we’ve made a mistake.”

“Give me time until December,” I replied. “Let me use my tactics. If I can’t convince you by then, I’ll walk away — no compensation, no arguments.”

He leaned back.
“Hmmm… OK. I guess there’s a reason people call you Grumpy Dwarf.”

"I understand the grumpy part,” he said, “but why dwarf?”

“You look like a washed-up middleweight boxer with that broken nose.”

Anyone who knows me knows I enjoy sarcasm, and somehow the dwarf description fits perfectly.

Bored?

Me too. This is the reason why I decided to publish my journey with Dover Athletic.

This save is more difficult than the standard one. SirTavares created a pack to make things harder. I decided I will put it to final test. Already played with Sampdoria on Berserk v1.

💸 Berserk Mode – Survival Football

Berserk Mode takes everything from Hardcore Mode and pushes it further by attacking the financial foundations of football. Money is tight, budgets are reduced, and growth becomes painfully slow. Every contract matters. Every transfer is a risk. Financial mismanagement is no longer forgiven.

- Global financial nerf;
- Zero transfer and wage budgets;
- Removed sponsorship income;
- Slower club growth and harsher consequences.

This is survival football. Only well-run clubs endure.
Two paths. One goal. Survive football at its hardest.

This is my Journey with Dover Athletic until I either get sacked or achieve perfection (am I that good?)

Yamal, Halland, Bellingam, Porro, Musiala. This is crazy.

The best FM tactical mastermind is back! Unfortunately, this tactic didn’t win the quadruple or any major cups, but it’s still the best.
This time, it’s called “Meta”, a keyword often used by the creator to get people to download the tactic.
His tactics are plug-and-play and come with a guaranteed success rate. However, his tactics never appear at the top of the FM Arena site for downloads. Why?
… I think we all know why.

TESTED - RESULTS HERE -------> https://fmshots.com/image/wjxD91

Some of the FM Scout community user are quiet annoyed with his questionable content but he is friend with the admin and he is doing nothing about it. It looks like he is trying to do the same thing in here. I hope the admin here has more courage to at least review his statements which clearly doesn't ad up sometimes. 

you cannot win 37 matches and draw 1 and finished with 85 points. 

You have stated that you won 37 matches and draw 1 it give 97% of win and the table shows 85 points not 112?

You never answer question on the other FM site. Maybe you can tell me how many season did you simulate so you won CL in 2029?

one more thing. How did you calculate 4.3 goals per game when the table shows only 2.6?

98/38 = 2.578947368421053

Flashy titles aren’t a sign of good tactics—they’re often a cover for weak or dubious content.

all 8 simulation in excel https://fmshots.com/image/wjpj3J