Uncle Sam - Comments

Episode 2: First match of the 2020 Season
https://youtu.be/_vsYC7nMuso

So I have started a YouTube series with Tony Stark as the manager. It will be a journeyman save, but I'm starting with MLS expansion side Nashville SC.

https://youtu.be/wZ50ONx8uA8

I'm sorry, I honestly can't say for sure. I play the full version, I've never played FM Touch. Someone else would have to answer that.

Updated 3D kits for US Lower Leagues:

USL Championship: http://www.mediafire.com/file/pjwg8pqlbcpuacw/USA_-_USL_Championship_2020_3D.rar/file
USL League One: http://www.mediafire.com/file/nbkzu6f1m84lwn7/USA_-_USL_League_One_2020_3D.rar/file
National Independent Soccer Association: http://www.mediafire.com/file/eu0ur95dk1y0dw4/USA_-__NISA2020_3D.rar/file

Updated SS Kits for the 2020 Season for US Lower Leagues:

USL Championship: http://www.mediafire.com/file/7tzq0qltlo1kff4/USA_-_USL_Championship_SS_2020.rar/file
USL League One: http://www.mediafire.com/file/bnex02s5jcr9ufd/USA_-_USL_League_One_SS_2020.rar/file
National Independent Soccer Association: http://www.mediafire.com/file/uiw1zupo8rtdlzy/USA_-_NISA_SS_2020.rar/file

Hello sir. It's been a long time. I need to pop into the forums more.

Thanks for touching base, however my modifications to the Susie competition real names fix isn't adding names to default competitions. I made changes to the names file because I edited competitions in the database. I'll try to explain it as briefly and as well as possible. In real life, the MLS SuperDraft pulls players from NCAA Soccer. However, FM cannot include NCAA soccer by default due to licensing, amateur rules, etc. Instead, FM has the MLS Superdraft pull players from the USL League Two. So what I have done with my database file is to edit the USL League Two divisions into NCAA conferences while recreating the USL League Two division. This way FM will have the MLS SuperDraft pull from the NCAA just like in real life. If someone uses my database file and the Susie Real Names fix WITHOUT my modifications, then the names of the NCAA conferences will not be correct.

UPDATE

-Version 3.3 of the database update file and graphics file have been added to the original post (first response post for the graphics file)

Change List

-Mostly a graphics update as all 2020 kits (SS and 3D) and colors have been added for the USL Championship, USL League One, and National Independent Soccer Association.

-Worked with the schedules for USL Championship and League One in an attempt to alleviate fixture congestion

Sorry it took me so long to reply to this.

It will need to be saved over the sortitoutsi fix. It's a modified version of the SI fix, so the only difference is that when using my file the NCAA and the NCAA conferences will all have the correct name.

So I feel like I'm losing my mind here... didn't some one do this template?

Adidas 1365



Link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/q8drgsycj8n3nl1/Adidad_1365.rar/file

So I will probably need some help with this BLK kit worn by Austin Bold FC:

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Does this template exist:

Am I missing this template somewhere in the pack?

There no "fantasy" clubs in the update. The clubs I created are all based on real life teams. I did take some liberties with clubs who have not yet announced their branding. For those clubs I found concepts from various sources online.

Additional FIles:

Graphics: http://www.mediafire.com/file/qihnh0e0vninv6t/USA_Expansion_3.3.rar/file
-----Includes: Logos, SS and 3D kits for all playable US teams, the US and Canadian national teams. Logos for all the US Competitions

Competition Name Change file: http://www.mediafire.com/file/pm91y8gichmhc0c/FM20_UncleSam_USA_DB_real_name_fix.rar/file
-----Modified version of the susie file for use with my expansion database

Canadian Expansion: http://www.mediafire.com/file/m4x54jqtte6duk7/006_Canada_Expansion_1.2.fmf/file
-----Adds Atletico Ottawa to the Canadian Premier League in 2020 (also implements the single format for CPL)

Continental Competitions: http://www.mediafire.com/file/qerynz1n1lsaic1/USA_Club_Continental_Comps_2.13.rar/file
-----Adds Atletico Ottawa to the Canadian Championship; also adds the Caribbean and Central American club championship competitions. Also includes a version of the Copa Sudamericana that adds the champions and runners up from the CONCACAF Champions League in the second round

Extra Files: http://www.mediafire.com/file/isc0xhy3vovld56/USA_Extral_Files.rar/file
-----Includes Lower Level managers, Transfer Preferences, and some Canada Data

Would any of you kind gents be good enough to hammer out the new USA away?

Memo Rodriguez of the Houston Dynamo is NOT on loan at Rio Grande Valley. He came on as a sub in the win over NYCFC on 25 May.

lineup: https://matchcenter.houstondynamo.com/matchcenter/2018-05-25-houston-dynamo-vs-new-york-city-fc/lineup
timeline (showing that he subbed in): https://matchcenter.houstondynamo.com/matchcenter/2018-05-25-houston-dynamo-vs-new-york-city-fc/feed

What about now?

The FM kit style, I mean. Not the Nike template. I just love the shorts and socks showing up in game.

... I wish they'd come back.

Updated to version 1.2. Corrected issue where players in NCAA and USSDA were going on holiday/vacation before the Championship competitions. Also added the new Fresno FC franchise to the USL. New changes have also been made to the graphics file, which has been re-uploaded.

Final Preseason Results



Managed to get through the preseason slate without a loss, but it is somewhat concerning that we drew with 2 of the 3 MLS clubs we faced. RSL scored the equalizer in the 85th minute, DC in the 75th. I'm not going to get too worried yet, but definitely it causes me to be a little worried going into the MLS season.



The Houston Cup was just a silly little friendly cup that I arranged with some of the local clubs. Was actually easier than it looks.



We added to our trophy case by winning the Desert Diamond Cup preseason tournament. Should have had maximum points but blew that game against RSL as I stated.

The Squad

So let's look at the final 28-man squad. First of all, the  big signings:




These two Designated Players are going to make us a formidable club this season. Obviously they would normally go against my transfer policy, but this is a big rebuilding season. I've brought in a lot of young players but they're frankly not ready to carry the team yet. Guys like Para, Debuchy, and Podolski will keep me winning matches while we develop those youngsters. In 2018 I don't plan on bringing in aging stars.

Here is the final 28:

Overall this is better, and deeper squad than 2016. Most of the second team players will also be guys who we believe are going to develop into stars rather than guys who are occupying seats on the bench.

Here is my First 11 squad (+subs)


And my second 11:


That first team is pretty sick. And I'd actually put my second team up against a lot of MLS teams. I feel good about my squad and what I'm really looking forward to is the knockout stage of the Champions League at the beginning of next season once all those early-twenties have had a year to develop.

MLS Preview

Somehow the media is predicting Beckham's squad to win the league in their first season. I looked at their squad and I simply don't see it. They're in the Eastern Conference, which means I wouldn't really have to worry about them until the MLS Cup anyway. According to the oddsmakers My biggest competition is going to come from the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders. After Seattle there's a pretty big dropoff. I refuse to count out Sporting Kansas City, they pushed me to the final day last season for the Supporters Shield.


We did place two on the Preseason Media Dream Eleven. Both are newcomers; Lucas Podolski and Para. On the key players list we also had Erick Torres. 


Conclusion

So enough's enough, it's time for season two. I'm shooting for 75 points in MLS play this season. That would easily beat the record of 68, which I tied with last year. Obviously I want to win the Open Cup again, and I want to take maximum points from Champions League group stage play when that rolls around in the fall.

Big news, couldn't wait to share it in the next update:

2017 PRESEASON

The tour of Brazil went swimmingly. All wins, and we got a good look at our lineups for the 2017 season. We opened with a 2-0 win at Bragantino, and the a pair of 3-0 wins against Linhares and Botafogo (SP). In the final match at Olaria we faced our first bit of adversity when we gave up a penalty in the 7th minute. The lads fought back and we walked away with a 3-1 win and ended a perfect tour. Hopefully we increased our profile in Brazil and pick up a little marketing revenue in the process.

After getting of the plane from Brazil, I walked into the Chairman’s office and we discussed improving our youth situation. He agreed to increase the Junior Coaching Budget and the Youth Recruitment. So improvements to the club are continuing to be made.



After the draft I needed to sort out my roster, and whittle it down to the final 28. First I’ll go position by position.

At Goalkeeper, the stater will still be 2016 Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Tyler Deric. Last year the backup was Joe Willis, but in 2017 it will be Hector Escobar. That means the #3 spot is between Calle Brown or Joe Willis. Willis is the odd man out because he is occupying a Senior Roster spot and is making $45K more per year than Brown. So I’m going to transfer list Willis, and if noone wants him by the time Registration comes around then he will be waived.

I have seven guys at DC. Jalil Anibaba, who was recently called up by Bruce Arena for the January USA National Team camp, and loanee Riccardo Marchizza were the planned first two starters, with Leonardo and 22-year old Danil Rajden slated to be the backups. However, the signing of Designated Player Mathiey Debuchy from Arsenal has changed that. I will now look to move Leonardo, as he has reached his maximum potential and I prefer a different type of player at his position. Radjen has good potential and needs to start working into the rotation. Behind them I have Robby Sagel and Taylor Hunter. I do want to have at least five, but Hunter is no-hoper while Sagel could at least develop into good-not-great player. So Hunter will be waived, not loaned.

At right back I just brought in DP Para, and his backup (for now) will be loanee Kyle Duncan. On the left I still have Beasley, although he has deteriorated quite a bit, with Olexander Osman (loanee from Dynamo Kiev) competing for that spot. Dylan Remick is also there, but he’s about maxed out on potential and he’s really not that good. What I’d like to do is trade or sell Beasley or Remick, but if that doesn’t work then Remick will likely be loaned out. Behind them I have two guys I just drafted in Alfonso Garcia who can play on either side or left back Joe Thorpe. They will probably both be loaned out. If I need one to stay for depth then it will be Garcia.

At defensive mid I have plenty of options, really. The plan as of now is to start Cabezas with Eric Alexander backing him up. Lukman Haruna can also play there, although he is the first choice MCR option at the moment. Kyle Duncan can also play DM in a pinch. The MCR starter will be Haruna, and at MCL (the more attacking role) will be Tomas Martinez. Memo Rodriguez and Cristian Lucatero will be the two guys I hope to be the primary backups to begin their development. I need them to be strong players by the time the Knockout Stages of the CONCACAF Champions League rolls around next January. For now, Alex will be considered the backup MCL although I’d like to move him. Tommy Thompson can also play in these positions if needed. I hope to be able to send SuperDraft pick Miguel Angel Robles on loan to RGVFC. Joe Holland is a no-hoper and will be waived if I can’t sell or trade him.

At winger, I plan on employing my Honduran connection: Alberth Elis on the right and Romell Quioto on the left. My original plan was for Andrew Wenger to be the main backup on the right and Jose Escalante on the left, with Wenger being able to play either side. However, with the guys I drafted I’m now going to look to move Wenger. He’s another guy who has mostly maxed out his potential and I believe that Erik Ramirez and Jeff Dyer can both be better. Vincente Sanchez has set a retirement date for the end of this season. He still has good skills but his physicals have deteriorated. He’s a sub now at best.

Striker is definitely a position of strength for us. We have Erick Torres coming back, who netted 26 goals across all competitions last year, including 20 in MLS play. Mauro Manotas is his backup and we have high hopes for him. We drafted Jeff Manning and we believe he is a future goal scorer in the league, and Adonijah Reid is a 17 year old Canadian that we picked up off waivers last season. We’d like to have 3 on the squad and Reid’s international status makes him the most likely to be loaned out, especially considering that he wouldn’t even be in the top 2. His contract also runs through 2019, so there isn’t necessarily any urgency to get him on the field.

After looking at the squad, I did find that I would have one too many International Players. It was a difficult decision, but the odd man out was Romell Quioto. He’s a good player, but he was not going to get much better and he played a position where I had plenty of comparable options. The best offer I found was for a second round pick from the New York Red Bulls (via the Philadelphia Union). NYRB was the only interested team and he will be less likely to hurt us in the Eastern Conference, so that’s where he went.

So the guys who will be waived if they aren’t sold: Joe Willis (GK), Taylor Hunter (DLC), and Joe Holland (DM, MC).

The players who I’d like to trade, but might loan out if I can’t are: Alex (MC/AML) and Andrew Wenger (AM RL).

And the guys almost certainly going out on loan: Alfonso Garcia (D RL), Joe Thorpe (DL), Jeffrey Manning (ST, MC), Miguel Angel Robles, (MC, AMC) Erik Ramirez (AMR), Jeff Dyer (AML, ST), and Adonijah Reid (ST).

There is also the question of what to do with DaMarcus Beasley or Dylan Remick. One or the other probably needs to go. But that will get me down to 28 at least.

Conclusion

Next I’ll be back with the final results of the Preseason and a look at the roster heading into the 2017 season.

Well, I'm not going to lie to you, it is complicated. Especially for someone who hasn't grown up around the rules. However I do have a guide that should help with those who are unfamiliar with the MLS squad rules and competition format. Here.

Signing a Designated Player

So there are several ways to acquire a Designated Player, but you will frequently have agents approach you with possibly signing their client to a DP contract. I mostly ignore those, but when the agent for Arsenal's Mathiey Debuchy came to me, I decided that I needed a quality center back who is comfortable with the ball at his feet.

After scouting him, I went to make an offer for the player. Now, when you're approaching for a DP there is often an option for "INTERACT WITH BOARD", where you can ask the board to approach MLS about helping to pay the transfer fee. I did this and it the board agreed and the league agreed so we were able to agree on a contract.

After he agrees on the contract, I get a news item telling me that I have hit a snag because I already have 3 Designated Players. I knew that going in, however, I also knew that I would be able to use my targeted allocation money to convert one of my DPs to a Senior Contract:



All I had to do was hit the confirm button at the bottom (not pictured) and voila, I (essentially) had 4 Designated Players.



As you can see, MLS took care of half of the transfer fee. I'm still paying him quite a bit, but if he helps us win MLS and the Champions League then I'd say it was worth it.

Unfortunately I didn't end up with Mcguire. I picked the goalkeeper Escobar instead. Escobar already is an eyelash behind my starter Deric.

McGuire landed with the Rapids. So far he's only played about 12 minutes of a friendly but I'll keep my eye on him. I'm also going to be watching Carranza from pretty close, as he plays for the 2nd place Supporters Shield finisher last year, Sporting Kansas City. The #1 pick Kenny Setzer is also already starting with FC Dallas, my arch rival. Those are going to be some interesting matches come this season.

Paying close attention to the SuperDraft kind of adds to the drama of MLS in my experience.

Before going into a SuperDraft I like to follow all the news that emerges in the days leading up (with the exception of all the articles about how a player is hoping to be drafted by a certain team, way too many of those and it doesn’t matter anyway). From the articles I have seen, it has become apparent that the biggest prospect in the draft is a Right Winger from the University of Portland:



He does look pretty good, although not overwhelming current attributes. He comes up as the #1 overall pick on the “Mock Draft”, which is a pundit’s opinion of how the draft will shake out:



If Carranza falls to me at the fourth pick then I’ll probably take him.

The Mock Draft has me taking this AMR from the University of Wisconsin with my first pick:



He looks pretty good, but more like a full-on winger. I prefer more of an inside forward, someone who is a better passer and finisher than crosser.

I’m also expected to pick this striker from Clemson with the 7th pick:



I could definitely get behind this pick. A pacey striker with good finishing. Obviously he has some rough edges to work out, but he would not be a bad pick.



In American professional sports, when teams are preparing for a draft, they create a board to try and determine who they are going to pick. Essentially they “rank” the available players. While this takes time, I assemble a list of where I rank the top players. So here is my list for the top 24 prospects:

Rank Player Position Age
1 Josue Carranza (GA) AM R 22
2 Kenny Setzer (GA) AM RLC 20
3 Sam Henley (GA) AM C 22
4 Hector Escobar (GA) GK 22
5 Erik Ramirez AM R 23
6 Nathan McGuire (GA) ST C 22
7 David DeLass (GA) AM C 21
8 Tom Howard (GA) AM R 22
9 Edson Cruz (GA) ST C 21
10 Stephan Neptune GK 21
11 Rene Jolicoeur (GA) DM, M C 23
12 Craig Chen (GA) M L 21
13 Brian Potts GK 21
14 Miguel Angel Robles AM C 21
15 Bob de la Cruz AM C 23
16 Jeffrey Manning ST C 23
17 Jeff Dyer AM L, ST C 22
18 Dan Hickman D L 23
19 Jack Newman D C 22
20 Stuart Sweeney M R 23
21 Ricky Fisher AM C, ST 23
22 Adolfo Cantu AM R 23
23 Mobi Kiefer M/AM R 22
24 Dylan Goodwin M LC 23
If I picked for every team in the draft, this is how it would go. This helps me to do a couple of things: First of all, I will make my pick based on this list. For example, in the 2017 my first pick is 7th. If for whatever reason, Sam Henley is available at #7, then I am selecting him. I also have noted on this list who the Generation Adidas players are. This will help me get an idea of how each player will affect the salary cap.

The other good thing about this list is that if ANY of these guys are still on the board when my second round pick comes up, I will choose them. That is unlikely since I have the last (24th) pick in the second round, the list is still helpful. I won’t bore you with the lists but I make one for each of the first three rounds, and it’s almost always good enough for the fourth round as well. I very rarely have to make a fourth round pick of a player that isn’t on my board for the first 3 rounds.

There are different ways to assemble your draft board. My personal philosophy is simply to take the best player available. This could mean best current ability, highest potential, or a combination of the two, but ability is the only factor I take into account when building my board. Another philosophy is to build your draft board according to your needs. I don’t want to pass on what might be a world class striker simply because I need a fullback. I’ll worry about those issues after the draft.



So, very exciting, here we go. The draft starts with FC Dallas making a somewhat surprising pick of Kenny Setzer at #1. Not shocking, as he was #2 on my board and on the Mock Draft, but there you go. Sporting Kansas City then acquires LAFC’s #2 pick during the draft and picks the highly touted Carranza. No big shocker, Minnesota United goes with Sam Hanley at #3, just as I expected.

So that brings up my pick. I went to my Inbox first, just to make sure that on other clubs were offering me something for this pick. It was actually a harder choice than I thought, because next on my board is a goalkeeper. I normally don’t like using first round picks on goalkeepers because there are usually plenty. So looking down my board I have Ramirez, who as I already stated is not a great fit for my style of play. Next on my board is a striker named Nathan McGuire from the University of Rutgers.



The kid looks pretty good. His physicals are eye-popping, he obviously has great determination, and his finishing looks to be high. This guy is starting immediately no matter who takes him. Ramirez not fitting my style and also not being a Generation Adidas mean’s I’m not taking him. It was a tough call between Escobar and McGuire, so I asked my Assistant and he suggests Escobar. There is strength in numbers when it comes to player evaluation, so I choose Escobar. He will allow me to get rid of one (or both) of my backup keepers, sit for one year behind Deric before becoming the first choice guy in 2018.

The first big surprise comes with the 5th pick when Columbus took Dave Torres (DM, MC). Torres was a guy with good current attributes but I rated as a second round pick at best because of his lower potential rating. So I cross my fingers hoping that McGuire would still be available at the 7th pick. Sadly, the Colorado Rapids nabbed him at #6. So with #7, I either have my the 7th guy on board, David DeLass, or Ramirez. Wanting to be thorough, I look at Tom Howard, another AM R prospect who I rated 8th. Comparing Howard to Ramirez was basically a wash. First of all, it’s not clear because I don’t have complete scouting on all of their attributes. Howard definitely has superior technique, finishing, decision making, and natural fitness. But Ramirez has better vision and is a slightly superior physically gifted player. One disadvantage for Ramirez is that he is not a Generation Adidas and will almost certainly demand a Senior Contract, which will affect the salary cap. In the end, however, I have to go with Ramirez. While not the perfect fit for the system, I have to believe that I can develop him into what I need. I won’t worry about the salary cap impact right now because I’m most likely going to loan him to Rio Grande Valley FC the first year anyway, and I have to take the best player available. Of course, Tom Howard was taken with the very next pick by Conference-rival Portland Timbers.

When the 22nd pick rolled around, I still had 9 players from my first round board left. The highest rated was an AM C named Miguel Angel Robles, which was my #14:



This was actually a pretty easy pick. Although my scouts had other players with higher current ability ratings, he was easily the highest rated in potential. He also has a fairly professional personality which means there is hope for his development. Orlando took another guy not on my board at #23, so I still had plenty of options at #24. I landed on Ramirez’s teammate Jeff Dyer, a left winger:



This kid had some of the best physicals that I saw in the draft. Scouts rated his potential to be pretty high as well. After drafting Ramirez and Dyer I was curios to see how Wisconsin performed with these two lads up front. In 2016, they went 15-3-5 (5-2-1 Big Ten), won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships. They made it to the Elite Eight (quarterfinals) of the NCAA Championship Tournament before falling to Presbyterian on a golden goal. I think it would be kind of cool if someday they could be on the front line in the future, winning the MLS Cup.

When it came to my second round pick, 48th overall, the #16 player on my board was still available, Jeffrey Manning:



Scouts are high on him, he’s a local guy, and I like his determination. I believe he’ll develop into a top MLS striker. His first year I will ship him off on loan to RGVFC, which is where he played college so he's familiar with the area.

In the third round I picked up a Left Back:



At this point I’m absolutely drafting based entirely on potential, which my scours are high on this guy. He’ll be a good team guy, possibly a future captain. Clearly as a player he is a bit of a project to become the attacking fullback that we prefer, but he’ll get there.

And the last pick of the entire draft is this fullback from East Tennessee State:



Another guy to help at outside back in the future. Versatile enough to play on either side, which was certainly a factor on choosing him.

So that’s the draft. I ended up with 8 guys who I think will help the team. Some now, others a year or two down the road. They rated my draft poorly, but they always do because I don’t worry about current ability at all beyond the first round. In 2020 I will stack my draft picks up against anyone:



This is where the challenge really begins for putting together your MLS Squad because as of now I have 38 players. This means that at least ten of those guys have to either be let go or sent out on loan. While obviously a handful of no-hopers can be sent packing, the rest will be tricky as I have to take into account the salary cap, international player restrictions, etc. I’ll look at that, as well as my preseason, in the next post.