BREAKING NEWS - July 2023

As reported by media outlets world wide, July 3rd 2023 saw The Red Bull Group officially confirm deals to bring in 5 new football teams under their footballing umbrella. In a first for the company and football as a whole, all 5 deals were signed simultaneously via a Skype call with each team. The completion of these 5 deals takes the number of clubs under the Red Bull umbrella to 9.

Joining the group are Etimesgut FC in Turkey currently in Spor Toto 2, the third tier of football. Alteños de Tepatitlán FC from Mexico, playing in the Mexican expansion league, Kongsvinger FC from Norway playing in the OBOS-Liagen both of which are the second division, and Shanghai Jiading Huilong Football Club from China, playing in the Chinese Jia league also the second tier. Lastly Uruguayan team Cerro Largo playing in the Liga Professional, the top division has also joined the group.

All 5 teams will now be known as Red Bull Ankara, Red Bull Morelos, Red Bull Kongsvinger, Red Bull Shanghai & Red Bull Melo respectively. Red Bull Sporting director and Head of Football Marshall Johnson confirmed in the press release:

‘We are delighted to bring these new teams into our group. All have showed the same desire as we here at the Red Bull group have as a whole, as well as our other teams already in the group. All these teams share the ideals and beliefs we proudly implement group wide. All of the teams will be employing those practices right from the off and will be implementing the standards of The Red Bull Group’

‘The majority of the teams are stabilized enough in their respective divisions and are each expecting to follow in the footsteps of our leader clubs Red Bull Salzburg & RB Liepzig, in that promotion and progression is at the forefront of their collective minds’

When asked why these teams were acquired specifically, Mister Johnson replied:

‘Each were taken on a deal by deal basis but all fit into our groups strategy. Cerro Largo in Uruguay are established enough in their own right to be able to challenge for honors and have some exciting youth players. Shanghai, as with a host of Chinese clubs have the infrastructure in place but need a bit of guidance which I am sure Red Bull will be able to help with. Kongsvinger are in a transition of sorts and in need of investment to be able to take the next steps, which are to improve the club and help build young talent whilst aiming for promotion. In Ankara we felt we could get a team in Turkey challenging for the top division whilst developing our youth players throughout the network. As with our teams in Austria and Germany, we wanted to put that model in place in other places in Europe and that’s why they have agreed for investment. Ankara and Kongsvinger are ideal locations for our leader teams to be able to send youth players to play, gain vital first team experience as well as having those teams compete at the top of the league’

When asked about Ankara, being in the third division as opposed to the second and first division teams, Mister Marshall responded:

‘There are exciting times for the club. Currently in the third division, the club are poised to make a challenge for promotion this season, and we feel some young players from other teams in the network would benefit going there and experiencing first team football challenging for promotion. Once we secure promotion and progression there we can really push on and get Ankara to a place where we can not only develop our young players but challenge for honours in Turkey’

After taking more questions from various worldwide media through Skype, Mister Johnson spoke of each of the teams individually in more detail as well as outlining the clubs on pitch philosophy and ideals. The main talking points from the rest of the press release are below:

• Each team is tasked with playing energetic, high-intensity, high-pressing football. The team needs to be active with or without the ball and ensuring each game is met with the same focus, to win.
• The groups overall focus is on developing young players and making the transition from one Red Bull team to another seamless. The overall goal being able to get players to be worthy of a place in the RB Leipzig first team.
• As with other major football clubs around the world, the group expect to develop and sell players for a profit, becoming self sustainable. This club vision is to be implemented at each team in the network, as it already is in Leipzig & Salzburg
• Aggressiveness in the transfer and loan markets seeking to develop both the club and the Red Bull brand with any players bought (under the age of 21) and sold should be for a profit.
• Whilst developing young players each team are also expected to compete for honours in their respective countries. Referring to the above point on the transfer market, any players over the age of 21 that are signed are to be ready for first team football.
• Regarding each team and their senior clubs:
  • For Red Bull Melo their parent club is going to be New York Red Bulls, who will be able to send players on loan to Melo. Red Bull Bragantino, based in Brazil who are already a part of the group before this announcement, will also be able to send loan players to Melo.
  • Red Bull Kongsvinger & Ankara are going to have Red Bull Salzburg as their parent club, with Salzburg being able to use both for loaning players. Each of these teams will host an annual friendly with Salzburg.
  • Red Bull Shanghai are to be able to send players on loan to any of the other new teams, with Leipzig & Salzburg being able to use Shanghai for youth player training & loans. Salzburg are the parent club for Shanghai.
  • The 2 new European teams are expected to achieve promotion to their respective top divisions, with Kongsvinger aiming for promotion within 3 seasons. Current season for not included. Ankara’s initial aim is to be a secure third tier side in their first season in the group. Progress from then on.
  • Red Bull Morelos will be seen as a feeder team for New York Red Bulls initially(*) with the aim of getting promoted to Mexicos top division. Once there the link will be reviewed.
• Red Bull Melo are expected to be challenging for honors within the next 2 seasons. Current season not included.
• For Red Bull Shanghai, promotion is expected within 2 seasons, current season not included. Continental qualification and player development to follow, in line with the groups overall strategy.
• RB Liepzig is going to continue to be the groups main flagship club, and can use any of the clubs in its network for loaning players and youth player progression.
• Each main team in the network, NY Red Bulls, RB Leipzig & RB Salzburg, will be given priority over the signing of youth players from any other team in the group. This is one of the groups main objectives, to get youth players ready for first team football at any of the main clubs.
• Each team will be able to use it’s parent clubs scouting knowledge. Ankara will be able to use the knowledge gained by Salzburg for example. In practice they could also use the network knowledge of New York Red Bulls if the need arises.
• The aim of on field progress is the main objective for the group, however there are no plans to add any other team to the core main team group of 3 leader clubs. This could change in the future.

With the above philosophy being group wide, each team will also aim to challenge for continental success. Mister Johnson stopped short of comparing themselves to the City Group, owners of Manchester City and other teams around the world. He joked that he was sure Red Bull Leipzig or Salzburg would win the UEFA Champions League before Manchester City or Girona FC would. He also continued regarding the coaching roles at the new clubs:

‘I can’t comment on any changes to the coaching staff at the the new teams just yet, it is something we’re discussing internally first. Although there are new chairmen that have been placed at Red Bull Melo and Red Bull Kongsvinger, the youth set up and training facilities are being given additional focus at all of the new teams whilst we make decisions on the coaching staff at the new teams. We are delighted, as are the teams themselves, to be embarking on this journey and we’re all committed to making as much progress as we can. Thank you for your time’

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* During a test save, Morelos got promoted to the Liga MX in Mexico, the top division, and New York changed the affiliation in game to stop players moving freely between the clubs, and the status changed from feeder to a normal affiliated club.

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Cross posted at The Journeyman Jock

Consider me invested

Another great write up mate keep it up

I had the same thing, turns out the game had created a folder in my One Drive, in a different place than the usual graphics folder and saved games folder in My Documents. Maybe look there, put the graphics folder in the sports interactive folder if there is one in one drive too, that's how I've got graphics in the game. It's not even looking for graphics in the usual place, I don't know why and it saves game in One Drive as well

You need to go into the dev center bit

I just use this image resizer website, resize it to 200x200 for the main logo then to 20x20 for icon logos. I've had a few custom logos made and all work fine and not blurry when I've done this.

Ahh snap nah I only copied the files across, what do I need to change?

Mine aren't, I'm only getting static black ad boards when I've moved the folder into FM24 😢

Yeah I'm with SI on this, Martinelli is decent but won't be at the top level much longer, from the end of this season he'll go down in production and stats. Same with Saka, might have a couple of good games here and there but as a top tier player long term, nah

Got caught up on here, since I last logged in you've gone from MLS, to Mexico, back to MLS and now back to Mexico. Maybe you'll get your head round the MLS rules eventually hahah

I live in York, so not too far from Leeds / Farley. Def following this.

Just caught up on this, good going and seems that FM23 saves with added leagues work fine in 24. What skin is that you're using?

I caved and got 24, whether it runs quick on my laptop will have to see, and I am hoping to get a new one for when 25 hits too. They have marketed 24 well and with Japan as a main feature got me hooked, imagine if you could've gone to Japan on journeyman's journey!

Yeah it's got that silly average points system most of South America use. Plus the opening and closing stages as well.

That’s the thing isn’t it, getting time to actually play it now and get it posted up on to here. I always end up going back to 17, even though I caved and got 24. 

Hahaha oh dear! Where did I get Chile from?!? I know it’s Uruguay as well haha. 

This is just going to be a log of what's gone on in my save in the FM24 beta. No long term aims, no youth development, no trophy hoarding hunting, just your bog standard journeyman save.

This won't be in narrative form either, that will be reserved for my long term save coming to the forum on on just after the release of the full game in a couple of weeks time. 

That handy little pick club for me button pulled it out the bag, as it has sent me to Uruguay and to Atletica Potencia. No, me neither.

This club is expected to finish bottom of the Segunda division, and I join them with them in the dizzying heights of 13th of 14 teams

Winger / forward  Brahian Ferreira and keeper cum left full back, randomly, Esteban Correa are what the staff think are the best of a bad bunch of players. Not world beaters by any means but for this league, it is what it is I guess and what I'm working with for now

1 win in 8 legue games isn't the best form, and I'm not sure what the Torneo Competencia is, but they got to the final of it so maybe they're not as bad as it looks?
 

I'm not sure as I've not checked yet, I've just loaded the game but I'm sure Uruguay  has that God awful average points crap teams in South America do, so we need to be picking points up as soon as possible. that new set piece thing looks canny enough, so I'll probably be instructing them to play for set pieces, assuming we've got some good dead ball takers of course.

Updates will be as and when I can get them up, I don't get to play FM as much as I used to do, damn you age, work & responsibilitites!

Great name Willie, playing well too

I've just noticed you've got a striker called Canada, who's from Canada and plays in Canada WTF 

😁😁 I'm toying with the idea of 24 and what to do in it or to stick to an older FM, but will definitely be getting something else soon mate

Hard lines with Galaxy, I always struggled in the MLS that bloody salary cap and DP players is confusing as hell. But what a good start in Canada though. Do you think you'll have a crack at the CONCACAF Champs league, if Canadian teams can get into it?

That would be great thank you

Why is it now a megapack? Why can't we download individual packs any more?

Blows my mind that Bellingham is sooooooo good already AND is still classed as a wonderkid!

Great skin, but can you do it without the club finances on the club screen? I

Seen Kev over on the SI boards went the full first season un beaten with Celtic, think he only drew 4 games and won the rest. Not saying Celtic are overpowered in FM24 but that's gonna take some topping 

I watched the first episode a few days ago, not caught up on the others yet.  Will catch up on the others though for sure

I'm on board just from this graphics mate!

I remember Journeymans Journey, what a save that was! You've had a couple of good saves on here as well mate. I'm like you, always keep going back to FM17, I am planning on playing 24 though. Currently playing another save in FM17 in Brazil.

Love a good journeyman save with random countries, so def following this if you keep at it 

The end is near (Back to the journey, man Ep:6) 

‘That was great Cedric, but you didn’t need to scream at the top of your lungs just to get a game, you’re starting today’

‘Strike?’ He still hadn’t mastered the English saying of striker, so I replied ‘No son, you’re on the right wing’. He just smiled and walked back to his seat in the dressing room. Most of the other players looked like they would rather be somewhere else, much like me.

I didn’t want to get up today. Getting up and heading to our ground meant I’d be that much closer to seeing DRB getting relegated, in my first ever role as a manager for good measure. But not to be a downer I get the team ready for the game. I also tell them I won’t be keeping an eye on any of the other games as we just need to concentrate on our performance and nothing else. A clear lie, as I would be checking the scores at half time.

The game starts and we’re looking sloppy already, misplacing passes, not closing down quick enough but our keeper doesn’t have anything to do luckily. 18 minutes into the game though and I’m told that Kuantan have taken the lead in their game at home to Negeri, so we need to press on. I refrain from telling the players the score.

I try to encourage the players and get some fight in them, and we do respond with a couple of half chances, but nothing goes in the net right away. Bright Dike passed the fitness test on the morning and while he does look a bit sluggish he manages to give the us lead right on half time. A cross from our right is headed in by Dike, a typical center forwards goal

We’re still sort of in control of our destiny, as UiTM are doing their part in our survival quest by losing away to ATM, but Kuantan are winning meaning 3 teams are on 24 points, and we’ve got 23 at half time.

I tell the players we’re doing well at the half, and to be fair we are. Whilst we’ve been sloppy our keeper has only touched the ball a couple of times and we’re in the lead. I’m anxious that we’ll let slip defensivley but I’ve got to be optimistic heading into the second half

We start the second half on the front foot, just like we finished the first. We test their keeper with a shot from Dike that’s held easily, then we’re back in our usual slump of allowing the opposition time and space on the ball.

We ride our luck until the 70th minute when I get word that Negeri Sembilan have equalised away at Kuantan

I decide to tell the players that Negeri had equalised and we’ve just got to see it through although Kuala Lumpur woke up and in the final 20 minutes or so absolutely peppered our goal. We blocked shots, saw the post rattled twice, a goal line clearance but thankfully Lady Luck shone down on us and we saw it through to scrape a 1-0 win

With those 3 vital points, possibly the most important win so far in my time here, we’re only 1 point away from safety, with Perlis up next who are on 24 points

Things look a lot simpler now, as we need to beat Perlis to have any hope of surviving. We also need UiTM or Kuantan to lose or at least draw to secure survival. But mission objective number one is beat Perlis by any means and that’s the message I’m sending the players.

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Cross posted at The Journeyman Jock