Euro 2024 according to Football Manager 2018

 
 

Before the real-life tournament kicks off, let’s see how Euro 2024 played out according to #FM18 👀

A lot can happen in 6 years...

Research indicates that in real life Germany weren’t confirmed as host country for Euro 2024 until late in 2018, and as Sports Interactive implemented the FM18 data lock prior to this, the in-game engine has decided that Turkey shall be the hosts of the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championships.

 
 

No major shocks in the qualifying phase; notable absentees include the likes of Czech Republic, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland who all failed to emerge from their groups. A Tony Pulis-led Wales will be Turkey-bound this summer, while Northern Ireland reach their first Euro finals since 2016 with clashes against France and Germany to look forward to.

 
 

What will actually shock you? Let’s start with the England Manager who for some reason was offered the role after winning the Championship with Aston Villa in 2022 (having relegated them the year before)

Arise, Sir Steve Bruce 🥬

 
 

Speaking of England - the media seem most surprised by the omissions of Harry Winks & Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from cabbage-man’s 26-man squad, while there are somewhat surprise call ups for Brentford’s Joe Wildsmith (currently at Derby County IRL) and Jamal Lascelles who picked up the last of his 2 in-game England caps back in 2021.

No sign of Declan Rice (Reading) who to date has been capped 12 times for Ireland 👀

 
 

In Group A Croatia are stunned by a 2-0 victory for Slovakia having travelled without Luka Modric after he retired in 2021 at the age of 35, FM18’s view on longevity clearly differs from modern day. England start with a backline of Eric Dier, Reece Oxford, Nathaniel Chalobah and Josh Tymon (his 35th cap btw) and are held to a 1-1 draw by Romania with Rashford on the scoresheet 🤷.

Both recover to pick up 3 points before facing off against in the final group game - a 2-2 draw includes a Harry Kane brace and both progress to the Last 16 so all is right in the world again.

 
 

Group B holds few surprises as Rafa Benitez’ Spain win all 3 games to top their group ahead of runners up Sweden, Samu Castillejo rising to be Spain’s talisman so make of that what you will. 

Dortmund’s Alexander Isak was an FM18 wonderkid but fails to score in any of Sweden’s group games, John Guidetti the unsung hero as they beat Switzerland to finish 2nd in the group.

 
 

In Group C Patrick Cutrone is the hero of Italy scoring 3 goals to help the Azzurri finish top on goal difference ahead of Jan Jansen’s (aka Danny Blind) Netherlands, yep, that was a thing. Donny Van De Beek and Rick van Drongelen are the standout stars for the Dutch, while Van Dijk has to make do with a pace on the bench - the multiverse eh.

 
 

Group D is arguably the group of the tournament in terms of surprises; after being held 1-1 by Wales in the opener, Belgium go on to lose 3-1 to Ukraine and only a surprise victory over group winners Portugal (without a retired Cristiano Ronaldo) sees them qualify as a best 3rd place nation - De Bruyne and Lukaku retiring from international football in 2020 and 2022 respectively hasn’t helped anyone’s case and sadly Stoke’s Gianelli Imbula and Barcelona’s (!) Divock Origi haven’t really cut the mustard 🤷. 4 goals by Artem Dovbyk see Ukraine finish 2nd, while Tony Pulis surprises no one as Wales finish bottom.

It’s Euro 2024 and we’ve mentioned Stoke and Tony Pulis in the same sentence…

 
 

As is the theme of today’s thread, it’s no surprise that Robert Lewandowski is also retired from international football (in 2018 for no apparent reason) however Poland still manage to limp through by finishing 3rd in Group E; Turkey who aren’t led by Fatih Terim finish 2nd and Russia top the group as this is a world where they haven’t started a war and therefore are allowed to participate.

 
 

Group F is a straight out battle between Germany and France however and it’s the Germans who finish top after beating France in the opening fixture; I can’t tell you anything about the Germans as they were unlicensed in FM18 and I forgot to do a name-fix, while France are led as normal by the likes of Mbappé, Griezmann, Pogba and..Jean-Kévin Augustin. I love football. 

 
 

It’s knockout time at Euro 2024 as we reach the Last 16! Tammy Abraham nets the winner as England overcome Belgium 2-1 after Nathaniel Chalobah opened the scoring, man-of-the-match award for Deli Alli, what could have been. A Pietro Pellegri hat-trick leads sees Italy demolish Sweden, as does Kylian Mbappé as the French dispose of Sweden (Isak still hasn’t scored). Isco helps the Spanish limp past Romania while there are also wins for Croatia, Portugal, Germany and Ukraine courtesy of a brace from Dovbyk who already looks set to win the Golden Boot.

 
 

We’ve reached the Quarter Finals. It’s the Croats who continue to outperform at major tournaments, a Marco Pjaca inspired 3-1 victory over Portugal despite Gelson Martins winning the man-of-the-match award. A brace by Alvaro Morata sees Spain dump out the Germans, so glad they are out considering their left-back is called Eduard Egg and I can’t be dealing with that.

Cutrone is the hero again as Italy knock out Ukraine, while in Istanbul England have comfortably beaten the French with goals from Harry Kane and you guessed it, Lewis Cook ✅.

 
 

EURO 2024 SEMI-FINAL

Despite Croatia’s heroics up to now, Spain prove to be too strong and goals from Pablo Fornals and Jorge Meré (I miss him) see the Spaniards advance to the final of Euro 24 with Rafa Benitez at the helm and David De Gea still in goal..impressive seeing as the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal don’t even exist in this universe.

Meanwhile Italy play England in a repeat of the real-life 2020 final which I suppose is somewhat poetic for the narrative - unfortunately the outcome is the same, heartbreak for England as an 86th minute Moise Kean header beats Jack Butland to send the English home and put Italy through to the final. Steve Bruce holds his head high and remarkably keeps his job - I feel we should almost have a spin-off to see what he gets up to next, but that’s for another day.

 
 

THE FINAL 

Here we are - live from the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul in front of 75,000 fans, it’s the Spain versus Italy in a repeat of the Euro 2012 final in which Spain ran riot to win 4-0 on the day; is this to be revenge and redemption for the Italians, or will we see Spain pick up their 4th European Championship?

In this world Iñaki Williams has declared for Spain and not Ghana, music to Spanish ears as he opens the scoring to give them an early lead. Italy manager Stefano Pioli shows he is not afraid to make the big calls - the misfiring Kean and Cutrone are replace by Pellegri and Emanuel Vignato on 56 minutes, and it’s the latter who repays the faith in his manager to score in the 69th minute - a goal which proves to be decisive as the game goes to extra-time after both teams cant’ be separated in 90 minutes.

The clock ticks on - Italy bring on Fede Chiesa while Spain deploy Saúl and, Munir? A quick Google tells us he currently plys his trade at Las Palmas so the multiverse strikes again, but this commentator ends up eating his words as the ex Barca forward pops up with a 114th minute winner to send the Henri Delaunay trophy back to Spain once more.


🏆 SPAIN ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS 🏆

 
 

As predicted, Artem Dovbyk wins the Golden Boot with 6 goals ahead of Mbappé and André Silva on 5; despite their Quarter Final exit, it’s Mbappé who wins Player of the Tournament with an 8.0 average rating, so the world rights itself again in that sense I suppose.

The Euro 24 Dream Team is announced - FM18 wonderkid Jorgé Mére is included, a world away from the Mexican league where he is currently on the books at Club América; there is also a place for England and Chelsea’s Josh Tymon who for some reason has become one of the best left-backs in the world within this universe despite (oh no I’m gonna say it again) starting FM18 at Stoke City…

 
 

There we have it - Euro 2024 according to FM18 and for sure a lot can happen in 6 years; be sure to also check out our list of Wonderkids to Watch for the real-life tournament, and follow us on X for all of our latest Football Manager content.

Enjoy the Euros - I’m off to uninstall FM18 again forever...👋

Premier League Licensing in Football Manager

 
 

The day has finally come.

No more generic Mickey Mouse club logos. No more Microsoft Paint football kits. No more endless downloading of graphics packs, faces, logos, kits. No more Man UFC…

 
 

On Monday the 10th of June 2024, Sports Interactive confirmed that the Football Manager game series will officially be licensed by the Premier League, a “multi-year partnership” which will see all 20 Premier League clubs officially licensed in the game for the first time in its history.

What does this mean?

This is huge. To start with, no more downloads. Though the game has always contained Premier League data in terms of player and club info, those of us who want to enjoy a fully immersive experience have long had to install multiple renditions of facepacks, kitpacks, logos, stadium images etc in order to create a truly realistic environment when managing in the Premier League - a feat which required multiple downloads each year (of varying lengths depending on size and internet speed), intensive PC memory to store thousands upon thousands of images, manual intervention in the event that your favourite Wonderkid was omitted from a particular facepack, not to mention the need to frequently keep images updated as Wonderkids grew older and their original facepacks became ever so slightly outdated in-game…

 
 

Throwback to Joe’s OG facepacks 😁

On a more serious note - what we will in fact see is far more realism in-game when it comes to the Premier League. Sports Interactive being officially licensed should open up new doors in terms of club access, data accuracy, player and staff info, backroom structures, transfer & contract details, club facilities, youth team setups - all of which have been relatively accurate in previous games however there was always that “pinch of salt” element, a virtual asterisk* on every PL club knowing that no official relationship or licensing agreement existed between the Premier League and Football Manager.

From this...

 

*Brighton & Man City were previously the only licensed PL clubs in FM24

 

To this..

 

Beautiful

 

And from this..

 
 

To this..

 
 

NO MORE MAN UFC

Furthermore - official Premier League licensing will also ensure both accuracy and an ability to keep up with an ever evolving landscape in which PL clubs play and operate; that means that any planned or implemented changes to things like VAR, Profit and Sustainability, Coefficient Data, Prize Money, League Rules etc should all not only be updated and accurate at all times in-game, but also allow Sports Interactive to plan ahead for any future changes as well as deploy updates if and when substantial events or changes do take place in the real world - again something that will foster even more realism and narrative which is what we as Football Manager enthusiasts often crave more than anything else when it comes to our save adventures.

Premier League licensing is a welcome and long overdue addition to the Football Manager series (props to all involved in making it happen 🤝), and this combined with recent updates from the studio about the future of Football Manager and the new Unity game engine make for an awesome build up and hype ahead of the release of FM25 in a few months time. What may be even more interesting is whether we will learn further as to what has enabled this licensing agreement to finally get over the line, a deal which to many would have seemed impossible to achieve in recent years - we will discuss this and much more over on the 5 Star Potential podcast in the coming weeks.

As you can tell, we are very excited..are you? Let us know over on X or in the comments below! 👇

Thanks for reading,

Euro 2024 - Wonderkids to Watch

 
 

With Euro 2024 on the horizon, we’ve picked out one Wonderkid to Watch for each participating nation at this year’s European Championship 🔎 

Group A

Germany - Maximilian Beier (Age 21)

A rapid attacker with 16 goals in 33 games for Hoffenheim this season which earned him a deserved place in Germany’s final 26-man squad; while he may find himself behind the likes of Kai Havertz and Niclas Füllkrug in Nagelsmann’s pecking order, he offers a more explosive and unpredictable option to Germany’s frontline if given the minutes in this year’s tournament.

 
 

Scotland - Billy Gilmour (Age 22)

Still only 22, Billy Gilmour became a mainstay in Brighton’s midfield this season with 30 league games played, and looks set to take on a key role in Scotland’s midfield alongside John McGinn and Scott McTominay. His quality on the ball and ability to break down play in midfield should be crucial if Scotland hope to advance from a tricky Group A this year alongside Germany, Hungary and Switzerland.

 
 

Hungary - Milos Kerkez (Age 20)

A player who made an immediate impact on the Premier League since arriving at Bournemouth last summer and one who could play a huge part in Hungary’s Euro 2024 campaign. While Dominik Szoboszlai is the obvious talisman for the Hungarians this summer, keep an eye on 20-year-old Kerkez’s performances as an explosive wing-back on the left-hand side.

 
 

Switzerland - Fabian Rieder (Age 22)

One of the more aged teams in this year’s competition, Switzerland generally rely on the solidity of midfield duo Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler, however in the absence of any real attacking threat centrally, keep an eye out for Rennes’ Fabian Rieder, who finished the season strongly in France following a €15m move last summer; good on the ball with strong passing and vision and excellent technical ability, he adds an additional layer of class to this highly consistent Swiss side who have qualified for every major tournament since 2012.

 
 

Group B

Spain - Lamine Yamal (Age 16)

Who else could it be? The minute Lamine Yamal takes to the pitch at this year’s Euros he will become the youngest ever player to feature in the tournament; still only 16 and not 17 until after the competition, we are looking at the youngest player and goalscorer in both La Liga history and on the international stage for Spain, so there is little doubt that we will see him grace one of the biggest stages in world football this summer.

 
 

Croatia - Martin Baturina (Age 21)

Another talented youngster who finds himself among an ageing squad, however being touted as the next Luka Modric should give him plenty of confidence and with the latter now at the age of 37, there is every chance that Baturina will get minutes in Germany either off the bench or as a substitute depending on whether results go in Croatia’s favour; with 7 goals and 9 assists for Dinamo Zagreb last season (impressive for a deep-lying playmaker), he has since attracted interest from Arsenal and looks set for a big future in the coming seasons.

 
 

Italy - Riccardo Calafiori (Age 22)

With Italy’s defensive line having been rocked by the injuries and subsequent absence of Francesco Acerbi and Giorgio Scalvini, there is every chance we will see Calafiori take up a key role in Luciano Spaletti’s side especially with the wily Italian expected to deploy a back three in this year’s tournament. Having impressed highly and played a key role in Bologna’s Champions League qualification this season after being moved from Left-Back to Centre-Back by Thiago Motta, it’s little wonder he is the first name on the list of the latter who looks set to take the reins at Juventus.

 
 

Albania - Kristjan Asllani (age 22)

A €10m signing from Empoli last summer, Asllani is yet to fully break into the Inter Milan midfield with the trio of Çalhanoğlu, Barella and Mkhitaryan proving unflappable throughout the entirety of their Scudetto title win last season. That said, a host of promising cameo appearances suggest he is highly regarded by Simone Inzaghi and a big tournament this summer would go a long way towards forcing himself into first-team contention at the San Siro next season; likely to hold a more defensive role for Albania especially considering the group they are in, Asllani has excellent positional sense, great feet and can unlock an opposition block through his passing and vision with ease.

 
 

Group C

Slovenia - Benjamin Šeško (Age 21)

The obvious choice, by a country mile. Not only a legendary FM wonderkid in recent seasons, Šeško has gone from strength to strength since moving to RB Leipzig and it’s little wonder he is arguably the most coveted striker in Europe this summer, not only based on his 14 league goals in 17 starts (14 sub appearances) but also his unique style and ability with many comparing him to a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic at this early stage in his career. Arsenal are rumoured to be leading the chase for his signature, and a good performance at this year’s tournament will surely add digits to his price tag.

 
 

Denmark - Rasmus Højlund (Age 21)

Another obvious choice but again we have a top prospect who finds himself surrounded by a group of ageing players who will have one last hoorah at Euro 2024 for Denmark. Likely favourites to finish second in their group behind England, they will need the young Man Utd striker to be firing on all cylinders with the likes of Jonas Wind and Youssef Poulsen having proven ineffective at times for the national side. 

 
 

Serbia - Lazar Samardžić (Age 22)

While Serbia’s combination of Sergej Milinković-Savić and Aleksandar Mitrovic usually defines their on-field success, keep an eye on Udinese’s talented playmaker Lazar Samardžić who has been heavily linked with the likes of Juventus, Napoli and Barcelona in recent months. Technically gifted with outstanding vision and ball control in the middle of the park, he could be a gamechanger for Serbia if given the minutes and freedom in Germany this summer.

 
 

England - Adam Wharton (Age 20)

A natural toss-up between Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton for England’s one to watch, however the latter is arguably more intriguing after his performances for Crystal Palace literally forced himself into Gareth Southgate’s squad - made even more impressive by the fact that he only joined Palace last January. While unlikely to be a starter, if England perform as expected in a group where they are by far the strongest team on paper, then Wharton might just get the opportunity to show the world what he can do on the international stage in Germany.

 
 

Group D

Poland - Kacper Urbański (Age 19)

Another contributor to Bologna’s successful Champions League qualification this season, the 19-year-old was uncapped before being called up for this year’s tournament however a highly impressive debut in a friendly against Ukraine might just convince manager Michał Probierz to give him his chance in Germany this summer; highly versatile with great ball control, vision and movement - he brings something new to an otherwise predictable Poland side and alongside Nicola Zalewski represents a new generation of Polish internationals.

 
 

Netherlands - Xavi Simons (Age 21)

There’s not a lot we can say about Xavi Simons that hasn’t already been said over the past few seasons, with the main question mark being where he will play his football next season after a highly impressive loan spell at RB Leipzig which saw him notch up 8 goals and 13 assists in the Bundesliga this year. Another who finds himself in a slightly ageing squad setup, he looks set to play a prominent role for the Netherlands this summer as arguably their most productive outlet going forward if given the gametime and creative freedom he needs to thrive in this Dutch side.

 
 

Austria - Nicolas Seiwald (Age 23)

Another from the RB Leipzig hype train, at 23 Seiwald finds himself as the youngest player in Austria’s 26-man squad but increasingly likely to feature prominently for Ralf Ragnick’s side in Germany due to his team-mate for club and country Xaver Schlager picking up an ACL injury ruling him out of this year’s tournament. A tough tackling combative midfielder, he offers a steel core in midfield which in turn allows the likes of Marcel Sabitzer and Christoph Baumgartner to push on and offer more of an attacking threat to support lone striker Marco Arnautovic.

 
 

France - Warren Zaïre-Emery (Age 18)

Despite starring regularly for PSG throughout the season, the depth and quality of France’s midfield (combined with Didier Deschamps’ often more reserved tactical approach) mean that Zaïre-Emery might find game time limited at this year’s Euros. That said, should France struggle to comfortably navigate their group as expected then the young Frenchman offers a more dynamic and creative option in midfield when compared to the likes of Kanté, Tchouaméni, Camavinga and Rabiot and should Antoine Griezmann fail to perform or require rest at any point, Zaïre-Emery offers an intriguing option to this year’s tournament favourites.

 
 

Group E

Belgium - Johan Bakayoko (Age 21)

Off the back of a title winning season which saw him contribute 14 goals and 14 assists for PSV, Johan Bakayoko has done everything possible to deserve a start for Belgium in their opening fixture against Slovakia and looks set for a big move this summer especially if he shines for his national side in the coming weeks; his pace and energy make it easy to compare him to compatriot Jeremy Doku however Bakayoko offers even more in terms of ball distribution, decision-making and overall end product off the right-hand side. Already heavily linked with the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle and Bayern Munich.

 
 

Slovakia - Tomáš Suslov (Age 22)

A January signing for Hellas Verona, Suslov finished the season strongly with 3 goals and 5 assists in Serie A and broke into his national side during qualification scoring a crucial winner against Iceland to help Slovakia finish second behind Portugal in the group stages. Highly versatile with the ability to play anywhere across the attacking midfield strata, he offers an exciting and dynamic option in a tough group alongside Belgium, Romania and Ukraine.

 
 

Romania - Radu Drăgușin (Age 22)

By far the youngest player in Romania’s final 26-man squad and with that their most important player if they stand any chance of qualification from the group stages; though they went unbeaten in qualification and topped a group containing Switzerland, Israel, Belarus, Kosovo and Andorra - they are largely expected to struggle in Germany and Drăgușin will be key to marshalling their defence in the hope they can stifle the likes of Belgium and Ukraine. 

 
 

Ukraine - Illya Zabarnyi (Age 21)

Another Bournemouth player makes the list, they really are playing FM in real life. While Ukraine are somewhat blessed with attacking options with the likes of Mudryk, Dovbyk, Tsyhankov, Yaremchuk and Malinovski to choose from, they will need to prove themselves defensively solid if they are to go far in the competition and a big tournament from Zabarnyi could prove crucial if they are to progress from the group stages; having played every league minute for vastly improved Bournemouth this season bar one game missed against Brighton, he should be full of confidence coming into the Ukraine camp in a group where they are expected to qualify alongside Belgium.

 
 

Group F

Turkey - Arda Güler (Age 19)

A flip between Güler and Kenan Yıldız for Turkey’s one to watch, but it’s simply impossible to ignore the former’s performances for Real Madrid in the back end of last season, returning from injury to score 6 goals in just 373 minutes of football for the La Liga champions - propelling him to international stardom and setting him up for a big role in Turkey’s Euro campaign this summer in an exciting midfield alongside Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Orkun Kökçü. If Turkey can get it right this year following a number of disappointing tournaments, then expect big things from Güler when the time comes.

 
 

Georgia - Georges Mikautadze (Age 23)

While most eyes will be on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia when Georgia open their campaign against Turkey in a few weeks time, Georgia’s “redeemed” golden boy Georges Mikautadze is very much one to watch this year especially knowing that opposition defences will largely be focused on the threat of “Kvaradona”. Tipped for big things after a €16m move to Ajax last summer, he largely unimpressed having failed to score during the first half of the season and was subsequently loaned back to relegation threatened Metz in January; this seemed to light a flame for Mikautadze, his end of season form (11 goals in 12 games) helping Metz avoid relegation and propelling him right back in to manager Willy Sagnol’s first XI plans this summer. 

 
 

Portugal - Joao Neves (Age 18)

One of the big favourites this year, the only thing stopping Neves from having a breakout tournament is that Portugal are absolutely STACKED when it comes to midfield options; Palhinha, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes - manager Roberto Martinez has his work cut out for him in terms of team selection, however it can’t be ignored that Neves has been one of the standout midfielders in Europe all season and regardless of what happens in Germany, looks set for a huge move this summer from Benfica. Though only 18, his quality and composure on the ball combined with his strength, aggression and press resistance make him a ready-made all-action midfielder for this Portugal side and he is certainly one to watch if given minutes in this year’s tournament.

 
 

Czechia - Adam Hlozek (Age 21) 

A player all FM enthusiasts are well aware of however he hasn’t reached the same levels in real life as yet; extremely highly rated as a youth player which led to a €13m move to Leverkusen in 2022 after being linked with almost every elite club in Europe, he has struggled to break into Xabi Alonso’s first team and managed only a host of cameo appearances during their title-winning campaign; that said, he and club-mate Patrick Schick are arguably Czechia’s most potent goal-threats, and Hlozek would highly benefit from having a breakout tournament with his future largely uncertain at Leverkusen next season.

 
 

Did we miss anyone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!! 👇

Manchester United Rebuild

As the dust settles on Manchester United’s worst ever Premier League finish we questioned – Is it really that bad? 

It has been well documented that Manchester United have suffered with injuries in key areas, 14 different centre-back pairings for example, which is a plausible excuse, as is the poor performances of top professionals which can never be accounted for but if Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reading this (he’s a big listener of the 5 Star Potential Podcast so it’s possible) here is how we would start next season taking into account the club’s stature, league position and the fan’s desire for there to be some structure moving forward.  

The Mental Game  

How many radio shows, podcasts, Monday Night Footballs have you listened to or watched this season where the pundits have asked who is inspiring these players? The Class of 92 walked in to a dressing room with Bryan Robson, Paul Ince, Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes and Wayne Rooney talks about joining United with the likes of Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes & Ruud van Nistelrooy in the dressing room – nowadays you’ve got talents like Rasmus Højlund looking up to Anthony Martial & Kobbie Mainoo looking at how Donny van der Beek’s career is progressing, it couldn’t be clearer, right? It’s time to tap in to the winner’s mentality, change the backroom team to include the likes of Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham, Wayne Rooney, Steve Bruce (he’s not done much recently has he?), Paul Ince, Mark Hughes etc etc.  

We brought in Roy Keane & Teddy Sheringham to join Darren Fletcher & Steve McClaren for their winning experiences with United and added Paul Robinson, Kevin Ball & Hugo Oliveira to freshen up the coaching team. We appointed Leonardo as the Director of Football to compliment the history of United’s Brazilian and Portuguese players.

 
 

Winning Squads 

When we look at two successful, winning squads they are comprised of 20 & 21 players that started more the 3 league games, if you are a long time listener of the podcast you’ll know that we bang on about having 2 players for every position so we’re looking at Fergie and that Champions League final and shaking our heads... Giggsy right mid? Who are we to question the great man, he got it done and the current United squad is miles off in comparison. We are not looking at squad size for the moment, what we are looking for are the comparisons: 

Onana – Schmeichel – Ederson  

There is no debating that Onana had a shaky start at United but as Gary Neville rightly or wrongly points out, being a United goalkeeper is the hardest position on the pitch *Roy Keane shakes his head* - but we are happy to keep Onana as first choice for now.  

AWB – Neville – Walker  

Kyle Walker has been a brilliant asset for Manchester City and England, his recovery pace is such a get out of jail card that he’s opens up different tactical options for his managers. When we look at Gary Neville, was he the best footballer? No, but he done all the basics brilliantly and as one of the most decorated players in Premier League history, doing the basics brilliantly can get you a long way in the game and this is why I would keep Wan-Bissaka at right back, but utilise him in a way that suits his game, keep him next to the centre-back doing what he does brilliantly, defending, instead of bombing forward where he starts to look like Bambi on a frozen lake. 

Varane/Martinez - Stam/Johnsen - Dias/Stones  

FOURTEEN different pairings says all you need to say about United’s centre-back catastrophe. Varane is leaving in the summer so that’s one problem we don’t need to deal with. Lisandro Martinez is class, he has the quality and determination you need from a centre-half, yes he’s not the tallest but he’ll put his body on the line for his team. Lindelof is another player that has just existed at United, there have been flashes of excellence from him but the consistency just isn’t there, another one for the exit list. Then there’s Harry Maguire, I think he’s still got it but he needs a massive confidence boost and for the other areas of the pitch to be doing their jobs well for him to thrive, he stays for another season.  

Shaw – Irwin – Gvardiol  

Another black hole in United’s defence this year was the injuries they sustained at left back, if Shaw can stay fit he’s an asset to United and can stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Irwin and Gvardiol as his peers. Then there’s Malacia, nobody really knows what’s happened to him this year but when he played, he played well so he stays.  

Casemiro – Keane – Rodri  

In terms of silverware it’s not a bad comparison but when you look at the performances Casemiro has put in this year he’s not fit... to tie the shoelaces of Roy Keane & Rodri, United need to hope that the Saudi money can save them with this one otherwise they’re hanging on to a literal anchor, man.  

 
 

Fernandes – Scholes – de Bruyne  

United’s best and most consistent player, Bruno Fernandes is what a United player should be, apart from the jumping around like he’s taken one from a sniper.  

Garnacho – Beckham – Silva  

He played too many games last season for someone learning their trade but I think everyone can see that there is a star player emerging but he needs time to develop and not end up burnt out. Diallo can certainly play a part with rotation in this position. Antony however  

Rashford – Giggs – Grealish  

On his day Rashford is unstoppable but this season his day’s out have been more frequent than good performances for United but he’s a United lad and unless a big transfer offer is on the table he needs to stay put. We also believe that the returning Sancho needs to be part of the conversation as well, with the right arm around him he can and will flourish.  

Højlund – Cole/Yorke/Solskjaer/Sheringham - Haaland  

They wanted Harry Kane, they didn’t get Harry Kane and they ended up signing potential and I think he’s had a good first season for his age and experience, especially in this United side but when you’re comparing him with the firepower United of 99 had or that of Manchester City it’s quite evident to see that options and rotation is required in this squad.  

I’ve purposely left out the likes of Mainoo & McTominay on the basis that they’ll be staying at the club but I think if you were to compare them to Foden & Butt respectively we wouldn’t be far wrong. 

The For Sale Board  

  • Victor Lindelof  

  • Anthony Martial – End of Contract  

  • Christian Eriksen  

  • Casemiro  

  • Raphael Varane – End of Contract  

  • Antony  

  • Donny van de Beek  

  • Jonny Evans – End of Contract  

WANTED 

  • Four centre-backs – Martinez and Maguire + 2  

  • Combative Midfielder to replace Casemiro – in the mould of Roy Keane  

  • Striker to rotate with Højlund  

Budget of £150m plus player sales.  

The Result  

 

The summer of 2024, France are European Champions with Randal Kolo Muani making amends by scoring a 115th minute winner for Les Bleus and Manchester United done some business. What kind of business I hear you ask.

Centre-Backs

We started the window looking to plug the holes United had in defense, we needed two centre-halves, one with potential and one that could step in to the right side of the pairing.

For that right side we picked up Mohamed Simakan from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £30m (£15m up front followed by three yearly payments of £5m). 6’2, pacey and could play at right back if the injury plague strikes again and at £86k p/w his wage is significantly lower than his predecessor, Varane.

The ‘potential’ player we picked up to fill that forth space was Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton. He was fantastic last season, he’s British and he’s the type of signing Manchester United used to make. His total transfer figure was £85m which is pure English tax, however it was £30m upfront plus 3 yearly payments of £16.6m and £9m spread across appearances. He’ll come into the team providing cover for Martinez and hopefully progressing to take his place as he develops.

Next up we had to look for our combative midfielder, I wanted someone that was a bit Keane-esque, so I went looking for a screenshot of Roy Keane from Championship Manager days which lead me to this ‘Dubbed the Next’ post on the website where it suggested that Joe Hodge was the player I was looking for - we’ll strike that one down as a miss…

I dug further and found a screenshot from 1999, prime Roy Keane, I mean look at those attributes!

It’s safe to say that when you plumb those attributes into Football Manager, there isn’t another Roy Keane but when you scale your expectations back a little there was a Premier League player that I thought could definitely do the job and he went by the name of Bruno Guimarães. Newcastle wouldn’t initially play ball but when I told the press that he was our Top Target, Eddie Howe shit the bed and said it was now out of his hands. We had to pay a pretty penny for him though including more Premier League tax, the total value of the deal can reach £170m but it was £60m upfront followed by 3 yearly payments of £33.33m plus £10m if United win the Premier League. Now if you take the fee of £160m minus the sale of Casemiro (£48m) add the £20m United still owe Real Madrid for Casemiro and then minus the differences in their wages… it’s still a massive amount of money! BUT, his five year deal will take him up until he’s 31 and hopefully he won’t decline as quick as his countryman.

Last but by no means least is the forward to support Højlund’s development and give United the options in front of goal and for £39m the signing of Viktor Gyökeres was completed from Sporting Lisbon. They are very similar players with the Swede being slightly further along in his development giving United great options in front of goal, with Gyökeres, Højlund & Rashford there’s a real sense of competition and appetite for goals as there was back in 1999.

With 3 weeks of August left to go Victor Lindelof looks to be heading off to Juventus, Antony has bids accepted from Napoli and Newcastle, Donny van de Beek can’t be given away, Christian Eriksen joined Everton for £5m & Casemiro joined Al-Ahli for £48m. Hopefully we’ll shift those players before that window slams shut!

So there we have it, the 2024/25 Manchester United first team squad and I think it stacks up well for the first season of change at Old Trafford.

If you would like to download this save file you can here, please make sure you share your results with us on the socials or via email, it would be great to see how this squad gets on.

Thanks to https://www.fmrte.com/ for their database edits which helped us put together his save file - be sure to head their way for more downloadable content.

 

10 Teams to Rescue in FM24

 
 

The end of March. A crucial point in the season. The end of the last mid-season international break and that period where the fate of teams who may find themselves in a more precarious position than planned slowly starts to take shape, with the proverbial “squeaky bum time” beginning to truly sink in as the hopes and dreams which held so strong at the beginning of the season finally start to fade as fans set about accepting the ominous disappointment that may be about ensue upon their club.

This time of year is also a crucial point in the Football Manager cycle. A point where after some 4 or 5 months of gameplay, many saves begin to falter and eventually die as the novelty of a new game wears off and the often inevitable boredom of an existing save combined with a yearning for something new starts to creep in.

If that time is now for you - fear not, here are 10 Teams that are in need of rescuing at this point of the season and need your help to turn their fortunes around and/or use your managerial prowess to rewrite their lack of progress this season. 

1. Sassuolo

 

Currently 19th in Serie A at the time of writing, Sassuolo have consistently been a mid-table or Top 10 side since gaining promotion in 2013 and taking a place in the top tier of Italian football for the first time in their history. A 6th place finish under Eusebio Di Francesco also saw them play European football for the first time when they reached the Europa League Group Stage in 2016, followed by a very successful spell under Roberto De Zerbi where they achieved highly respectable back-to-back 8th place league finishes and thrived with the likes of Lorenzo Pellegrini, Davide Frattesi, Giacomo Raspadori, Franco Acerbi, Gianluca Scamacca, Manuel Locatelli and Matteo Politano in their squad during this successful period.

Fast-forward to the present day and things are not going so well. With 2 months of the season remaining, Sassuolo find themselves planted in the Serie A relegation zone, and despite bringing in the likes of Andrea Pinamonti, Marash Kumbula, Samu Castillejo and Matias Vina to join talisman Domenico Berardi, they have continued to struggle which culminated in the sacking of manager Alessio Dionisi in February 2024 meaning they are very much in need of your help in FM24. Are you up for the challenge?

2. Birmingham City

How many clubs do you know who won a major trophy and got relegated in the same season? Memories of a League Cup Final victory over Arsenal in 2011 are likely distant in the minds of Birmingham City fans considering the same season saw them drop to the Championship and enter continued mid-table mediocrity before spending much of the last 7 seasons engrossed in relegation battles and survival dogfights in the second tier of English football. 

Annual Manager changes and chaotic leadership ensued, most notably this season wherein the club somewhat inexplicably replaced then manager John Eustace with the more “reputable” Wayne Rooney with the club lying in a very respectable 6th place in October 2023, and since then the club has tumbled down the league to the point where Rooney was sacked after 83 days in charge, leaving Birmingham in 20th place and very much embroiled in yet another relegation battle.

For a side who hasn’t played in the third tier since 1995, relegation to League 1 is almost unthinkable particularly given the size of the club, fanbase and stadium but at the time of writing the Blues stand very much on the brink of relegation sitting just one point outside the danger zone; if ever there was a time for redemption it’s now.

3. Celta Vigo

We all very much enjoyed when MaddFM was sacked by Celta Vigo in FM23 after just 4 months in charge, however their real-life fortunes are unfortunately no better at present despite being under the stewardship of the ever reliable Rafa Benitez for most of this season until his departure earlier this month, with the club currently sitting just outside the relegation zone in Spain’s top tier. Having lost starboy Gabri Veiga to the Saudi league last summer as well as talented left-back Javi Galán to Atlético Madrid, mediocre signings and poor overall performance has left the club very much in free-fall based on their form in 2024 and relegation would be disastrous for a club steeped in La Liga history who have been consistent performers at the top level since returning in 2012. Don’t let Madd curse this team forever, please.

4. Nantes

A team who has contested the Coupe De France final for the past two years in a row and played Europa League football just over 12 months ago, now find themselves currently battling relegation and in real danger of returning to the French second tier after 10 consecutive seasons in Ligue 1. Make it make sense! As the 5th most successful French club in history with 8 league title wins, it’s absurd to think this club should even be flirting with relegation but considering they are now on their 4th manager in 12 months, this period of instability has taken its toll despite having the talents of Alban Lafont, Pedro Chirivella and Mostafa Mohamed, the loss of talisman Ludovic Blas in the summer has proven more costly than planned and the danger of relegation is very much real with just 8 games remaining at the time of writing.

5. Schalke 04

It feels like this team will perennially be in a “teams to be rescued list”, particularly with repeat and ongoing financial troubles creating all kinds of rumours in terms of the club’s ability to continue should they suffer a second consecutive relegation. Having dropped to Germany’s second tier last year, their on-field struggles have continued to the point where another relegation is very much on the table in Bundesliga 2 which is almost unthinkable for a team that once boasted the likes of Manuel Neuer, Joel Matip, Malick Thiaw, Ivan Rakitic, Leon Goretzka, Julain Draxler, Mezut Ozil and Leroy Sané in their squad over the past 10-15 years not to mention multiple Champions League campaigns including a Semi-Final in 2011 and a Quarter-Final in 2017.

While their current squad is nowhere close to Schalke teams of old, for a club of this size and stature to be so far away from the top tier of German football is a travesty - FYI the German word for “rescue” is “rettung” 👌.

6. Sampdoria

The last time a club won Serie A that wasn't one of Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma, Lazio or Napoli? You guessed it - back in 1991 which kicked off a glorious period of Italian football for the rest of that decade, Sampdoria lifted the Scudetto title with a squad boasting the likes of Gianluca Pagliuca, Pietro Vierchowod, Attilio Lombardo, Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini, and while that should have been a springboard on which these Italian giants (at least at the time) should have grown, sadly the opposite is true with the club now playing second tier football for the 6th season since and very much facing a 7th with the team languishing in mid-table at the time of writing. When you consider this is a side that has seen the likes of Duvan Zapata, Lucas Torreira, Luis Muriel, Mauro Icardi, Mikkel Damsgaard, Milan Skriniar and Bruno Fernandes all pass through Sampdoria in recent years, financial issues and mis-management at the higher levels have pushed the club into yet another downfall with little light at the end of the tunnel for I Blucerchiati fans who are crying out to be rescued with current hopes resting on the shoulders of Andrea Pirlo - can you do better?

7. Reading

We spoke about financial issues, but Reading arguably take the proverbial biscuit in that category. HMRC sanctions, unpayable debts and wages, multiple points deductions - their fall from grace has been beyond belief and understandably Royals fans are outraged at how poorly the club has been managed. After setting the English Championship record winning the league with an incredible 106 points back in 2006, Reading went on to finish 8th in their first Premier League season under Steve Coppell with impressive performances from the likes of Marcus Hahnemann, Nicky Shorey, Steve Sidwell, Stephen Hunt, Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle. The following season was much more disappointing, at the end of which Reading were relegated back to the Championship and despite a fleeting return to the Premier League in 2012, further demise ensued as they tumbled down the championship table season after season until the club were disastrously relegated to League 1 in 2023, and at the time of writing their misery continues with the club lying in 18th position and not yet safe from a second consecutive relegation - if ever there was a club in need of rescue, it’s Reading.

8. Bordeaux

In May 2009, FC Girondins de Bordeaux were crowned Ligue 1 champions, becoming the first club to do so since 2001 and dethroning a Lyon side who had won the previous 7 league titles prior. 13 years later, Bordeaux were relegated to Ligue 2 for the first time since 1991 amidst much financial turmoil and chaos at board level. 

This is a madness. A 6-time French champions which once boasted names such Zinedine Zidane, Bixente Lizarazu, Sylvain Wiltord, Eric Cantona and Christophe Dugarry (also Henri Saivet but the less said about that the better) - for them to be in their second consecutive season in Ligue 2 and at present languishing around mid-table is a travesty. 

9. Mainz O5

Since getting promoted to the Bundesliga in 2009, Mainz have been a mainstay (insert pun here) in the German top tier ever since, regularly obtaining mid-table and/or Top 10 league finishes with the highlight being a Europa League campaign following a 6th place finish in 2016. Their rise to prominence has been rapid over the past 15 seasons which has seen players such as Taiwo Awoniyi, Moussa Niakhaté, Jonas Hoffman and Jean-Philippe Mateta all go on to make big money moves elsewhere, with Mainz very much viewed as a place for younger players to thrive and develop playing in a progressive high-pressing system (particularly interesting that former Mainz Managers included Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel).

Fast-forward to 2024 and things are not quite as rosy as previous years; at the time of writing they are 6 points from safety, occupying 16th place which would mean a playoff against whoever finishes 3rd in the division below which no team would ever wish upon themselves given the stakes at hand. Despite the talents of Tom Krauß and Nadiem Amiri in addition to the power of strikers Ludovic Ajorque and Jonathan Burkhardt, just 3 wins from 26 games has them in a perilous position just one point above the automatic relegation places - new manager Bo Henriksen is the man Mainz hope will be the saviour, but maybe you can do better 👀.

10. Everton

We talked about clubs that have been in freefall; parking Financial Fair Play, poorly-timed Stadium Builds, random managerial appointments and overall questionable decision-making at board-level to the side for now - Everton are a club who have almost lost their entire identity in recent seasons, particularly on-field where their performances have been dull and drab at best for a club who previously have earned thirteen Top 8 league finishes since the year 2000 and regularly contended for European if not Champions League football, and now find themselves battling relegation for a third successive season after 16th and 17th place finishes in the past two season respectively. Glory days under David Moyes are almost a distant memory, as are the standout performances of the likes of Tim Cahill, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini and even Dominic Calvert-Lewin who was once battling Harry Kane to be England’s first-choice striker. While Sean Dyche has brought an element of stability and consistency to what is ultimately a poor squad struggling to compete at this level, it’s clear that some form of overhaul is needed throughout the club, and where better to do so than in Football Manager.

There we have it - a lot of teams in need of rescue, and a lot of choice to go with it! If you have found yourself at that point where a new save is on the cards or if you simply love a challenge, then rescuing, reinvigorating and ultimately restoring one of these clubs to glory might be just what the doctor ordered to get you back on track and back in the thick of FM24 once more, with a long time still to go until news of FM25 beings to dissipate from the powers that be. Until then - there’s work to be done 🛠️.


Thanks for reading - let us know in the comments below if any of the clubs above have tempted you into a new save!

Skin: https://coffeehousefm.com/fmrensieblog/fm24-rensie-custom-skin

 

10 Players to Retrain in FM24

 
 

by MaddFM.

Retraining players to a new position is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Football Manager - so much so that one of my favourite pieces I’ve ever written was about Retraining Players for Success in FM which I penned for The Byline, Sports Interactive’s official Football Manager blog. There is nothing better than that feeling where you have spotted something no-one else has, identifying something in a player that none of their previous managers have been shrewd enough to visualise, and ultimately that feeling of redemption and triumph once that player takes like a duck to water in their new role and ends up a clear illustration of why you are the greatest and most shrewd master tactician within your FM save universe.

Of course it’s not just in Football Manager that we see players finding and excelling in a new position, whereby even recently we seen players such as Chiedozie Ogbene (AMR to RWB), Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB to CM) and Kai Havertz (STC to CM) all thriving in a new role which has largely been masterminded by their management team and coaching staff accordingly, and of course we have seen even more notable cases down through the years with the likes of Gareth Bale (LB to AML), Michail Antonio (RB to STC) and Joelinton (STC to BBM) all successully advancing in their careers after a significant role change.

Based on this and to inspire you to think more about retraining players in Football Manager, here is a list of 10 suitable players that could somewhat easily and feasibly be retrained to a new role based on their in-game profile and attributes (you can also find the FM23 list here) - players who logically are set to a specific position in-game, but are entirely well suited to a completely different role based on some specific attributes which make them uniquely adaptable in FM24.

1. Sergej Milinković-Savić (CM → TF)

Yes I am casually suggesting converting one of the best creative midfielders in FM history to the traditionally less attractive Target Forward position, but hear me out; Sergej Milinković-Savić is 6’3” in height (192cm) and not only is physically dominant with 18 Strength, 17 Balance, 17 Heading and 16 Jumping Reach - he is also technically ideal for the role with 15 Technique and First Touch, not to mention possessing 15 Finishing and 17 Off the Ball which would make him a mean striker who can receive the ball either at height or to feet, hold up play, bring others into the game and ultimately cause havoc for opposition defenders. Throw in his high Bravery, Work Rate and Determination and you might just have a rare gem on your hands who can offer much more than just creativity and flair in your midfield. BEAST.

 
 

2. John McGinn (CM → LB)

At 28 there is a point whereby John McGinn’s relentless energy and aggression will eventually start to wane in the heart of Aston Villa’s midfield, and as they progress in terms of league position and European adventures, they may look to upgrade in this position as their ability to attract bigger names increases under Unai Emery. Fear not - McGinn can still play an important role for Villa and could easily be retrained either as a Full-Back or Wing-Back on that left-hand side; not only is he left-footed, he has the physical and mental attributes needed for a great wing-back (Stamina, Work Rate, Natural Fitness, Anticipation, Teamwork), has great Passing, Crossing and Dribbling ability while also being solid defensively in terms of Tackling and Positioning; while the likes of Alex Moreno and Lucas Digne have been found to have some weaknesses in terms of defensive attributes, one would not expect the same from John McGinn if retrained accordingly.

 
 

3. Alessandro Bastoni (CB → DLP)

Here we go again - taking one of the best Centre-Halves in recent FM history and converting them to a midfielder? Why not - Alessandro Bastoni is of course solid as a rock defensively, but if you peel back a few layers you will also notice that he has 15 Passing, 15 Vision, 17 Teamwork and 15 Pace not to mention having 14 First Touch and Technique making him highly suitable to operate as a playmaker either in the DM or MC strata. In a world where Italy are relatively blessed in the Centre-Back department (Scalvini, Gatti, Acerbi etc) but still appear quite heavily reliant on an aging Jorginho in the middle of the park, Bastoni could be just what the doctor ordered to help reignite the Azzuri midfield and restore the Italians to national team glory.

 
 

4. Alex Grimaldo (LWB → AMC)

Is it just me or do we not see enough left-footed #10’s these days? Of course the likes of Messi, David Silva, Martin Ødegaard and Bernardo Silva come to mind, but in general a lot of the best #10s tend to be right-footed and there is perhaps a gap in the market for a quality left-footed AMC. Enter Alex Grimaldo, Leverkusen’s high-flying left wing-back who has been a pivotal part of their title challenge this season. Since picking him up on a free transfer, Grimaldo looks to be one of the signings of the season however looking at his FM profile, he very much has the quality and attibutes to perform as a #10 if we look at his First Touch (16), Technique (16), Passing (16), Vision (16), Long Shots (16), Off the Ball (15) and Composure (16) - all attributes which make for a very effective AMC who can get on the ball, dictate play and ultimately be the lynchpin around which attacking play can be built; similar to Bastoni above, Spain are blessed with left-backs but could perhaps do with some additional quality in the #10 role - Grimaldo may just be the guy.

 
 

5. Bryan Cristante (DM → DLF)

An absolute pillar of a midfield general, Bryan Cristante has never really been one to steal the headlines and is almost an unappreciated midfielder of his time considering he has played over 30 games in almost every season since breaking into the Atalanta first team before moving to Roma in 2018. In FM he rarely tops the creative or goalscoring charts, however if we run the rule over his attributes we find a midfielder with 16 Off the Ball, 16 Composure, 14 First Touch & Technique along with 13 Finishing which is by no means bad especially when you add in that he has 16 Jumping Reach and 17 Heading for a 6’2” midfielder. Stuck for a forward to pair with a more rapid or mobile striker in a 4-4-2? Cristante could be your answer 👌.

 
 

6. Sacha Boey (RB → DMC)

Bayern’s new signing is of course a right-back by trade, but their recent dip in form has largely been attributed to issues in midfield and the lack of a proper #6 to keep things together in the middle of the park. Step forward Sacha Boey, who incidentally has all the attributes needed to operate as a DM or Anchor in FM24 - 16 Tackling, 14 Positioning, 16 Work Rate, 17 Stamina, 15 Strength and most interestingly 17 Aggression which as we all know is a key ingredient to a successful defensive midfielder. While he may be slightly more limited in terms of passing and ball control, at 22 he has plenty of time to develop and improve under your tutelage in-game.

 
 

7. Scott McTominay (CM → PF)

While Scott McTominay has clearly demonstrated his eye for goal for both club and country in recent times, the idea of him being an actual striker hasn’t really been taken seriously at many levels but in FM24, there is a serious case to be made here; 14 Pace, 14 Finishing and 14 Off the Ball are a great recipe for goals, and when you add in his height, strength, aerial ability and a mix of 19 Stamina and 17 Natural Fitness, there is the makings of a great Pressing Forward here who will run all day while also knowing where the goal is. Scott McTominay as a #9 - get it done.

 
 

8. Lucas Torreira (DMC → RB)

While we have seen quite a few full-backs stepping up into midfield of late (largely driven by the likes of Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Reece James, TAA and even Kieran Trippier of late) - it’s not as often that we see a player moving in the other direction, however it can be highly beneficial having a player who can cover multiple positions in particular full-back and midfield roles therefore maximising their place in your matchday squad. Former Arsenal man and current Galatasaray enforcer Lucas Torreira is a great example of a player whose skills and ability can be expanded to cover multiple roles in-game, starting by retraining him as a right-back wherein he already has 15 Tackling, 16 Marking, 15 Positioning and 18 Anticipation in addition to key attributes such as 17 Work Rate, 17 Acceleration and 16 Determination, all of which should see him transition quite quickly into the role as needed; though not very tall, he is also worth considering for the new Inverted Full-Back role which has been an excellent addition to FM24 this year.

 
 

9. Douglas Luiz (DMC → IF)

A glorious all round player who loves taking a corner. Douglas Luiz is an excellent and highly versatile midfielder in FM24 who can occupy almost any central midfield role as needed, however it doesn’t have to stop there; with great all round Technique, First Touch, Passing, Off The Ball, Flair and Shooting/Finishing ability, Luiz could easily be deployed in a more advanced role and with a 14 attribute for both Pace and Acceleration, he is quick enough to offer an attacking threat especially if we think of him cutting in from the left hand side and fashioning goalscoring opportunities on his favoured right foot. This combined with 15 Composure and a player trait of Shoots from Distance open up a tasty can of worms as we think about Luiz operating as a forward player, be it for Villa or any top level European club with those attributes 🔥.

 
 

10. Joelinton (CM → DC)

A player who completely personifies the benefits of retraining in a new position - Joelinton has been a revelation since transitioning from a failed goal-less striker into one of the most feared and effective box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League, earning him multiple call-ups to the Brazil squad and almost guaranteeing himself to be the first name on Eddie Howe’s teamsheet each week such is his impact and influence on Newcastle’s midfield. That said, in FM24 Joelinton could very much be retrained to play at Centre Back if desired; not only is he strong as an ox and great in the air, his Tackling (15), Positioning (14), Bravery (20) and Aggression (17) make him highly retrainable in this position not to mention his high Determination and Decision Making. With 16 Dribbling, 15 First Touch and 14 Technique you potentially have a top class Ball Playing Defender on your hands - what’s not to like?

 
 

There we have it - 10 players that could be retrained to completely new roles in FM24. By now you can see the point here; the preset in-game positions aren’t everything, and if a player has a mix of the right attributes for a role then it can be highly beneficial to retrain them accordingly, you might just save yourself a small fortune in the transfer market by turning an average player in one role into an absolute gem in another. As we learned in my Byline piece about retraining, it takes approximately six to nine months to retrain a player in a brand new position in which they had no position/role familiarity previously, and about 12 months overall before they can be said to have acquired a ‘Natural’ familiarity in the role. What are you waiting for? GET ON.

Thanks for reading.

Interested in being a guest writer for 5 Star Potential? Drop us a message on Twitter or reach out to MaddFM directly.

Top 10 Contracts Expiring in 2024

 
 

by MaddFM.

At the time of writing, the circus that is the January Transfer WIndow is in full flow with the wildest of daily rumours continuing to circulate despite a widespread consensus that almost every club hates both buying and selling during this window. The annual catch-22 wherein clubs who are challenging or struggling are either unwilling to sell or are held ransom in order to maximise a player fee is a mainstay of the football season, and it is becoming clear that patience and strategy always eventually prevail and clubs who are smart enough to do so usually end up in a far healthier position than those who panic-buy in mid-season.

As Football Manager enthusiasts, we have always been aware of the free agent market and the satisfaction of agreeing a pre-contract agreement as soon as the option to enter talks with a player appears in-game ahead of their current contract ending (all hail Jean-Marc Bosman). In a world where player-power has never been stronger, many clubs find themselves at the whim of their best assets and their agents, meaning the steady flow of elite quality free-agents continues each season much to our delight as we look to snap up a bargain during our latest save adventures.

Today we will look at exactly that - 10 players whose contracts are due to expire in 2024 and who at the time of writing are yet to either sign a new deal or agree a transfer elsewhere. While the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Adrian Rabiot, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are all free agents this summer as things stand, we will instead look at some more realistic and more importantly affordable & attainable options who you should immediately be taking a look at when you load up a new save in FM24.

Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham)

 

As free agent centre-halves go, you will do well to find a better quality defender than Tosin Adarabioyo, not only based on his FM24 profile but also in real-life where he has attracted interest from the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Monaco among others. Still only 26 years old with just 6 months left on his deal, Fulham fans are most certainly sweating and with Pace 14, Acceleration 14, Tackling 14 combined with 17 Jumping Reach and Player Traits of Tries Killer Balls Often, Tries to Play Way Out Of Trouble and Tries Tricks, this 6’5” Ball Playing Defender should be at the top of your list if you are looking for a bargain basement signing this summer.

 

Christian Kouamé (Fiorentina)

25 years old with 16 Pace, 17 Acceleration, 15 Dribbling, 14 Flair & 14 Determination - did I mention he will be available on a free? Christian Kouamé is an Ivorian international who can play comfortably on either wing or up front and in this match engine can wreak havoc with his speed and technical ability not to mention that lovely “Knocks Ball Past Opponent” player trait; a player who should be attainable for most Premier League level clubs and beyond but you may need to act quick to secure his signature for next summer.

 

Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo)

The GOAT. Gabigol himself. As Football Manager heritage goes, there aren’t many strikers out there who have guaranteed goals in the way that Gabriel Barbosa has done for several renditions of FM now, so much so that it’s hard to believe he is still only 27 years old at the time of writing (no surpise that he takes a place in the prestigous 5 Star Potential Hall of Fame). Attributes-wise he remains an elite forward who can provide goals at almost any level in-game - particularly that Mentals column where we see a minimum of 16 for Anticipation, Composure, Determination, Off The Ball, Vision and Leadership not to mention 15 Dribbling & First Touch along with 14 Finishing and Technique. With 7 player traits already assigned to him in-game (yes, SEVEN) - this is a forward who strikes fear into the opposition and is available on a free transfer at the end of December 2024.

Juan Miranda (Real Betis)

A former La Masia graduate and still only 23 years old - Juan Miranda was once hyped to be Barcelona and Spain’s left-back for years to come and although things haven’t gone exactly to plan in that regard, we are still looking at a top-tier full-back or wing-back with excellent technical ability combined with rock-solid defensive attributes. Though slightly on the slower side with 11 Pace and 13 Acceleration, his Set-Piece ability (16 Free-Kicks, 16 Penalties and 19 Long Throws) are second-to -none as free agents go, and he can most certainly add quality and/or depth to most top level teams in-game.

Federico Redondo (Argentinos Juniors)

A player we just can’t get away from, having spoken about him multiple times on the 5 Star Potential podcast as well as in various other FM24 articles here on the website. Son of former Real Madrid, AC Milan and Argentina legend Fernando (a CM legend in his own right) - Federico Redondo is showing signs of living up to his father’s legacy and looks sure to make a big move to Europe at some point in the very near future. Just 20 years old, he already as phenomenal all-round attributes for a versatile midfielder who can occupy almost any role in the middle of the park, and in particular his Determination & Work Rate combined with Passing & Movement set him up to be an elite midfielder in FM24; with a contract that expires in December 2024, it’s little wonder the likes of Barcelona, Liverpool and Man City are all rumoured to be interested in his services currently so you better move quick.

Alex Meret (Napoli)

Despite winning the Scudetto title last season, Napoli find themselves in all kinds of trouble this year with a mass exodus of their best players expected to take place between now and next season (so much so that this is one of two Napoli players to make our list today). Alex Meret has long been one of the best young goalkeepers in FM over the past few years, and continues to be an elite option between the sticks with his contract set to expire in June 2024 and still no sign of an extension being agreed. With excellent Handling and Reflexes not to mention 1v1 and Aerial command, this is a bargain pickup if you can lock in a deal before Napoli convince him to hang around a bit longer at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Gianluca Prestianni (Vélez Sarsfield)

Another whom we’ve waxed lyrical about on the pod repeatedly since he was first profiled here on site by @RocksEndFM as part of our Wonderkid Watch series, and more recently by @FridayNightFM after he signed him in his FM24 save at Famalicão. 17-year-old Gianluca Prestianni, who has been making plenty of headlines since establishing himself in the Velez first-team so much so that he has been heavily linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool although it looks like Benfica may have eventually won the race for his signature. That said, in FM24 we see a highly talented wonderkid with a contract expiring in December 2024, and his all round attributes and excellent technical ability for his age make him a very exciting target especially if you can lock him in on a free transfer once he reaches the end of his deal. ONE TO WATCH.

Yusuf Yazici (Lille)

What is it with Turkish #10s? Arda Güler, Can Uzun, Kenan Yildiz, Orkun Kökçü - this nation is literally stacked with talent in midfield and it doesn’t end there. A key component of Lille’s title winning side in 2021 - Yusuf Yazici is a highly talented attacking midfielder who jumped to fame when he scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League against Sparta Prague and AC Milan respectively. In FM24 we see a wizard on the ball, a gifted technician with 18 First Touch, 16 Dribbling, 16 Technique, 16 Flair and 16 Vision meaning he has the ability to unlock a defence and provide line-splitting passes and through-balls. Though not the fastest, he is a #10 through which a lot of your build up play can flow, and not only is his contract up in June 2024, he should also be quite affordable from a wages perspective 👌.

Piotr Zielinski (Napoli)

We might as well add an already-elite player to this list and that comes in the form of Piotr Zielnski, the second Napoli player on our list today. While he has been around for years and always been highly rated from an FM perspective, he is still only 29 years old and can pull the strings of almost any midfield out there - with over 450 senior club appearances, 65 goals and 55 assists not to mention 82 caps and 10 goals for Poland - this is a world-class midfielder whose pedigree and quality are unquestionable, clearly evident through his importance in Napoli’s Serie A title winning campaign last season during which he featured 37 times racking up 3 goals and 9 assists. Highly versatile with outstanding Passing, Technique, First Touch and Vision as well as clearly knowing where the goal is based on his Finishing and Long Shots attributes, picking Zielinski up on a free almost seems criminal, yet at the time of writing he has less than 6 months remaining and therefore has to be one for your shortlist in FM24.

Valentín Gómez (Vélez Sarsfield)

Our final entry takes us back to Vélez once more. While FM24 has seen wonderkid Valentín Barco grab all the headlines, most recently following his high-profile move from Boca Juniors to Brighton during the January Transfer Window, there is another left-sided Argentine defender (also named Valentín) who is deserving of your attention this year in the form of Valentín Gómez, a 20-year-old Centre-Back who has established himself as a first-team regular but who also is yet to renew his contract having been repeatedly linked with a move to Europe over the past 18 months. With Left-Footed Central Defenders being something of a commodity in modern-day football, Gómez ticks a lot of boxes in terms of his defensive and technical ability - good on the ball, strong in the tackle with an eye for a pass and a glorious mix of high bravery & aggression combined with the “winds up opponents” player trait. Again, we are looking at a very affordable defensive option with huge potential to grow and develop in one of Europe’s Top 5 leagues - by December 2024, he could be yours for absolutely nothing 🔥.

There we have it - 10 players whose contracts will expire in 2024 and at the time of writing have not yet extended their deals or agreed moves elsewhere just yet (though Prestianni to Benfica looks set to be confirmed on his 18th birthday). Shout-outs also to the likes of Daichi Kamada (Lazio), Luke Thomas (Leicester), Tiago Djalo (Lille though looks to be Juventus bound) and @FMDoop’s old favourite Gaetano Castrovilli who are all also entering the last 6 months of their current deals; one thing is for sure, there are some absolute bargains to be picked up once we enter that glorious 6 month period before contracts will expire, and everyone loves a bargain right? Happy hunting 🎯.

Thanks for reading.

Interested in being a guest writer for 5 Star Potential? Drop us a message on Twitter or reach out to MaddFM directly.

 

Wonderkid Watch - Franco González

 
 

We’ve all had those times in Football Manager where you just fall in love with a player and this Wonderkid Watch comes off the back of a 5-2 victory over Boavista where Franco González came off the pitch with a 10.0 average rating, 2 goals and 2 assists oh, and that comes off the back of a 10.0 training rating for the week.

 
 

González was a player I had been keeping an eye on in my Famalicão save, I knew about him in real life, had seen him in the game previously and thought that he’s the type of player that would suit a move to a smaller European league where he could hone his skills and look to reach his potential. As he is a natural attacking midfielder he didn’t fit into my current system so I wasn’t rushing to bring him in, that was until, when in Season 3, Bayer Leverkusen decided to pluck my IF(S), Oscar Aranda from me meaning I not only had the cash to flutter under the Peñarol board I also had a gap in my squad where I thought he could do a job.

 
 

£3.5m was all it took to do a deal with Peñarol and I think if you look at González’ attributes you would agree that this is not only a bargain but it is the kind of transfer where we have the potential to make a serious profit on him later in the save.

His contract was reasonable for the level, £12,500 per week, £2,500 Appearance Fee and £1,000 for every goal scored, I didn’t add a release clause in this first contract as I am certain that his agent will be asking for a bigger deal when ‘he’s a better player than when he signed this contract’ and when that time comes I’ll negotiate a bigger deal and make sure we secure a nice hefty release clause. *NB - make sure you discuss contract with the agent prior to talks, especially for high prospect players, I’ve noticed that when they tell you their demands and add a release clause you can actually talk them out of it with some success.

On signing González I immediately got him training to play in the Inside Forward - Support role so he could replace Aranda and with that he went straight into the starting eleven playing in that role position but it didn’t start well, he played 6 times as an IF(S) and had an average rating across those games of 6.83 and that included a Cup game against Penafiel where he assisted twice and had an 8.0 game. I was starting to think I had made a mistake, maybe cutting in from the left wasn’t for him and I would have to go back to the drawing board but as the FM gods would have it Chiquinho picked up a serious injury which lead to me playing him on the right as a Winger on Attack duty and that’s where things changed.

 
 

10 games playing on the wing, an average rating of 8.02, 8 goals & 7 assists, that’s the kind of form you would want from a £35m player, let alone one that you have signed for £3.5m!

The dilemma I face now is that Chiquinho is returning to fitness, he’s our highest paid player and one of the best players in the league, my heart says keep González on the wing and play Chiquinho as the IF(S) but hey, there’s worst things to worry about than which really good player to select.

 
 

His stand out attributes are his Finishing 16, Flair 15, Work Rate 15, Pace 15 & Acceleration 15 which lends himself to being a wide player and I would probably draw a comparison to another diminutive winger, Pablo Piatti - yes he was left footed but you know what I mean.

 
 

If you listen to the 5 Star Potential Podcast you’ll know we take a weekly Adventure in Wonderkid-Land where we take a look at a young player who has been doing the business in real life and look at the type of player Football Manager have made them, well González hasn’t made the list yet but he has played for the exciting Uruguay U20’s 27 times & he’s played 30 times for Penarol since joining them in August 2023.

 
 

Overall verdict: Franco González has the potential to be one of the best bargain wonderkids in FM24 where he is already one of the top young attackers in Portugal in my save game and I’m excited to see if he can become another gem that makes it in real life and we can tell everyone down the pub that we knew about him at 19. Bargain wonderkids are becoming rarer and rarer when it comes to Football Manager, so if you find yourself in need of an attacker on a budget, you’ll do well to find a better prospect in this year’s game. Let us know if you have had González in your save or if you have experienced him from the opposition bench this year in the comments below or @5StarPod on Twitter/X

Thanks for reading, I will update my save progress when I get the chance but you can get regular updates on the 5 Star Potential or over on my Twitter @FridayNightFM

Interested in becoming a Guest Writer on 5StarPotential.com? Drop us a DM on Twitter or reach out to MaddFM for more info.

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