Midtjylland Team Guide in FM2008
Average Rating: 8/10 Hits: 459 Submitted: Nov 6, 2007
Here you can find various hints and tips when it comes to managing Midtjylland in Football Manager 2008. Ranging from all the basic information about the club, the history of the club, the expectations of the club in both the current season and over the coming years, an overview of the squad and players at your disposal, the best players to buy, the players you should be looking to sell, the best tactics to use, both for attack and defensive and much, much more.
Basically everything you need to know, to aid your career managing Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga, in FM2008.
FC Midtjylland were formed in 1999 after a merger between Herning Fremad and Ikast FS. In their first season they won promotion to the Danish Superliga and have remained in the top fligh ever since. Despite being a relatively new club they have already made their mark in Denmark and within the next few seasons they should be challenging FC Copenhagen and Brondby for they League title. Within their meagre eight year history they have finished third on two occassions, first in 2002 and then again in 2005.
Football Club Midtjylland 1999
Nation: Denmark
Location: Ringkobing
Founded: 1999
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves The Club
Favoured Personnel: Kristian Bak Nielsen, Morten Skoubo, Thomas Thomasberg, Erik Rasmussen, Ove Pedersen, Mikkel Thygesen, Peter Skov-Jensen, Mohamed Zidan, Peter Sand, Thomas Rathe, Kenneth Moller Pedersen, Frank Kristensen
Fierce Rivals: Viborg, Silkeborg
Other Rivals: AGF, AaB, Vejle
Stadium: SAS Arena, Herning
Capacity: 12,5000 (7000 seated) with under soil heating
Pitch Size: Length: 104m Width:65m
Training Facilities: Good training facilities
Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 4th
Captain: Claus Madsen
Parent Clubs: None
Feeder Clubs: Aalum(Denmark), Billund(Denmark), Brande(Denmark), FC Ebedei(Nigeria), FC Rosekilde(Denmark), Grindsted(Denmark), Hammerun(Denmark), Herning KFUM(Denmark), Holstebro(Denmark), Kolding FC(Denmark), Lemvig(Denmark), Nykobing Mors(Denmark), Rinkobing(Denmark), SHN/Ulfborg(Denmark), Skjern(Denmark)
Transfer Budget: £1,100,000
Wage Budget: £64,000
In Real Life
FC Midtjylland were formed in 1999 after a merger between Herning Fremad and Ikast FS. In their first season they won promotion to the Danish Superliga and have remained in the top fligh ever since. Despite being a relatively new club they have already made their mark in Denmark and within the next few seasons they should be challenging FC Copenhagen and Brondby for they League title. Within their meagre eight year history they have finished third on two occassions, first in 2002 and then again in 2005. Their highest league position came in 2006/2007 when they came 2nd. In 2003 they finished as runners-up in the Danish Cup and achieved the same feat in 2005. In the same season they finished as runners up in the Super Cup. The club are currently going through a financial expansion of 10million Euros with the aim of finally breaking the stranglehold of Copenhagen and Brondby once and for all.
In Football Manager
At the start of the season the board expect you to qualify for Europe via your final league position. With the players at your disposal this should be achieved fairly easily. You have a very young squad with several players who could very well be potential superstars and will make you a fair bit of money should you choose to sell them. The tie up with Nigerian side FC Ebedie seems to be a great partnership with the squad having several exciting Nigerian kids. With no less than 15 feeder clubs you will have your pick at a lot of young Danish players who could be nurtured into first team players should you decide to buy any of them.
Your bank balance sits at a healthy £5.4m with a transfer budget of £1.1m should you choose not to alter your seasonal expectations. If you do then the most you can up your budget for purchasing players is £1.8m with a wage budget of only £40,000. You will have possibly the strongest financial backing in the league and this will aid you in your bid to qualify for Europe if not better.
Your Squad
Goalkeepers
You have two first team keepers and only one of them is really good enough for the first team. Martin Raska, a 30 year old former Czech Republic u21 international, should be your automatic first choice, with one of the clubs youth prospects, Lasse Heinze acting as back up. Despite having the young Dane you should look at bringing in somebody else to challenge for the first choice spot.
Defenders
Where Midtjylland are lacking in players is in both defence and in attack. With only 4 centre backs and 3 players capable of playing as either full backs or wing backs you will need to do some strenghening. Vyeing for the two centre back spots you have Winston Reid, Maros Klimpl, Simon Kjaer and Magnus Troest. It is a fairly strong quartet and it is difficult to choose which two should be handed starting places. My preference would be to go for youngsterSimon Kjaer, who at only 18 displays all the charecteristics of somebody who could go onto great things in a long term FM career. Alongside the youngster I would opt for either Magnus Troest or Maros Klimpl. Over the course of the sixth months you get in the demo I could not choose between the pair and often chopped and changed between the pair of them. As back up in the centre of defence you have another reasonably talented youngster in Winston Reid who should be brought on as a sub if one of the first choice defenders are beginnning to tire.
Playing out on the left of defence should be Christopher Poulsen. The 25 year old Dane can play at both left back and on the left wing but with a complete lack of strength in depth he is best used as a left back. On the right hand side you should be Kolja Afriyie. He is competent but you should look at bringing in somebody else to play in the first team. This leaves you with only one other player who can play at full back and that is Leon Jessen. He can play on both flanks and also operate in the left of midfield should you happen to have an injury crisis. You will definetly have to strengthen this department.
Midfielders
The centre of the park is where Midtjylland really shine through having several excellent young players like who are capable of turning into great players. On the wings you have Mikkel Thygesen and Simon Poulsen on the right and left respectively. Thygesen is arguably the clubs best player and
you struggle to keep a hold of the talented midfielder. Whilst Poulsen will bomb up and down the wing all day long firing in crosser for striker Kristensen to latch onto. Then you have versatile Danny Olsen who can play on either wing acting as back up.
In the centre of the park you have a couple of players to choose from. The pairing I found to work best of all was the partnership of Oluwafemi Ajilore and Adigun Salami. The former is best utilized as a defensive holding midfielder whilst the latter should be allowed some creative freedom and be allowed to run forward to support the strikers. To compete with this duo you have the experience of Thomas Roll and Claus Madsen. Both players are veterans in comparison witht he rest of the youthful squad and could be called upon to possibly hold the team together in the latter part of matches when you have to hold on for the right result.
Attackers
Midtjylland only have two out and out first team strikers with support coming from a couple of players who can double up as either attacking midfielders or forwards. Of all your available options the best is powerful striker Frank Kristensen who should be played as a lone striker. Playing in behind him in an advanced AMC role with an arrow going into a secondary striking position should be Baba Collins. Collins acts a great partner to Kristensen and weighs in with a lot of assists and goals. Acting asback-up to this pairing are Moldovan Internationalist Serghei Dadu and 23 year old Danish winger come striker Dennis Flinta. Both of these players are more than capable of stepping in if either of the first choice pairing are unavailable.
Youth Prospects
Midtjylland have only two players in their youth ranks whom I feel have the ability to become potential stars. The first is 18 year old Jesper Juelsgard who can play anywhere down the left flank. The second player worth taking a look at is the very impressive 16 year old attacking midfielder Morten Foged. Both players, if given the correct training schedule, could go onto great things and I would strongly advise sending them out on loan to one of your feeders as soon as you can.
Tactical Reccommendations
Having the played the 6 month demo with Midtjylland twice this is the tactic I found to best suit the team. It allows the full backs to bomb forward and support the wingers and the central midfielders have completely different roles. One will help out the forwards by getting into advanced positions whilst the other will win the ball and hold it up bringing others into play.
Transfer Reccommendations
Midtjylland need strengthening both in defence and attack whilst bringing in another goalkeeper would be a good idea. With a transfer budget of £1.1m, finding the players you require shouldn't be that difficult.
None of the clubs reserve players are good enough for the first team so, although it wont raise much more money, you look at getting rid of some of the higher valued players.
Conclusion
If you fancy a bit of a challenge then this is a team for you. Both domestically and in Europeyou will find it tough. At home you will be looking to break the hold that FC Copenhagen and Brondby seem to share in Danish football. With such a young team you have the time to build and let your team grow into a title challenging and European qualifying side. Whilst in Europe Danish teams have generally struggled in the past, this is something you should be looking to change. The first season you are entered into the UEFA Cup and you should be aiming to reach the group stage and take it progressively from there.
Football Club Midtjylland 1999
Nation: Denmark
Location: Ringkobing
Founded: 1999
Status: Professional
Reputation: National
Chairman Status: Loves The Club
Favoured Personnel: Kristian Bak Nielsen, Morten Skoubo, Thomas Thomasberg, Erik Rasmussen, Ove Pedersen, Mikkel Thygesen, Peter Skov-Jensen, Mohamed Zidan, Peter Sand, Thomas Rathe, Kenneth Moller Pedersen, Frank Kristensen
Fierce Rivals: Viborg, Silkeborg
Other Rivals: AGF, AaB, Vejle
Stadium: SAS Arena, Herning
Capacity: 12,5000 (7000 seated) with under soil heating
Pitch Size: Length: 104m Width:65m
Training Facilities: Good training facilities
Youth Facilities: Good youth facilities + Youth Academy
Media Prediction: 4th
Captain: Claus Madsen
Parent Clubs: None
Feeder Clubs: Aalum(Denmark), Billund(Denmark), Brande(Denmark), FC Ebedei(Nigeria), FC Rosekilde(Denmark), Grindsted(Denmark), Hammerun(Denmark), Herning KFUM(Denmark), Holstebro(Denmark), Kolding FC(Denmark), Lemvig(Denmark), Nykobing Mors(Denmark), Rinkobing(Denmark), SHN/Ulfborg(Denmark), Skjern(Denmark)
Transfer Budget: £1,100,000
Wage Budget: £64,000
In Real Life
FC Midtjylland were formed in 1999 after a merger between Herning Fremad and Ikast FS. In their first season they won promotion to the Danish Superliga and have remained in the top fligh ever since. Despite being a relatively new club they have already made their mark in Denmark and within the next few seasons they should be challenging FC Copenhagen and Brondby for they League title. Within their meagre eight year history they have finished third on two occassions, first in 2002 and then again in 2005. Their highest league position came in 2006/2007 when they came 2nd. In 2003 they finished as runners-up in the Danish Cup and achieved the same feat in 2005. In the same season they finished as runners up in the Super Cup. The club are currently going through a financial expansion of 10million Euros with the aim of finally breaking the stranglehold of Copenhagen and Brondby once and for all.
In Football Manager
At the start of the season the board expect you to qualify for Europe via your final league position. With the players at your disposal this should be achieved fairly easily. You have a very young squad with several players who could very well be potential superstars and will make you a fair bit of money should you choose to sell them. The tie up with Nigerian side FC Ebedie seems to be a great partnership with the squad having several exciting Nigerian kids. With no less than 15 feeder clubs you will have your pick at a lot of young Danish players who could be nurtured into first team players should you decide to buy any of them.
Your bank balance sits at a healthy £5.4m with a transfer budget of £1.1m should you choose not to alter your seasonal expectations. If you do then the most you can up your budget for purchasing players is £1.8m with a wage budget of only £40,000. You will have possibly the strongest financial backing in the league and this will aid you in your bid to qualify for Europe if not better.
Your Squad
Goalkeepers
You have two first team keepers and only one of them is really good enough for the first team. Martin Raska, a 30 year old former Czech Republic u21 international, should be your automatic first choice, with one of the clubs youth prospects, Lasse Heinze acting as back up. Despite having the young Dane you should look at bringing in somebody else to challenge for the first choice spot.
Defenders
Where Midtjylland are lacking in players is in both defence and in attack. With only 4 centre backs and 3 players capable of playing as either full backs or wing backs you will need to do some strenghening. Vyeing for the two centre back spots you have Winston Reid, Maros Klimpl, Simon Kjaer and Magnus Troest. It is a fairly strong quartet and it is difficult to choose which two should be handed starting places. My preference would be to go for youngsterSimon Kjaer, who at only 18 displays all the charecteristics of somebody who could go onto great things in a long term FM career. Alongside the youngster I would opt for either Magnus Troest or Maros Klimpl. Over the course of the sixth months you get in the demo I could not choose between the pair and often chopped and changed between the pair of them. As back up in the centre of defence you have another reasonably talented youngster in Winston Reid who should be brought on as a sub if one of the first choice defenders are beginnning to tire.
Playing out on the left of defence should be Christopher Poulsen. The 25 year old Dane can play at both left back and on the left wing but with a complete lack of strength in depth he is best used as a left back. On the right hand side you should be Kolja Afriyie. He is competent but you should look at bringing in somebody else to play in the first team. This leaves you with only one other player who can play at full back and that is Leon Jessen. He can play on both flanks and also operate in the left of midfield should you happen to have an injury crisis. You will definetly have to strengthen this department.
Midfielders
The centre of the park is where Midtjylland really shine through having several excellent young players like who are capable of turning into great players. On the wings you have Mikkel Thygesen and Simon Poulsen on the right and left respectively. Thygesen is arguably the clubs best player and
you struggle to keep a hold of the talented midfielder. Whilst Poulsen will bomb up and down the wing all day long firing in crosser for striker Kristensen to latch onto. Then you have versatile Danny Olsen who can play on either wing acting as back up.
In the centre of the park you have a couple of players to choose from. The pairing I found to work best of all was the partnership of Oluwafemi Ajilore and Adigun Salami. The former is best utilized as a defensive holding midfielder whilst the latter should be allowed some creative freedom and be allowed to run forward to support the strikers. To compete with this duo you have the experience of Thomas Roll and Claus Madsen. Both players are veterans in comparison witht he rest of the youthful squad and could be called upon to possibly hold the team together in the latter part of matches when you have to hold on for the right result.
Attackers
Midtjylland only have two out and out first team strikers with support coming from a couple of players who can double up as either attacking midfielders or forwards. Of all your available options the best is powerful striker Frank Kristensen who should be played as a lone striker. Playing in behind him in an advanced AMC role with an arrow going into a secondary striking position should be Baba Collins. Collins acts a great partner to Kristensen and weighs in with a lot of assists and goals. Acting asback-up to this pairing are Moldovan Internationalist Serghei Dadu and 23 year old Danish winger come striker Dennis Flinta. Both of these players are more than capable of stepping in if either of the first choice pairing are unavailable.
Youth Prospects
Midtjylland have only two players in their youth ranks whom I feel have the ability to become potential stars. The first is 18 year old Jesper Juelsgard who can play anywhere down the left flank. The second player worth taking a look at is the very impressive 16 year old attacking midfielder Morten Foged. Both players, if given the correct training schedule, could go onto great things and I would strongly advise sending them out on loan to one of your feeders as soon as you can.
Tactical Reccommendations
Having the played the 6 month demo with Midtjylland twice this is the tactic I found to best suit the team. It allows the full backs to bomb forward and support the wingers and the central midfielders have completely different roles. One will help out the forwards by getting into advanced positions whilst the other will win the ball and hold it up bringing others into play.
Transfer Reccommendations
Midtjylland need strengthening both in defence and attack whilst bringing in another goalkeeper would be a good idea. With a transfer budget of £1.1m, finding the players you require shouldn't be that difficult.
None of the clubs reserve players are good enough for the first team so, although it wont raise much more money, you look at getting rid of some of the higher valued players.
Conclusion
If you fancy a bit of a challenge then this is a team for you. Both domestically and in Europeyou will find it tough. At home you will be looking to break the hold that FC Copenhagen and Brondby seem to share in Danish football. With such a young team you have the time to build and let your team grow into a title challenging and European qualifying side. Whilst in Europe Danish teams have generally struggled in the past, this is something you should be looking to change. The first season you are entered into the UEFA Cup and you should be aiming to reach the group stage and take it progressively from there.
