Coffee House FM
Latest Posts
Return to AZ: Evolving - Part 1 - Recruitment
So season 1 ended on a very positive note. 2nd placed finish in the league, Champions League football secured and to top it all off we won the Europa Conference League. You can catch up on all of that here . As the players jet off on their well deserved holidays I ask myself ‘how do we ensure we d
SuperClub Diaries (Vol.1) - Positional Play in Paris #FM24
A look at the trio of formations/tactics I will use with Paris Saint-Germain in Football Manager 2024. 4141/443, 4132 and 3421.
FM24 Rensie Custom Skin
Football Manager 2024 custom skin by FM Rensie.
FM24 | U.D. San Fernando: Intro
Hello friends! Let’s get straight to it. Spain has always held a special place in my heart when it comes to Football Manager, whether it's been at the helm of Eibar, Marbella, or the Galacticos of Real Madrid. There's an undeniable allure to managing in Spain, the plethora of historic clubs in the
FM24 | U.D. San Fernando: Intro
Hello friends! Let’s get straight to it. Spain has always held a special place in my heart when it comes to Football Manager, whether it's been at the helm of Eibar, Marbella, or the Galacticos of Real Madrid. There's an undeniable allure to managing in Spain, the plethora of historic clubs in the
Return to AZ: de League, de Cup, de Wit, depressed
It’s been a good 7-8 months since I last played Football Manager properly, the break was the first in over 20 years for me and it was a little strange, but ultimately for the better I think as my urge to get back into FM with FM24 approaching was at an all time high. So where to manage? Ever one o
FM24 (Early Access) | One season to improve the history
One season with Viborg FF in the Football Manager 2024 beta version using the 4-2-3-1 tactic. How did it go? Let's find out in the post.
Football Manager Tactics: 3241 magic in Monterrey #FM24EarlyAccess
Using FM24 Positional Play, I used three tactical roles that trigger Positional Play rotations: Inverted Full Back, Libero and Mezzala. We transitioned from a lop-sided 4141 to a 3241 in possession, using CF Monterrey in Mexico's Liga MX
FM23 | Nine and a half seasons with VVV-Venlo
The summary of the Football Manager 2023 save with VVV-Venlo between 2022 and 2032 by FM Rensie.
FM23 | Kiruna FF: Recruitment & 2028 Season
Recruitment, Tactics and the 2028 season.
FM23 [3 to 16]: Home From Rome
One, two, skip a few has never been so apt. It’s been a while since I’ve updated with my progress at Freiburg but I’ve been plodding along in the background creating a comeback story that Disney+ would snaffle up the rights to within mere seconds of the pitch.
SuperClub Diaries (Vol. 1) - Announcement #FM24
My Football Manager 2024 save intro, where I look to manage some of Europe's super clubs in 'SuperClub Diaries'. Volume 1 kicks off in...
Space and Overloads: 343 - Football Manager Tactics
A tactical look at the 343 in Football Manager. Detailing: passing networks, structural spaces, overloads, vulnerabilities, transitional shapes and attacking variance. How to beat 343 with 424 with FM23 Wing Play tactic.
Space and Overloads: 343 - Football Manager Tactics
A tactical look at the 343 in Football Manager. Detailing: passing networks, structural spaces, overloads, vulnerabilities, transitional shapes and attacking variance. How to beat 343 with 424 with FM23 Wing Play tactic.
FM23 | VVV-Venlo: A patient way to the league title
Summary of three seasons with VVV-Venlo within the Football Manager 2023 save including tactical changes while developing and tweaking the 3-5-2 formation.
My FM23 training strategy
The Football Manager 2023 Training Strategy by FMRensie.
FM23 | Kiruna FF: 2027 Season
Welcome to sixth chapter of our journey with Kiruna FF. The Swedish football season traditionally runs from spring to autumn, starting in late March or early April and concluding in November. If a Swedish team has won the league title or qualified for a European competition in the previous season,
The Journey Person. From Field to Favoured Personnel. Episode 7
Part Seven of a Football Manager 23 Journeyman save starting in Northern Ireland with the aim to rule World football. Follow me on the journey from Field to Favoured Personnel. Features a new club, new tactics, and a discussion on player traits. #FM23
The Journey Person. From Field to Favoured Personnel. Episode 7
Part Seven of a Football Manager 23 Journeyman save starting in Northern Ireland with the aim to rule World football. Follow me on the journey from Field to Favoured Personnel. Features a new club, new tactics, and a discussion on player traits. #FM23
FM23 | Four seasons with the lone central defender
The summary of four seasons using the formation with just one central defender within the Football Manager 2023 save with VVV-Venlo. By FM Rensie.
FM23 | Preparing to change tactics
A couple of simple steps as preparation ahead of the change between two tactics in the Football Manager 2023. By FM Rensie.
FM23 | Kiruna FF: 2026 Season
Welcome to the fifth post of our journey with Kiruna FF. Last time a round, I deviated a bit to touch on my recruitment efforts in Central America and whether they did or did not have any influence in their performances. Let’s recap our second season in the Allsvenskan and Kiruna’s first time compe
Space and Overloads: 532 - Football Manager Tactics
A tactical look at the 532 in Football Manager. Detailing: passing networks, structural spaces, overloads, vulnerabilities, transitional shapes and attacking variance. How to beat 532 with 3412 with two central strikers.
The Journey Person. From Field to Favoured Personel - Episode 6
Part Six of a Football Manager 23 Journeyman save starting in Northern Ireland with the aim to rule World football. Follow me on the journey from Field to Favoured Personnel. Features a transfer window, a possible title challenge, and a small job hunt. #FM23
Kiruna FF: Central American Recruitment vs 2026 World Cup
Hello, and welcome back! In the previous post, I provided an overview of our debut season in Allsvenskan and delved deeper into our current club standing. This post will be about how effective my recruitment efforts have been in Central America and their impact on the respective nations’ success. L
First Eleven | #4 - The Surprise Package
Welcome back again to Vienna where, having successfully nudged First Vienna to top flight survival last term, Frank Athlete is now looking to solidify their place in the division and start building a foundation for future success. This season he’ll look to avoid another relegation scrap and try to g
First Eleven | #4 - The Surprise Package
Welcome back again to Vienna where, having successfully nudged First Vienna to top flight survival last term, Frank Athlete is now looking to solidify their place in the division and start building a foundation for future success. This season he’ll look to avoid another relegation scrap and try to g
FM23 [2-3]: Always The Bridesmaid
As I entered the January Transfer Window in the second season, I honestly would not have anticipated what would happen in the second half of this season. The title of this blog should give some hint as to what the outcome of the season was. Happy but disappointed would probably sum it up.
Space and Overloads: 433 - Football Manager Tactics
A tactical look at the 433 in Football Manager. Detailing: passing networks, structural spaces, overloads, vulnerabilities, transitional shapes and attacking variance. How to beat 433 with 334 with two central strikers
FM23 | Kiruna: 2025 Season
Hello again! Originally this post was meant to be a deep dive into the finances at the club during my first three seasons. Instead, I played another season. It’s been a ton of fun, and It’s hard to stop when you’re on a hot streak. But I want to make A FM Old Timer proud one day with a proper finan
First Eleven | #3 - Against All Odds
Hello, we’re back in Vienna for Frank Athlete’s and First Vienna’s first season back in the top flight - the Austrian Bundesliga. Promotion probably came a season too soon for Frank and his side, but they’ll attempt to give a good account of themselves and try to stay up if they can. Let’s see how i
FM23 | 2025/26 with VVV-Venlo: Not ready, inexperienced
Toughts about the opening half of the 2025/26 season with the VVV-Venlo in the Football Manager 2023.
The Journey Person. From Field to Favoured Personnel. Episode 5
Part Five of a Football Manager 23 Journeyman save starting in Northern Ireland with the aim to rule World football. Follow me on the journey from Field to Favoured Personnel. Features a transfer window, newgen wonderkids, and a possible promotion challenge. #FM23
First Eleven | #2 - Dare to Dream
Re-join Frank for his second season in charge at First Vienna. This season he looks to eclipse last year's decent showing in the league, a build on what he started in preparation for top tier football in the not too distant future.
FM23 | A third season with Venlo: Don't be too shy
The summary of the 2024/25 season with VVV-Venlo within the Football Manager 2023 save. By FM Rensie.
The Journey Person. From Field to Favoured Personnel. Episode 4
Part Four of a Football Manager 23 Journeyman save starting in Northern Ireland with the aim to rule World football. Follow me on the journey from Field to Favoured Personnel. Features a transfer window, multiple retirements, and a possible promotion challenge. #FM23
FM23 | An ordinary match with a great comeback
An ordinary league match within the Football Manager 2023 save against Cambuur ended with a perfect comeback from 0:2 to 3:2 thanks to watching the game and making simple changes. Written by FM Rensie.
The Byline Invitational #FM23
Hi. Ask any competitive FM player at gun point as to what community competition they would wish to win and they would probably agree to say either Latte Quarterly's 'La Copa' or the newly formed 'The Byline Invitational' tournament. Previously, I had a crack at La Copa in the FM22 cycle but failed
Space and Overloads: 442 - Football Manager Tactics
A tactical look at the 442 Football Manager. Detailing: passing networks, structural spaces, overloads, vulnerabilities, transitional shapes and attacking variance. How to beat 442 with 343 using 2 DMs
FM23 [2-2]: The Case of Vincenzo Grifo v Unconscious Bias
Today I want to explore something that I have never really thought too deeply about before. When making squad selections or even reviewing whether or not to keep a player, we make assessments as to that player’s value to the team. I have never really considered my thinking beyond the surface level o
FM23 | VVV-Venlo and Lone Central Defender - the first season in Eredivisie
The simple summary of the 2023/2024 season with VVV-Venlo within the Football Manager 2023 save while using the lone central defender formation. How did the first season after the promotion end? Written by FMRensie.
The Journey Person. From Field to Favoured Personnel. Episode 3 #FM23
Part Three of a Football Manager 23 Journeyman save starting in Northern Ireland with the aim to rule World football. Follow me on the journey from Field to Favoured Personnel. Also features a promotion charge and a 50 goal striker. #FM23
FM23 [2-1]: Opening the Transfer Floodgates
Austerity is a bit of a UK buzzword these days and there were certainly elements of it in my first season’s transfer dealings. By these levels, the summer of 2023 was a relative land of milk and honey for SC Freiburg where transfers are concerned. A massive 7 (SEVEN, for some reason seven is the num
Past | Present | Future - IACC - La Nueva Joya #FM23
Buckle up blog readers - this is going to be a bit of a rollercoaster read. Well, that’s how I see the blog in my head as I start to write this down. Last time out I brought you up to speed with events come the end of Season 3 and safe to say a lot has happened since then. I’m keen to focus on w
The Journey Person. From Field to Favoured Personnel Episode 2. #FM23
Part One of a Football Manager 23 Journeyman save starting in Northern Ireland with the aim to rule World football. Follow me on the journey from Field to Favoured Personnel. Also features tactics and aging playmakers. #FM23
FM23 | Three Seasons with Kiruna FF
Welcome back! We’ve won promotion three years in a row to Sweden’s top division, Allsvenskan! I’ve gone rogue with how I usually operate. Still, I wanted to achieve promotion to the first tier as quick as possible. But I didn’t expect to get through this many seasons so quickly.
FM23 [1-2]: Tactical Hokey Cokey
I waved goodbye to 2022 with an element of hope about the near future. Lucas Höler signed off the year with a hattrick against Union Berlin and I rewarded him by allowing him to sign off on a two-year contract extension with a reasonable pay bump. It was only his sixth league appearance of the seaso
African Players to Sign on FM23
Find the best African talents to sign on FM23.
FM23 | VVV-Venlo and Lone Central Defender - match analysis, key changes and promotion
The simple analysis of what's wrong within the formation with one central defender within the Football Manager 2023 save with VVV-Venlo. Something about possible solutions and how the season ended.
Progress & Enjoyment - IACC End of Season 3 Review - La Nueva Joya #FM23
Another blog means another season has flown by here with Ed Lasso at IACC. If you need to catch up on season 2 then go here before reading any further. So with an incredible first season back in the top division of Argentina, IACC had broken all sorts of club records on the way to a superb 2nd pl