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FM16 Guide: How to see your stadium in 3D

Jun 09, 2016 Coffee House FM

FM16 Guide: How to see your stadium in 3D

The Marco & Remo Diaries -

Apr 29, 2016 Coffee House FM

When we last met Marco and Remo they were on course for a second consecutive Domestic Double in 2018/19. This was achieved, with Marco and Remo playing a key role in the success. They also carried this form into the 2019/2020 season, meaning that they both won three league titles in a row at Grass

The Homegrown XI: the 5 year plan #FM16 #WeAreTheCommunity

Apr 08, 2016 Coffee House FM

Last week saw the 1st part of my 'Homegrown XI' feature blogs. It's aim is to document my journey towards developing a successful Homegrown XI. Firstly, let's clarify the two types of homegrown status that I will be talking about further on: Homegrown (HG) : A homegrown player will be defined as o

The Homegrown XI: training PPMs to suit your tactics #FM16 #WeAreTheCommunity

Apr 01, 2016 Coffee House FM

My next blog post was always going to focus on my attempts at developing a Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) homegrown XI, especially after achieving domestic dominance with 4 straight league titles and 3 domestic doubles within those 4 years. However it's now more poignant given that the Godfather of m

The Marco & Remo Diaries -

Feb 29, 2016 Coffee House FM

My previous Marco & Remo Diaries ( Part I and Part II ) introduced two fledging Regens I received in the 2016 Youth Intake. We've already seen them tutored by Senior Players and become U18 Invincible 2016/17 Double Winners. Now 3 years later: the 2017/18 & partly complete

We Are The Ton - What Makes a Ton Player?

Feb 15, 2016 Coffee House FM

I’ve now reached the 2020/21 season in my Morton save, and if you missed my last post, here’s a little reminder. I felt that going into my 6th season at the club, and having established ourselves at the top end of Scottish football, it was time to put together some aims and targets for the remainde

Season 3: Takeover, Transfers & Trophies #FM16 #WeAreTheCommunity

Feb 12, 2016 Coffee House FM

Season 3 has been eventful. In the place of the usual  'End of Season Awards' blog, I will bring you up-to-date with the frantic 2nd half of the season, which saw Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) taken over by Italian Franco Soldati (real life Udinese owner) and go on to win a third consecutiv

We Are The Ton - The 2020 Vision

Feb 04, 2016 Coffee House FM

Ever since winning the Scottish Premiership, I’ve strayed away from doing the straight save updates on each season. Unless there’s a real hook, something unique about your save, or you’re a brilliant writer, I find they can get a bit tedious! There hasn’t really been anything to properly draw you in

Get Rich or Die Tryin'? #FM16 #WeAreTheCommunity

Jan 25, 2016 Coffee House FM

"Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans" John Lennon The above quote from John Lennon sums up the state of my FM16 Grasshopper save.  Whilst I was intricately implementing plans to ensure I met my FM16 challenge  every step of the way, the FM G

My FM16 Tactic: 4-1-2-2-1

Jan 17, 2016 Coffee House FM

I’m feeling inspired by #wearethecommunity kicking off and seeing some of the brilliant, positive reactions to something that I believe is going to be massively beneficial to everyone in the FM Community. But also, unusually for me, I wanted to talk tactics. Now, I set out right at the beginning of

Grasshopper Club Zürich: End of season 2 awards #FM16

Jan 15, 2016 Coffee House FM

The 2016/17 season was a year of huge progression for Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ). Not only did GCZ win a second consecutive league title (its 29th league title), the club had a memorable European cup run whereby GCZ reached the Europe League's Second Knock Out round. Like last year, I invite you

The Marco & Remo Diaries -

Jan 09, 2016 Coffee House FM

Last month I introduced you to Marco Simon and Remo Mahrer , two gifted 2016 Youth Intake Newgens at my club: Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ).  Today I'll share their development with you all, one year on... Invincible Now it's an extremely hard feat to go the whole seaso

Sack the Agent #FM16

Dec 30, 2015 Coffee House FM

"Don't ever forget you're the Boss".  That's the mantra I try to live by in FM16, no matter how difficult at times it may be.  An example of this is the interference from player's agents.  Just like in Modern Football, the Agent has become a key focus in transfer

Stop the passer #FM16

Dec 18, 2015 Coffee House FM

I have spent much of the last few days laying horizontally after a nasty ankle injury that's left me in a cast. I am now able to sit up and type thus bringing you this week's blog: 'Stop the passer'.  It's something I wanted to share with you since my 2nd league game of Season 1, I've just

Grasshopper Club Zürich: End of season awards #FM16

Dec 11, 2015 Coffee House FM

Today's blog invites you to my end of season award ceremony, where the club staff and players come together to celebrate the wonderful season we've had. If you were not aware from reading my Twitter updates, Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) won the Domestic Double! Not only did I end a 13 year

The Marco & Remo Diaries - Part I (#FM16)

Dec 04, 2015 Coffee House FM

My Season 1 Youth intake contained sixteen 15-16 year olds of varying potential. Seven of these youngsters were signed permanently and the other nine were left to hone their skills elsewhere. Why don't I just keep them all you ask? Well the answer is that I have a cap of around twenty within the U18

We Are The Ton

Dec 04, 2015 Coffee House FM

But first, I’m sure you’re asking, who are the ‘Ton? Greenock Morton Football Club were founded in 1874 and are based in the Scottish west coast town of Greenock, just along the River Clyde from Glasgow. There won’t be many people still alive that witnessed the clubs greatest success, winning the S

Mid-Season Review (Season 1) - GCZ #FM16

Nov 27, 2015 Coffee House FM

Today's blog is a recap on my first 6 months of management at Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ).  I have reached the Swiss Winter Break (around 2 months), which is a good time to break and reflect on past games and look ahead to the future... Pre-Season Pre-season was a good chance for me to

Day 1 transfer targets for GCZ in #FM16

Nov 13, 2015 Coffee House FM

Last week I analysed the Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) squad in FM16. I identified two key areas where GCZ need more depth: a left back and a defensive central midfielder. Today's blog sets out likely targets to address this lack of depth... Left back GCZ has two recognised left-backs: N

Senior Squad review - Grasshopper Club Zürich #FM16

Nov 06, 2015 Coffee House FM

Today's blog is a 1st team review of Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) in FM16. I'll be focussing on the immediate challenges and areas that need strengthening from Day 1. I will finish off by discussing likely tactics and offer an insight into how I will be approaching my save on Nov 13th. The first t

#FM16Beta - who needs staff?

Oct 30, 2015 Coffee House FM

STOP PRESS. The FM16 beta is out! Meaning that this blogpost and the next two (06 & 13 Nov) will be analysing the FM database in order to fully comprehend the Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) FM16 challenge. I will be managing GCZ but please note this is NOT my official save. I plan to start th

5 ex-Hoppers to bring back in #FM16

Oct 23, 2015 Coffee House FM

Today's blog outlines my top 5 staff targets who can count Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) as one of their ex-clubs.  As you may be aware, my FM16 challenge sees me do my utmost at developing youth and making the club sustainable. It will be a style similar to Ajax, where 1-2 young players

FM15: Twenty years with Spartans FC

Oct 18, 2015 Coffee House FM

The summary of the Football Manager 2015 save with Spartans FC.

Consider Natural Fitness in #FM16, before it's too late

Oct 16, 2015 Coffee House FM

Each FMer will have their own opinion on what is the single most important attribute for a player in Football Manager. But there is one attribute that if often overlooked by the masses: natural fitness (NF) . How do I know this? Well take a look at the SI forums in 4 weeks time, where I guarantee y

My #FM16 'Grasshopper challenge'

Oct 09, 2015 Coffee House FM

This week's blog sets out my challenges in FM16. If it has not been apparent until now, I will be managing Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) in FM16. If you want to understand why, read my first ever blog post here . I will make the below article a persistent part of my website nearer to the release d

Introducing Loïc Swartzendruber, GCZ's new manager

Oct 02, 2015 Coffee House FM

Last week I wrote about how you should consider spending time on setting up your manager's in game attributes , ensuring you invest in the right places to suit your save. This week's blog is more roleplay orientated: spending a great deal of time introducing you to  Loïc Swartzendruber , G

Investing in the right places: Manager attributes in FM

Sep 25, 2015 Coffee House FM

Sports Interactive have announced that Football Manager 2016 will offer players the chance to create how their manager looks on the touchline. I suspect many long time players will treat this new feature with a certain amount of apathy. There is also a danger that players new to FM16 may become to

Are prices in FM inflated? How can we deflate them?

Sep 18, 2015 Coffee House FM

Are prices in FM inflated? I see the question time and time again on the SI forums and has led me to focus this week's blog and (hopefully) going some way to dispel this myth. Prices are NOT inflated. This week, I hope to encourage other players to adapt their playstyle in order to deflate transfer

Two footedness in FM - a double edged sword?

Sep 11, 2015 Coffee House FM

This week's blog discusses two footedness in Football Manager and why it should be carefully considered in FM16.  I also include a handy summary of the most two footed (elite) players in FM15. In real life Before we begin, let's be clear on one vital thing: being two-footed makes a playe

Return of the Enganche

Sep 04, 2015 Coffee House FM

There was a time, not so long ago, that the laziest player in a team of 11 players was the most loved and valuable.  Cherished by not how many kilometres he covered or how many sprints were made in 90 minutes.  These players could simply turn up and show their craft, knowing that t

Kim Källström in focus - GCZ's new DLP?

Aug 28, 2015 Coffee House FM

Kim Källström entered my consciousness in the early 'noughties'  as one of my first signings for The Arsenal back in my Championship Manager 01/02 save.   Kim developed into the finest AMC that North London has ever seen (move over Brady, George, Bergkamp et al...Kim was i

Why Grasshopper Club Zürich (GCZ) in FM16?

Aug 21, 2015 Coffee House FM

The title question is a legitimate one.  Grasshopper Club Zürich, or GCZ as they are known, are a giant of Swiss football...yet face an enormous challenge to bring back the glory days of previous title wins.  27 title wins to be precise, dating as far back as 1898 and as recent as