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South America: The Football Manager 2020 Club Guide 🌎 feat. @VincentGuzman_ #FM20
A Football Manager 2020 club guide for South American leagues. Countries covered: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru & Uruguay. Features Guest Writer Vincent Guzman.
South America: The Football Manager 2020 League Guide 🌎 #FM20
A Football Manager 2020 guide for South America. Leagues covered: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru & Uruguay
Down the Danube | Prologue
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m James, otherwise known as FM Athlete . I’ve been playing Football Manager since the Championship Manager 00/01 edition and played EA Sports’ F.A. Premier League Manager for a number of years before that. Last year I made my blogging debut, as I shared update
Why Peñarol in #FM20? - Río de la Plata
The reasoning behind my Football Manager 2020 team : Club Atlético Peñarol of Montevideo
Prologue: “All Of The Lights” - Río de la Plata #FM20
Ángel Bastardo heads to Uruguay under the cover of darkness...
World Cup 2026 #FM19 - The end for Chepiga?..
The final post of my Football Manager 19 save sees Chepiga take Russia to the USA for the 2026 World Cup.
Sempre Vitória - O Fim
That's it. It's over. My FM19 save with Vitória in Portugal has come to an end. What a journey. I'll go through how season eight finished up first and then round off by looking at my time at the club as a whole. This is going to be emotional. Season Eight At the halfway point we were 2nd in the
Goodbye South America, goodbye FM19.
The summary of my Football Manager 2019 save in Chile and Argentina.
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days | Epilogue
To say that I've enjoyed this save and FM19 must be the greatest understatement of the year. It's been absolutely brilliant! In this update I'll be highlighting some of my successes from the save and offering my thoughts on the game itself as attention starts to turn towards FM20 in the coming weeks
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days (Part V) | Chapter 21: Hopes, Dreams and Disappointments
Welcome back to Wolves. Last season we hit our peak, finishing 5th and qualifying for the Europa League. Let's see how we fared in a season full of hopes, dreams and European football. If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can read a quick summary on how it's gone so far here . For mo
Football Manager 2019 (#FM19) - in retrospect feat. @KeysiRensie
A retrospective review of Football Manager 2019 after an 800 hour play-through.
FM19: Development of 4-3-3 with CD Magallanes
Developing the 4-3-3 tactic in the Football Manager 2019.
My FM19 Tactic: The 3-5-2 Returns
It's very difficult to put the heartache of losing out on winning the league title on the last day of the season followed up by losing a cup final a week later to one side but a new season rolling around goes a long way in helping to forget what had come before. We ended season six trophyless after
“Boring, Boring Lorient” - Orange Is The New Black #FM19
A tactical look at a 4-3-1-2 tactic with FC Lorient in Ligue 1 in Football Manager 2019.
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days (Part V) | Chapter 20: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Welcome back to Wolves. Can we finally break into the top half of the Premier League, or will it be a fourth consecutive 11th placed finished? Read on and find out! If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can read a quick summary on how it's gone so far here . For more regular updates an
Football Manager Tactics: Almeyda's 4-2-3-1 (San Jose Earthquakes) #FM19
Hello, this post allows me to break away from my usual Football Manager writing and explore tactical concepts around the World in the attempt to translate them into Football Manager. The aim would be to write about teams that are not at the forefront for most European readers, so there’s likely to
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days (Part V) | Chapter 19: This Ceiling is Made of Concrete
Hello again from the West Midlands where, at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the rebuilding continues as we enter the 2030/31 season. Fresh from our second consecutive 11th placed finish, we're keen to push on this year and climb into the top half. If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can re
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days (Part V) | Chapter 18: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Welcome back to the Black Country. You join me in my first full season in charge at Wolves, after we finished 11th last year with an excellent run of results following my transfer from Hibs in January. If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can read a quick summary on how it's gone so fa
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days (Part V) | Chapter 17: On the Road Again
Welcome back to Edinburgh where the sun is shining on Leith and fans are still basking in last term's success. The Journey So Far... If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can read a quick summary on how it's gone so far here . Chapter 16 saw Hibernian crowned as league champions af
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days (Part IV) | Chapter 16: Across the North Sea
Welcome to Easter Road in the Scottish capital where i'm excited to have taken on the role as Hibernian manager, my biggest job yet with what i hope will be plenty of success ahead. The Journey So Far... If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can read a quick summary on how it's gone
Random Ramble | How to Employ Rugby Tactics for FM19
Last month the GrassNGear Podcast released their 29th episode called Tactical Annals where DGear86 and FMGrasshopper assessed the tactics of fellow FMers and offered advice on how they could be improved. To say the episode was a success would be an understatement and if you've not heard it y
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days | Chapter 15: An Unexpected Journey
Welcome back to the Netherlands as FC Emmen prepare for the 2027/28 campaign in the Eredivisie as we look to build on two 12th place finishes, with a twist to the season mid-way through. The Journey So Far... If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can read a quick summary on how it's g
Football Manager Tactics: Coudet's 4-1-3-2 (Racing Club) #FM19
Hello, this post allows me to break away from my usual Football Manager writing and explore tactical concepts around the World in the attempt to translate them into Football Manager. The aim would be to write about teams that are not at the forefront for most European readers, so there’s l
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days | Chapter 14: Emmen Wasn't Built in a Day
After a short recess, I welcome you back to Holland where FC Emmen are eagerly awaiting the start of their second season in the Eredvisie as we look to build on last year's 12th placed finish. The Journey So Far... If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can read a quick summary on how
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days | Chapter 13: A Marathon, Not A Sprint
Welcome back to De Oude Meerdijk in the North East corner of the Netherlands, home to newly promoted FC Emmen. The Journey So Far... If you've missed any of the previous updates, you can read a quick summary on how it's gone so far here . The upcoming campaign sees us return to the Eredivisie fo
The Mezzala on FM - Mez Que Un Role
Football Manager 2018 saw the Mezzala role introduced to the game. It had gained some traction in the non-FM world due to the performances of Ángel di María for Real Madrid in what was dubbed as the central winger role but when researching I found that it's been part of the Italian football vernacul
Five *NEW* Challenges in Football Manager 2019. Please Retweet #FM19 #WeAreTheCommunity
I have experienced a love-and-hate relationship with Football Manager 2019. I don't think I am the only one either, as I have seen a lot of people fall out of love for the game, take extended breaks or mention burnout - and it genuinely kills me seeing people switch off and head to Other Games. So
Nordic Nights and Dutch Days | Chapter 12: Heading South for the Winter
Since the Netherlands is not a Nordic country (fun fact for you!), I've opted to change the series name so it still makes sense for where I'm managing. For the purists among you, fear not, this is still very much the same save - i just didn't think it through! In the last update I revealed that I'
Nordic Nights | Chapter 11: The End of an Era
Thanks for joining us again in the city of Kuopio, Finland where the average annual temperature is just 3.4° C. We're entering my 4th year with the club and my 3rd full season in charge as we strive to build on two 3rd placed finishes in the league, a cup win and a record best of reaching the group
Random Ramble | How to Ignore the Signs That You Don't Know What You Are Doing
If you read my last random ramble , you'll have noted my admission to not being very good with tactics. I hate to write another blog about tactics creation (not least because I just admitted to knowing nothing on the subject) but i can't help but share my recent experience, in the vain hope that so
Nordic Nights | Chapter 10: Comfort is the Enemy of Progress
You join us back in south central Finland, 390km NNE of Helsinki in the city of Kuopio where I'm with KuPS, preparing for my second full season in charge. The journey so far... 2018 - started unemployed (Sunday League experience, no badges) before getting the job at Nosaby IF in the Swedi
Nordic Nights | Chapter 9: Making KuPS Great Again - Part II
Hello again, and welcome to part II of this season's update. We left off with KuPS having qualified for the group stages of the Europa League which will accompany our fierce battle for the top spot in the league. The journey so far... 2018 - started unemployed (Sunday League experience, no ba
Nordic Nights | Chapter 8: Making KuPS Great Again - Part I
Welcome back to the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. It's Finland, where i'm currently in the role as Manager of Kuopion Palloseura, or KuPS for short. I've freshened up the layout of this blog to hopefully make it easier to read, and have opted to split this update into two
Random Ramble | My (Unnecessary) Opinion on a Few Hot Topics
If you saw the latest issue of Latte Quarterly , you'll know that FM Adventure partook in an exciting new fitness I'll continue my update on KuPS progress next time, but for now I'd like to share some thoughts and key learnings that I've experienced in FM over the past few weeks. Consider this an
Nordic Nights | Chapter 7: Cause for Optimism
We left off with KuPS floundering in 10th place out of a total of 12 teams, and in desperate need of getting some points on the board. The media had predicted us to finish 5th so we were some way off the pace in the league. On the positive side, as mentioned previously, they had already emerged as L
Nordic Nights | Chapter 6: Over and Out
For the first time since taking over at Nosaby, I've failed in having my squad assembled by the end of the year. I'm still missing a key piece to the puzzle: a Ball Winning Midfielder. I'm keen to find the right player for this role, someone with good strength and stamina, who has the ability to dis
Nordic Nights | Chapter 5: No Time for Losers
Pre-season review Keeping with tradition, I holidayed through January, (somewhere hot I think!) and got back in time for pre-season. My Assistant Manager's contract expired and I took the chance to hire someone new with better coaching credentials. I also brought in another new coach, a new scout a
My FM19 Training Approach
FM19 being released was accompanied by massive changes to training. It had been often suggested, hugely debated and highly anticipated. Gone was the handful of options available for us to pick that we'd have to have on for at least three months for them to make an impact on player development but th
Nordic Nights | Chapter 4: Taking the Scenic Route
Back from a nice break and straight into pre-season. The team reported back in top condition, most likely a result of having 4 months to do nothing but relax, or maybe work out at the gym. I had hoped the Board would show some willing and increase my wage budget but they opted to keep it the same w
Nordic Nights | Chapter 3: Upwards and Onwards
Uh oh! The transfer deadline is in 1 week! Worse still is the fact that I don’t have a scout in place to help identify some transfer targets and it will likely take me all week to find one anyway. My Assistant Manager (with a score of 1 for JCA and 1 for JPA) does his best to help and suggests half
GrassNGear: a Football Manager Podcast - 1 Year Anniversary #FM19
Hello Readers, I've got something different on the blog today, which coincides with this month’s 1-year anniversary of the GrassNGear podcast . A podcast that I never thought could exist and certainly not something I ever thought of being a part of when I first started blogging FM back in Augus
Nordic Nights | Chapter 2: First Day of School
Day one of a new club is always an exciting prospect, but much like the first day at school, you usually don't know anyone and there's a lot to take in as you get into the role. It can be overwhelming but i always focus on the mountain of admin that needs doing before I can cycle to the next day. Fi
Nordic Nights | Chapter 1: Interview Practice
Despite it usually taking several months before jobs start becoming available, I had an interview offer within a day of going on holiday. I quickly realised that the Nordic leagues start much earlier in the calendar year and play through the Summer months to make the most of the daylight hours, and
Nordic Nights | Prologue
This blog will centre around my journey from an unknown English manager to the fame and fortune of continental success on Football Manager 2019. Creating an alternate reality In previous versions of the game I’ve successfully been hired for my first job by clubs in National League and National
My FM19 Tactic: 4-1-2-3
The start to competitive football in season two hasn't been positive. We've struggled for consistency and really struggled to create meaningful goalscoring chances. At the time of starting to write this post, at the end of October 2019 in-game, we're languishing in the bottom half of the league on n
Introducing Ruslan Chepiga - My #FM19 Manager
An introduction to my Football Manager 19 manager, Ruslan Chepiga.
My FM19 Tactic: 3-5-2
My time as Vitória manager on Football Manager 2019 has begun. It's my first day in the job. Before I even click continue I'm going to go through a series of steps to evaluate the essential aspects of the club. This post will go through how I'm aiming to set us up on the pitch and how I arrived at t
Rensie Custom Skin for FM19
The custom skin for the Football Manager 2019 created by FM Rensie.
Sempre Vitória
I'm heading to Portugal to join Vitória Sport Clube, or as I'll be referring to them throughout the save, Vitória. The club is based in the northern city of Guimarães and competes in the Primeira Liga, the top tier of Portuguese football. Similarly to the majority of Por
My #FM19 Exposé
My Football Manager 19 save reveal. I will be managing Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia.