Football Manager 2014

[Baddar]

Does Bony play the TM role well? Considering getting him for my United team at some point in the next few seasons, if available, to replace RVP.

[The Lusophone]

You play RVP as a TM?

[Baddar]

Yeah. He's on his own in the striker position as a TM, scoring 44 in the first season (32 league) and 40 the second (30 league). So it's been working for me, at least.

[brenchill]

I'm playing him as a TM as a direct replacement for Benteke but he's better suited as Trequartista.

[Gorka]

I played Bony as an advanced forward and that also brought in a lot of a goals.

[brenchill]

I got him for £22m, I'd say he was worth the fee. He's better than Benteke. I don't think there are many better target men available.

[Cheeky Hughes]

Won the Capital One Cup with Ipswich! Lord knows how I'll cope with European football next season. Still battling to stay up!

[The Lusophone]

Yeah. He's on his own in the striker position as a TM, scoring 44 in the first season (32 league) and 40 the second (30 league). So it's been working for me, at least.

Daaaam. Never considered playing RVP like that. Will have to give it a try.

[brenchill]

Won the Capital One Cup with Ipswich! Lord knows how I'll cope with European football next season. Still battling to stay up!

The Europa League has pretty much killed my second season with Villa. I'm 13th at Christmas, but I did make it through to the knockout stage. We are playing awful in the league, most of my players have around a 6.80 average. Bony and Nathan Dyer (who I got on a free) are pretty much carrying my team. I signed Mulumbu from relegated WBA for £5m to shore up my midfield but he has been a massive flop.

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

Diame with his 3.5m release clause is usually handy if he's available.

[brenchill]

I have 80k left to spend. The board would only give me 65% of the Benteke money. If they don't cough up more money in the summer I'll take another PL job.

This game is far too realistic, the Villa board are crap!

[Cheeky Hughes]

Won the Capital One Cup with Ipswich! Lord knows how I'll cope with European football next season. Still battling to stay up!

The Europa League has pretty much killed my second season with Villa. I'm 13th at Christmas, but I did make it through to the knockout stage. We are playing awful in the league, most of my players have around a 6.80 average. Bony and Nathan Dyer (who I got on a free) are pretty much carrying my team. I signed Mulumbu from relegated WBA for £5m to shore up my midfield but he has been a massive flop.

I think more than anything I need a consistent striker. McGoldrick is my top scorer with 16 goals in all comps up to March, but that mostly score a brace, do nothing for a couple of weeks, score brace, repeat. Nouble is poor, but seems to score on the big occasions, and then after those two I have Paul Taylor, Ebanks-Blake, and Daryl Murphy, who aren't really good enough to do much.

It doesn't help matters that I've had Pantilimon out for a couple of months, and Lingard and Allione seem to take turns on the treatment table, with Allione out for the season now. Got a 6 point cushion between me and the relegation zone, but it's all too scary for me!

Edited August 31, 2014 by Hughes

[brenchill]

I also signed Gareth Barry on a free who has been a massive, massive flop. He's on 45k a week as well. His stats are still good and he had a good season with Everton but he just isn't doing it for me.

[The Lusophone]

Man, I really really want the ability to negotiate with the greedy twatting agents who own percentages of players in the next one.

[Baddar]

Yeah. He's on his own in the striker position as a TM, scoring 44 in the first season (32 league) and 40 the second (30 league). So it's been working for me, at least.

Daaaam. Never considered playing RVP like that. Will have to give it a try.

First game of the new season, beat Arsenal 3-1, two for RVP. Starting as he means to go on...

[brenchill]

I managed to sign Balanta for £5.5m in the January window. Doesn't he become one of the best CB's in the game? I slapped a £20m release clause on him, hopefully I can flog him after a few good seasons.

I had an awful defence so I've had to completely rebuild it. Okore and Clark out, Balanta and Timm Klose in, both for £5.5m each. Valencia paid £10.5m for Okore!

[The Lusophone]

Yep, if it was Eder Alvarez Balanta. Signed him, Doria and Varane to have my defence sorted for the next 10 years or so.

[brenchill]

Yep, if it was Eder Alvarez Balanta. Signed him, Doria and Varane to have my defence sorted for the next 10 years or so.

Yeah, that's him. I'm guessing the likes of Real, Barca, et al, will be sniffing around him. Hopefully this summer as I'm broke .

[Gorka]

Really happy that Lerner was able to pick up Will Hughes for £400,000!

[The Lusophone]

So many quality, relatively cheap young defenders in this game, especially the original database, Balanta for 5-12, Doria is usually 7.5 for me, Umtiti is about 10, Zouma is 8-12, Mangala is fairly cheap too.

Now if only there were that many centre midfielders like that :/