Connor1874

Followed my unbeaten start up with 6 straight defeats. Yet another tactical change has put rest to that. Drawing a lot of games, but winning too. Yo-yoing between 5th and 7th. Not sure if I'll make playoffs but I'm happy with midtable mediocrity. Got pumped off Rangers 5-0 at Ochilview, but a nice wee boost for the bank balance. Trying to offload Frank Nouble and Mitch Megginson in January. Both on £400 a week. Knew it was a risk with Nouble but expected much more from Megginson. He hasn't scored all season is now pissy because he's not getting much game time.

What's your tactics mate?

Got FM09 still on Steam. Tempting me to play it when I go home. No idea who I would go though!

Lost all 4 of my Betfred Cup games with Stenny, and just lost on penalties to Dundee Reserves in the Caramel Wafer cup. Despite that, I have picked up 4 points from my first 2 games in League One. Happy with my business too. Mitch Megginson, Dale Hilson and Franck Nouble in among my free signings. STILL tinkering with my tactics. I just wish I could find one that I would settle on. Haven't changed formation, I'm just tinkering with team instructions a lot trying to find the perfect balance.

Daughters life, it was only once. Should've been out of sight in the first leg. We absolutely battered them at Balmoor. Conceded early on against the run and then conceded in 92 and 94. Justice was served in the 2nd leg.

1-1 draw at Stranraer was followed by a 4-1 skelping of them at Ochilview, to make it 24 matches unbeaten. Peterhead awaited in the final. Thought we'd ****ed it by losing 3-0 at Balmoor, but royally pumped them 5-0 at Ochilview. League One awaits. Mon the Stenny!

Working from home today, and my networks are goosed so no work has been done, but I have almost finished the 2020/21 season with Stenhousemuir. Drew far too many games, but started spanking teams for fun in the final dozen or so games. Sadly too far behind Cove to catch them, but got very close. About to do the playoffs now.

Just won 3-0 away at league leaders Edinburgh City, and Botti Biabi is banging them in for me after a massive drought before I took over.

Yeah, he's outstanding at this level. I always play a DM too, so he's like a dream. He's willing to renew his contract, but I can't get close to matching his demands.

Carried on with my save after getting sacked by Stoke and just took the Stenny job in February. 4-2 win away at Albion in my first game so here's hoping.

Aye that sounds pretty spot on to be honest. I started one with Sunderland on 19, and it was the only club I think my trusted tactics failed miserably at. I tried to get players off the wage bill at Stoke, but the problem was trying to get clubs to pay these players wages. Squad was far too big, and some very mediocre players on stupid wages. Experimented by looking at Steam and found a preset tactic with rave reviews, yet I still couldn't buy a win. Gives me some reassurance that it wasn't me.

So, as above, I went for FM20 in the end, and have been playing for a few hours, and I'm struggling a bit. Worst part is, I don't know if it's my tactics, or my team. I loaded the tactic I use on FM19, which worked a treat most of the time. It's a counter press tactic which led to 15+ shots and 55%+ possession most games, but it's not getting me results. Was trying to think who to start with, and my girlfriend shouted out Stoke randomly, so I thought why not. I know they haven't had the best of seasons so maybe the team are just shite, but maybe my tactic isn't really functional in 20. Stats wise, I'm dominating some games, but can't score for toffee.

Gave in and bought FMT for £21 today, then my mate told me he got the full game on Amazon for £20. TBH, I prefer Touch anyway. Haven't got the patience for some stuff on the full version, and even going from FMT 19 to 20, I've noticed a lot of improvements. If there was one thing I'd change about Touch, it's the ability to have custom databases like the Scottish expansion.

Perfect might give it a bash later. I've still got a couple of files on 19 which I'd maybe go back to, but I'd be open to trying out 20. Part of me feels as though it's stupid to fork out for it in April, but then I remember this no ordinary season, and as others said, could this all have an affect on them releasing 21?

I usually like to read all the results from the top 4 divisions in England and Scotland, plus results from the major European leagues. Within them, there's a few clubs I like to keep an eye on an wish well for no real reason. Outwith these leagues, I like to keep tabs on teams I've personally visited, like Valur Reykjavik and Brondby. No real reason for seeing these teams other than they were playing when I was in the area. Haven't seen PAOK yet, but I've a Greek mate who supports them and have watched a few games with him, so keep tabs on them.

Usually just sortitoutsi, or FM Base will cover you. Not sure about 20, but for 19 the logo packs all worked for Touch. Just put them in the graphics folder.

What's FM 20 like these days following updates and patches? I opted for 19 when I got my new laptop in January as there were so many complaints about the game engine on 20 but I believe that's changed? Being honestly I mostly play the touch version out of convenience anyway. Would probably just spend £20 on the touch version alone, rather than £40 for the full version. I've enjoyed 19 to the point where it's given me a taste for the new ones following years in the dark ages of 07, 08, 09 etc. but daft wee things like EL2 I want to experience.

Only just stopped playing 2009 as my old Toshiba Satellite packed in over Christmas. It was a virus riddled old timer, but ran 09 like a dream. 09 was just the most up to date version I'd acquired. Got a new laptop in January so have been playing 19 (opted not to go for 20) but I still have 09 through my steam library. Often contemplate going back for a wee laugh though.

2 weeks off work for self isolation at an end so time to reflect on my success with Cork City. Domestically, I've breezed it. Cork start as reigning champions on FM19 so have a strong squad already, I really just wanted to go a club who was already suited to success, and could focus on pushing on in Europe. Won 5 titles on the bounce, as well as numerous cups. There's about 5 domestic cups a season to play for. Think I've won something like 18, although they're all very low rep so not exactly the most beneficial for the reputation. Europe has been great though. First season, I managed to get to the Europa groups and even to the last 32 before getting pumped off Eintracht Frankfurt. Since then I've got to a further 2 Europa last 32's and a last 16, playing the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Lazio on the way. A 2-1 win away at Sporting Lisbon was easily my best result in the Europa. I also had one season in the CL group stages. A fine experience which has transformed the club forever. Got humped in my first 5 games, but financially, massive for us. Match 6, while a fairly pointless exercise, turned into my finest hour. A 1-0 win over Real Madrid at Turner's Cross, thanks to a Karl Shephard penatly in the 76th minute. The coefficient is at an all time high, with the Irish league now holding 2 CL berths. I've also built up a great academy, churning out some fantastic youngsters. A couple of which have moved to England for 6 figure sums within 2 seasons, and are Irish internationals. The rest of my squad is built up of players plucked from Scotland. Aaron Doran was a huge success, although now left and winding down. Currently, my 3 star players are Robbie Crawford, Bobby Burns and Bruce Anderson. I've achieved all there really is to do in Ireland, but having so much fun that I've knocked back loads of jobs, both north and south of Hadrian's Wall. I really want to stick around for a crack at the Ireland job, and truly turn them into a football powerhouse, but Mick McCarthy just won't ****ing leave.

Aye exactly, as if half these clubs need the cash.

I only got a Bari scarf because a mate in my old job was from there and was going home for a match. Wasn't sure if I'll ever get that chance again. My mate prefers a shirt wherever he goes, bought one at Augsburg with me, San Siro and Bernabeu with his Mrs etc. But a scarf is much more traditional for me. A better momento. Especially with 'elite' clubs. There's nothing really authentic about buying one of their shirts even if you have been. I visited the Parc des Princes albeit just outside, and didn't even contemplate going into the PSG shop.

Quite content with our glorious maroon, although our away kit should always be a nod to the original coulours of red, white and blue. Majestic.

I've got a good wee collection of scarves too. I try to make the effort to buy a scarf from any team I go to watch. Only teams I've seen without buying a scarf is Valur Reykjavik, Millwall, and Berwick Rangers. I just didn't get a chance at Valur or Millwall sadly. Added Ferencvaros to my collection last week, got an Augsburg one last year (lovely maroon and white bar scarf, with subtle green piping) and despite the fact I've never been to see them, or even their country, I've got a Bari scarf.

I'm another who's turned into a bit of a collector. Plenty Hearts and Schalke tops for obvious reasons but got a few fairly random ones. Most random is probably a Maribor shirt. Seen one online relatively cheap, and always had a soft spot for them once they completed the holy trinity of beating Hibs, Celtic and Rangers in Europe. Malmo have too, but didn't stumble upon their shirt yet. 2 PAOK Salonika shirts too as I have a Greek mate who supports them and recently added a Newcastle shirt to my collection. Not a real fan as such, I just go down to a lot of games with my mate who is. Few Nurnberg shirts too as they have a friendship with Schalke. Unknown to have friendship clubs on these shores, but very common in Europe. No one seems to really know why, but they wear maroon, so who am I to question. Only one I can really think of that is pretty random or obscure with no real context is DC United. Saw it cheap, thought it was nice and bought it. I have nothing more to add there.

Started a save inspired by my recent trip to Budapest, and took over Ferencvaros. My 4-3-3 Gegenpress will dominate domestically I assume, but I want to turn Hungary into a bit of a force again. Unbeaten in my first 7 in the league, and got to the Europa groups from QR1. Beat Feyenoord and Zenit on the way which was impressive. Favourite file I've played though is my unempoloyed challenge starting in Scotland. Took over Peterhead in League 2 sat 8th in December and got them straight up through the playoffs 6 months later. 2nd season, finished a respectable 7th in League One as well as reaching the Betfred QF. Left at the end of season 2 for Brechin who had just lost in the playoffs. I kept up that tradition by finishing in the playoffs 3 times, but on the 3rd attempt I finally managed promotion to the Championship. Problem seemed to be starting the season slow (new players perhaps not used to the gegenpress yet) and ending strong, but by which point, we were playing catch up. Ross County, Morton and Livi all made me work for it. Season 3 saw me get the QF of both cups too, losing at home to Celtic both times. The Scottish tie, I actually led 2-0. Spent a season in the Championship finishing 5th. Missed out on a playoff spot by 3 points. Again, I started very slowly, not winning my first 6, before flying up the table. Started season 5 with Brechin playing the Betfred, but was offered the job by St Mirren just days before the start of the Premiership season, so off I popped. Started by beating Hibs at home, Hearts away and Aberdeen at home. I've only lost 1 out of my first 7, and that was Celtic away.