FM22: Newcastle Season 1

!!!VIRGINITY REJUVINATION WARNING:  SUPER NERDING OUT INCOMING!!!

How can you pass up $275 million to spend (yes, I use evil American freedom bucks) for your first Football Manager save of the year?

(I'm not addicted, you're addicted!)

RESULTS:

FUCKING RONALDO!!!  He ruined everything!  And...AND...guess who signed Mbappe on a free?  Not fair at all.  Even $275 million can't compete with that shit.

Granted I am happy to manage Top 4 in the first year, especially since Saint-Maximin had a really badly timed 2 month injury during Dec-Jan.  Callum Wilson was insane, even given where he played in the system I use being a goal fiesta spot for just about anyone.

TACTICS:

Started prepping for next year before I thought to share (read: brag) and too lazy to slot players back into their usual spots.  So...basically...two F9s should make zero fucking sense, but in video game world it works wonders.   A couple years ago attack mids were just horrible across the entire game and I abandoned them completely and haven't looked back and by the same token didn't like wingers last year either.

So I settled on my Not False 9s that work between those two positions as basically VERY aggressive attacking mids that players that can play either winger or attack mid or striker can be trained for, opening up a wide player pool.  In lower leagues where F9 capable players aren't as available I settle for Pressing Forwards and usually Target Men for the Complete Forward as well.

The most important players on the pitch with this tactic are the wingbacks, followed by the Complete Forward, and then the Mezzala.  You're basically creating three layers of crossing for your wingbacks, CF up front that is tall and can lead the line (he won't likely have the majority of the goals, but taking up space and pulling in defenders is his entire purpose, there will also be games were he has an average rating and that's just fine, he's still often doing his job), the two Not-F9s who might find space if the defenders over commit to the CF or if they don't can dart towards the goal for their own shot, and the Mezzala sits at the edge of the box and sprays in long shots (13+ long shot preferable, Right Foot required).

There's actually a MORE aggressive version of this with a Regista over a BWM at DM and that's a fourth layer where they shoot from like 30 yards plus.

Secondary tactic for this is that the right sided Not-F9 should be right footed and have good dribbling and crossing so when you do break they can cross across the field to the other Not-F9, hence many of Callum Wilson's goals.

TRANSFERS:

Best to Worst:

1.  Grimaldo: amazing, player of the year for me and a steal at that price and the wage he he's on.  13 assists, 7.41 average rating.  

2.  Isak: kicked ass leading the line and just what I was looking for, did demand a 90mil release clause and I'm probably going to lose him :(

3.  Milenkovic:  a rock for the defense all year and probably the next five years.

4.  Lacroix:  Steal at that price.  Wants a low release clause but did accept new contract with a higher number.  Played both beside Milenkovic and at BWM since Kondogbia collects yellows like they're Pokemon cards.

5.  Almada:  Long time wonderkid is still good and what a price!  Does take half a season to train his stats up before he's ready to start games, but he's earned his spot and has more development room probably too.

6.  Edwards:  English player down in Portugal that I mostly picked up because of the 8 english player requirement, but he played a ton and ended the season starting next to Almada, knocking Joe Willock (already at Newcastle) to the bench

7.  Dest:  Pretty disappointed in my countryman.  He had great games but he also had HORRIBLE games.  Like...6.0 games 3 or 4 in a row at some points, just made me want to scream.  Has development room, but we'll see might sell him in a year or two.  Do like that he can play on either side!

8.  Ceballos:  cheap!  Starts on the transfer list and if you wait a month or two he'll drop down a lot.  Still don't know if I recommend.  Had a few good games, but was middling most of the time, eventually replaced by Almada.  Planning to sell him for easy profit this off season.

9.  Kondogbia:   Disappointingly average.  Was hoping for much more.  Also starts transfer listed and cheap-ish, but looking at other people's saves do not recommend going for him.  Zakaria is available, plus Kessie is on the last year of his contract and was placed on the transfer list late in the summer which would have been SO much better for about the same price.  Also as pointed out before, loves yellows and was suspended for a lot of games late in the year.  Already sold him on to Barca for a small profit.

10.  Mings:  also signed for English quota and...WTF.  Totally capable of a 7.5 masterclass against weak competition but expect him to get destroyed by the big boys with those dreaded red ratings sub 6.0.  Do not recommend at all.

Rest:  Too young or subs that we'll see in the years to come.

As for what Newcastle starts with...so bad, SO BAD.  Sell them!  Be merciless!  Keep Wilson, ASM, and Willock...the rest are average at best.  Like most of this team is rated "good for sky bet championship" and the contracts some of them on are awful.

Jacob Murphy is signed until 2027, what the fuck?  Is someone laundering money through this guy?

Joelinton...listen, if the very first day of the game you can transfer list him and sell him for $0 dollars do it!  I would even consider $0 and some of his wages to be a HUGE success.  I was lucky to loan him out with a team paying 20% of his wages, that's how bad his contract.  It's soul crushing!  Please, please let me be able to sell him soon FM gods!