What team to start with ?

I've been reading all the forums, but I still can't decide what team should I start on football manager ? please help !!!

Ah, the never-ending struggle of the mind

It's really up to you. For example I choose a team based on how much I like its name (& nickname), the main colors, the badge and then I look at media prediction, loan debt and stadium capacity.
My top preference is towards lower league teams having red as main color and predicted to battle for relegation, which normally means they have no money and poor facilities.

Different people enjoy different things. Others like to manage popular clubs such as Barcelona or Manchester United and others find it more challenging to manage obscure clubs with no transfer budget.
You could start with the team you actually support in real life, or simply follow your instinct and pick whichever team clicks for you at first sight.

Good luck!

Depending on the country or league - I'll either go for a team whose name I like or a team I feel I could do well with... so currently trying to decide whether to start at the bottom in Ireland or go somewhere like Belarus or Latvia.

I personally don't find managing a team with a big reputation exciting or challenging. I either try to manage the team I support, or like Stam said, a team that just stands out whether it is by a badge, or a nickname. Regardless of a big transfer budget, or stadium. It just seems for satisfying knowing you made a club repectable, rather than kept them at the big time.

My favourites are PSG or Malaga as they're both cubs with money so you can try to bring the best out of both them. It does take me saves to find a good team.

If you are a new player, you should definitely start with either your favorite team or any of big clubs (Barcelona, Real, United, City etc.); make sure you have transfer budget, because a new player can find it difficult to go on with current squads.

If you are sure you played enough of those, definitely try lower league management. Take any team in Blue Square North/South, and try to make them one of the best clubs in England and Europe. It will be a long journey but believe me every second you spend will be worthed.

If you want a specific team, I am playing with Stalybridge and really having fun. But the team you selected is not so important in lower leagues. The first season experience may change, but afterwards everything will become difficult and more exciting.

→ This post was edited by elazulreal (2012-04-06 02:47, 1 years ago)

I chose Shakhtar Donetsk they are pretty decent side witch are in Champions League, and got 30 million to spend.

It's nice reading your suggestions guys, keep them coming!

It would be interesting to gather as much ideas as I can and aim to put together some kind of a cheat-sheet people can refer to when they need help choosing their next team on FM.

Usually i start in the lower League ( in Italy with Turin, in Spain Depor or Celta, in England Nott. Forest or Leeds ).

It all depends on what kind of experience you are hoping for.

1st option
Champions League main stays (Manchester United, Manchester City).
- Media prediction will be 1st, 2nd or 3rd
- Usually, these teams have a big transfer budget, and it is easier to try various formations without hampering results too heavily and of course get your favourite players to play together. Recommended for casual gamers or starters.
- Major Goal: Becoming a super power, and winning the quadruple or Champions League three times in a row.
- Biggest Obstacle: The board will not accept anything but the best. Get beaten by Barcelona in the 1st Knockout Stage of the Champions League and you might just get sacked.

2nd option
Promotion Guaranteed Teams (West Ham - Championship, Sheffield United - League One, etc.)
- Media Prediction: 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
- They are similar to the likes of United and Barcelona, only in the lower leagues.
- You might easily reach the Premier League, but you will have to learn from any mistakes you have made, because the top league will be very difficult to get through.
- Major Goal: Staying in the Premier League, reaching the final stages of cup competitions.
- Biggest Obstacle: You might find a gem of a regen and sign him for peanuts, but he'll soon be gone. Can you keep searching for such players and drive a hard-bargain to save the club some money, while maintaining a good league position?

3rd option
European Hopefuls (Newcastle, Villa, Everton)
- Media Prediction: 7th, 8th or 9th.
- They have no hope of being champions and a pretty slim chance of reaching the Champions League, but there's always the Europa League! You might have to sell before buying.
- Major Goal: Europa League qualification and attempting a top-4 position within the first 3 years. Cup success.
- Biggest Obstacle: Lack of money. Not enough motivation. You might lose three matches in a row, and be sixteen points behind the leaders, but you need to realize even 6th is good enough for Europe. That might be tougher than you think.

4th option
Relegation Dog-fight (Blackburn, Wigan, Wolves)
- Media Prediction: 16th and below.
- These teams need multiple tactics - attacking for similar teams, while defensive for the top teams. They have players who are good, but can't do anything great.
- Top players will not come to these clubs, even when they are "not needed" by their present club because you just can't pay for their wages. Choose wisely. Loans will be very important here.
- Major Goal: Surviving in the league and resisting the temptation of signing for a bigger club. This is your long term project. You have to win the league with this club in 10 years.
- Biggest Obstacle: 7-0, 8-0 losses against the big sides.

P.S: I didn't know how much I helped, because most of what I said is already mentioned earlier, but media predictions are important, if you aren't the most advanced gamer.
And this is only England. The same rule applies in every country. Know your players, know your league and you'll be fine.

I choose my own city Football team for my nation league, and mostly i use team from English Premier League

easy - big clubs, barca, man united, man city, borussa dortment,

medium/easy - everton, newcastle, valencia, hoffenhiem,

medium/hard - any npower league 2, any french league 2, any ligua adalante

hard - blue square N/S, italian league 3

I have a save with Swansea at the moment very much enjoying that one!

I started a game with all the major countries added and went on holiday until 2022. I then took over Newport County (The Exiles) who are in English League 1 and can honestly say it is great fun.

I usually begin every time with my favorite local team Dundee United in Scottish Premier League, although I usually like a challenge.

My best challenge is taking Elgin City, Scottish Third Division, into the Scottish Premier,

1st season predicted 4th, Promoted to Division 2 through winning Division 3
2nd Season predicted 10th, Promoted to Division 1 through winning Division 2
3rd Season predicted 10th, Finished 3rd in Division 1
4th Season predicted 7th, Promoted to Scottish Premier League through winning Division 1

Other challenges I like to attempt is to begin unemployed and then take a club which is in relegation zone, mostly in English leagues, and bring them out and then leave in the summer. I did this with Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster, Havant & Waterlooville, Charlton, Forfar Athletic (Scotland), Mallorca (Spain) and Aston Villa.

The save with Aston Villa I stayed on afterwards and the next season I won the EURO Cup and won the FA Cup, from there with Villa I've won the EPL twice, the FA Cup 4 times in a row, the European Super Cup 3 times in a row, the European Champions Cup twice, and the League Cup twice.

Database changes don't do it for me but I've experimented, there are a load for England down past the Ismithian Premier and a British Superleague, lots for full Scottish reconstruction, for the last one I've experimented with my hometown Carnoustie Panmure FC to attempt to take them to the top, not got far but I come and go to it.

One of the most important things for me to look for before choosing any club is that it must not be in any debt, this is just a preference for me, but the way it seems to work for me is that when a club is not repaying their debts they don't have then they are able to give me the money to spend on more aspects for the club.

I hope that my experiences with this game can help some people to choose a club.