Mark Of Excellence

I am new to the FMSCOUT. So this is my first story here and in football manager 2012 altogether. I am yet to decide on the team to manage but I will decide on the team and the tactics that i'm going to be using in the next post. I will certainly be managing a premier league team and I am using the LFCMarshalls update so teams will have latest transfers approved. I will be updating on either a monthly basis or a match-to-match basis. I will start the game soon and post next update... Till then I will be deciding my team and the tactics...

"Mark of Excellence" by Marc. That is smart

Good luck!

So after wondering on the team to manage, I decided on the England's most successful team... The 19 time champions, Manchester United. Well Sir Alex Ferguson decided to retire after the unsuccessful year which yielded no silverware in a long time he felt its time to move on and retired. Manchester United then appointed Nabin Shahi in the much sought-after hot seat, he was provided with a transfer budget of 31 million pounds. The fans were left wondering if he was the man who will doom the world's most loved football club. Nabin Shahi, a virtually unknown person who claimed the hotseat left manchester fans to worry for the club's future but David Gill assured the fans to remain patient and told them that winning is in the club's blood...

What will be the future of the Team so loved????

After going through the team and the players... I find the team to be quite sufficient for now. However there are some concerns...
1. A lot of old players remain and they still play a huge part for the team where younger players are failing to realize their full potential. Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand still play a huge part for the team while youngsters like anderson, Cleverley are not being able to realize their full potential.

2. A lot of injury prone players. I don't know what the game holds but if the real life injury problems are same in the game for United then its going to be a lot of trouble.

3. The club is in a lot of debt so I think I might not spend until the january transfer window even though I have a budget of 31 millions. However if i get some good deals for the younger players I may be forced to spend.

There are some good points as well. The team has spent heavily recently so I think the team is really balanced and the squad has a lot of depth in strike force and in the central defense. The team has some really good young players. Players like Kagawa, Angelo Henriques, Nick Powell, Welback, hernandes all are quite young and develop in great players. so I am looking forward to the start of the season.

I think I will use 3 different tactics...
tactic 1......4-1-2-1-2
--------ST(T/P)----ST(TM/P)------- I will be using a trequartista
-------------AMC(T/AP)------------
-------MC(BWM)---MC(AP/DLP)-------
-------------DMC(DM/A)------------
FB(A/S)---DC(CD)--DC(CD)---FB(A/S)
---------------GK-----------------

Tactic 2......4-3-3 It's just a standard 4-3-3 tactics, I'm yet to decide the player roles..
Tactic 3...... will have wingers and will specialize on the counter attacking football.

SO I will straight update with the results and images after the preseason as I feel I don't to post the pre-season in details. Then After trying out the above tactics I will post proper tactics in the next update.

Starting with the match against the Reserves...

Manchester United 2-1 Manchester United Reserves
Rooney(2,34) Veseli(55)


Manchester United 2-1 FC Bayern
Vidic (5) Shaqiri(38)
Rooney(pen 27)


Next matches will follow soon. Rafael was injured playing against Bayern and will be out for 9 to 11 days.

First friendly against FC Bayern was quite great. Dominated the match but couldn't score more. Need to provide Van Persie some more game time.

TRANSFER UPDATE...
Dortmund offered 13m for anderson and accepted it as i feel he is surplus to requirements. Upto anderson if he will approve dortmund's transfer. If he leaves, I will be looking for the replacement for paul scholes in this transfer window who can play as the playmaking fulcrum for the team.

Finally I have completed the preseason and the league is starting just a few days later.
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Friendlyresults.jpg

As you can see, I won all the matches as there weren't any real tough opposition apart from FC Bayern. However the team is getting on really well. Rooney and welback are scoring some goals and youngsters are getting some playing time as well. I'm pretty pleased so far in this save.
Anderson rejected the move to Dortmund so I don't think i will add any new players for the First team but I have bought some good players with good potential who will join the reserves and U18 squads. Here is the image of all the transfers, most of these were paid in compensation.
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/AllTransfers.jpg

Now time for the tactics that i have tried and some infos about them...
Tactic 1.....4-1-2-1-2
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Tactic1.jpg
Well this is the tactic I have tried most as I think i am able to use both Van persie and Rooney efficiently however without wingers my full backs have to provide me all the width so they are set to attack and while they are forward my DM will remain at the back to form a 3 man defense for most of the time and can support buildup in the attack.

Tactic 2......4-3-3
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Tactic2.jpg
This tactic is created just so that i can utilize all the strikers who are quality and can score quite a few goals and the 3 man midfield will provide a comfortable midfield team able to control the middle of the pitch. I can use wingers either on the strikers or change to the next tactic with ease.

Tactic 3.....4-3-2-1 with wingers
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Tactic3.jpg
This is the only tactic that uses wingers and this can be changed to above 2 tactics with ease. However unlike the above two tactics this will be focused on counterattacking football so that fast wingers will be used and this tactics will be used against stronger teams and for crunch clashes as well.

Since Javier Hernandez is out for 3 weeks I might be using either tactic 1 or 3 against the very strong liverpool team to start off the campaign..

If you guys have any suggestion you can post here...

Javier Hernandez and Anderson are injured but maybe available for selection for the next match against liverpool.
My team is not suffering from a lot of injuries as in real life... Here's the injury list...
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Injuries.jpg

I will next update after every league match if possible and also high profile clashes in CL or Cup matches. If playing against lower league teams I might update the bridging matches together with league matches...

Feel free to suggest players to sign and your interactions as well.

Before the Liverpool match, I sold Anderson for 13 million to PSG. And I thought this might be the time to bring in the replacement for paul scholes and ryan giggs and I was suggested by a scout to bring this guy in.... Rasmus ELM...
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/RasmusElm.jpg

Has good enough stats for a DEEP_LYING Playmaker. Potential wise Anderson might have been better than him but I think for a DLP, he is way better. The attributes are selected above for a DLP(s) so I think its a great buy for 6.5 millions. Wish he was just a bit physical... Anyway I will be testing him as a sub for Giggs or he might start against Liverpool(Paul Scholes has been injured and will be out for a few days) and Let's wait and watch how he performs.

Give me your opinions guys. Have you tried this guy out????

IMO You should sell heavily because you can get a much better team if you replace them.
You can get 15M for Anderson and Cleverly, 13-15M for Carrick, 17M for Fletcher, 30M for Evra, 23M for welbeck. I suggest getting a good right back as well, smalling was poor for me. Also, a lot of clubs will be interested in Macheda, you can swap him for their best talents. I got Yann M'Vila for macheda+1mil. Ferdinand should be sold, chelsea will buy him. Also, loan out buttner to fc twente because he is useless defensively, and get someone else. recall buttner and sell him in january.

If you sell all of them you should make easily 100-120M+. Then if you buy for maybe 80M you should have a very good side. United I think lose 7-9M on loans a month, so if you do as I said you can challenge for the champions league, and if you win, your finances will get a huge boost.

First game of the season against ARCH-RIVALS Liverpool.

My Lineup for the squad...
Formation: 4-1-2-1-2
Players: Gk-De Gea
DR-Valencia DC-Ferdinand DC-Vidic DL-Evra
DM-Fletcher
MC-Scholes MC-Cleverley
AMC-Kagawa
ST-Rooney ST-Van Persie

Sub Used: Jones, Nani, Rasmus Elm
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Vs-Lpool.jpg

As you can see winning 2-0 but the performance was not so good. RVP scored a wondergoal but the stupid tackle from Darren Fletcher who was deployed as a DMC left me one man short for more than a half. However he took the dangerous Luis Suarez with him(injured) and the game which was being dominated by us didn't remained the same as liverpool grew into the match but De Gea showed his unmatched potential by putting through a string of fantastic saves to keep us in the match. And a brilliant counterattacking move saw kagawa score from a tap in from a Nani cross.

I'm pleased with the win but there were some concerns as Rooney wasn't able to put in a good performance and the Fletcher sending off was terrible.

check out the match ratings...
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/MR-Lpool.jpg
Man of the match: De Gea

Well I have to be pleased with the defensive work of my team and i am looking forward to the next match now. RVP, Kagawa, Rasmus Elm made their debut for the team in this game so next match I'm hoping for better results...
Feel Free To Provide me with your Comments...

2012-10-26 10:33#68549 Arvind K : IMO You should sell heavily because you can get a much better team if you replace them.
You can get 15M for Anderson and Cleverly, 13-15M for Carrick, 17M for Fletcher, 30M for Evra, 23M for welbeck. I suggest getting a good right back as well, smalling was poor for me. Also, a lot of clubs will be interested in Macheda, you can swap him for their best talents. I got Yann M'Vila for macheda+1mil. Ferdinand should be sold, chelsea will buy him. Also, loan out buttner to fc twente because he is useless defensively, and get someone else. recall buttner and sell him in january.

If you sell all of them you should make easily 100-120M+. Then if you buy for maybe 80M you should have a very good side. United I think lose 7-9M on loans a month, so if you do as I said you can challenge for the champions league, and if you win, your finances will get a huge boost.

Well thanks for your opinion I think it will be great but i'm thinking of building through the reserve and youth system while purchasing in minimum quantity. I'm rather thinking of buying younger players and developing them to better players who can stake a claim for the first team. However I will purchase some great players will slowly disposing old and unrequired players.

Anyway thanks for your suggestion...

First game in home this season against West Brom...

Formation: 4-3-3 with 3 strikers and 3 central midfielders....
Lineup: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Rasmus Elm, Carrick, Cleverley, Rooney, Van Persie, Welback
Subs Used: Nani, Young, Giggs

Manchester United 1-0 West Brom
Van Persie (24')

Look at the result....
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Vs-WBrom.jpg
At home, this was a unconvincing win. Two games in the premier league and two red cards. This is getting embarrassing. Rooney handed West Brom the way back into the game after the red card and his performance has made me think if i'm better off him just in two matches. However i know he will be a catalyst for a lot of victories so i need to be patient. West Brom had better possession after the red card and got a few shots in. I'm glad that my defense is a lot strong and 2nd clean sheet in as many matches is however pleasing.

Here are the player ratings...
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/MR-WBrom.jpg
Im glad that Van Persie is settling in quite well. He has 2 goals in 2 matches so i'm happy with that. Rasmus Elm has had a good match and i think he will be a good asset to the team.

Feel Free to provide your opinion... What should i do to stop this recklessness and what do you think about these two formations????

The Next match was a match away to Newcastle. I had expected a really hard match against the toons and I knew it would be hard to get all 3 points at saint james park but little did i know it would be so exciting affair...

Manchester United Lineup
Formation: 4-1-2-1-2
Lineup: De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Jones, Scholes, Cleverley, Kagawa, Hernandez, Van Persie
Subs Used: Welback, Rasmus Elm, Nani

Newcastle United: 2-3 : Manchester United
Cisse(31,50)-----------Kagawa(11)
Miguel(Sent off)-------Van Persie(pen 53, pen 79)
-----------------------Van Persie missed penalty(71)

Here is the match result...
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Vs-Ncastle.jpg

Newcastle were down by a goal early with a kagawa goal but they equalized with Cisse after half an hour. Miguel then was sent off for his second bookable offense. Cisse gave Newcastle the lead but they lost their discipline in the second half, shockingly giving away 3 penalties of which Van persie converted two. Since my team was dominating the match yet was unable to find the gap between the Newcastle defense the penalties were a boost and the heroics of Cisse whom my defense was unable to cope with, was doomed. My defense has shown a weakness in speed as it seems shipping in two goals and a very bad performance from De Gea. There are a little bit concerns.

Here are the match ratings...
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/MR-ncastle.jpg
In this game Rooney was a little missed, Hernandez wasn't able to unlock the newcastle defense. Rooney would had been a handful but he is banned for the next 2 games. Luckily the next match is against QPR and is after the international break so till then please comment and you can provide me with your suggestions here. Next update will be soon.

The beta lets us exploit the wings, have 2 wingers in every tactic to score more goals.

Against QPR after the international break...

Manchester United have been drawn alongside Ajax, Udinese and M. Haifa in the champions league group stage...

Manchester United vs. QPR
Formation:4-3-3 with wingers
Lineup: De Gea, Rafael, Smallings, Evans, Buttner, Rasmus Elm, Carrick, Cleverley, Nani, Young, Van Persie
Subs Used: Valencia, Hernandez, Jones

Manchester United: 2-0 :QPR
Young(48)
Hernandez(86)
Here is the result...
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/Vs-QPR.jpg
Rested a couple of starters so that i can have them perfectly rested and fresh for the next match which is a CL tie against Udinese 3 days later. And wayne rooney is available to partner Van persie up front. Dominated this game from top to bottom. Julio Cesar put in a very strong performance and we were only able to beat him twice to the net. Ashley Young was the man of the match.

Here are the player ratings...
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a531/Nabin_Shahi/Manager%20story/MR-QPR.jpg

De Gea bounced back quite well after conceding two in the last game but he had very little to do but may be a handful against Udinese. Next update will be after the Udinese game. Quite excited to start the European Journey and posting it here...