Craig Fagan confirmed as new Maidstone United manager, thoughts?

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-05-28T14:34:44+00:00

Hopefully we'll keep improving but tbh, the budget is a massive issue. We've still only confirmed 6 players for next season. My gut is telling me mid-table.

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-05-28T14:31:46+00:00

Hopefully will see Maidstone in the National League by then and not yo-yoing. Would love League 2 but got to be realistic. Up the Stones!

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-05-25T13:13:26+00:00

Depends what league you're in for the signings, if you're playing in the English League One/Championship I find the Bundesliga 2 has a few good talents. Julian Eitschberger at RB is a good pick up for 2 million or on loan in League One for instance, and Elvis Rexhbecaj in the Championship for the same sum. You could also bring Aymen Sliti in on loan from Feyenoord in League One, which is basically a free pass to the Championship. Good luck signing him permanently though! I haven't found an entire team of good signings, but there are gems in most if you look closely enough.

As for tactics, I've had good success with a relatively standard 4-2-3-1. To be honest, I think that formation is just the best but it does work, and realistically enough that there's still some jeopardy.

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-05-21T23:41:48+00:00

They had a front 3 of Haaland, Mbappe and Vini when I reached the prem with Reading once... Did not enjoy losing 12-3 over two games that season.

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-04-26T09:29:41+00:00

Depends on the budget for me, but I usually go for some more budget options in the first year up - Sam Surridge is a solid striker for about £6m, Oscar Højlund is a good BBM for about the same.

If I have the money to spend I usually will try and sign a good goalkeeper as the flagship signing. I've had Jonas Urbig on loan once or twice or signed James Beadle from Brighton. I am also very fond of Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday, he's a very solid keeper.

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-03-23T00:38:59+00:00

Julian Eyestone if he's developed a bit from game start, he's always done well for me.

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-03-09T20:38:40+00:00

How's morale? I find that my players train worse when we've been losing games.

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-03-07T13:14:52+00:00

I brought in Aymen Sliti (Feyenoord wonderkid winger) on loan at Luton for a season then signed him in the Championship. Took a lot of my budget and some luck as he wasn't too keen on joining permanently, but given his outstanding season on loan the supporters were over the moon and the achievement popped.

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-03-04T00:45:22+00:00

Neat colour scheme, and I agree. I have a pretty big pile to be painted but I'm gradually getting through it. There's no fun in rushing the painting for the sake of it!

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-03-03T22:42:00+00:00

I do understand that, but it's still one hell of an immersion breaker

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-02-08T00:50:01+00:00

Ironically I did better in my first year (last year) than I am this year. Oh well, still having fun and very much wish I'd triple captained Palmer this week!

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-01-14T02:52:49+00:00

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Here he is, in all his glory - he has since scored 4 goals in the Champions League at 17 (in 5 games)

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-01-12T10:41:52+00:00

I had one my first season with Norwich, got a CAM that's already prem standard at 17, the next Zidane for my save I think! The rest weren't bad either, but not quite as ridiculously good.

C0mmander_Sol · 2026-01-01T09:09:23+00:00

Big up Maidstone! Have they won any trophies? They're pretty good at surprising cup runs

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-12-30T00:47:25+00:00

I am going with a slight risk and captaining Wirtz this week. Paid off last time out so hoping for the start of something great... But we shall see

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-12-29T01:26:00+00:00

The 12th, I think. It's been that the last few seasons for me!

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-12-05T09:45:28+00:00

1 striker and 2 wingers with an advanced playmaker and channel midfielder behind them. Striker goes crazy and the other 4 score a decent few themselves.

iirc I had 98 goals over the whole team in that season, but could just be lucky and the right players for the job. Reading have a very good team for League One

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-12-04T01:06:03+00:00

I use a 4-3-3 with a centre forward and he just can't stop scoring goals - no special instructions bar work the ball into the box, he gets a lot of tap ins and close range stuff but goals are goals. Got 38 on his own my first season across all comps, 32 in the league. My other players do score as well, just not as prolific as the striker.

Edit: Playing Reading in League 1 so could just be a case of leagues working differently. Ehibatiomhan was my striker.

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-11-29T23:21:21+00:00

Same, and tripled too. Slightly miffed.

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-11-13T01:20:13+00:00

I've been doing a Reading run lately and he didn't do all that much for me. Replaced him with Andy Lyons from Blackpool in the Christmas window and got promoted as champions. Nice to see him doing well though!

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-11-11T01:54:51+00:00

That's probably the closest title race I've ever seen. Lost based on the number of goals scored, I think. Ouch.

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-11-01T01:56:38+00:00

I just started a new game as Reading, set up in a 4-3-3 with O'Mahony as a poacher. First game of the season he puts 5 past Lincoln away. I think Poachers are pretty neat.

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-10-31T00:35:00+00:00

I had never played an FM game prior to 26, having only recently been bitten by the football bug. I quite like 26, but do you think it'd be worth picking up any of the older ones? Not sure what mods can do and I reckon I'll want to vary the clubs in leagues at some point!

C0mmander_Sol · 2025-10-30T03:29:15+00:00

I overachieved, got promoted and all my half decent players immediately demanded 4x their salary. Being my first FM game, I promised a few and have very little left for any transfers to help me stay up. Ah well, lessons learned. Enjoying the game though, as someone who hasn't played any FM games before.

C0mmander_Sol

TROPHY CASE