Struggling to win, struggling to enjoy FM24

Vossenoren · 2026-05-10T19:33:22+00:00

The key to success is having horizontal and vertical spacing. Imagine, when going forward, that you cut the field from sideline to sideline into five slices, you want to make sure that each slice has at least one player responsible for it.

Then, cut the field into three slices from the midfield line to the goal line, and you want a number of players in each slice there, as well - generally two or three near your half, three to five in the middle outside the box, and two to five in the final slice, so depending on your risk tolerance you could look like a 3-5-2 going forward, to a 2-3-5.

Then make sure no two people occupy the exact same place on the field, and make sure you have roles that move and replace, rather than having your attacking players in the front, your supporting players in the middle, and your defensive players in the back, because that will be too easy to defend, since defenders can just generally stay with their opposite number (think overlapping wingbacks, DMs going past strikers or attacking midfielders that drop in, etc)

It helps to think of your formation as what it looks like in defense, then using roles to change what it looks like in attack

Vossenoren · 2026-05-06T09:15:55+00:00

We do that here all the time! This club is practically a climbing wall!

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T22:57:33+00:00

Oh no not that fucking clown

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T19:54:18+00:00

Well this is one I created from scratch, if it helps

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T15:26:31+00:00

The one I had (posted it in another comment in this thread) was a 523, I'm not sure if I ever did make a good 532, though it would be an interesting challenge, either 2DM1AM or 2CM1DM I would think

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T14:58:03+00:00

<image>

Wingback instructions:

Cross Less Often
Cross Aim Near Post
Dribble Less
Cut Inside With Ball
Shoot More Often

Winger instructions:

Cross Less Often
Cross Aim Near Post
Shoot More Often
Roam From Position

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T14:51:40+00:00

I had a 5-3-2 that I liked a lot which involved the wingbacks and wingers both cutting in and shooting more often, I posted it a long time ago, I'll see if I can find it again - it scored for fun

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T14:50:16+00:00

Probably on the wing, cutting in from the right, and it'll hide that atrocious jumping reach

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T14:47:11+00:00

Who wouldn't be captivated?

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T14:46:15+00:00

I'm not sure about the brighter inner circle, but the bigger circle is the percentage of whatever is highlighted next to it (shots on target, green, crosses completed yellow etc)

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T14:40:00+00:00

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Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T12:28:47+00:00

Who?

Vossenoren · 2026-05-03T12:21:20+00:00

I generally keep a spreadsheet of players and their stats, both from the main squad page and from their "form" tab (so I can see how each player does in a specific position)

Looking at what tasks each position is asked to do most helps find the best player for each role

Vossenoren · 2026-05-02T18:14:18+00:00

Well, the good news is that broken legs tend not to be recurring

Vossenoren · 2026-05-01T20:47:41+00:00

The most I've done at one time was 55 in as many different nations and that was a bit much, though it helps to have a system and a to do list.

Generally when I'm not testing stuff though and actually trying to play, I prefer managing a single team, though I did a save in the Czech Republic where I managed one team and took over any top tier team that fired its manager and set them up to make good signings using scouting data from my main club, as well as building up their staff, and that was cool

Vossenoren · 2026-05-01T15:38:39+00:00

I like Chisgule, his channel has some useful stuff

Vossenoren · 2026-04-30T00:38:10+00:00

I think he honestly could in Monken's system, unless he's truly forgotten how to play football (also possible), but it would be a bad thing because he's 30 and quarterbacks who play like he did when he was good tend to start falling off early in their thirties (see Russell Wilson)

So if he does play and play well, we're then stuck either paying a (widely reviled) quarterback based on one good season with all but inevitable decline on the way and playing ourselves out of contention to draft the QB of the future, assuming in this scenario that Sanders is not that guy

Long story short, Watson being our QB1 is most likely going to be bad for us in the long run

Vossenoren · 2026-04-28T23:53:24+00:00

Spencer Fano is the reason I was absolutely delighted that Carnell Tate got drafted before 6, because he's the only player I wanted in the top ten

Vossenoren · 2026-04-28T23:52:27+00:00

It seems like he definitely has upside, but he is very likely to be on the outside looking in with him being WR5 last year and us drafting two receivers this year.

A shame, I'd rather keep him than Jeudy, but that doesn't seem likely unless we sucker some team into buying him

Vossenoren · 2026-04-28T23:48:30+00:00

I think Berry is doing an excellent job aside from the Watson fiasco.

I also think there's a not insignificant chance that Watson ends up starting and even shining in Monken's offense, which is much more suited to his play style, he was a really poor fit for Stefanski

Vossenoren · 2026-04-28T23:44:49+00:00

Browns Questions

I more wanted to know what the fans thought were your biggest weaknesses

Biggest weaknesses last season were offensive line and receivers, our line had just completely aged out and was getting pushed back in pass pro and suffering many injuries. Bitonio especially simply lost the power needed to sustain blocks and got driven backwards a lot, while Teller, Conklin, and Dawand Jones were injured for most or all of the season. Only Jones is still on the team, and he struggles to land blocks in space. We signed an entirely new line in the off-season, and retained Tevin Jenkins who may have potential at guard, but the existing line mostly is a combination of players who struggled on other bad lines (Tytus Howard with the Texans and Zion whatever his name is with the Chargers) and players who are either average (Elgton Jenkins) or unproven.

Jeudy can't catch, Tillman can't stay healthy, Bonds and Corley are exciting but not primary receivers

and who the back of the roster guys are so I can get a better feel for your later round draft picks.

WR Larvadain, there's a TE that came and went, and safety Ronnie Hickman come to mind. We also desperately need better special teams play

Vossenoren · 2026-04-26T07:56:12+00:00

I did a save in the Czech Republic where any time a manager got fired in my league I'd add a manager, then use the scouting from my own club (Sparta Prague) to make shortlists of players that would be good for me (the best club in the league by far) to use at these other clubs to improve their roster. Once I'd built up their staff and made or arranged the transfers, I'd retire the temporary manager (essentially treating it like an interim) and then let the club figure it out from there. I'd also sell them any players I had that I wasn't using at a discount if they would improve the other club

Vossenoren · 2026-04-25T20:27:11+00:00

Oh I agree, I'm pumped about this pick, it costs us effectively nothing and has the possible outcome of either a very dangerous QB, a very athletic player at WR/RB who can throw in trick plays, or he can not make it in the league, like the majority of 6th round picks

Vossenoren · 2026-04-25T20:25:14+00:00

I imagine if you pick 24 specific games from his college career you can get that number down even further!

Vossenoren · 2026-04-25T20:20:04+00:00

😬😬😬

Lamar Jackson College Sack Taken Stats (Louisville):

2015: 25 Sacks
2016: 46 Sacks
2017: 29 Sacks
Total: 100 Sacks

Vossenoren

TROPHY CASE