Here are four tips that will make your Journeyman challenge on Football Manager more enjoyable.
Here are four tips that will make your Journeyman challenge on Football Manager more enjoyable.
Anyone in the FM community has attempted a journeyman save at least once. The realism of starting from the very bottom of the game and trying to work your way to the top is the biggest thrill of playing for many, and the biggest mystery to others. I have to admit, it took me a number of attempts to really get into a journeyman save, but now I’m hooked. This guide will hopefully help you to make the most of your journeyman and to enjoy one of the most interesting ways of playing Football Manager.
Start in September
When setting up your save, I cannot stress enough how much of a difference this makes. I selected the first games of the 2021 Champions League as the starting point for this save, meaning the first day was in September. For me, this had a clear effect that the clubs without managers from the start of the game were now a month into their seasons and, therefore, far more desperate to appoint someone. This takes the boredom out of the first jobhunting section of the save, and saves a lot of time. This also means you skip preseason, which is ideal if you find that boring and prefer to get your teeth into some competitive action.
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This is definitely something I struggled to get my head around. You’re not going to go from managing a Vanarama National League side to the Premier League quickly. It takes time to build up your reputation. The quicker you understand the time involved in building yourself up, the quicker you’ll enjoy the save. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
With that in mind, I’d also recommend not being too quick to change jobs. If you find yourself in a decent club, things are going well, and the board are happy to pay for your coaching badges, resist the temptation to move to another club just for the sake of it. There are a lot more bad jobs than good jobs, so if you’ve got a good job, stay there until you’re sure your next job is an improvement.
Take your time
This is definitely something I struggled to get my head around. You’re not going to go from managing a Vanarama National League side to the Premier League quickly. It takes time to build up your reputation. The quicker you understand the time involved in building yourself up, the quicker you’ll enjoy the save. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
With that in mind, I’d also recommend not being too quick to change jobs. If you find yourself in a decent club, things are going well, and the board are happy to pay for your coaching badges, resist the temptation to move to another club just for the sake of it. There are a lot more bad jobs than good jobs, so if you’ve got a good job, stay there until you’re sure your next job is an improvement.
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Money’s tight at the lower end of the pyramid, which means you’ll need to make some sacrifices. The obvious ones are free transfers and loans so you’re not spending transfer fees, but your scouting department will also take a hit. Scouting costs money, but trials are free and you have full knowledge of a player after two weeks. Bring trialists in and boost your squad as cheaply as you can, even better if you can get players on non-contracts.
Once you’ve got your trialists in, prioritise mental attributes over technical. A striker with 12 composure and 9 finishing will contribute more to your side than one with 12 finishing and 9 composure. You should be prioritising determination, teamwork and decisions throughout your team. This also helps players understand your tactics and execute your philosophy better.
Player recruitment is completely different
Money’s tight at the lower end of the pyramid, which means you’ll need to make some sacrifices. The obvious ones are free transfers and loans so you’re not spending transfer fees, but your scouting department will also take a hit. Scouting costs money, but trials are free and you have full knowledge of a player after two weeks. Bring trialists in and boost your squad as cheaply as you can, even better if you can get players on non-contracts.
Once you’ve got your trialists in, prioritise mental attributes over technical. A striker with 12 composure and 9 finishing will contribute more to your side than one with 12 finishing and 9 composure. You should be prioritising determination, teamwork and decisions throughout your team. This also helps players understand your tactics and execute your philosophy better.
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In terms of tactics and personnel, you should be prioritising defensive solidity. Particularly at the lower levels, it’s far easier to win games if you can prevent the opposition from scoring. Invest as much of your budget as you can into solid defenders and good depth, as defending is more reliant on individual excellence than attacking is.
I hope this guide is helpful, good luck as you start your journeyman career.
Defend. Defend. Defend.
In terms of tactics and personnel, you should be prioritising defensive solidity. Particularly at the lower levels, it’s far easier to win games if you can prevent the opposition from scoring. Invest as much of your budget as you can into solid defenders and good depth, as defending is more reliant on individual excellence than attacking is.
I hope this guide is helpful, good luck as you start your journeyman career.
