Our favourite Argentinian wonderkids in FM24

February 9, 2024

The feeling of guiding a wonderkid to superstardom is one of the best you can get in FM24. Certain countries seem to be adept at producing wonderkids, and one of those is Argentina.

Here are some of our favourite Argentinian wonderkids in FM24:

Valentin Barco (Boca Juniors)

The versatile left-sided star has become something of an FM favourite in recent years. Barco is just 18 years of age, but his stats belie his age, as the youngster seems to have everything in his armoury to become a top player.

The fact that he can play anywhere down the left-hand side of the pitch only adds to the appeal of the teenager.

His ability has been spotted in real life, too, as Premier League Brighton signed Barco from Boca Juniors in the January transfer window for what looks like a bargain fee of around £10m.

However, in FM24, be prepared to pay a little extra to bring in the star, likely around £20-24m. He is worth the money, though, as he generally develops into a top player.

Claudio Echeverri (River Plate)

The 17-year-old is regarded as the next big Argentinian talent. Echeverri is another highly versatile player, who can become a vital player for most Premier League teams.

He can play anywhere across the front line, but I have had the most success using him as a number ten. However, he has done a decent job on either flank. He is right-footed but can use his left foot, which is a bonus.

Just like Barco, the attacking midfielder has caught the eye of a Premier League club, as English top-flight champions Manchester City has bought the youngster from River Plate for a reported fee of just £12.5m, plus add-ons. He will, however, stay with his Argentinian club until January 2025.

The highly talented youngster has a release clause in his contract of just £17.5m. If you have the budget to sign him and give him time to develop, the attacking midfielder usually becomes a world-class player.

Valentin Gomez (Velez Sarsfield)

The defender is arguably not as exciting a player as Barco or Echeverri and doesn’t quite have the same high ceiling, but he is still a solid signing.

The Velez defender is slightly older than the first two players on our list. However, at 20 years of age, he has very solid stats, and he tends to develop into a highly reliable centre-back or emergency left-back if needed.

He is one of my go-to players when I am looking to improve my defensive options. The fact that Gomez has a release clause of just £8.5m makes him an absolute bargain.

Facundo Farias (Inter Miami)

The 20-year-old is another Argentinian youngster with good starting stats and plenty of potential to improve even further.

When it comes to his attacking attributes, his starting stats for dribbling, technique, and flair are all high. Add into the mix that he can play anywhere in the attack, plus as a central midfielder, and you have a bargain.

Farias is a bargain as he can be bought for less than £10m at the start of the game, which is an excellent fee for a player with such high ability and potential.

Gianluca Prestianni (Velez Sarsfield)

The 17-year-old is another bright starlet at Velez in the tradition of Argentinian attacking players who can play across the attacking midfield positions.

His starting stats are solid for a player of such tender years, and his potential is really good, as he can go on to become a top player at the elite level of the European game.

Valentin Carboni (Monza, on loan from Inter)

The versatile attacking midfielder’s overall stats are not the best at the start of the game. However, with game experience, he develops very quickly, and his attacking stats are solid at the beginning of the game, as Carboni has 14 finishing, 15 technique and 15 flair.

Unfortunately, Carboni starts the game on loan at Monza, so you can’t sign him until the second season. However, the 18-year-old can be bought for around £20m in the second summer. He can be a big asset for most top-level teams if he is developed well.

Matias Soule (Frosinone, on loan from Juventus)

The attacking midfielder is on loan at Frosinone in the first season from Juventus. The 20-year-old has been around for a while as a promising young player.

Soule’s starting stats are decent, and if developed correctly, the attacking midfielder can become an outstanding player for most teams. He is a bright talent, but in the second summer, he can be signed for around £25m, which is not a massive fee for a player that can be part of your team for a decade.

Who is your favourite Argentinian wonderkid?

Can you guide Hamburg back to their top flight in FM24?

David Nugent

February 4, 2024

Every year, we see clubs suffer the spectre of relegation from the top flight of the big European leagues. Some clubs are yo-yo clubs destined to move between the top two tiers of their countries’ football pyramids for the foreseeable future, while some are supposed giants.

Some major clubs suffer relegation and don’t come back up for years. It is never easy for owners to be able to predict the future in football, the future of any club is a gamble but one where you can often not have a robust betting strategy.

Today, we will be looking at one of those, Hamburg SV.

A historic relegation in 2018

‘Der Dinosaur’, as they are known in Germany, have played a big part in the top-flight in the past.

However, in 2018, the six-time German champions suffered the catastrophe of relegation to Bundesliga.2. They had been in the Bundesliga for 55 years, and their demotion was met with fan unrest.

They came desperately close to a return to the German top flight in season 2022/23, but promotion slipped away in stoppage-time of the final day. They then also suffered a crushing 6-1 aggregate play-off defeat against Stuttgart.

Expectations are high at the start of the game

When you start FM24 as HSV boss, expectations are relatively high, as your expected finish is second place. That is not surprising, considering the club should really be a Bundesliga team.

Although Hamburg has made hard work of promotion in real life recently, promotion to the German top-flight should not be that much of a challenge on FM24 with the proper management and tactics.

You are given a transfer budget of just £650,000 for the first season. However, as we will talk about in our next section the squad topped up with some free signings should be enough to be able to guide HSV back to the German top-flight.

Does HSV have a decent squad?

The Hamburg squad is pretty good by German second-tier standards, which is useful considering the lack of transfer kitty.

Looking at the HSV squad, a few players look like they would thrive in not only Bundesliga.2 but also in the German top flight when the team is promoted.

Here are my favourite Hamburg players

Ludovit Reis

One of the first players that jumped out at me was the defensive midfielder/central midfielder Ludovit Reis. The 23-year-old looks like the sort of player who could play a key role in promotion, then either be sold on in the future for a big profit or also be a mainstay in the top flight.

On his coach report, he has seven pros and no cons. He works hard, is naturally fit and has high determination, which are all good attributes to have for a defensive midfielder.

Laszlo Benes

The Slovakian has even stronger stats than his midfield partner, Reis. However, Benes is slightly older at 25. The fact that he can play as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder is a bonus.

Benes is an excellent technical player, with a rating of 15 or above for passing, flair, technique, free-kick taking and vision. In short, Benes is likely to be one of your most creative players.

Mario Vuskovic

The young Croatian centre-back/defensive midfielder is the sort of player who has the potential to improve immensely in the future. His stats are decent at the beginning of the game, but he will only get better with games and good coaching.

If he is managed correctly in the first season, then he wouldn’t look out of place in the Bundesliga if you win promotion. Alternatively, when in the German top-flight, if you wish to rebuild the squad, then you could sell him for a decent fee.

Robert Glatzel

The 29-year-old forward could play a vital role in your promotion push. Glatzel has been prolific in the German second tier in real life, scoring 22 and 19 goals for HSV in the last two seasons, respectively.

The former Cardiff forward is arguably one of the better players in his position in the Bundesliga.2. If your team creates chances, he can score the goals to power you to promotion.

A Hamburg test next week

This article has inspired me to do a Hamburg test next week. I will report on how the first season goes and may even continue it as a series if the team wins promotion.

Looking at the available players, they would thrive in a formation such as the Ultimate 433. Keep an eye out next week for my report on how the team did and if I could steer HSV back to where they belong.

Is returning Hamburg SV back to its former glories a big challenge? Let us know via our socials

The best goalkeeping coaches in FM24

David Nugent

February 1, 2024

In the last few weeks, we have looked at the top coaches for different areas in FM24. Today, it’s the turn of the goalkeeping coaches.

Here are the main areas a goalkeeping coach should ideally be strong in:

GK Distribution
GK Handling
GK Shot Stopping

Here are the goalkeeping coaches that we recommend (in no particular order):

Adriano Bonaiuti (Internazionale, 3-star reputation)

The 56-year-old Inter coach deserves a higher reputation rating than three, as he has attributes that are excellent in not only the goalkeeping coach areas but also other useful areas.

For instance, he has a rating of 18 in Determination, Motivating and People Management, with his Level of Discipline also at 17.

Bonaiuti is a hard man to appoint, as he doesn’t wish to leave Inter, where he has coached since 2013. If you can prise him away from the Nerazzurri, then you will have to pay compensation of around £700,000.

GK Distribution 18
GK Handling 19
GK Shot Stopping 18

Hugo Oliveira (Fulham, 4-star reputation)

The 44-year-old is a 4-star rated goalkeeping coach with good reason, as his all-around attributes are strong for any coach, let alone a goalkeeping coach.

The Fulham coach has the obligatory solid stats for the goalkeeping coach position, but also 19 in Motivating, 18 in People Management and 17 in both Determination and Level of Discipline.

If you wish to appoint Oliveira, then you have to pay the Cottagers a compensation fee of around £300,000.

GK Distribution 15
GK Handling 15
GK Shot Stopping 15

Xavi Valero (West Ham, 3-star reputation)

The Spaniard is one of my favourites when it comes to goalkeeping coaches, as I always seem to bring him in at some point in the game.

His attributes in the relevant areas are decent. However, it is some of his other attributes that make him such a good appointment.

For instance, his attributes of Mental 16, Determination 16, Level of Discipline 17 and Motivating 19 are all very handy to have in any coach. He is a very good option when looking for a goalkeeping coach.

It is relatively easy to acquire him at the start of the game if you are a bigger club than West Ham for a compensation fee of around £300,000.

GK Distribution 15
GK Handling 15
GK Shot Stopping 15

John Achterberg (Liverpool, 2-and-a-half-star reputation)

The former Tranmere stopper has earned himself a decent reputation in coaching since retiring from the game. He has been the Liverpool goalkeeping coach since 2009, which tells you something about his quality.

Despite what looks like a relatively low reputation, Achterberg actually has better goalkeeping attributes than much more highly-rated goalkeeping coaches.

His other attributes are pretty strong, too, with 17 in Fitness, Technical, Determination and Level of Discipline and 18 in Adaptability.

The only caveat with Achterberg is that he may well be reluctant to leave Liverpool after such a long time. Like his contemporaries, if you can persuade him to leave the Reds, the compensation fee of £400,000 to appoint him is not massive.

GK Distribution 16
GK Handling 16
GK Shot Stopping 17

Jose Ramon De La Fuente (Barcelona, three-and-half-star reputation)

When it comes to goalkeeping coach stats, the Barcelona man is one of the best around. The 52-year-old is pretty good when it comes to some of the other coaching attributes too, though.

His Determination stat is 17, Motivating 18, with Adaptability and Level of Discipline both 15.

Like Achterberg, De La Fuente is often hard to prise away from Barcelona, having been with the club since 2012 in his current role and having previously played for the Catalan giants at the start of his career.

GK Distribution 18
GK Handling 17
GK Shot Stopping 17

Flavio Tenius (Fluminense, half a star reputation)

The Fluminense coach is one of the most underrated in FM24. If you don’t have Brazil’s top-flight loaded up on your game, then you may never see him.

However, stats-wise, he can blow many of his contemporaries out of the water. The fact that he has an 18 out of 20 in Technical, Level of Discipline, Motivating and People Management makes him one of the coaches with the best attributes on our list.

One of the benefits of signing Tenius is that he costs just £110,000 in compensation. At that price, he is an absolute steal if you can acquire his services.

Who are your favourite goalkeeping coaches in FM24? Let us know via our socials

The best director of football in FM24

David Nugent

January 29, 2024

In this article, we will look at some of the best directors of football in FM24. When playing FM24, some players like to delegate many of the tasks in the game to backroom staff. One of the most crucial members of your backroom staff is your director of football.

They can be a crucial figure in recruiting players and other staff while negotiating contracts for existing members of club personnel. They can even be delegated to attend press conferences.

The attributes that are considered the most important attributes for a director of football:

Judging Player Ability
Judging Player Potential
Negotiating

Here are six directors of football that we recommend:

Paul Mitchell (Unemployed, three and a half reputation)

The 41-year-old has established a big reputation in European football over the last decade, primarily working as a chief scout. However, he was appointed as director of football at Monaco in 2020, a job he did until 2023 when he left the club.

Mitchell looks to be the perfect person to appoint as your director of football. Not only is he strong in the relevant three departments, but he also has good Determination and Tactical Knowledge attributes.

Judging Player Ability 18
Judging Player Potential 18
Negotiating 15

Monchi (Aston Villa, four-star reputation)

The Spaniard is regarded as one of the best in the business when it comes to director of football. During 17 years as director of football at Sevilla from 2000 until 2017, he transformed the fortunes of the Andalusian club with his shrewd business in the transfer market.

He also briefly did a similar job at Roma before returning to Sevilla from 2019 until 2023, when he joined Premier League Aston Villa.

In terms of directors of football, you cannot get much better than Monchi. Unfortunately, at the start of the game, he has just joined Villa and is unlikely to join a new club. If a few seasons in, you get the chance to appoint the Spaniard, then he is a no-brainer appointment.

Judging Player Ability 18
Judging Player Potential 19
Negotiating 17

Luis Campos (PSG, three-star reputation)

The 58-year-old has spent three decades as a backroom staff member, being a scout, chief scout and even a manager earlier in his career. However, since 2017, Campos has been a director of football first at Lille and then at PSG since 2022.

The experienced Portuguese director of football not only has great stats in the relevant areas, but he also has strong stats in Determination, People Management and Judging Staff Ability.

Like Monchi, acquiring Campos’s services is difficult at the beginning of the game, as he doesn’t want to leave PSG.

Judging Player Ability 18
Judging Player Potential 20
Negotiating 18

Michael Edwards (Unemployed, four-star reputation)

Edwards started his backroom career as a Head Performance Analyst with Portsmouth in 2003. However, it was when he joined Premier League Liverpool in the same capacity in 2011 that he really shined.

He moved into the director of football role in 2016 and thrived in the role until 2022, when he decided to leave the Merseyside club.

Looking at his stats, it is easy to see why he was so successful. He has strong stats in Determination, Level of Discipline, People Management and Tactical Knowledge.

Judging Player Ability 17
Judging Player Potential 17
Negotiating 19

Victor Orta (Sevilla, three-star reputation)

The 44-year-old has earned understandable comparisons with Monchi, who also made his name in Andalusia. Orta has vast experience in the game, as he started his career as director of football at Real Valladolid in 2005.

Maybe his most notable spell in football of late was at Leeds United, where he was DOF between 2017 and 2023 before he moved to Sevilla in 2023.

Apart from the relevant attributes being strong, Orta has 16 Adaptability and Determination. The Spaniard is knowledgeable about not only football in his home nation but also England and Russia.

Unfortunately, as he has only just joined Sevilla, so he will be hard to prise away from the Andalucian club. If you can, then he will undoubtedly be a shrewd appointment.

Judging Player Ability 17
Judging Player Potential 19
Negotiating 16

Jorg Schmadtke (Liverpool, three and half star reputation)

The 59-year-old German built a steady reputation for himself in his homeland, having started his career as a DOF way back in 2001 at Alemannia Aachen.

He has since worked in the same role at Hannover and Koln before impressing at Wolfsburg from 2018 until 2023, when he joined Liverpool.

His reputation and stats show his qualities as a director of football. He has 18 Determination and 15 Level of Discipline, which can play a vital role in his current position.

Like some of his contemporaries on the list, he will be difficult to acquire, as he has only just joined his current club. After a few seasons, he could well be willing to join your club, though.

Judging Player Ability 18
Judging Player Potential 19
Negotiating 17

Who is your go-to football director in FM24?

The best heads of youth development in FM24

David Nugent

January 22, 2024

When it comes to building a successful team in FM24, developing young players can save you a fortune in potential transfer fees. Bringing players through the youth ranks without having to spend a penny is a great feeling.

One member of your backroom staff who can play a significant role in young players’ development is the head of youth development, whose job it is to oversee the players in the teams below the first team.

The most important attributes of a head of youth development are the following:

Working With Youngsters
Judging Player Ability
Judging Player Potential

Here are some of our favourite staff who can fulfil the role of head of youth development:

Helmut Jungheim (Unemployed, 2.5-star reputation)

The 63-year-old starts the game as a free agent and last worked as the head of youth development between 2016 and 2021 at Bayer Leverkusen.

He has the ideal attributes for a head of youth development, as his stats for the three critical areas for the job are high. However, he is also strong in other areas, such as Mental and People Management, which are both excellent attributes for any coach.

As he is unemployed at the beginning of the game, it is usually relatively easy to sign to bring him in. However, sometimes you have rivals for his signature, so you have to be quick to get him on board.

Working With Youngsters 20
Judging Player Ability 16
Judging Player Potential 18

Pep Boada (Unemployed, 3.5 star reputation)

Like Jungheim, Boada begins the game as a free agent. The 61-year-old has worked in several areas of the game as a scout, youth coach, youth team manager and most recently, director of football at Granada until 2022.

That wealth of experience can only help his football knowledge. He has extensive knowledge of not just his native country, Spain, but also Belgium and the Netherlands.

This knowledge can be helpful when developing players from those countries. Boada’s attributes in the main areas needed for the job are strong, as are his Determination, Level of Discipline and Adaptability.

In short, he is the ideal candidate for the head of youth development role. He is not on cheap wages, but he is worth the extra cash if it’s in your budget.

Working With Youngsters 20
Judging Player Ability 18
Judging Player Potential 19

Paolo Morganti (Juventus, 2.5-star reputation)

The Italian starts the game with Turin giants Juventus, and quite frankly, his all-around stats are outstanding. His 2.5-star rating belies his excellent attributes.

Not only does he have excellent stats to be a head of youth development, but he also has strong stats in areas such as Mental, Determination, Motivating and People management.

For me, Morganti is a no-brainer signing if you have the budget. However, one caveat is that he may be hard to prise away from Juventus, where he has worked since 2019. If he is willing to join your club, then don’t hesitate to bring him.

Working With Youngsters 20
Judging Player Ability 20
Judging Player Potential 20

Ariel Paolorossi (Colo-Colo, 2.5-star reputation)

The experienced Argentine has worked as a head of youth development for nearly a decade and at Chilean giants Colo-Colo since 2019.

When it comes to stats, he is excellent when it comes to the three main outlined areas for a head of youth development role. However, not only that, but he is also strong in other areas, such as Adaptability, Determination and coaching Attacking.

The 59-year-old can be bought out of his contract for just £160,000, which is not much by most top-level clubs’ standards. The compensation fee is definitely worth paying.

Working With Youngsters 20
Judging Player Ability 19
Judging Player Potential 18

Sebastian Pait (River Plate, 2.5-star reputation)

The 47-year-old has worked as a head of development in his native Argentina since 2018, first at Velez Sarsfield and then at his current club, River Plate. Before that, he was also a chief scout, which is a useful experience to have in order to judge a player’s ability.

Like his contemporaries on this list, his attributes for his current role are ideal. However, his other strong areas include Determination and People Management, which are two other attributes that can be useful to have as a head of youth development. His personality type of Perfectionist also fits the role well.

When I attempted to sign him at the start of the game, he wasn’t interested in joining my Everton team. However, if you do try to sign him, you will have to pay River Plate £250,000 in compensation.

Working With Youngsters. 20
Judging Player Ability 17
Judging Player Potential 19

Maurizio Costanzi (Unemployed, 3 star reputation)

The 65-year-old left Atalanta in 2023, having worked for La Dea since 2015 as the head of youth development. He earned a considerable reputation in his homeland for doing an excellent job.

The Nerazzurri’s loss could be your gain, though, as Costanzi has some strong attributes. Having the three main characteristics for the job goes without saying. However, also his Determination is16 and his Level of Discipline is 15.

As he is a free agent, Costanzi is relatively easy to bring to your club. Like many on this list, his wages are not small, as he asks for £15,000 per week. This is a wage worth paying if you want an experienced head of youth development to nurture your young players.

Working With Youngsters 17
Judging Player Ability 18
Judging Player Potential 20

Which is your favourite head of youth development?

FM 24 Brazilian wonderkids secure big-money moves

David Nugent

January 17, 2024

One of the best feelings in Football Manager is signing a wonderkid and turning them into a world superstar. Many wonderkids have gone on from FM fame to fulfil their massive potential in real life.

Some wonderkids have such a big reputation in real life that they have already earned big moves. Here are three of our favourite FM wonderkids who have recently secured big moves:

Endrick (Palmeiras to Real Madrid, for a reported fee that could rise to €60 million)

When it comes to wonderkids, few are more famous or hyped up than Palmeiras prodigy Endrick. At just 17 years of age, the versatile young forward has caught the attention of many in the world game.

He seems like the next young superstar off the seemingly endless production line of Brazilian stars.

The diminutive forward has been on many clubs’ radars for years after making his Palmeiras debut at the age of 16 years, two months and 16 days, which makes him the youngest player to ever feature for the Brazilian club.

For such a young player, his record of 14 goals in the Brazilian Serie A in 38 appearances is a respectable one. His performances and reputation have been enough for Real Madrid to splash a fee that is reportedly close to €60 million to snap up the youngster.

Endrick is reportedly a big fan of the Spanish giants and will officially join up with Los Blancos in July 2024, having already visited the Bernabeu and club training grounds in recent months.

What’s my experience with Endrick on FM?

At the beginning of FM24, Endrick is just 16, as his birthday is on July 21^st. His starting stats are impressive for a player of his age, and he has generally developed into a genuine world-class player.

Strangely, though, I have never been able to get the best out of the Brazilian, struggling to find a role for him to fulfil that massive potential.

For instance, I signed him FM24 on my personal save for a club record fee of £100m when he was 24. Unfortunately, I had several world-class forwards already at my club, and he struggled to get into the team.

He was only at the club a year before I loaned him out. After two seasons of loans, he eventually joined Chelsea for £80m. He was mildly successful with the Blues.

In previous versions of FM, my experience with the youngster has been pretty much the same. Maybe it’s my tactics. Hopefully, for the player’s sake, he is more successful in real life than he is for me on FM.

Vitor Roque (Athletico Paranaense to Barcelona reported fee of €40 million)

Vitor Roque is another up-and-coming young player to make a massive move from his native Brazil. The versatile young forward has moved from Atletico Paranaense in his homeland to Catalan giants Barcelona for a reported fee of €40 million.

Roque is slightly more experienced than the much more lauded Endrick, having made 97 senior appearances in his homeland with Cruzeiro and Athletico Paranaense, scoring 28 goals.

Like his contemporary, Vitor Roque has already earned a cap for the full Brazilian national team, and is regarded as one of the most talented young players in the world game.

Roque joined Barcelona on January 4^th 2024 and has already made two substitute appearances for the reigning Spanish champions.

What’s my experience with Vitor Roque on FM?

The youngster is 18 at the start of the game and still at his former club. However, his big-money move is already arranged.

His starting stats are strong for such a young player. I haven’t yet signed the forward on FM24, although he has been one of my favourite players in previous editions of the game.

Out of the three players we have featured, he is the one I have had the most success with.

He has been highly effective for me on both wings and as a central forward. Unfortunately, his switch to Barcelona will make it harder to sign him on FM24.

His stats generally develop well, and he usually ends up at an elite club, where he usually scores goals.

Marcos Leonardo (Santos to Benfica, reported fee of €18 million plus 10% sell-on fee)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQE0rAXhuuo

The forward is the most experienced player of the trio, as he has already made 168 appearances for Santos in all competitions, scoring an impressive 54 goals at just 20.

Leonardo is seen as more of a goal-poacher in real life than the two other players on our list. His goal output for Santos caught the eye of many European clubs.

However, Portuguese giants Benfica snapped up the forward earlier this month for what looks like a bargain fee of around €18 million plus a 10% sell-on fee.

The Eagles have a reputation for developing players and producing future stars. Leonardo could well be another star that Benfica develops and sells for an enormous profit in the future.

What’s my experience with Marcos Leonardo on FM?

I have had mixed experiences with Leonardo on FM. I usually signed him on most of my saves. Sometimes, he is brilliant and becomes a prolific goalscorer, but then, sometimes, his form falls off, and he ends up as a mediocre player.

His transfer was not arranged before FM24 came out, so he is still at Santos and can be snapped up for a relatively bargain price.

Which of the three FM24 favourite wonderkids will be the most successful in real life?

Improving Celtic in FM24 With Three Irish Signings

David Nugent

January 17, 2024

While Celtic’s status as the top club in Scotland has been undeniable in recent years, they must keep evolving to stay ahead of their rivals.

This ethos undoubtedly applies to anyone who is planning to start a new save with the Hoops in the latest edition of the Football Manager series of games.

Keeping Celtic ahead of arch-rivals Rangers in FM24 requires a good deal of planning, particularly when it comes to developing the squad.

However, there is also pressure to make progress in Europe, which adds an intriguing element for any FM players who think managing Celtic is a walk in the park.

With that in mind, read on as we assess why Irish internationals should form an integral part of Celtic’s starting XI in FM24.

Celtic’s Burgeoning Irish Fanbase

Celtic have built a massive fanbase in Ireland, thanks to their tradition of signing talented players from the Emerald Isle.

The club has been graced by the presence of top-class Irish footballers such as Bertie Peacock, Mick McCarthy, Aiden McGeady and Patsy Gallacher, all of whom eft an indelible mark at Parkhead.

The stellar performances of these players and others have significantly contributed to the ever-growing legion of Celtic supporters in Ireland.

The current Celtic squad boasts several Irish players including Liam Scales, James McCarthy and Mikey Johnston, who have contributed to the club’s success this season.

The Glasgow giants are currently perched at the pinnacle of the Scottish Premiership and on course to secure a third consecutive league title.

While it may be a stretch to suggest that Celtic’s Irish contingent is solely responsible for their title challenge, there is no denying the significant impact they have had under the leadership of Brendan Rodgers.

Online bookmakers in Ireland certainly fancy Celtic’s chances of going all the way for the third time, and the optimism surrounding the club’s potential success is reflected in the favourable betting odds offered by several platforms across the country.

For Celtic fans in the Emerald Isle, these odds present an opportunity to capitalise on the club’s potential title win by engaging with the betting offerings of the best betting sites in Ireland.

Switching over to the virtual world of FM, a pertinent question lingers – could a few more Irish signings establish Celtic as a major powerhouse across Europe in the game? Here are a few options.

Sammie Szmodics

Sammie Szmodics has been absolutely outstanding for Blackburn Rovers this season, showcasing his incredible goalscoring abilities

The Irish international has bagged 16 goals and three assists in 25 Championship appearances. He also netted a hat-trick in the recent 5-2 FA Cup third-round victory over Cambridge United.

Szmodics’ goalscoring exploits place him at the top of the Championship goalscoring chart, positioning him as a strong contender for the Golden Boot award by the end of the season.

If Szmodics’ virtual performance in FM24 mirrors his real-world success, he could prove to be a highly strategic and valuable addition for Celtic in the game.

Andrew Moran

Ireland international Andrew Moran has been generating a considerable buzz as the next rising star from the Emerald Isle.

Currently making waves in the Championship, Moran has been showcasing his skills since he joined Blackburn on a season-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer.

Moran has made a significant impact in 27 appearances across various competitions, contributing three goals and nine assists.

The youngster is already considered a hot prospect in FM24 and could realise his enormous potential with a few years of regular first-team football.

However, while Moran’s potential is undeniably enormous, it could take a substantial fee for Celtic to lure him away from Brighton in the game.

A more practical and feasible option could be exploring the potential of a season-long loan move, providing him with valuable experience and Celtic with a valuable addition to their squad.

Caoimhin Kelleher

Having progressed through the ranks of Liverpool’s youth system, Caoimhin Kelleher has spent the bulk of his career at Anfield playing second fiddle to the world-class Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson.

Kelleher boasts an impressive collection of five major titles with the Reds, including prestigious trophies such as the Premier League, Champions League and the FA Cup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMGPm3UcYIY

Kelleher has only featured in Jurgen Klopp’s starting line-up 11 times this season. However, he could be a long-term successor to veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart, who is rapidly approaching the end of his illustrious career.

Securing Kelleher’s services from Liverpool in the virtual realm of FM24 presents an enticing prospect for Celtic, considering players are always ready to jump ship in search of regular playing time.

Drawing on the experience he gained at Liverpool, the Irish goalkeeper could potentially play a crucial role in the Scottish club’s lofty ambitions to conquer Europe in FM24.

Why winning in FM24 has almost become boring

David Nugent

January 15, 2024

As an experienced Football Manager player, I have played the game in all its forms for over 25 years. I have gone from sitting for hours creating tactics and training schedules to not almost delegating most of the everyday tasks to staff, mainly due to life happening.

In recent games, including FM24, I became highly familiar with it in a few months. Once you are so familiar with the game, it can get easy and very fast, and after a couple of seasons, you can dominate at home and abroad.

Example of my latest personal save

On my current save, I am managing Everton (shock, horror, I know) I am eight seasons in, having won the Premier League title on four occasions, as well as winning the Champions League. I have finished in the top three of the table in seven of my eight seasons so far.

My team would have been even more successful if I had not experimented with tactics, mainly for the benefit of finding good tactics for my tactics-testing articles.

If I had stuck with my go-to tactic, my team would have won far more trophies. For the last season on the list, I decided to cycle through different tactics to varying degrees of success, finishing the season in fifth place. In fact, I used around ten other tactics during the campaign.

The board gave me five games to save my job at the start of the new season, wanting 13 points from the opening five league matches. After completely gutting my squad, the team returned stronger the next campaign and sat at the top of the table.

The more money, the less enjoyment

The phrase ‘It’s the journey and not the destination’ is apt for FM and me. When you start a game at Everton, you know that you are not going to have lots of money to spend or a team full of superstars.

That makes the game more of a challenge, and the first few seasons are so enjoyable as you strive to get to the top of the English and European game. That means you must be smart in the transfer market, bringing in loans and cheap players.

Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a bargain signing thriving in your team and becoming a key player. Seeing those bargain buys develop and become superstars is, without a doubt, a great subject of satisfaction to me. It may even be the most enjoyable part of the game for me.

However, after you become successful, the club tends to have more money to spend on transfers and wages. To compete at the very top with your opponents in the Premier League at home and abroad, you feel the need to spend more money.

If it’s there, then you spend it. It’s only human nature. Before you know it, all your players are £60m+ plus signings, and your whole team is on ridiculous wages, draining the club’s resources. There is too much temptation to sign a Jude Bellingham or Gavi when you have the money.

It’s the challenge of getting to the top, not being at the top constantly, that’s the most enjoyable aspect of the game. When I am winning, I almost do not enjoy the game, but when challenged, my enjoyment comes back. Winning is almost boring.

I will challenge myself in my next save

Many people will suggest that I start my FM journey further down the football pyramid as a challenge. This is something I will consider doing in my future saves.

It’s something I used to enjoy in the past when I would manage Chester City from the then-Conference to Premier League glory. In those days, I had more time to play the game constantly.

My current save is the only one I have done so far on FM24, except for tactic testing saves. I will challenge myself in my next save and limit my signings to a certain amount to avoid being dragged into the trap of having a team full of expensive players who make the game too easy and less enjoyable.

In the past, I had a habit of selling all my top players when I became bored with a save. Then it gets more interesting, as you can then almost rebuild from scratch.

The only problem with that strategy is that other players in your squad become angry because you have sold the top players. However, I will attempt to be successful with just bargain buys.

I may not enjoy the same success as if I spend a small fortune on superstars, but at least I will feel a sense of accomplishment when my team starts to dominate in the Premier League and the Champions League. I will document my efforts in future articles when I create a new save.

How do you challenge yourself on FM24 when you are the dominant team in the world game?

Tactic testing FM24 – 343 XABI ALONSO BAYER LEVERKUSEN DEL MAGICOMONTA

David Nugent

January 11, 2024

THTP tactics 343 xabi alonso bayer leverkusen del magicomonta

First of all, we would like to wish everybody a happy new year and hope that 2024 is a fine year for all of our readers.

Our first article of 2024 is a tactic testing one, putting the FM 343 XABI ALONSO BAYER LEVERKUSEN DEL MAGICOMONTA by Magicomonta to the test (Sorry, I am not shouting at you, the creator of the tactic used capital letters to name it!)

This tactic intrigued me, as I am a big fan of how Die Werkself plays, so I tried it on my current personal save, and it was superb. I then decided to test it with the original Everton squad from this season. Once again, it produced impressive results.

How is the tactic set up?

The tactical set-up is a 343, with a mentality of positive. In goal is a goalkeeper on defend mentality. In front of the last line of defence are two central defenders flanking a ball-playing defender, with all three on defend mentality.

The system operates with a wing-back on the team’s left side, using the automatic mentality, while on the other flank is a complete wing-back on attack. Both players are crucial to the success of the system.

In the centre of the pitch are a deep lying playmaker and a central midfielder, both on support mentality.

In attack, an advanced playmaker on attack duty is on the left flank, while on the right is an inside forward on attack duty. The main attacking threat is a complete forward with an attacking mentality.

It seems strange that the system actually suits the current Everton team, but it worked really well with the available players.

How did the tactic perform?

The team was predicted to finish in 12th place in the Premier League table but qualified for the Champions League by finishing fourth place. The 72-point tally is actually the joint most that the Toffees have ever achieved in the Premier League era.

The team were the fourth-highest-scoring team in the English top flight. However, at the other end of the pitch, 52 goals were conceded, as the team had the worst defensive record in the league’s top seven.

They had the joint-second-best home record over the season. Meanwhile, the one minor weakness seems to have been that it isn’t a great tactic for away games.

One thing that sticks out is how strongly the team finished the season, as they picked up 13 points from their final five league games. The record was the best of any team in the Premier League that season.

The team’s record in the cup competitions was poor, as they exited the FA Cup in the fourth round against Manchester City while also exiting the Carabao Cup in the third round against Manchester United.

Who were the top-performing players using this tactic?

As with all good tactical set-ups, this tactic brought the best out of many of the players, with many performing better than I have seen before on previous saves.

Who picked up the highest average rating over the season?

The player with the highest average season rating was, unsurprisingly, star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who picked up an average rating of 7.27, which is not the highest I have seen DCL earn.

On-loan winger Arnaut Danjuma also performed well, with an average season rating of 7.17, while central midfielder Amadou Onana enjoyed one of his best seasons, picking up a rating of 7.13.

Right wing-back Nathan Patterson was not far behind Onana, earning a season average of 7.12. Central midfielder Idrissa ‘Gana’ Gueye picked up a respectable rating of 7.08, with centre-back Ben Godfrey getting a strong season rating of 7.01.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford didn’t have a bad season either, gaining a record of 7.00 over the season.

Who were the top goalscorers in the team?

The top goalscorers were unsurprisingly the front three, as Calvert-Lewin scored 26 goals in all competitions. His 24 league goals made him the second-highest scorer in the Premier League.

Widemen Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma each scored 12 goals during the campaign, with Onana scoring an impressive ten goals and Patterson scoring eight times.

Who were the players with the most assists?

The most productive players for the team were Patterson, who managed 16 assists, with Harrison creating 15 goals, while Danjuma also made eight goals for his teammates.

Calvert-Lewin was not just a goalscorer in the season, as he produced seven assists, with Gueye also creating six goals for his teammates.

What is my conclusion on this tactic?

Since playing FM24, I am not sure I have enjoyed a tactic more than this one, as it is highly entertaining to watch. If you have the right players, this offers you great entertainment.

However, it is not just an entertaining tactic but also one that brings results, as shown in the tactic testing. The one criticism I have of this tactic would be that it is not great in away games.

In my personal save, I have used another tactic in the big away games, as this tactic is not the most stable away from home.

I would say that this is not a significant issue, as the tactic creator doesn’t claim to have created a plug-and-play tactic. Like any tactic, it sometimes requires tweaking. Overall, though, I would highly recommend this tactic.

Have you ever used FM 343 XABI ALONSO BAYER LEVERKUSEN DEL MAGICOMONTA? If you have, let us know your thoughts on the tactic via our socials

Benfica is a great place to shop in FM24

David Nugent

January 6, 2024

When it comes to signing players and producing stars, certain clubs always seem to develop or sign quality young players who become top stars. One of those clubs is Portuguese giants Benfica.

Here are some of the Eagles’ players who usually turn out to be top signings on FM24:

Anatolii Trubin (Goalkeeper)

The Ukrainian youngster has been one of my favourite goalkeepers to use in recent FM’s. At just 21, he is already a very capable goalkeeper and will only improve with his potential ability in the elite bracket.

There is only one issue now that he is at Benfica, rather than his former club, Shakhtar Donetsk, in that he will be far more expensive and difficult to sign now he is plying his trade at Benfica.

He cost Benfica just £8.5m, plus further add-ons, which is an absolute steal for one of the football’s best up-and-coming goalkeepers. You will have to stump far more than that at the start of the game, with a price tag likely of between £40-£50m.

Antonio Silva (Centre-back)

Silva is another one of those players that I seem to sign in all of my FM saves. At the beginning of the game, the centre-back is just 19 years of age. However, Silva is considered one of the best up-and-coming players in his position.

Silva is a ball-playing centre-back who, after a few years, generally becomes a world-class player in my saves. He seems to have every attribute to be an elite player, and his stats will only improve with maturity.

Due to his ability and reputation, Silva never comes cheap, as he generally costs around £50-60m. If you are managing a club with the resources to bring him in, then he could be a great player for a long time to come.

Morato (Centre-back/defensive midfielder)

The Brazilian is a centre-back I usually sign when in the mid-period between making the Champions League spots and challenging for the title.

The 22-year-old is not quite as good as Silva or has the same ceiling. However, he can be a highly steady player at the heart of your defence until you can bring in world-class players.

In some earlier versions of FM, Morato became an elite player. For some reason, he doesn’t seem to be quite as highly regarded in FM24. However, he is still a good addition, though, especially as he can be signed for £30m or less in most seasons.

Joao Veloso (Central midfielder/attacking midfielder)

The versatile Veloso actually starts FM24 in the Benfica B team, as he is just 18 years of age. Veloso’s stats are decent at the start of the game, but they may not suggest he will be a world star.

However, I am in the year 2030 on my current personal save, and he is my star midfielder in a team that has won three Premier League titles in four seasons while winning back-to-back Champions League.

In my team, he generally operates as a playmaker or a mezzala in a central midfield role. His most significant contribution tends to be producing assists, including 25 in his best season for my Everton team.

Unfortunately, I didn’t sign Veloso until he was thriving in the Benfica team. It cost me £ 50m to sign him. It was money well spent. However, if you sign him at the beginning of the game, he can cost you less than £5m.

If you are a big team, sign him at the start of the game and loan him out to a club at a decent level, as he is unlikely to be immediately ready for the Premier League team or a similar level in the first season.

Joao Neves (Central midfielder)

The central midfielder is one of the jewels in the Benfica crown, as he is already being touted for stardom at just 18 years of age.

His starting stats are off the charts for a player of his stage of development. In my saves, he usually plays as a defensive midfielder. However, he can also play as a central midfielder or even a central attacking midfielder.

He has the quality and potential to play any of those roles perfectly and quickly becomes a key player in most teams by his early 20s.

Neves is not a player you sign if you are lacking funds, though, as he can cost £60m+. If you are an elite team and need a central midfielder, then sign Neves, and within a few years, he will be amongst the best players in his position.

Tiago Gouveia (Winger)

This a strange one, as Gouveia is a player I haven’t seen anybody mention when discussing bargains.

The 22-year-old can play on both flanks and seems adept at producing assists and goals for your team. His starting stats are solid, and he will continue to improve with more experience.

He never seems to quite get to the elite level, but he is a good player for most mid-lower-half teams in the Premier League.

On my latest save, I signed him initially on a season-long deal, then signed him for him permanently for a bargain £4m. He went on to play for me in the Premier League and the Champions League for the next two seasons before I sold him for a significant profit.

Honourable mentions

Orkun Kokcu
Florentino Luis
David Neres

Andrea Schjelderup (On loan at Nordsjaelland at the start of the game, so I left him out of my main list)

Are there any Benfica players that you always sign on FM? Let us know via our socials

Valentin Barco (Boca Juniors)

Claudio Echeverri (River Plate)

Valentin Gomez (Velez Sarsfield)

Facundo Farias (Inter Miami)

Gianluca Prestianni (Velez Sarsfield)

Valentin Carboni (Monza, on loan from Inter)

Matias Soule (Frosinone, on loan from Juventus)

A historic relegation in 2018

Expectations are high at the start of the game

Does HSV have a decent squad?

Here are my favourite Hamburg players

Ludovit Reis

Laszlo Benes

Mario Vuskovic

Robert Glatzel

A Hamburg test next week

Adriano Bonaiuti (Internazionale, 3-star reputation)

Hugo Oliveira (Fulham, 4-star reputation)

Xavi Valero (West Ham, 3-star reputation)

John Achterberg (Liverpool, 2-and-a-half-star reputation)

Jose Ramon De La Fuente (Barcelona, three-and-half-star reputation)

Flavio Tenius (Fluminense, half a star reputation)

Paul Mitchell (Unemployed, three and a half reputation)

Monchi (Aston Villa, four-star reputation)

Luis Campos (PSG, three-star reputation)

Michael Edwards (Unemployed, four-star reputation)

Victor Orta (Sevilla, three-star reputation)

Jorg Schmadtke (Liverpool, three and half star reputation)

Helmut Jungheim (Unemployed, 2.5-star reputation)

Pep Boada (Unemployed, 3.5 star reputation)

Paolo Morganti (Juventus, 2.5-star reputation)

Ariel Paolorossi (Colo-Colo, 2.5-star reputation)

Sebastian Pait (River Plate, 2.5-star reputation)

Maurizio Costanzi (Unemployed, 3 star reputation)

Endrick (Palmeiras to Real Madrid, for a reported fee that could rise to €60 million)

What’s my experience with Endrick on FM?

Vitor Roque (Athletico Paranaense to Barcelona reported fee of €40 million)

What’s my experience with Vitor Roque on FM?

Marcos Leonardo (Santos to Benfica, reported fee of €18 million plus 10% sell-on fee)

What’s my experience with Marcos Leonardo on FM?

Celtic’s Burgeoning Irish Fanbase

Sammie Szmodics

Andrew Moran

Caoimhin Kelleher

Example of my latest personal save

The more money, the less enjoyment

I will challenge myself in my next save

How is the tactic set up?

How did the tactic perform?

Who were the top-performing players using this tactic?

Who picked up the highest average rating over the season?

Who were the top goalscorers in the team?

Who were the players with the most assists?

What is my conclusion on this tactic?

Anatolii Trubin (Goalkeeper)

Antonio Silva (Centre-back)

Morato (Centre-back/defensive midfielder)

Joao Veloso (Central midfielder/attacking midfielder)

Joao Neves (Central midfielder)

Tiago Gouveia (Winger)

Honourable mentions

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