Breaking the Habit - A Man United rebuild
Forum Discussion
@CO88LER5 wrote:I've had Williams a couple of times in my careers. He's actually quite good and would be an excellent fit for this story as it is developing...
I think Malacia has been a below-average signing so far in real life, so this fits the story very well too.
In fact, most of ten Hag's picks haven't been up to standard, in my view.
I think he could be quite good, actually. I had my eyes on his older brother many years ago, but despite his ability to play every single minute of a season for his club, he never really hit that potential in the end. The little brother seems to be the more talented one, hence why I also saw this little opportunity for a little wishful thinking. But I'm not signing him, as my next post will reveal.
I agree with Malacia. I liked his attitude and work rate at first, and I can appreciate players, who aren't necessarily world class, if only they show the right attitude and desire to give their all for the team. Hence why I've always appreciated players like John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher, Scott McTominay etc. However, these players need to stay fit and take the chances given to them. With Shaw out for most of the fall, Malacia NEEDED to be there. A reliable backup needs to be that; reliable.
- @JustinCase0110
Seems like the Manchester United we've come to know well, these last few years...
@CO88LER5 wrote:
Seems like the Manchester United we've come to know well, these last few years...Yes, it seems so. Hopefully things will soon improve in real life. And for this story, I suppose it's not all bad to start with a little hole for me to climb out of.
Interesting clear-out. If only the club did this in real life, though I can't see the fans being happy with the cheap replacements...
Should be interesting to see what happens.
@CO88LER5 wrote:Interesting clear-out. If only the club did this in real life, though I can't see the fans being happy with the cheap replacements...
Should be interesting to see what happens.
No, the fans would not be happy. I also don't think it would be a good idea to change THIS much in such a short time. A club needs some kind of continuity.
But on the other hand, the club seems to chase its own tale sometimes, making these "panic" decisions to hold on to a place in top 4 or going for a title charge. What if they sold these expensive players, set a different strategy, lowered their expectations for a while, took a more responsible approach and then built something greater from this. It would require time and patience and the right minds in charge. But I think it would be better than the poor decisions made in the last 11 years.
@JustinCase0110 wrote:What if they sold these expensive players, set a different strategy, lowered their expectations for a while, took a more responsible approach and then built something greater from this. It would require time and patience and the right minds in charge. But I think it would be better than the poor decisions made in the last 11 years.
From what I've heard, the Glazers budget for being in the Champions League once every two years, hence the likelihood that they won't tolerate too much time outside the top 4. I don't see how the club can therefore get out of the loop it's in, any time soon. Maybe Ratclffe will change things; we'll just have to wait and see.You know I almost and I mean came very close to doing a story that involved Man United and even using the whole theory of bringing in someone having no affiliation or love for the club to strip it down and rebuild..I had also planned that just as things would be getting good again that manager would jump ship to a rival. In my head it was hilarious and a great story, in reality I couldn't bring myself to manage Man United š¤£š¤£
@thurlow885 wrote:You know I almost and I mean came very close to doing a story that involved Man United and even using the whole theory of bringing in someone having no affiliation or love for the club to strip it down and rebuild..I had also planned that just as things would be getting good again that manager would jump ship to a rival. In my head it was hilarious and a great story, in reality I couldn't bring myself to manage Man United š¤£š¤£
Haha, no that would also have been very surprising to me, seeing a Leeds fan suddenly play with Man United in CM. I couldn't do that either (reversed), well, I might have been able to do Leeds, since they haven't really proved to be a significant rival in my days following Man United (no offense). But Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea too, I couldn't see myself playing with them. Never.
- @JustinCase0110 Impressive wage reduction. I am curious, though, as to how all this fits in with the objectives set by the game, and whether you can meet them; and of course what that will do to your employment status come the end of the season...
- @JustinCase0110
I've switched Mainoo to a CAM in the game, and he's very good indeed. Just saying...
@CO88LER5 wrote:
Impressive wage reduction. I am curious, though, as to how all this fits in with the objectives set by the game, and whether you can meet them; and of course what that will do to your employment status come the end of the season...That's a pretty good question! And the answer is that I removed some of the highest rated players from squad before I started up the game. And some I knew would leave anyway. Casemiro, Varane, Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Sancho and van de Beek. So in stead of being handed a "win the league" objective, the expectation for me is now a place in the top 4. I'm not sure if I'll manage that either, but at least it's a more lenient approach.
I'm not too worried about employment status anymore. The cup objective is one I'm cautious about, but apart from that I haven't found it hard to stay employed. I've also missed cup objectives without any fuzz. The only time it troubled me, was when I exited the competition rather early, so the game had MONTHS to reduce my manager rating, which eventually pushed it down below 50. So I'm careful with early cup exits, trying hard to avoid these (FA Cup in this case).
I think I'll be all right, even if I don't make it into top 4. But I suppose we'll have to wait and see.
- @JustinCase0110
Ah, that's probably why I wasn't fired at Las Palmas in FIFA 23. I missed just by one round, and it was therefore late in the season, even though my rating did drop to 48.
Perhaps that's the key, then. Very interesting idea to approach. Man United can certainly use a clean out and a fresh start. Bruno was surprising but I actually like moving him. His attitude is not a leader attitude imo..
United could use a few years of playing youth and younger guys to freshen things up..
@Stlducks4 wrote:Very interesting idea to approach. Man United can certainly use a clean out and a fresh start. Bruno was surprising but I actually like moving him. His attitude is not a leader attitude imo..
United could use a few years of playing youth and younger guys to freshen things up..
Thanks. I agree with Bruno, by the way. To be fair, there are different ways to be a captain, some being louder than others e.g., and he does have some characteristics that would usually suit well for a captain. He runs the most, players every minute of every game, and he often steps up at the most important times. But then there is the other side... And no, him being captain has to be the best of a lot of bad options for this role.
Summary of August results:
- @JustinCase0110
You know, I keep saying to my brother-in-law that ten Hag should switch the wingers round, and stop this inverted nonsense, especially with the players we have (such as Antony).
I know it's the fashion to have the wingers cutting in, but if you keep doing it and getting the same non-result, shouldn't you try something different?
Your experiences with him show how right that aproach could be, even if it is just in a console game š
@CO88LER5 wrote:
You know, I keep saying to my brother-in-law that ten Hag should switch the wingers round, and stop this inverted nonsense, especially with the players we have (such as Antony).
I know it's the fashion to have the wingers cutting in, but if you keep doing it and getting the same non-result, shouldn't you try something different?
Your experiences with him show how right that aproach could be, even if it is just in a console game šHaha, yes as I wrote in another thread, I could actually see him being useful in the left, though perhaps not as great as he's been so far in this save. But on the right wing, no. He does have a great shot to the far corner, once he comes in from the right, I'll give him that. But after a few early successes, he's been read by every defence since, and his success rate has fallen drastically, even though he still tries to make these near impossible shots. I don't expect he would become world class on the left or anything, or live of to his gigantic price tag. But I could definitely see improvements to his game with such a change.
In regards to other wingers in the team, I was reluctant to see Garnacho in the right side. I saw him as a true left winger, who was often lethal, when cutting in from the left. But the last few games with him on the right wing (IRL) has convinced me that he should play in the right from now on. Which has otherwise been a problem position for years.
- @JustinCase0110
I agree about Garnacho. I think he's been far more effective on the right.
Makes it difficult to see how Antony fits in, then, because Rashford has to play on the left.
As for strikers, I think it's time that ten Hag gave Joe Hughill a chance. He's around the same age as Hojlund (so mature enough) and has been scoring quite a few in the academy matches. He deserves a chance. Like I said, try something different...
Unfortunately, he's not in the United squad in the game, as I'd have liked to try him - at least, he wasn't when I started my United save.
On the subject of Hojlund, I don't know what your experience of him has been in your career save so far, but in my United save he's not that good. He seems to lose the ball too easily and his shooting (mine, to some extent, I suppose!) isn't that accurate, either. He's another IRL that United paid well over the odds for, in my opinion.
@CO88LER5 wrote:
On the subject of Hojlund, I don't know what your experience of him has been in your career save so far, but in my United save he's not that good. He seems to lose the ball too easily and his shooting (mine, to some extent, I suppose!) isn't that accurate, either. He's another IRL that United paid well over the odds for, in my opinion.I haven't played him very much so far. I saw he had an 89 Potential in the game, and I feel it's way too much for him. I think he'll improve IRL, and I also think he's played better than his goal contributions suggest. But 89 potential, that's too much IMO. So I'm trying to play him as little as possible in the first season, in order for his potential to perhaps drop a bit and be more realistic in the seasons to come.
