The new Football Manager game officially released on Tuesday and after two weeks of early access, I have won the Premier League with Manchester United.
After a one-year hiatus football fans’ most popular game is back with the chance to take charge of Manchester United and right the wrongs of Ruben Amorim.
Upon being appointed, I immediately changed systems, moving to a back four with flying full-backs and Kobbie Mainoo in my starting line-up. The game is fully Premier League licensed which adds to the immersion, and having played one full season, United are league champions once more.
This happened without massive wholesale changes as Ineos’ exciting young squad are rated according to their real life ability and potential. United fans will be saddened to learn that there is a starting transfer budget of £12.9m to work with, not leaving much room to revamp the squad.
But there is good reason to pick United, here are three.
Talented academy players to integrate into the first team
In the first season of my save, it was a rocket start with Amorim’s squad lacking wingers and Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo underperforming contrary to real life.
Therefore, I turned to Carrington, where a really impressive list of players awaits, including Shea Lacey and Amir Ibragimov, who both came in initially to support Cunha and Mbeumo, but actually ended up taking their starting spots through merit.
- Ibragimov – 20 games, 10 goals, 6 assists
- Cunha – 29 games, 9 goals, 6 assists
- Mbeumo – 26 games, 7 goals, 5 assists
- Lacey – 12 games, 5 goals, 5 assists
Both Ibragimov and Lacey have the star rating potential and stats to go a long way in a save, making them players you should promote immediately.
There are other academy players to utilise with Jayden Ngwashi, Godwill Kukonki, Chido Obi and Jim Thwaites all holding their own in the first team.
The academy is such a big part of United as a club and therefore a must-use area if you are managing the club, but be advised that most of the youngsters have a potential range which can vary save to save.
Mortgaging instalments gives for huge first season budget
This trick will be familiar to seasoned Football Manager players in the form of selling instalments for extra budget.
Well in Football Manager 26, this is also an option; however, with United, it is an easy way to turn that budget from £12.9m to £80m, which makes it possible to make serious moves in the window.
Under the ‘clauses’ tab, and then ‘in’ there are dozens of sell-on and instalment packages you can sell for immediate funds with Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Mason Greenwood and Scott McTominay just a selection of the names who can bring in big money.
I did this in August of my first season, signing real life United target Elliot Anderson with the spoils and he was superb.
Manchester United have lots of very good players
While it sometimes might not feel like it United actually do have a very talented squad and in Football Manager there are several irreplaceable names.
Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro are both rocks at the back, Mainoo is a midfield general, Patrick Dorgu is really strong at left-back, Amad is a top-class fit at right-back and Benjamin Sesko up front is a goal machine.
This gives managers an excellent base to build on, primed for success as my first season Premier League title showcased.
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