Managing Harrogate Town in Football Manager 2021- a thread.
Why Harrogate? Well, this is the first time they've been in the Football League. Need I say any more?
It also means I can easily travel to Elland Road. I see this move as an absolute win
Jon Stead is at the club. He's 37 years old and has 6 acceleration. He doesn't bother leaving the ground. Takes him too long to walk to the car park so he just sleeps in the changing room
They predicted us to finish 22nd. After lots of wheeler dealing I managed to get us predicted to finish 13th. I'm the Harry Redknapp of league 2
Transfers? I brought in loads of free transfers and loans. Obviously. And after spending NOTHING i am predicted to be 1 million in debt by the end of the season. LOVELY
Fast forward to later on in the season... avoid a relegation battle? AVOID A RELEGATION BATTLE? Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Playoffs secured with five to go. If we go up we are going to get absolutely dicked on in league one
To people saying I save scum. Go on, save scum a 7-1 win. I dare you
I've got a false 9 working for the first time in my life. If I get a girlfriend that would mean my entire bucket list is ticked off
Just when I thought he couldn't get more perfect. This is how he responded when I praised him for getting his first international cap <3
I'M IN THE PAPA JOHNS PIZZA DELIVERY AND TAKEAWAY FINAL
Love kicking back and putting my feet up after a title win. Put a youth prospect in the team and gave him penalty duties. Voila
After promotion to the Championship we have increased our reputation! But apparently still below a conference team!
Tbf with this team, it would probably take about ten save scums each game if I wanted to get a point
A couple of deadline day deals. Still 400/1 to stay up with the second-lowest wage bill in the league
I'm not good at this game, but for what it's worth, my tips so far:
-If you lose two games in a row, change something in your tactic. Literally for the sake of it. You don't even need to know how it helps, you just need to keep it fresh
-If you lose two games in a row, change something in your tactic. Literally for the sake of it. You don't even need to know how it helps, you just need to keep it fresh
-Wing back not performing? Find a defensive midfielder who can play there- he doesn't need to have a high star rating or fit the role perfectly. They always seem to do a job there
Finally...
-If you ever have a break for more than seven days- arrange a friendly in that period. It'll give you an advantage over your opponent- match fitness-wise- as they won't do that. For example, this was me during the Qatar period:
-If you ever have a break for more than seven days- arrange a friendly in that period. It'll give you an advantage over your opponent- match fitness-wise- as they won't do that. For example, this was me during the Qatar period:
Also... click save automatically after every game in preferences. Maybe my laptop is just shit, but it has saved me three times now
David Brooks makes it 1-1 with a free kick. Dominic Solanke then has a goal ruled out for offside. My blood pressure rn
Heartbreak. Troy Parrott scores two in extra time (they brought him on and I forgot to tightly mark him, is my excuse). What a rollercoaster though
I bought the brother of the wonderkid who just came out as gay. Seriously, what are they feeding them over at TNS... this guy cost 20k
Fssssssss, the next game is against our automatic promotion rivals, idk if I have the cojones
I'm so sorry for everyone who loves a bit of Schadenfreude and wanted to see me bottle it, I can't believe what just happened
I often find that it's quite easy going up the leagues, and the real challenge is progressing from lower mid-table to the top... so the real work starts now 


We ain't getting overrun in the midfield, that's for damn sure
If you ever have a question for me about something in the thread, message it to me. I won't see comments
Going to stream my Harrogate save for the first time- come join in xx https://www.twitch.tv/outofcontextfm
The board have given me Β£30m with three days of the summer window left. I haven't scouted any players. What do I do?
I'm buzzing. After the horrific start, I decided to change up the tactics and it's actually worked. I've played the first formation in the first half and if that hasn't worked I've switched to the second formation. Viva la Harrogate
Also, how fucking funny is it that Brighton beat me 7-0 and are now in the relegation zone lmao
Found this interesting. Derby have used the 4-2-3-1 wide all season. They play me and use my
formation for the first time

Shithoused my way into another F.A. cup semi-final, with the FM golden boy missing the crucial penalty
Holy shit. The crazy bastards did it. Everton saved themselves from relegation on the last day leapfrogging three teams
This is the amount of friendlies I played IN THE REGULAR SEASON. 33 friendlies played, 243 goals scored, 5 conceded (excluding pre-season friendlies)
When your players best fit into a 4-2-3-1 but you don't want to be accused of exploiting the 4-2-3-1 gegenpress
Just realised I haven't had any physios for over a year...
Last game of the season. Title up for grabs and final Europa League spot. I've already got 5th so EUROPA NEXT YEAR
(Liverpool away at Reading, Manchester City away at Newcastle)
HOLY SHIT DIDN'T REALISE ARSENAL AND SPURS PLAYED LAST GAME. WINNER GETS EUROPA LEAGUE
LIVERPOOL ALSO WON THE LEAGUE IN THE 88TH MINUTE. IT WAS ALL HAPPENING OVER HERE
What happened this year:
-I could not beat the big boys- but those were the only teams I lost too
-My team is ridiculously clinical
-Four of my five best players are strikers
-MY GOALKEEPER WAS MY HIGHEST RATED PLAYER
-I could not beat the big boys- but those were the only teams I lost too
-My team is ridiculously clinical
-Four of my five best players are strikers
-MY GOALKEEPER WAS MY HIGHEST RATED PLAYER
Just so you know it isn't always roses. We're officially in a relegation battle, despite being in the Europa League
WE WON A GAME. Cheers @TylerMoran12 for the formation suggestion x
Started the first leg. Away at Juventus. 0-0 up to half time. Just after half time, they have A PLAYER SENT OFF!
Going to tweet the second leg all at one time, so I don't have to keep scrolling to the top of the thread each time
EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL.
WILL TWEET THEM ALL IN ONE GO SO I DON'T HAVE TO KEEP SCROLLING TO THE TOP.
WILL TWEET THEM ALL IN ONE GO SO I DON'T HAVE TO KEEP SCROLLING TO THE TOP.
Declined.
Thought I'd try out a new tactic for the final Champions League game that didn't matter. Borussia Dortmund 0-9 Harrogate.
TRY AND SAVE SCUM THAT ONE
Seen a few people say they've "copied" my tactics and aren't doing well. This is how many formations I've used in the last season and a half. There is no one set tactic- it literally constantly changes
The week from hell. Amazed we didn't lose all three tbh. They've knocked us out of the Champions League but amazingly we're still in the title race
Holy mother of shit. A last-minute goal from Bernardo means that it's in my hands. Chelsea have completely capitulated
Chelsea also winning, fyi
CHELSEA ARE DRAWING
It is done. I can't actually believe it. Thankyou Rhian Brewster you beautiful fucking human being. HARROGATE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS SOMEHOW
Right, I wanna spice up the save a bit by adding a new narrative.
My thought was to take control of a non-league Yorkshire team and build them up using spare finances... kind of turn them into a feeder team and slowly turn Yorkshire into the powerhouse of English football, but
My thought was to take control of a non-league Yorkshire team and build them up using spare finances... kind of turn them into a feeder team and slowly turn Yorkshire into the powerhouse of English football, but
I do feel that might be a bit too easy...
So, anyone have any other ideas or know how I can make it a bit more challenging?
So, anyone have any other ideas or know how I can make it a bit more challenging?
SO.
Harrogate will continue to be the main story, obviously.
Alongside it, I will be managing Vanarama North, Guiseley (I'll probably let my assistant do most of the matches)
I can give them as much of my Harrogate transfer budget BUT I can only sign Yorkshire born players!
Harrogate will continue to be the main story, obviously.
Alongside it, I will be managing Vanarama North, Guiseley (I'll probably let my assistant do most of the matches)
I can give them as much of my Harrogate transfer budget BUT I can only sign Yorkshire born players!
Right, I've scrapped that.
I realised I don't have the time or the energy to manage another team.
Instead, each window I'm going to give Guiseley a little bit of money, and we can see what they do with it...
First off, I bought their reserve goalkeeper for Β£1 mil
I realised I don't have the time or the energy to manage another team.
Instead, each window I'm going to give Guiseley a little bit of money, and we can see what they do with it...
First off, I bought their reserve goalkeeper for Β£1 mil
New season, same @Niall_ennis46.
I know all of you worship me and basically say I'm a tactical genius, the next Pep Guardiola etc.
Well, I'm also a bit of a chequebook manager (actually- maybe the next Pep)
Already spent more than Arsene Wenger
Well, I'm also a bit of a chequebook manager (actually- maybe the next Pep)
Already spent more than Arsene Wenger

Guiseley used the first Β£1 million to bring in Ryan Shawcross as a manager. I can't think of someone I'd rather have look after my money than him. So I gave them another Β£1m
Mission to Make Yorkshire Great Again (MYGA) is go.
Β£2m donated to Guiseley.
I will now be loaning Rotherham lots of young Brazilians that need experience.
Β£2m donated to Guiseley.
I will now be loaning Rotherham lots of young Brazilians that need experience.
Reply to this tweet with a player/manager and I'll tell you where they are currently in my Harrogate save
I can't reply to anymore, my hand actually aches. I will create a file so you can see the save for yourself if you want. Sorry to all who didn't get a reply x
This is my tactic now. What is the best centre back combo do you think? They're my problem position right now
It's late-night and I'm playing some Harrogate. If you've got a question about the save and want to ask it, speak now
Niall Ennis isn't really starting in the league for me. But he has a goal every 30 minutes in the Champions League
Had a few questions about this so thought I'd post. Basically, when Kemar Roofe signed for Celtic, they started winning titles again
I love @Niall_ennis46. I actually love him
Right, I've realised that from what you've seen, the save might look like it's going too well.
I only show you the good bits.
The game before I scraped a 1-0 win against 20th placed Sheffield United with 0.2 xG x
I only show you the good bits.
The game before I scraped a 1-0 win against 20th placed Sheffield United with 0.2 xG x
You wanted to see the lows. I just got knocked out of the League Cup semi-final.
This is on you guys.
This is on you guys.
Yeah, just for clarity, his name isn't actually Hercules. It's a nickname I gave him as I couldn't pronounce his actual name
Out of the F.A. cup in a thriller. The real winner was footbal....ARGH FUCK SAKE A LAST MINUTE BULLSHIT FREE KICK JUST STAY ON YOUR FEET YOU MORON
The best team in world football. A team built on a philosophy of intricate passing and beautiful football. And Barcelona
Man Utd win so they go above us. But we have two games in hand. Arsenal, Leeds, Manchester City away...
I've just realised I might relegate the team I support irl
Manchester United have got Reading at home. Yay. Big battles in the relegation spots and Champions League spots
Manchester United also winning. So need that point
Half time. Leeds getting relegated as it stands. Everton stopping Liverpool from getting Champions League
Reading have equalised vs Manchester United, but that doesn't matter at this stage
The final table. We win the league for the second time. But more importantly, LEEDS STAY UP. MAKE YORKSHIRE GREAT AGAIN
The Champions League final is in Rome. I literally have a Greek god upfront. You can't write a script like this
HALF TIME 1-0
Where do we go from here?
:
Two Yorkshire jobs have become available, which one do I take:
Actually:
Last poll, I promise
Job hunt starts now
:
The people have spoken.
I also managed them for one season in my glory hunter last year which is a nice touch
I also managed them for one season in my glory hunter last year which is a nice touch
To keep it interesting:
-My aim is to make the Eredivisie one of the top leagues
-I can't use a gegenpress in any form- gotta switch up my style from Harrogate
-My aim is to make the Eredivisie one of the top leagues
-I can't use a gegenpress in any form- gotta switch up my style from Harrogate
You know you're invested in a save when you attend a random Harrogate match just to see how Tuchel is setting them up
The one thing I'm not enjoying about my new team is that I can't arrange any friendlies against AFC Mansfield
First five league games I've taken charge of. This is the situation. Basically, this team is like Brighton, they love a draw
Gonna make a graphic of the dream XI from the save so far... stay tuned
The dream XI so far.
My best central midfielder has a highest average rating of 7.06, so I stuck Hercules there as well.
Tbf he's so good I reckon he'd do a fine job
My best central midfielder has a highest average rating of 7.06, so I stuck Hercules there as well.
Tbf he's so good I reckon he'd do a fine job
I'm not saying I'm a tactical mastermind. But I'm still yet to lose a league game as FC Eindhoven manager.
Playoffs up next
Playoffs up next

The tactic I'm using now as vertical tiki-taka. I'm not reinventing the wheel, but at least its different to my Harrogate one
Making a custom kit for FC Eindhoven now we're in the Eredivisie... main sponsor?

They're here, and they're beautiful. Thank you very much @fmcustomkits - been an absolute legend twice now. Contact him if you want custom kits
Both Raul and Arjen Robben are managers in my league. Nothing else to say, just thought that was lovely
I hate not playing on gegenpress. It feels so unnatural. Like every game I'm thinking about what I could achieve if I just RAMPED UP THE TEMPO
We're 10 years into the save, so at the end of the season I'm going to go through each team in the football league and tell you who their manager is
About to finish the season. I've got nothing to play for, but Feyenoord can get relegated and Harrogate, Spurs and Arsenal are all battling for Champions League
Right, time to go through the manager of each team as we're now 10 years in
Oh my god, some major Harrogate news to be revealed in due course
Premier League managers (and where they finished in the prem this year)
That's right, Tuchel was sacked a few days ago in my save...
On to the Championship!
That's right, Tuchel was sacked a few days ago in my save...
On to the Championship!