I'm so used to playing lower leagues that when I play with top clubs I don't know what to do with all that money.

Trialist: "Hey coach what should i..." Me (who just saw the 1,5 stars): "GET OUT"

Lol I only ever manage lower-league teams in FM. "Pain"? It's FM for me xD "Started from the bottom, now we here" kind of approach

I'm currently on a campaing with the almighty Cheddar F.C, directly from the 10th div. Got back to back promotions, only using youth recrutiment (can't buy players). The last one required some amazing mental stuff from my players. 2-1 down, last match, pen for the other team. Goalkeeper catches, 2-2 on 79', 3-2 on '89. Champion (only promotion spot) on goal difference. No title, any team, any season, will surpass this experience.

just bought the game after a 4 year break. bring the pain, thats whats footballs about imo. wo the pain, theres no gain. thx a lot for the gr8 content. :).

The lower league saves are awesome. I'm doing one journeyman save where I ended starting at Ekenas Tammisaari. The club was overbudget at the time and the rules of finnish league force you to play with finnishs player on your first team. I really need foreign strikers and there's no good wingers of finnish origins. I saw that my team had some finnish players in the middle that where very good at passing and decision for the second tier of finnish football (even for first tier actually), that i ended up choosing a 4-1-2-1-2 diamond with vertical tiki-taka. I follow the idea of Brian Clough, simply put your best players to play. i lost 4 in a row and were almost giving up, i didn't know how to put a defensive line without wingers (not the role, the position) so I said fuck it, let's keep the tactics. My team got in a sequece of 15 wins straight (match cohesion improvement obviously). Winning in a save of bigger clubs don't give the same satisfaction that when you have to try something new. I never played vertical tiki taka before, especially in the lower leagues.

Yep - from amatour club to semi-pro in 2 seasons, and 10 seasons later - 3 leagues later pro club, and than 10 more seasons to climb 2-3 tiers up... thats my game now.

I just got promoted to the Premier League after 4 seasons at Charlton, I only bought the game recently so it's my first save. It's such an great feeling to promote a bad team. Your channel helped me a lot in understanding the game, so thanks.

Been playing an FM20 save with Sportul Snagov in Romania 2nd tier (started unemployed, only loaded in Eastern/Central Europe as well as Italy so I have a way up to the big leagues when the time comes). First season we were such heavy favorites to go down, the preseason meeting my team wouldn't agree with me that we could even stay up (and a relegation would have removed us from being playable). Finished 12th, up safely by a decent margin. I'm in the middle of season 2 now. Preseason expectation was either safety or midtable depending on if you go by the board's initial request, or the option I took in order to get a little more money. We're in 8th, 4 points from the playoff, including a 1-0 win over Astra Giurgiu who were supposed to walk the league after being relegated from the top tier the year before. They're in 5th, and the other relegated team (Hermannstadt) are 10th.

I love how u started with how u are elaborating pain 😂

Llm is the equivalent of manual driving, full of pain but satisfying once you’re successful

The testosterone is dripping off this guy, there's literally chesthair popping out from his shirt.

My best Run in the lower league was not with a direct tactic, except when away from home or against hard teams. FM17 Gainsborough, Noel Burdett on loan from Scunthorpe initially (at the club when I started). He is a deep lying forward with exellent vision at this level (13) and not bad at passing. So I set up 4-4-2 and looked in my squad for a striker and wingers with good enough off the ball to be played in behind , coupled with CM's with off the ball and passing (I put them on additional training regimes for any attributes below 8 that they needed) for him to recycle possession off. He would always have an option to play a through ball or a safe pass to to midfield, to receive the ball back and have another look for a through ball. I built a centrally penetrating control tactic, and Burdett did the rest. Had an absurd unbeaten streak and could not even be written off as an apparent relegation candidate at 3-0 down against promotion contenders. You see who your key player is and you get the best out of him by not surrounding him with your other best players, but players with the skills to accomodate his exceptional ability. That is how you win in non-league. Even on my more defensive, direct grind tactic the philosophy was the same, go through Burdett, support him in midfield, and run off him in attack.

I find this channel just today I Love your personality .. you're obviously a Model Citizen So .. I started playing from fm17 and never did a save with lower league team .. I'm a sucker N i only did Chelsea till 2027 :/ And then from last save I did a Fulham save N I was like oh this is painful .. Fun! And after I was able to sign Haaland for Chelsea in fm20 i was like nah .. I'm good So i started a save unemployed .. got hired by the Mighty U's aka Cambridge United Promoted them back to back to Championship And then I saw at the beginning of the season .. like there's no money So that would've been more pain than I wanted to experience so I bailed on em and got hired by Palace and to sell all those *old* players and re-haul was heck of a work So the first season I finished 12th And then I was required to get 8 points from 5 match to not get fired because we were supposed to be top-half And then the next season we ended up @ 9th and last season was 3 points and 9 goals short of the UCL spot and I finally won sth which was the Carabao Cup .. Also club got bought last year i think :/ @ this point i forgot what was The point .. but then i saw your Sos video and that dude with Cheltenham save was like me N i realised I did give up soon but now I'm like if i win the UEFL .. I'm good and I wanna move on maybe to another mediocre team in another country ..

The most entertaining FM youtuber, by a country mile.

"500m dollars in the hole as barcelona" prophetic words

Just got back-to-back promotions from Hungarian third division(enabled via editor) up to the first with Hungary's second oldest club(1887). Actually winning both divisions by 10-15 points. When I took over, we were predicted to be 5th in the third division, then of course in the second division bookies favoured us to get relegated at the rock bottom. Still did not make a non-free signing, got my best striker snapped up by french league 2 along the way but that at least remedied the club's finances. My approach was to build up a team with tons of stamina and teamwork, compared to other teams around me of course. It worked like a charm after the team gelled together. When we got up to the second division I was a bit skeptical but we got off to a good start and actually stormed the whole thing to my huge surprise. Not really direct, rather short passing, high intensity, narrow, gegenpress, other teams just can't handle our stamina and togetherness. Looking forward for the first division, though I expect it won't be a cakewalk this time. Also got to two cup quarter finals along the way barely losing both. Haven't played since fm17, forgot how I love this game.

Man I've been playing fm since the championship manager days and I've been watching fm videos for a few years now and today is the first time I've gotten across 1 of your videos. Love them!!!!

Thanks! Starting off way down in the French Professional league with Red Star FC after a good but short run in Ligue 1. Appreciate the tips!

Good tips. Direct passing is obvious. But short passing can also work in a limited fashion currently in my save I have gone from VNL to League one in England. Now playing short passing with a cautious mentality. As for the staff I always find in the easiest way is to sign a few veteran players. They will either be player/coaches or can be encouraged to be a coach a year or so before retirement.

Just started my first lower level saved today with fc united 😆 and this vid comes out.. *i found out that DOF suggestion is super helpful(even if your club didnt have any, for my case anyway) *when looking for *unnattached player in the player search, put in this condition * at least 1 cap for national team, or 1 youth cap *another filter is, second nationality, i would choose english..or any european country Found some hidden gem using this filter 😆 This lower league saves is a good suffering so far..highly recommend 👌👌👌

Also depends if semi pro club or pro in LLM I always sign free players until I get to championship level in England Spend money on improving club facilities etc not players another good reason to stay under budget etc.. good video though 👌🏽

started a Boston utd save, went 442 and a second on 3233(dms) for mega hoof-it - got up the leagues quite quick. Also, little money making tip for lower leagues, FRIENDLIES. Lots of friendlies, at home, vs larger rep teams. Play kids, massive rotations. In the 1st season for Boston, i was up 3m before the season had started.

You’ve got a great intro man

I have only ever played LLM upwards since starting CM2, so pain is self-inflicted (actually enjoyment on my part).

Would love to see how you would set up a career with Bolton Wanderers in the Sky Bet league one. £0 transfer budget and starting the season on -12 points! Started one myself recently but would love to see your approach!

Thing to remember in the lower Leagues you have a reserve team you can offer trials and place those trialists into your reserve team if you have a minimum of four staff they can easily manage up to 11 players. I normally bring in 11 trialists so you have a full team to play against your current team in a friendly match. I generally get around 5 to 6 players out of doing this per season so you are letting five players go on average and gaining six.

Every year I play as Oxford City in the VLS and every year I get them to the EPL and Champions league. My tactics change depending on which FM I'm on. But currently I'm buying cheap and young and then using them to win games and then sell them off for millions more and repeat the process. It has allowed me to really develop my youth program and help grow the club. My goal is to be the best team in Europe. Gonna be a long process

Personality of coach is mega important as it rubs off on players and influences the rate of improvement.

I started playing Football Manager with FM13, and that was one game. But then I started playing LLM in FM17, and it was a whole other game. LOL

I'm using the same tactic (fmbase) in my German 4. League career atm. I had to do a lot of signing/releasing to adopt to the tactic but i still managed to reach 5. and 2. place in the first seasons. Considering being a recently promoted team with media ratings about 1:500 it’s been really successful. Absolutely recommend it. Defense robust as f! Offense pretty strong. I changed the DM‘s to BWM and Playmaker. They are just overperforming hardcore on a constant basis (like 20 games in a row with 7+ rating). Strikers are performing pretty average and the wings are very important!! Try to get some WB with pace and Offense ability rather than defensively strong ones. The 4 DM and CB will generate a strong Defense anyways. It won’t be self-running and requires a lot of trials and scouting/ searching yourself. But if you enjoy and bring the effort in squad planning you‘ll have success pretty quick.

Currently in my 3rd season with york, won the VNN and the the VNL plus got to the final of the non league fa cup twice winning it once.

Agreed. I've started file with king's Lynn but I do have a pressing high possession tactic but even thou I won the vln by getting 98 points, a fourth round exit from fa cup (losing to the winners) I went 30 games unbeaten but form dropped off after and ended up winning title on last game, Kidderminster ran me the whole way. Now going professional in the conference league...so needing a few more players and debating whether I can keep this system now.

Palermo Beta save. Never really managed below the Championship. Scouting is a nightmare - first stop, Zealand.

Oh look, FM24 is out, time to revisit this classic

Coming back to this as I just bought fm 20 and I'm struggling in the lower leagues

It’s the best challenge lol took St Albans to the prem, winning the championship and league one in the process and competiting in Europa league. All on b2b promotions from conference south.

Just move trialists to the u18s if you have it. That way they won't overburden your coaching staff.

Useful tips...back into fm after a couple years away...taking on the mighty gulls...and normally do a make United not suck save lol

Desde Argentina me reí mucho con tu video, aparte aprendí algunas cositas. Muy bueno, te felicito

I always like to have a Scottish lower league save going, I also get spending guilt if I have a bigger club going on as well.

From playing Level 10 database and not having much money at all you will constantly lose players on non contracts all the time especially if you are doing well. Scout teams higher then you and see if you can get better loanee players in. Keep replacing staff and players when u move up the leagues. You wont go pro until your club is in a healthy money situation which might take a long time. Stick with simple 442 formation as well.

my fav intro ever :)

Never tried managing a lower league club but a suppose trying to stop Celtic winning 10 in a row is a challenge and pain

Generally the highest team I go for is Fulham, prefer to work my way up the leagues than start by winning the league easily in the first year. That said I currently have a Man U save that started out as curiosity with the way they are at the moment and is still going so I can see how many years is would take Mason Greenwood to beat Shearer's record, currently on about 90 league goals at the age of 22. Currently doing create a team based of Colchester (I think) was happily surprised by a couple of kids I have.

I like waiting a year or two and seeing what team is down and out. For example, I waited two years before applying and getting the job for Hull City, who went to shit and got back-to-back relagations to League 1, then League 2. I won League 2 and am 6th in League 1

Trails saved my playthrough

When I want to play with Salah, Dybala or Mbappé....I play FIFA When I want to feel the real football....I play lower leagues in FM!!! xD I mean srsly...there are people who play FM as Man City or PSG? SRSLY

There are a certain type of sadist like me who play lower leagues but don't sign anyone, have a total reliance on the youth who come through.

and ofc alot of them can make your team better... loved that one and salad :-)

How do I stop the board from selling of my good players?

Awesome vid!

Why do you use "Work ball into box"? It seems it will slow the game, since players will pass the ball to each other until an opportunity arises...

Doing a lower league save as a journeyman game. Started unemployed with no reputation or badges and see what job I can get. First job was Lokomotiv Gomel is Belarus 2nd Division. Finished mid table with them for 3 seasons tactic was 4-4-2 with no instructions at all on balanced. Roles were all basic, Centre Mids on Support, Winger and Wide Midfielder on wings, back 4 all No nonsense. Then I got offered job at FC Gomel (literally over the road) bigger club in the top Division. Played similar tactic because the top belarusian league is still awfull, finished 8th first season and currently on course to finish around the same this season. Best save ever

Why do you look so dead coming back to this video

I love starting out with lowest rep and qualifications, starting unemployed then taking the first job i get, usually vanarama north/south. My current save on fm22 is with chester who start semi pro in the VN. im in my 10th season and in the prem, its super difficult given we've risen so quickly our rep and facilities are lagging behind and holding us back

Maybe this is England specific.. but yeah you really don't want to go over budget. As to your everyone sucks... then you should almost always sign players on Non contracts for your team unless they're a hot prospect that looks dominate for your first team. That player will develop despite the shit coaches and sell on for a million or so to float your budget for a season or two. To make money, make friendlies. But also... scout your league and two leagues above (assuming you already got a parent club) and seek about any players that will be loaned to your team on a free. Thos loanees are where all the talent for your team will come from. Often you can pilfer good players on other teams in your league for a non contract as well effectively helping your team and stealing it from a competitor. And for the bodies metaphor... again non contracts and a lot of depth because everyone sucks and everyone will get hurt but with non contracts you'll have infinite depth and you can get an advantage by having an endless supply of healthy and at least not tired players on the pitch that do not get paid unless they happen to play for your team. Also the direct play is the way to go tactic mantra a bit of a farce in the lower league, you're not good enough for it to matter. Yes they don't have the quality, but they don't have the quality to do long passes and with a possession based short passing tactic that limits the risk in their passing and you can regularly dominate lower league saves with tactics like that.

SILLY comment about the finances it’s one of the main things to monitor in LLM All rest makes sense prior to that point though...

I've been doing so well with portsmouth. Won league one, got them promoted to the championship and finished 12th in the first season... now in third season and I've just lost 7 games in a row... players just standing around, occassionally jogging after the ball... please help!

Cheers from Belarus!

I just signed Stuart Lewis and Ryan Hall as free agents right at the beginning with Weymouth and together with Josh McQuoid these 3 pensioners just killed the league lmao.

Loving the tips, they work in FM22, got Chester in VNLN playoffs place after taking over in December..

i’m gonna start a 9th tier save once i win the champions league with kristiansund ahhhh

You are so cool and funny. I almost think you are British (I am - Ipswich Town)

Let's face it. There are a lot of great teams in the English Championship League, which people will find the most fun and challenging experience for FM 20.

Can't stop looking at the hair

5:07 Comeome on man! Every American sport has something similar too "trials".

Can you do a set up for lower/non league database? Like how to set it up

Thank you.

warowl is that you?

When Zealand still look like erling haland

Fm is painful I'm Port Vale and I've Been stuck in the championship for 6 years now and can't seem to get out of the championship I keep finishing 6 but I'm surprised I ain't got the sack by now and it's now my 7th season I hope I can get in the Premier but I think if I got in the Premier league I think I would go back down I was almost in tears lol because my team plays really well the start of the season 7th season is gone great but I know my team will drop off come towards the end of the season whats what I'm facing. A really hard challenge for you fm base lol take a low league club and have no staff doing no jobs for you and I mean no jobs they are there at the club but you don't use them u take on the whole club yourself u would run every department of the club if that makes sense lol 😂 I was wondering if you haven't already had a challenge like that before. I think if people took that challenge on u will be stressed all the time lol I know I would love the shows

Dude. The word nonce means paedophile here in England. Be careful with it's usage

wait you played at Weston super mare in Somerset? p the seagulls

What I must do to improve my league, like to be one of the best in the world?

Wow. So much hair. Things have changed in a couple years, huh Zealand?

at 1.75 speed this is Ben Shapiro lol

The AI is so bad, I've never failed to win promotion year after year until I get to the professional leagues, mostly I play Oxford City, even in my very first ever FM19 game, I won promotion in the playoff after we had to take like 20 penalties after extra time didn't solve it, but I made it.

Nâo entendo nada o que é dito mas gosto e curto o canal...

The key takeaway from this video is: Zealand is a masochist. If you follow him on Twitch, you knew this already. 😁

Third league of lithuania.... Only 5 players from different country in the whole team.... Lets take them to Europe!

Make one for 2021

man thats a big head

Funny guy..the American in an English mans body Haha ;)

i was hope for tip, how to get reserves, u23

What tactics do. You use

"If you tell these players to play tiki-taka, they can't, most of the time" * Shows example tactic with tiki-taka * :D

I just keep them incredibly fit. And play insanely direct football. Until I reach the championship or any other second division in Europe to be exposed as the fraud I really am.

Ha. Managing in the lowest England leagues is easier than in the PL. No pain. Easy promotions.

“Not England you nonces”🤣🤣 I’m a nonce anyway

If you think you're tough , try promoting from L2 or L3 Romania, i dare you !

I play with Tranmere Rovers. Why start at a big club? what's the point... You basically cheated.

Are you the baby brother of Howard Stern?

Dude are you wearing lipstick? 😂

If you're starting as Barcelona raid Dortmund.

Save that chest ffs

I don't like pain and struggle in game at all. If there is any cheat out there i am using it day one, i don't give i fuck of challenges.

Why are you red?

I have been playing the youth challenge from FM16, it's the only way I play now. community.sigames.com/topic/495649-the-fm20-youth-academy-challenge/

You should play true LLM, searching players and staff is just not done.