I think we're alright, mate. It's fun that it's a challenge and it's refreshing to see you pulling your hair out a bit. In my mind, where's the fun in watching someone do a series with the same inevitable linear progress; League title, Champions League title, blahblahblah, on to the next save. Fuck that. This is what separates the men from the boys. This is where legends come into being. This is a chance for Clayts to firmly plant himself into the folklore of Football Manager. I'm kind of leaning towards selling Colon. He's so good that you could probably get someone slightly worse and it wouldn't make much difference, at the same time bringing in a load of money. Maybe an Alisson or someone like that. Put the rest into improving the squad. I'm indifferent as to whether Lavia stays or goes. Maybe make some requests to the board, see what they say. I'm not too familiar with '23s match engine so I don't know what the 4-4-2 is like. If it doesn't really work, maybe Dumont does need to go - even though he's sick and is a beautiful, beautiful man. Maybe you could bring in a realistic, genuine manager using the editor? One that is currently without a job, perhaps. But mate, we've come too far to turn back. Did Beethoven allow his deafness to silence him? No. Did Stephen Hawking allow his disability to defeat him? No. Did I allow myself to succumb to the pressure of being the coolest guy to ever walk this planet? Over my dead body. You've got this. Let's go.
Please don’t leave Almeria, the Spurs DOF kinda became simple at the end (don’t get m wrong, it was loads of fun). But you have indeed transformed Almeria, from a club that never played in Europe to playing in the UCL (3 season’s straight now) consistently. They are easily the 4th best team and with a little more consistency and maybe some tactical switches (back to 4-2-3-1 maybe), in a couple of years the Wonder Kids would be World class. I understand wanting to wait, but i can already imagine the thumbnail when Almeria finally wins a trophy and from then on the kids become adults. Hopefully you don’t have to sell the main core to keep the club afloat, but if you do, I’m sure we’d get more wonder-kids 🎉 Vamos Almeria Vamos!!
Firstly I wanted to say that I think you are brilliant in the way you do videos and explain things in front of the camera. I really like this serie for the challenging aspect. As I said in my comment in the last episode, your club is economically unstable. You don't have special back up from the board now, so you can only spend what you generate in incomes, and you are spending in wages, installments, clauses, etc. much more than what your club can generate itself, so the only way to balance the numbers will be doing big sales. And I think it won't be the case of selling one good players and everything is solved foverer, you will need pretty much to sell a big player or even two every summer, and reinvest part of that money in prospects that can add to the team in the future and also make a profit when you need to sell them. The other only way would be more radical, sell most of your big players earning big money, and purchase cheaper players with lower wages that won't need so much of your money to keep them
As others have said, I really hope you persist with this Clayts (as a follower from episode 1). The going has certainly gotten tough but we back you to rise to the challenge, and it will be even sweeter than Spurs winning the champions league (weird sentence for me to write as a Chelsea fan). My main suggestion to freshen up the save, if I may be so bold, is: Hire a real, but crucially realistic, manager using the game editor. Not only would this hopefully boost the chances of on pitch success, but I really enjoyed the narrative of the save with Will Still in charge, a real person who you could root behind and felt more invested in the personality of the manager. Dumont is beautiful but feels too random for me to get emotionally invested in him as a character in this epic tale. With that change, maybe look for a manager with a more meta tactical approach, as others have said. And then freshen up the squad a little with the sale of Lavia but ultimately I think you're still right to put your faith in the development of these wonderkids. Maybe replace Lavia with an experienced winger who can make an instant impact though, so as not to block the development of Alejandro on that side, and to replace the leadership of Gaya? That's my two cents, but yeah bottom line is I'm still enjoying the series a lot and looking forward to you trying to turn things around. If not, I never hated the idea of going to a sleeping English giant club to build them up, like Middlesbrough or Sunderland...
Been following this dof save from the start, loving the content. First time commenting. I feel dupont deserves another season. Feel like you have a ready made rm in alejandro with 15 crossing 16 dribbling, acceleration and agility. If he dropped in rm, I'd move lavia in center for more defensive grit alongside meretti and unpopular opinion maybes but sell fraitas he'd bank roll your entire summer window and leave some in the kitty and I don't think he's utilised as well in a 442 cash in when his values high. Also if you do decide to switch up head coach try searching for actual managers. Further into the save you get, managers are more likely to accept an assistant role. Iv done dof saves with lampard as my first team coach at Sunderland and Solskjær at West ham. They tend to have more traits that impact games.
i think the issue is the 442. especially in Spain in think it makes sense to pack the midfield, and you have 2 quality midfielders that arent really being used to the best of their ability.
Have to start looking more short term as opposed to long term. Look at your best player(s) like Freitas & ensure that you are doing all you can to get the best out of them. 4-4-2 doesn't suit him or your wide attackers, so that's where the first change lies. I'd ruthlessly be getting rid of the manager & appointing someone whose style will maximise your best players' abilities. Ghidotti is a great rotation option for Freitas so that further emphasises the need to change tactic. I'd sell Chevallier as he has good value & isn't good enough right now to help the team enough. Marginal gains through stuff like set pieces could be key, so I'd also sell Perez as he doesn't have the height or jumping reach to be a big enough threat at set pieces, but could raise good money. Through selling just those 2, plus maybe Lavia, you could raise the money to buy some key players for now (as opposed to ones with potential) & push on to a title challenge.
Is the squad missing an old head, the experienced player you might pick up on a free, good influence, experience, someone that has won trophies? I'm really enjoying this save, it's a great idea and actually can't wait to give it a try myself, only thing is should i choose a team with no emotional involvement 😂 to help if it goes wrong. I'd be too tempted to use the editor and look at unrealistic managers. There's another idea, maybe consider the editor to appoint a manager as your head coach, see if that makes the difference.
My opinion is…….. Sell someone for big money, keep dumont and if you finish fourth or lower again, resign and change team as a realistic option as I think for instance if a director had money they’d more likely join a team like you did but then if it fails they’d wanna move on to a bigger club
As beautiful as Yohan is. Is the 442 the issue. The best way I see to compete against teams above you and going further in Europe. Is some variation of a 5-3-2. Maybe get someone like a Stellini!
I think you have to sell someone you don't want to, and who that is should be dictated by what formation you want as a DoF. If you have an issue there, change the manager. Brighton being the current hipster reference point. Sell one star, promote the next one and start the cycle again. Who's on the free transfer or the loan market that could fill a gap if you did need to sell to buy too? I also do something based on a vlog I watched a while back by an Academy Director in the EPL, that I now use for my DoF save. Aim to have at least one youngster to sell and at least one youngster for the first team each season (so I sell a first teamer). I don't risk it, I just loan them out until they're ready for one of the other as the manager may not follow my plan. Working well for me so thought I'd share!
I think give dumont another season. Selling lavia might make sense potentially as he dosent suit the system plus with the financial situation getting his wages off the books could potentially fund a few signings
Yeah, sell Lavia imo. You can probably get better for cheaper. And given he's wanted, it's a no-brainer to me. The money from him+ your regular budget should be enough to get a left winger, a leftback and a centerback. Your three priorities. So long you can pay in several years or find bargains i would wait for the rest. Wait for big offers to come in and adapt to it. Your team is young and they probably deserve one more year to come together. Same for the coach, he did well. Anyway, i'm really liking this series ;)
Think you should stick at it, maybe sell colon as i agree with @conography that you can get someone not as good but will still do a job, also sell lavia as hes wanted too so would be easier to sell. And give your young left back a chance and replace him with another young left back as back up. Also dont forget loans to fill in the positions you need
Clayts can you make a video to explain how you find that amazing youngsters or maybe explain it at the next dof video?? Thank you for the videos, they are all being amazing!!!
I think it's interesting, if you consider your role as DoF. Are DoF's as worried about winning things? Or are they worried about fulfilling a vision. What is the vision and identity of the club at the moment. Although you as the player may not enjoy it the identity seems to be similar to Spurs in real life. Invest just enough to get CL then see how long you can stay there then prop it back up if you fall short. So by that measure I'd say you're being successful although measuring it is less simple than normal FM saves.
I think keeping the philosophy is important with this kind of club. I’d sell Miretti and go with youth. I would sell Lavia to get a more natural RM. And I would try to sell Freitas, he’s amazing but don’t think he fits as a CM that well. Of course that would change if you change manager and system. I say stick with Dumont and maybe sack in Jan if it’s not going well, Kayambe promotion looks like a good option. The challenge is definitely high but it will be all the more rewarding when this team wins the title for the first time, keep the faith!
Should have taken the Newcastle job when it was on offer 😂😂 but keep your head up. Your above Atletico and Sevilla and are far bigger clubs. Time for a new club as you’ve taken them as far as you can.
The plan was to develop youth and sell for a profit. Don’t be afraid to get max value from a few of your best players to reinvest in more youth! (Not Chavez, you’d get relegated without Chavez 😉) 20-30m seems like too little for Lavia. He could easily play in a league/CL winning side at CM/CDM
I’d stick with Lavia and sell one of the high value players like Frietas or Miretti. Lavia then plays in his natural position and you get a natural RM instead.
Your team was excellent the second half of the season. Given that they had to adapt to a new manager and formation that seems reasonable. They are now adapted, so firing the manager and making them go through that again seems stupid. I realize you feel the need to sell and buy players because you are the Director of Football but unless you can get better players that isn't going to help you. Letting the younger players get better and improving in that way seems more in line with your budget.
What are you expecting? You're not going to be able to compete with the biggest teams, realisticly only negatives I can see is not finishing one league position higher and the lack of an extended CL run.
Yeah I think the lack of progress really, I’d like to be closer to the top 2 and it just seems that with no ability to invest from here, I don’t know how we get closer. I like having the challenge though.
I think sacking the Manager and going to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, poor Alejandro will be wasted when he joins permanently. Sell Miretti and hope Lavia is played CM (D) possibly? But also... what other jobs are you there..? 👀could that be an option?
@@Clayts thanks for the replies mate, hope next season is the one it all comes together! You're definitely the best and most creative FM UA-camr out there.
It’s a moneyball save, suck it and sell an elite player. Almeria, especially with how La Liga’s finances are geared toward looking after the big clubs - are always going to struggle to compete. It’s the only way to survive. Catching Madrid ultimately feels impossible in this format
@@Clayts It’s an enjoyable save all the same, it’s been fun watching your progress. You might have found Almeria’s ceiling in this format without additional investment. To maintain a top 4 position, without big sponsorship and stadium capacity, you’re always going to be having to sell unlike the big boys who can pay the wages & buy the players to sustain 80-90+ points each season. Anyway keep up the good work 👍
You need to generate some funds because you feed off that transfer window buzz. From a viewer perspective I’d like more watching man action. Not feeling the same affinity to this line up. From a team perspective imo you need to make a big sale to create wage budget and hopefully find a couple of big game end of contract older pros that can be tempted by ridiculously high wages to enable you to stand toe-to-toe with Real & Barca. Then pad the squad out with EPL loans. I’d give Spain one more season before returning to England to restore the fortunes of an elite club that has fallen on hard times and return them to the top table.
@@Clayts You’re doing a great DoF job but breaking the Spanish duopoly when you’re only getting 65% of the transfer sales is almost an impossible task. You’ll probably regret not giving it one more try and you’ll miss certain players but it’s also ok to look for a new challenge elsewhere.
You are a good team just not as good as Barca and Real which is most teams in the world…. Patience is the order of the day I think. Bring those young loan players back and try and stabilise in champs league football.
Surely you must have achieved the 5 year plan early? Was the goal to win something or just to progress the club? Could a move to another club potentially happen now that you have achieved the 5 year plan early? Also please don't leave as i adore this squad 😂
I think we're alright, mate. It's fun that it's a challenge and it's refreshing to see you pulling your hair out a bit. In my mind, where's the fun in watching someone do a series with the same inevitable linear progress; League title, Champions League title, blahblahblah, on to the next save. Fuck that.
This is what separates the men from the boys. This is where legends come into being. This is a chance for Clayts to firmly plant himself into the folklore of Football Manager.
I'm kind of leaning towards selling Colon. He's so good that you could probably get someone slightly worse and it wouldn't make much difference, at the same time bringing in a load of money. Maybe an Alisson or someone like that. Put the rest into improving the squad. I'm indifferent as to whether Lavia stays or goes.
Maybe make some requests to the board, see what they say.
I'm not too familiar with '23s match engine so I don't know what the 4-4-2 is like. If it doesn't really work, maybe Dumont does need to go - even though he's sick and is a beautiful, beautiful man. Maybe you could bring in a realistic, genuine manager using the editor? One that is currently without a job, perhaps.
But mate, we've come too far to turn back. Did Beethoven allow his deafness to silence him? No. Did Stephen Hawking allow his disability to defeat him? No. Did I allow myself to succumb to the pressure of being the coolest guy to ever walk this planet? Over my dead body.
You've got this. Let's go.
Got to agree with this, worded beautifully also 😂
Could not have said better!!!!
Don't give up you absolute legend, you love the save so much and so do we - keep it going! :)
Defo not giving up! Just want to win!
Wouldn't necessarily sell Lavia. It kind of works with the very offensive right back. We should try to keep this team together for another season
Please don’t leave Almeria, the Spurs DOF kinda became simple at the end (don’t get m wrong, it was loads of fun). But you have indeed transformed Almeria, from a club that never played in Europe to playing in the UCL (3 season’s straight now) consistently.
They are easily the 4th best team and with a little more consistency and maybe some tactical switches (back to 4-2-3-1 maybe), in a couple of years the Wonder Kids would be World class.
I understand wanting to wait, but i can already imagine the thumbnail when Almeria finally wins a trophy and from then on the kids become adults.
Hopefully you don’t have to sell the main core to keep the club afloat, but if you do, I’m sure we’d get more wonder-kids 🎉
Vamos Almeria Vamos!!
Tactic swap back to 4-2-3-1 imo. Would work better with the players. Otherwise should do a lot of sales and buying different players
Firstly I wanted to say that I think you are brilliant in the way you do videos and explain things in front of the camera. I really like this serie for the challenging aspect.
As I said in my comment in the last episode, your club is economically unstable. You don't have special back up from the board now, so you can only spend what you generate in incomes, and you are spending in wages, installments, clauses, etc. much more than what your club can generate itself, so the only way to balance the numbers will be doing big sales. And I think it won't be the case of selling one good players and everything is solved foverer, you will need pretty much to sell a big player or even two every summer, and reinvest part of that money in prospects that can add to the team in the future and also make a profit when you need to sell them. The other only way would be more radical, sell most of your big players earning big money, and purchase cheaper players with lower wages that won't need so much of your money to keep them
As others have said, I really hope you persist with this Clayts (as a follower from episode 1). The going has certainly gotten tough but we back you to rise to the challenge, and it will be even sweeter than Spurs winning the champions league (weird sentence for me to write as a Chelsea fan).
My main suggestion to freshen up the save, if I may be so bold, is:
Hire a real, but crucially realistic, manager using the game editor. Not only would this hopefully boost the chances of on pitch success, but I really enjoyed the narrative of the save with Will Still in charge, a real person who you could root behind and felt more invested in the personality of the manager. Dumont is beautiful but feels too random for me to get emotionally invested in him as a character in this epic tale.
With that change, maybe look for a manager with a more meta tactical approach, as others have said. And then freshen up the squad a little with the sale of Lavia but ultimately I think you're still right to put your faith in the development of these wonderkids. Maybe replace Lavia with an experienced winger who can make an instant impact though, so as not to block the development of Alejandro on that side, and to replace the leadership of Gaya?
That's my two cents, but yeah bottom line is I'm still enjoying the series a lot and looking forward to you trying to turn things around. If not, I never hated the idea of going to a sleeping English giant club to build them up, like Middlesbrough or Sunderland...
Been following this dof save from the start, loving the content. First time commenting. I feel dupont deserves another season. Feel like you have a ready made rm in alejandro with 15 crossing 16 dribbling, acceleration and agility. If he dropped in rm, I'd move lavia in center for more defensive grit alongside meretti and unpopular opinion maybes but sell fraitas he'd bank roll your entire summer window and leave some in the kitty and I don't think he's utilised as well in a 442 cash in when his values high. Also if you do decide to switch up head coach try searching for actual managers. Further into the save you get, managers are more likely to accept an assistant role. Iv done dof saves with lampard as my first team coach at Sunderland and Solskjær at West ham. They tend to have more traits that impact games.
I'm loving this DOF save. I've been trying myself. It is a challenge
i think the issue is the 442. especially in Spain in think it makes sense to pack the midfield, and you have 2 quality midfielders that arent really being used to the best of their ability.
Have to start looking more short term as opposed to long term.
Look at your best player(s) like Freitas & ensure that you are doing all you can to get the best out of them. 4-4-2 doesn't suit him or your wide attackers, so that's where the first change lies. I'd ruthlessly be getting rid of the manager & appointing someone whose style will maximise your best players' abilities. Ghidotti is a great rotation option for Freitas so that further emphasises the need to change tactic. I'd sell Chevallier as he has good value & isn't good enough right now to help the team enough.
Marginal gains through stuff like set pieces could be key, so I'd also sell Perez as he doesn't have the height or jumping reach to be a big enough threat at set pieces, but could raise good money.
Through selling just those 2, plus maybe Lavia, you could raise the money to buy some key players for now (as opposed to ones with potential) & push on to a title challenge.
Is the squad missing an old head, the experienced player you might pick up on a free, good influence, experience, someone that has won trophies?
I'm really enjoying this save, it's a great idea and actually can't wait to give it a try myself, only thing is should i choose a team with no emotional involvement 😂 to help if it goes wrong. I'd be too tempted to use the editor and look at unrealistic managers.
There's another idea, maybe consider the editor to appoint a manager as your head coach, see if that makes the difference.
My opinion is……..
Sell someone for big money, keep dumont and if you finish fourth or lower again, resign and change team as a realistic option as I think for instance if a director had money they’d more likely join a team like you did but then if it fails they’d wanna move on to a bigger club
As beautiful as Yohan is. Is the 442 the issue. The best way I see to compete against teams above you and going further in Europe. Is some variation of a 5-3-2. Maybe get someone like a Stellini!
I’ll resurrect don Peruzzi from his grave before that
@@Claytshe's dead as well as retired poor Don!!! He didn't take the sacking well.
I think you have to sell someone you don't want to, and who that is should be dictated by what formation you want as a DoF. If you have an issue there, change the manager. Brighton being the current hipster reference point. Sell one star, promote the next one and start the cycle again. Who's on the free transfer or the loan market that could fill a gap if you did need to sell to buy too?
I also do something based on a vlog I watched a while back by an Academy Director in the EPL, that I now use for my DoF save. Aim to have at least one youngster to sell and at least one youngster for the first team each season (so I sell a first teamer). I don't risk it, I just loan them out until they're ready for one of the other as the manager may not follow my plan. Working well for me so thought I'd share!
I think give dumont another season. Selling lavia might make sense potentially as he dosent suit the system plus with the financial situation getting his wages off the books could potentially fund a few signings
Yeah, sell Lavia imo. You can probably get better for cheaper. And given he's wanted, it's a no-brainer to me.
The money from him+ your regular budget should be enough to get a left winger, a leftback and a centerback. Your three priorities. So long you can pay in several years or find bargains
i would wait for the rest. Wait for big offers to come in and adapt to it. Your team is young and they probably deserve one more year to come together.
Same for the coach, he did well.
Anyway, i'm really liking this series ;)
Think you should stick at it, maybe sell colon as i agree with @conography that you can get someone not as good but will still do a job, also sell lavia as hes wanted too so would be easier to sell. And give your young left back a chance and replace him with another young left back as back up. Also dont forget loans to fill in the positions you need
Clayts can you make a video to explain how you find that amazing youngsters or maybe explain it at the next dof video?? Thank you for the videos, they are all being amazing!!!
How are you going about the matches? Simulator skin? Match day holiday or holidaying in big chunks?
Match day holidays
I think it's interesting, if you consider your role as DoF. Are DoF's as worried about winning things? Or are they worried about fulfilling a vision. What is the vision and identity of the club at the moment. Although you as the player may not enjoy it the identity seems to be similar to Spurs in real life. Invest just enough to get CL then see how long you can stay there then prop it back up if you fall short. So by that measure I'd say you're being successful although measuring it is less simple than normal FM saves.
Is there any free agents to fill the squad and sell people on for more funds?
I think keeping the philosophy is important with this kind of club. I’d sell Miretti and go with youth. I would sell Lavia to get a more natural RM. And I would try to sell Freitas, he’s amazing but don’t think he fits as a CM that well. Of course that would change if you change manager and system. I say stick with Dumont and maybe sack in Jan if it’s not going well, Kayambe promotion looks like a good option. The challenge is definitely high but it will be all the more rewarding when this team wins the title for the first time, keep the faith!
Should have taken the Newcastle job when it was on offer 😂😂 but keep your head up. Your above Atletico and Sevilla and are far bigger clubs. Time for a new club as you’ve taken them as far as you can.
The plan was to develop youth and sell for a profit. Don’t be afraid to get max value from a few of your best players to reinvest in more youth! (Not Chavez, you’d get relegated without Chavez 😉) 20-30m seems like too little for Lavia. He could easily play in a league/CL winning side at CM/CDM
Try to find asst manager with 4231 wing play.
I do the DoF win the league in 3 years. With lille and gladbach
I’d stick with Lavia and sell one of the high value players like Frietas or Miretti. Lavia then plays in his natural position and you get a natural RM instead.
What skin do u use
I would use a 4-3-1-2 formation can't not have those 2 forwards not playing
Maybe a real RM, Guidotti could work there? Or freitas
I love this save. How to catch the ones in the top 3? With time! With a project! Not like PSG! Like Man city ! Hahhaha
Almeria to become the Spanish Brighton
Your team was excellent the second half of the season. Given that they had to adapt to a new manager and formation that seems reasonable. They are now adapted, so firing the manager and making them go through that again seems stupid.
I realize you feel the need to sell and buy players because you are the Director of Football but unless you can get better players that isn't going to help you. Letting the younger players get better and improving in that way seems more in line with your budget.
What are you expecting? You're not going to be able to compete with the biggest teams, realisticly only negatives I can see is not finishing one league position higher and the lack of an extended CL run.
Yeah I think the lack of progress really, I’d like to be closer to the top 2 and it just seems that with no ability to invest from here, I don’t know how we get closer.
I like having the challenge though.
Not really a fan of that 4-4-2.. maby the beter option is to swap tactics
I think sacking the Manager and going to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, poor Alejandro will be wasted when he joins permanently. Sell Miretti and hope Lavia is played CM (D) possibly? But also... what other jobs are you there..? 👀could that be an option?
Maybe just allow yourself to bring a real manager in using the in game editor?
I have thought that. I think one more season and we explore that option.
@@Clayts thanks for the replies mate, hope next season is the one it all comes together! You're definitely the best and most creative FM UA-camr out there.
It’s a moneyball save, suck it and sell an elite player. Almeria, especially with how La Liga’s finances are geared toward looking after the big clubs - are always going to struggle to compete. It’s the only way to survive. Catching Madrid ultimately feels impossible in this format
Yeah I think we’ll have to sell a big one and see where that takes us. I think we can compete, it’s just bloody hard
@@Clayts It’s an enjoyable save all the same, it’s been fun watching your progress. You might have found Almeria’s ceiling in this format without additional investment. To maintain a top 4 position, without big sponsorship and stadium capacity, you’re always going to be having to sell unlike the big boys who can pay the wages & buy the players to sustain 80-90+ points each season. Anyway keep up the good work 👍
What is DOF?
Director of Football
@@Clayts 😅 thanks, in Google appeared a completely different thing
You need to generate some funds because you feed off that transfer window buzz. From a viewer perspective I’d like more watching man action. Not feeling the same affinity to this line up. From a team perspective imo you need to make a big sale to create wage budget and hopefully find a couple of big game end of contract older pros that can be tempted by ridiculously high wages to enable you to stand toe-to-toe with Real & Barca. Then pad the squad out with EPL loans. I’d give Spain one more season before returning to England to restore the fortunes of an elite club that has fallen on hard times and return them to the top table.
Yep, all fair I think. I’ll bring some watching man action into the next couple of vids - that’s on me trying to accelerate through a bit.
@@Clayts You’re doing a great DoF job but breaking the Spanish duopoly when you’re only getting 65% of the transfer sales is almost an impossible task. You’ll probably regret not giving it one more try and you’ll miss certain players but it’s also ok to look for a new challenge elsewhere.
You are a good team just not as good as Barca and Real which is most teams in the world…. Patience is the order of the day I think. Bring those young loan players back and try and stabilise in champs league football.
Yep. You’re right.
Surely you must have achieved the 5 year plan early? Was the goal to win something or just to progress the club? Could a move to another club potentially happen now that you have achieved the 5 year plan early?
Also please don't leave as i adore this squad 😂
I want to win.
I definitely don’t want to leave though!