FM 2010 Site Rankings
Follow me on Twitter
Advertising
The Author
HullExcellent start in the League One!
Hello my dear readers!
The day of the next Leeds story post has come 
Today I am going to show results of my starting 3 months in Football Manager 2010.
Table and matches
At first I would like to boast with League One table after 14 fixtures:
Well, what I can say… Leeds United is stronger by squad than any other team in the league. My transfers before the season start have only strengthened the squad and added more flexibility. Another important reason of success is efficient tactics choice and its tuning.
Here are results of Leeds matches:
I had problems of the team play quality in the end of August, start of September. Several draws and losses happened during that period. That was caused by my tactical experiments and try-outs – 5-3-2 scheme was unsuccessfully used.
During that period Leeds was knocked out by West Brom in the 2nd round of League Cup. We were winning the game with 1:0 score after the first half and had certain advantage in performance on pitch. But then West Brom players showed very good football enclosing my team during the whole 2nd half. It was a slight shock for us – however I understand that opponent’s squad was stronger in almost all positions 
Regarding other matches I would like to say we had always technical and flair advantage over opponents. It resulted in many victories with very low amount of conceded goals!
Johnstone’s Paint Trophy
I was glad to have an opportunity of participation in this tournament. Don’t understand why but JPT matches turned out very complicated for my team. Look at the 2nd round fight against Tranmere:
Series of penalties were really crazy! All 20 players scored goals apart from goalies. In the end there was some kind of duel between legendary Ian Walker (Leeds GK) and Luke Daniels (Tranmere GK). Walker struck penalty shot quite efficiently as opposed to Daniels
Tactics (new one!)
I think the most important factor of such good start is my new tactics. Starting new story in new Football Manager I decided that’s enough of 4-1-4-1 which had been the tactical scheme of Hull (FM 2009 story) and Southampton (FM 2008 story). So work over new tactics started with first friendly matches.
I am happy with quick result:
In my opinion 3-5-2 is a very special formation. I had several failures trying to tune it for different clubs in previous Football Manager versions. I remember I had success only once when this formation was used for Parma in Football Manager 2005. Therefore I was selecting roles for each position and changing individual instructions very carefully.
I will describe my tactics and the way how I use touchline shouts in one of the next posts!
Leeds Players
I would like to single out 4 players I am happy with:
Jermaine Beckford – excellent scorer with 12 goals in 16 matches. I set up Poacher role for him!
Sandrinho – seems like this Brazilian is my best transfer before the season! The most technical player in the squad. Best assister. Playmaker.
Patrick Kisnorbo – confident work in defence.
Sol Campbell – the most slow DC but he compensates this problem with fantastic pitch vision and position choice.
Looking into the future - Championship
As far as I understood I won’t have any problems in Championship’s promotion. So I have already decided to start thinking about strengthening squad! Leeds squad will changed much before the 2nd season – it’s obvious. Obvious because many players either too old and slow like Ivan Campo or merely below level of “average Championship” player.
Now I am very interested in price growth of my players. I am going to sell several guys during the winter transfer window because prices grew highly. In the very beginning Beckford was the most expensive Leeds footballer – $1.4M. At the current moment I have the following players with price about $2M:
Leigh Bromby (will be sold)
Patrick Kisnorbo (he stays, of course)
Gareth Williams (don’t know if I should sell him
)
Luciano Becchio (will be sold)
Jermaine Beckford (he stays)
I have already started to rub my hands with joy of gaining transfer money in winter
Previous posts of Leeds story:
Season expectations and first transfers
Leeds United squad analysis
Leeds United will be my first FM2010 team!
Im Playing as Brighton, I started poorly then changed to 3-5-2 and now we are winning everygame!!!!!, I am getting close to the play offs from Mid Table and have about a month and a half to go. It seems 3-5-2 works wonders!!!!!
I might try the 3-5-2 formation soon. But for now I am using the 4-2-4 formation with 2 wingers
I have some of the similar players as urs n most of them dun achieve such value even after 30+ games, most valuable one for me is beckford wif only 2.2M. Wonder y different so much. Most of them perform well and leading in scores n other stats. Really wonder y different so much. Seems not a good business for me running down the road since i can't sell high n buy better players in coming season.
my starts with leeds in league was about 18 wins in a row but then my forwads got ijured and i ended up my season withh 99 points. in next season start i had worst srats ever- after 10 games 22places but now after 26games im in 8places :) 2points away from 3places and 4from 1 :)
I am currently using a 4-3-1-2 tactic and it seems to be going well. first season as accrington a finished in 22nd, just 3 points from relegation. But after selling nearly all my defenders and getting another striker that does not speak english im 3rd after about 15 games...
any chance you could give me the potential rating for Lars Stubhaug (the norwigen young GK that you ahve in your team)...im hoping your guys at leeds are more accurate than my guys at accrington as i have the player also...
also Accrington Stanely are travelling to Leeds in the JPT semi finals in real life...might be interesting :)
great start vitaliy, im glad its goin well for u
one problem: you cut out some of the info on the screenshots and y areny u doing average rating anymore?
Anonymous #1;
Vitaliy has his values in dollars ($) not in pounds (£) and so that is why there is the difference.
SherrifFromIsraelFan;
He is using a customised view of players, which he created himself. I personally like the way he has it set up, and average rating is one of the columns.
I've been following you for a long time and enjoy following your posts. I also went for Leeds in my game, gained promotion 1st season and, from my experience, you will really enjoy the money you can spend and the players you can attract in the championship!
Best blog on the internet by a mile, Vitaliy, keep up the good work.
Well done, you are doing a great job!
Also, I have just completed the download of the huge facepack. It took 3 days! Anyways, it is brilliant.
Leeds are destined for success under you and I'm sure you'll get them back to their glory days. Blimey, look where Norwich are!!
stoke city man wa did u dwnload it through and does it have all footy league pics on there n y it take so long
Tom, I downloaded it through uTorrent and got it from the link on this blog. It has all of the pics of the players and I have no idea how it took so long!!
You havent played the saints yet !
they will beat you ;)
Good luck in Championship!
Also, can you do a tactics analysis? I use one called JP Woody (you can find it on fm-base.co.uk), which stresses attacking but has some mediocre defending. Can you fine-tune it please? Thanks :)
If you need a striker get Artem Milevskyi, he got 33 goals in 45 games in his first season with me :)
Vitaliy, this is no less than I would have expected from you. A great set of results with a team that is expected to win with no trouble, but you still have to get to them to perform on the pitch.
That penalty shoot-out looks totally insane, going down to the goalkeepers. I do remember having an some epic penalty shoot-outs in FM09, where it was sadly my goalkeeper that blasted the ball high and wide to lose us the match.
Nice that can at this stage start to think about who you want for next season, when you should doubtless have secured yourselves as Champions of League One.
Hi Vitaliy
Can u tell me how do u add that beautiful effect on your screenshots ?
Thanks
hello ..
just in response to your penalty-shootout. this happened with me with leeds against tranmere however it finished 18-17 !!!! i eventually won it despite being reduced to 10 men !!
Hi Vitaliy,
Yet another great post, Interesting to see you will get rid of Leigh Bromby when promoted, on mine he is club captain in the premier league, averaging just over 7 for the season. I'd definately recommend keeping him, as for Beckford he will score plenty of goals in the championship. Although struggles in the premier league and was sold. Im into my fifth season now and my strike force is Walter(internacional) and Elmander(whom i got on a free). Only surviving players from original squad are Kisnorbo, Bromby and Snodgrass.
it seems my norwich squad might not be the strongest in your game :)) but otherwise, they are dominating more like your leeds in my game, boasting no loss record thanks to ebi smolarek! he scores so many! im still using your tactics in fm09, and still great for norwich so far, might try your new tactic soon vitaliy when season ends or when my luck changes :)) more power!!!
vitaly, is there anywhere we can download your new tactic to try out and compare to the ones i have made please?
iv found dis player enzo scorza free at the start just bangs in so many..
let use know if hhe is good in ur game
Hi guys, great blog vitaliy, kudos to you and your efforts... i have one question though... when you apply the facepack, do you need to restart a new game or is it applicable to my currently saved game? also im playing it with steam... is the facepack still useable? i just wanna get this straight cause downloading 2.smth gb is gonna take sometime and i don't wanna be disappointed... =D
I have better start than you 1st in league with 2 draw's Lostin LC Semi-Final from MAN UTD and im doing well in other leagues . And just sold Jarmaine Beckford and trying to get Albanian STAR HAMDI SALIHI and
experienced Forward Dadid Di Michele.
WISH ME LUCK ! GL to you Vitality !
Good work on this website Vitaliy..ive been a follower for years keep it up!
Well, i would just like to say this...
You have inspired me to get rid of playing the big clubs and play it all in the lower teams where te competition is the hardest.
Psst, just got my FM10 not long ago, so am looking forward to my experience with it.
And i know im only a beginner, but i feel that, well, you are a FM Legend. Truely Inspiring. Really.
Hi every one i just tried down loading the patch and it said it does not recognise the file type does any one know wat i need to open it with?
Anonymous, I had a problem when downloading the patch too.
The problem is, that your download has stopped without having pulled the entire patch down. You'll have to try again. Hopefully the download will resume when you do try to download again. I had to make 3 attempts before the entire file downloaded.
For those who exp problems over d/load vitaliy direct link of facepack can always use flashget or similar d/load manager. Just copy the link and place into flashget new task. Then u will not suffer d/loading halfway n being cut-out n re-d/load again.
By the way, using this facepack will make all my logos pack as well as my jersey disappear!! Anyone facing same problems? If I remove the facepack, things will getting back to normal. Kindly share if there is any method to resolve this.
Just finish my first season wif leeds of coz, get promoted. Leeds r just too strong to play in CC L1. But playing in next level is another story. Most of the exisitng seasoned free trf players r longer can take up the job. Aiming sign-up some expiring players might b good n gv u surprises. To name of few, vaughan n weiss is value promising players.
robertson n bauben r cheap yet good anchored midfield. Robertson stats r really average on everything but good in work rate. Good replacement for Doyle n most important, cheaper wage bills.
hi
In the middle of first season try to offer contract to boseli and oldoni, their contracts are expiring.
SherrifFromIsraelFan,
I didn't understand what you want me to cut out on screenshots. Please, explain once more
StokeCityMan,
I would download the facepack even the whole month if it's needed. It's really worth downloading independent of time!
Southampton man,
I have already played against Saints.
2:0 home victory :) Goals were scored by Yarmolenko and Howson.
You will see info about this game in the next post :)
Anonymous,
I am sure Milevskiy is impossible to be signed for Leeds in the first 3 seasons :)
Anonymous,
I add fade effect for the screens by means of Windows Live Writer.
Guys,
regarding long penalty shot outs... It seems it's a bug in the game. Probably it will be fixed in the next patch!
Joe,
be patient. I will prepare post describing tactics closer to the end of my first season
Anonymous,
you can download facepack without any hesitations. You don't need to restart your game. Just follow instructions in the end of my facepack post
LoneWolf,
thanks!
Inspiration is a really good thing! Hope you'll stay inspired as long as possible
hmmm I don't seem to have that long penalty shoot out bug- 3-0 on penaltys!
I worked with blyth signed Wesley Ngo Baheng. First seanson the team scored 80 conceded 37
I have one question. After 5 seasons with Newcastle England offered me job. I accepted it but still I was not their manager. They offer me England job almost every month and it does not matter if I accept or reject it they still continiue to offer me manager position. Is this a bug or what? Please reply.
some facing problems over countless reappointmnet u as country manager though u accepted or rejected it again n again, heard is a bug, will b fix by next patch. So far i manage nigeria, just by one click n settled, n oso dun hv crazy penalty shootout...
Hello Vitaliy Mokosiy, i read about your career with Leeds United. I also started with Leeds United, won Pint's Trophy, won Championship League 1. That was my 1st season. Jermaine Beckford is good striker, but trust me in 2nd season he is even better! I bought Kikin Fonseca for 875.000 €, he is amazing scored 46 goals in 58 matches in all competitions, but in league he scored 34 goals. In second season he scored 33 goals and Beckford scored 32 goals. That means i have best attack in England probably. Main problem of Leeds United is defence!. In first season i loaned GK from Wolves, i forgot name he is Nigerian, also on free transfer i snapped up Pierre-Doumbe DR/DL full back, good for 1st season, but in 2nd i sold him to Watford for 600.000 €. In 2nd season i got Kily Gonzales on free transfer! He is good not scoring mutch but his expirience can be good. Also i snapped up on free transfer Cosmin Contra, i loaned Baxter from Everton (striker), bought Kazim Kazim Richard from Fenerbahce --- a must have winger! I bought Andy Webster DC from Rangers, wonderfull DC. And most important signing was Olivier Sorin GK from AJ Auxerre! He was top GK in Championship. I managed to finish 4th and through play off i am promoted to Premiership. Just finished 2nd season. Beckford and Kikin Fonseca they have both Premiership potential, even their attributes are not so good. Now i need again new defence, i had problems with Liegh Bromby and Andy Webster, they have some concentration problems, also Ben Parker DL. I will seel them and get good DC's and also DR/DL. Kily Gonzales is going on free transfer and Cosmin Contra. Also who is good for 2nd season is Vladimir Weiss from Manchester City. I am affiliate club with them, they sent him to us. I hope for an survival in Premiership. If you need to live up expectation's in Championship you need really good attack! I scored 97 goals in Championship - 2nd season. 1st season scored 101 goals! Also in 1st season try to sign MR from Aberdeen, i forgot name also, has 18 years, trust me very good MR! Good luck with Leeds and let me know when you finish season :)
I thought norwich were supposed to be challenging for the league and how come sandrinho isn't actually in the first team
SloveniaWCchampions,
it's a known bug that should be fixed in the next patch
Anonymous,
Sandrinho is in the first team. The screenshots were made at the moment when I rotated the squad. I may see that Sandrinho played 15 matches having high rating
sorry but can anyone help on the image issue? i get options set right according to the instructions but still...
I accepted an country's offer but still I was not their manager. They offer me the job almost every month and it does not matter if I accept or reject it they still continiue to offer me manager position. Is this a bug or what?
hey a squirrel could get leads up!!! Nice tactics though