While these steps won’t guarantee an unbeaten season, they will help you feel like you’re steering the ship with confidence.
Using PSG as an Example
During my recent save with Paris Saint-Germain, I realised how much I enjoyed the journey. Despite being a mega-rich club with vast resources, my enjoyment wasn’t solely due to the financial muscle. It was the structured way I approached the season—planning, strategising, and executing—that made the save so rewarding.
Here’s how you can do the same, no matter the team you’re managing.
Step 1: Assess Your Squad
Start every new save with a deep dive into your squad. Just as real-life clubs hold trials and evaluations during pre-season, your first task is to understand your players inside out.
- Review player attributes, strengths, and weaknesses.
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Include youth players in your assessment to understand their potential.
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Use the team report to identify your squad’s overall strengths and
weaknesses.
Pro Tip: In FM24, take advantage of the new Squad Planner tool to project how your players will perform over the next few seasons and highlight areas needing reinforcement.
Step 2: Stick to Your Philosophy
Your tactical philosophy is key. Whether you prefer high-tempo pressing, tiki-taka, or solid defensive football, tailor it to suit your players’ abilities.
For example, I prefer a 3-1-4-2 formation with short passing, high pressing, and a high defensive line. My key players excel in determination, work rate, and passing ability, making this style a natural fit. Your squad report will guide you here.
My FM24 Tactics
- Formation: 3-1-4-2
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Instructions: “Shorter Passing,” “Play Out of Defence,”
“Higher Defensive Line.”
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Midfield Roles: One Box-to-Box Midfielder, one Advanced
Playmaker, and one Ball-Winning Midfielder.
Adapt your tactics to reflect your philosophy, but always align them with your squad’s strengths.
Step 3: Fit Players into Your Tactics
This step is non-negotiable. Rather than changing your tactics to fit your players, build a team that complements your strategy. This approach ensures your system runs like a well-oiled machine.
- Players who don’t fit should be sold or loaned out.
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Use FM24’s Data Hub to track player performances and refine your
squad over time.
Pro Tip: Take advantage of FM24’s improved role familiarity feedback to ensure players perform their best in the roles you’ve assigned.
Step 4: Plan Your Season
Planning is the backbone of a successful save. As the saying goes, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”
My Planning Framework at PSG
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Squad Rotation: Assign roles like "First Team,"
"Rotation," and "Backup" to your players.
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Fixture Prioritisation: Decide who plays based on the
schedule. For example:
- Backup players start in domestic cup matches.
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Rotational players handle league matches before big Champions League
ties.
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First Team players play most Ligue 1 and Champions League fixtures.
- Backup players start in domestic cup matches.
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Dynamic Adjustments: Form, injuries, and suspensions will
demand flexibility, but sticking to a plan as much as possible ensures
consistency.
Use FM24’s new Match Preparation feature to plan training and tactical tweaks for key fixtures.
Step 5: Trust Your Instincts with Big Moves
Do not shy away from bold decisions. If a player fits your tactical system and you believe they’re a future star, make the signing—even if it’s a risk.
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Look for players with high potential, leveraging FM24’s updated scouting
reports.
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Ensure your big signing aligns with your philosophy and fills a key gap in
your squad.
Pro Tip: Use the new Agent Feedback system to assess player interest and improve your chances of landing your top targets.
Final Thoughts
These five steps won’t make every match a breeze, but they will set you up for a successful and enjoyable save in Football Manager 2024. Whether managing a mega-rich club like PSG or a struggling lower-league team, structure and preparation are your best tools for success.