FM guide about the best way to develop a young player labelled as wonderkid in Football Manager. FM guide on player development.
In this blog I will share with your what I think is most important when developing a young player labelled as wonderkid in Football Manager. We all know that first feeling when you have acquired a very talented youngster at your youth trials day.
Football Manager 19 Wonderkids
When we first see the email from our Assistant Manager telling us about the upcoming match, we straight away look at the recommended player.
FM19 Wonderkids - Golden Boy Shortlist
There is excitement and uncertainty as to whether what the potential of the player could be as it sets out the standard for the rest of the players.
If the player has amazing potential, then we know there could be other players in that candidate team that also has good potential.
However, if the recommended player’s potential isn’t that great, then we know we’re in for a great disappointment with the rest of the candidate team.
Over the last six years of playing Football Manager, I have yet to have had a “Class of ‘92” example which is frustrating as a core of home-grown players is very special.
A youth player’s development is critical and in this blog, I will give you advice on how to maximise a youth players potential in football manager.
Identify player’s best position
Having a versatile player is great especially economically, but it can lead to a player never being to play at their full potential.
When you first see a player’s report card look at their natural position and immediately assign them to train in that position.
While choosing their best position, identify what their best role in that specific position, e.g., Winger ( Support ) for Attacking Midfielder ( Left ).
This will mean from as young as 15/16 years old they are already improving the right attributes for that role and position.
After you have done this, the most important attributes for that role will be selected standing out from the others.
Here you must look at which is the player’s weakest attribute and assign him to focus on that on the training ground individually.
Depending on the player’s hidden attributes in Football Manager, the player will develop at a certain rate.
Assign a tutor to the wonderkid
The next thing on your ‘to-do-list’ is to assign a tutor to that player. If you are not sure who would be the perfect tutor, click on “Tutoring” under the “Development” tab and there will be suggestions on who should tutor that player.
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| FM will suggest appropriate tutor for your youth player. |
When considering a tutor, it is essential that the player must have a higher determination that of the youth player.
This is because it will mean the youth player will follow in suit of that player’s determination, e.g. higher determination means an increase in determination and then vice-versa.
Another important thing you must consider when selecting a tutor is the players’ personality.
Just like in the real world, if the two players’ personalities conflict then the tutoring scheme will be a waste of time as neither player will benefit and will decrease their morale.
Bring your wonderkid to the next level
Depending on how good the youth player is, you must try and play them at a higher level than they currently play.
This could be promoting them from the U18’s squad to the U’21’s team, so then they would be playing a better standard of football.
After this, I always go by a rule that a player must not be loaned out until he is at least 18.
This is because the club has a better standard of facilities so the player at that age will improve most at their parent club.
So when the player is 18 or 18 that season coming, I will try to loan that player out unless he is already good enough to play for the first team.
When loaning a player out, I always want them to join a club and be at least a “first-team player”, so they get as much game time as possible.
Also you want to consider the level to which they are playing at and the system they will play in at the loan club.
If the player is too good to go out on loan, then start to bring him on as a sub and give him 90 minutes in cup competitions or easier games.
This will aid their development and give them a strong path to becoming an elite-player for your side.
Conclusion on developing wonderkids in Football Manager
Do not rush a player’s development as we all know players develop at different rates and speeds so be patient and make sure they get as much training and play time as possible.
Thank you very much for reading my blog, and I hope to hear any feedback from you.
