Week 1 Press Conference

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?
2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?
3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?
4. What are your expectations for the coming season?
5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?
6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?
7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?
8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?
Very happy. I know my players a lot better than most other managers will know theirs, although whether that will help me or not I've no idea.

2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?
Winning hopefully! Seeing as I was winless last season while looking for a formation that works, I think I've found one that will be good, but I need to see how it does as I do have a backup plan.

3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?
Quite a few, I feel that as there are players rated in the 60's and there's a 70 cap, no reason to do wholesale changes. Plan would be, slowly but surely, to replace the lower rated players with those nearer 70, with the guys in the 60's becoming backup. Not getting ahead of myself with regards Season 2 and beyond with the higher ratings cap.

4. What are your expectations for the coming season?
After last season's shambles, to win a game would be a good target I'm hoping I can get a good start and push to be at least top half. Top 7 would represent an unofficial Playoff berth, so a good thing to aim for.

5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?
The big hitters financially, which look like being MK Dons and Lincoln, I also think Colchester will do well.

6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?
It's become Cambridge and Dolph, seeing as he edited my page, and it's the new Royal derby with Wills and Kate being Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Harry and Meghan being Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Quite how we can try to be so upper class in a league with Grimsby and Macclesfield I don't know, but still.

7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?
Hoping Jamal Lowe, one of the higher rated players based on the Fifa rating cap, very cheap due to being at Portsmouth IRL (only £68k on TM) and lots of potential growth according to FUTWIZ, so hopefully he will be the one who makes an impact for me. Also big fan of Kyle McFadzean, ex Crawley, doing well at Burton Albion IRL, shores up the defence and also has the nostalgic tie in with being part of the Conference winning side that ended up pushing Man U to the limit in the FA Cup that season.

8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?
Probably Hudson-Odoi, there's a reason so many managers went for him, although I didn't even consider him

1. Very, they're my home town club and I watch them most weekends. They're also the worst club in the league with the least amount of cash that can be generated so it's a real challenge which I'm relishing.
2. I'm always a fan of a pacy attack, how that works with League 2 players and FIFA19 which is supposedly anti pace abuse remains to be seen.
3. Not many tbh, the ones I do like in RL have been given pretty poor Fifa ratings and there's no room for sentiment. Ponticelli who's in loan from Coventry has a fair few plaudits so may keep him and Ben Stephens is another to watch.
4. Low. This season is all about laying foundations down for future success, investment and growth. Finding those nuggets to get maximum value out of.
5. Purely based on the value of the clubs then MK Dons, Lincoln and Mansfield have to be up there. Be interesting to see how the Ja boys do but I think it's a great league in which anyone can flourish as there's no bias for voting etc involved.
6. Has to be Afro, we've tussled for a few titles over the years. Twist though with his hex over me the last two seasons is quickly becoming a thorn in my side.
7. Only got the one in so far but happy to get him despite him costing nearly 1m. Got a lot of plaudits in RL and hoping he shows it for me on the pitch.
8. Really keen to see how Chong does for Trebs, think he did really well to get him in without any rivals for his signature.

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?

Delighted to manage the greenest football club in the world! I also like their kit and looking forward to transforming them into a mean, green footballing machine.

2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?

Attack, attack, attack! Failing that it will be all about finding the right balance, especially in the first few games. Playing exciting attacking football with plenty of goals will suit me just fine.

3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?

Ruben Reid looks as though he will be a decent option up top and one I'll likely keep for the time being.

4. What are your expectations for the coming season?

I'll be happy with a top half finish. This season will all be about trial and error in terms of formations and tactics. Hopefully we'll be a lot stronger over the second half of the season once we have perfected a winning formula.

5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?

Hard to tell however you would expect those starting with the better teams and highest squad values to do well. On that basis you'd have to expect the likes of MK Dons and Lincoln to be up there. Mansfield also look to have a decent starting squad and Rof always manages to put together a strong side.

6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?

Don't really have a rival however purely for bragging rights it would be nice to get one over the JA boys

7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?

I think Turpitz is very much under the radar and a player I'm expecting big things from

8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?

Haven't looked much at other teams however Kang-in Lee looks to be pretty special. Also Mayron George (who looks a beast) lined up before Ska nabbed him!

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?
It was a childhood dream of mine to one day become manager of Colchester United. As an Essex boy, there can be no higher calling and I am determined to take this team places they've never been before. Like Wembley. And Azerbaijan.

2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?
As long as my team is winning, I don't care how we play. Having said that, I will be looking for a team that can play tight defensively and spring a surprise or two on the counter.

3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?
Places are there to be won - and who is to say the players at the club aren't capable of winning the league? Obviously I'll supplement them with my own signings, but I can see several promising young players who will be there come the end of the season.

4. What are your expectations for the coming season?
To do the city of Colchester proud. Results matter not - pride does. And we will make our fans proud of this team.

5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?
I believe that the teams in this league are so competitive, it's simply too early to tell who may stake a claim on the title. There are several rookie managers this season and they may surprise the experienced coaches tactically. It should be a good season.

6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?
The only manager I am jealous of is Olly. And not because he just won his first ever league title, and went unbeaten all season - but because he has more fingers than me, and that's a useful talent to have.

7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?
I can see Eddie Nketiah and Takefusa Kubo scoring some goals, but for me, Giulio Maggiore is the player to watch. He reminds me of a young Lenny Henry Andrea Pirlo, and I can't wait to see him strap on his pads.

8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?
Jordan Bowery at Crewe. I expect him to be leading the scoring charts this season.

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?

I'd rather have Ebbsfleet but that isn't going to happen anytime soon. I will do Chelt-en-ham well I hope

2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?

Really don't know. I think the first few weeks will just be about getting to grips with the new tactics and then seeing how individual players perform.

3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?

Madox. Cheltenham loaned in a few good players so he is one I am going to keep, but probably not play as much

4. What are your expectations for the coming season?

Top half. I have a habit of doing well with lesser teams and a league winning season and coming 4th in the second should not be sniffed at.

5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?

Lincoln, Macclesfield and Crawley. Lincoln because of their budget and the other two because I think secretly their managers REALLY REALLY REALLY want them to do well.

6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?

Hero. Simply because I love fecking him over in these leagues

7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?

Kaj Sierhuis. I think having a good striker is everything and I hope his stats get me a lot of goals.

8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?

This Hudson-Odoi bloke. I expect him to be bartered a lot in domestics this season.

1.
It’s a great aptly named club for men, it’s a mans game on the field.
2.
We’d love to play silky samba football with pace and width going forward with an attacking side. But have no idea how to make that work.
3.
Not if we can help it. But we got overly excited and blew our load on the draft, so sometimes you’ve got to take what you can get.
4.
We’re aiming for the top third of the table, this fifa tactics malarkey will take getting used to so we’ll try build a team to challenge for next seasons title.
5.
MK Dons seem the early favourites, then I’d imagine the seasoned Fifa pros will be up there.
6.
Knowing the ja lot it’ll be them to start with but there’s plenty of time.
7.
Hudson-Odoi was my main target, and happy to get him as seems he was a target for a lot of people. Although he’s largely potential he’s got good stats for this season too.
8.
I’ve not heard of half of the players signed. I’ve overlooked the stats for the big stat on the front of the tin. Kangin Lee was on my radar as a top young player and being 70 rated I’d have to say him.

1. I couldn't be happier. The only slight regret is perhaps I'd have liked Crewe, because I took them on FIFA 18 in my manager mode last year.

2. In the past, my style has been criticized for being overly defensive. People can talk but I'll play as attacking or as defensive as I see fit. The fact is that I'm the best tactician in this league and as long as it translates to FIFA I'll walk it. If not, then it's a stupid format anyway.

3. There's a few yes. But FIFA don't scout League Two very well, some of the ratings are a joke. I do my scouting properly and several articles have slated EA for the ratings the Exeter players have, with ratings being more legacy based and not a reflection of the last season or two. But that's beside the point - everyone has to deal with sketchy player ratings.
Having said that, every player is expendable and I'd be astonished if anyone rejects a lawyer's offer on any of their starting squad.

4. My expectation is to win the league. We need to introduce some proper targets, like top four and such, which may become my target as the season develops. But initially as we go into the season, if the target isn't to win the league, then what's the point? Everyone starts on zero.

5. I can't really answer this question easily as I've not got much of a knowledge of ability levels using FIFA tactics.
Olly seems likely to be up there, I've always felt he's an underrated manager. Nadz will do well with Crewe and he's a very important manager in this league.
There's a fair few unknown quantities though.

6. There's some managers in this league who are fake. They know who they are. In terms of a friendly rivalry, I've always enjoyed playing Afro, Nadz and also it's nice to see Azzy back in the league. Azzy has an ego almost as big as mine so our game will end tears whichever team wins it. And that's the way it should be.

7. I'm pretty surprised that nobody else wanted Chong, so of the two confirmed at the time of writing, I'll say him. Still regretting that I didn't sign Macheda though.

8. Eddie Nketiah and McFadzean are both good buys. But I'll go for the one which I was outbid on - Phakamani Mahlambi looks a real prospect. I think he'll be the next Tshabalala.

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?

I know very little of League 2, so any club would have been ok - I'm happy enough with Lincoln as I think with the strong player values there's a decent chance of a favourable lawyer every week

2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?

I'm usually a 4-3-3 disciple, but I'm willing to be a bit more flexible this year to play to the strengths of a League 2 team ..

3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?

Most likely everyone other than Bruno Andrade would be accepted on a lawyer offer or released (64 rated for £0 isn't bad!)

4. What are your expectations for the coming season?

I'm aiming for the title. I have tended to be top half with solid teams without much attacking spark, so with a little more focus on the attack I hope to build on that

5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?

The League 2 knowledge will help Marky and Hero, I think the early gems that are brought in could be crucial too. The Ja lads are a bit of an unknown quantity too, could be surprise packages

6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?

I'm everyone's friend, but that 6 fingered kid needs taking down

7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?

I tried to sign a budget version of Kante, he's injured this week but I'd like to see him tearing up midfields early on this season

8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?

I don't know much about many of the other signings tbh. Afro has gone for some strongly rated players so I'll go for one of them

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?
I’m very happy to be at YOUR LOCAL SPORTS TEAM and intend to make sure THIS CITY is proud of the team. I’m delighted the fans of YOUR LOCAL SPORTS TEAM will be roaring us on from HOME STADIUM NAME.

2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?
The season has not started yet and I don’t know when it does. When I find that out, I will inevitably play a style of football that some might call robotic, but it will be down to the team to make it all seem like a video game.

3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?
There are. Logically, it would be tough not to. I think that CROWD FAVOURITE will be vital to our goals, whilst UP AND COMING YOUNG PLAYER has shown potential to make a real impact. CLUB CAPTAIN is a vital link for me between the manager’s office and the team.

4. What are your expectations for the coming season?
I expect STADIUM NAME will be rocking for us. We will play games. There is no relegation, which is nice.

5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?
Lincoln and MK Dons should both see anything but a title win as a failure considering their squads and inevitable budgets. They are problematic in this league and will be what causes its ruin. Mansfield also have a chance as I’m sure no one knows where it is without checking google maps.

6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?
I consider mortality my biggest enemy and intend to defy its continuous desires to grasp towards me, reaching out, a lingering cold hand that ceases to abate. This will be where glory lies, by living to see a season beyond.

7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?
Cantwell tell you that, can I?

8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?
There’s no such thing as an innocent Bonk these days, according to the bloody women, eh? Satire, that. Absolutely priceless. You’ll get that vibe from me this season, a bit chilled out, relaxed, some good jokes. I’ll entertain, natch. Take it easy, guys. And mine’s a lager, Estrella if you’ve got it.

Now that is worth £100k

I know where mansfield is, I've got a lot of mates there.

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?

The club is very happy to have me as manager. I am taking the Real Wimbledon back to their glory days.

2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?

My preferred style of football is to win. I have a specific tactic in mind, but I shall keep that schtum.

3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?

Yes. All of the good ones who perform shall stay, and all of the underperforming players shall leave. It's not complicated.

4. What are your expectations for the coming season?

To win. To go undefeated. To retain my crown and continue to dominating these leagues.

5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?

I expect Lincoln, Crawley and Bury to competing for 2nd place behind me.

6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?

Everyone is a rival. I want to win every game. This is professional football management, if you don't want to win then get out of the kitchen son.

7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?

All of them. I wouldn't have brought them otherwise. Henry and Carey instantly form the best wing pairing in the league, and Wilbrahimovic is a god.

8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?

Big John Akinde. Daddy.

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?
I'm indifferent tbh. I have absolutely no clue who any of my players are!
2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?
Will not tinker too much at the start but of things aren't going my way I will look to change things up.
3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?
No. I want to get rid of everyone that I don't know.
4. What are your expectations for the coming season?
Not finishing last is the main priority.
5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?
It must be the teams that started with high rated players already at the club imo.
6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?
As Sun Tzu once famously said "There may be rivalries formed in the future echelon, but never forget that the enemy of my enemy is also my friend"
7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?
Mackay Steven. Hopefully the 5 star skills gives him an edge against other players.
8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?
Not too sure tbh. Maybe kang in Lee or Hudson odoi.

Follow up:

1. How do you respond to one of your fellow manager's assertions that he knows where Mansfield is as he has friends there?

Colin, I can tell you now, this league will be full of gamesmanship like this. But let me make this clear, there is no person who is involved in this league and has been or is still involved in podcasting who has friends. Some of these people have only ever slept with family members and wild boars. No further questions, HOME STADIUM awaits

1 . Delighted to come up to Morecambe. I've always loved the seaside, sitting on the beach with an ice cream, having a paddle, building a sandcastle. I'm going to be in my element up here. I also love Eric Morecambe. The sketch with the Morecambe and Wise making breakfast is still a classic!

2 . Always attacking. I want to try and score as many goals as possible and entertain the people of the North West.

3. They all have a chance to impress, but I also see the club going places, so they are really going to have to play above their ratings to impress me and keep their spots.

4. Going to target the top spot again as always. I tend to build slowly and put better foundations in than most, so tend to start the first season slowly and then be competitive in the second season. Tne hope with a long season is that the fruit is borne earlier and I can still push for a season 1 title. Also the past has proved that it isn't all about player ratings, but you need to know how to use them. The big names have nothing to gain and everything to lose, and I can see them cracking under the pressure!

5. I think league knowledge and current player rating is being a little over played. The big teams should be up there, but they need to find a way to play quickly otherwise they will be playing catch-up, same as everyone else. I think the teams at the top will be the ones who are tactically sound, so I'm going for Cheltenham, Exeter and Lincoln

6. Hero and Trebs. We have built up a friendly rivalries having played each other so many times over the years, often at the top of the league. Geographically, it appears to be Carlisle, which is the first game up. Not sure whether that counts as a derby, but in the absence of Blackpool, Fleetwood or Accrington, it'll have to be!

7. I think with my style I am going to play, Felipe Campos bombing up and down the right hand side is going to be important. I need to find some balance and get someone similar on the left hand side, so watch this space. Also a clinical striker is going to be crucial. In theory, chances should be more plentiful than in the old Challenge League, so having players who can take those chances could be vital. That is why I targeted Carlos Peralta early and was pleased that no-one else snapped him up before me yesterday.

8. For the same reason as above, I think Sierhaus is a tremendous signing for Twist. I'll also be watching the performance of all the youngsters that have been signed closely. In FIFA 18, they tended to be the most inconsistent of all the players, and they also tired more quickly. Personally I think it is the wrong way to go if you want success in season 1, but I am ready to be proved wrong once again!!!

1. How happy are you to be the manager of your respective club?

This is the one job I wanted in this league. The one job that mattered. All others are inferior, in not irrelevant.

2. Do you have a preferred style of football that you’re looking for your team to play this season?

I don't care how we play, so long as the ball goes in the net and we get the win.

3. Are there any players already at the club that you’ll be looking to keep throughout the season?

Jermaine Beckford would be a welcome addition to any team. I think. I haven't looked at any of the other teams, so I have no idea how I match up.

4. What are your expectations for the coming season?

To win every single game. Anything less is an abject failure.

5. Which 3 teams do you expect to fighting it out for the title (excluding your own)?

I have no idea which teams are any good and which players are their dangermen. If I don't know anything about the other teams, I won't be setting up to counter their tactics, meaning that they can't counter my counter-tactics, ergo negating their tactics and giving us tactical superiority.

6. Who in the league do you consider your biggest rival, the person you always want to get a win over?

Everyone is my rival. I want to beat them all.

7. Which of your purchases so far do you think will have the most impact in the league?

All of them. I wouldn't have signed them if I didn't think they would all have the most impact.

8. And which player from another club will have the most impact?

I saw someone made an attempt to sign Antoine Griezmann. If they're successful, I imagine he'd be pretty good in this league.