Wonderkids Anonymous
Part 8 | Ingolstadt 04 | FM23 Hardcore Mode
Surviving
In retrospect, the Saarbrücken game was a success.
No, we didn’t score. However, we did put up an offensive threat. We were also able to combat their high-octane, high-flying offensive attack.
Unlike the Dortmund II game, this 0-0 draw felt like a small victory. It was especially nice not to be destroyed despite the fact that we had two players make their debuts.
Fabián Luzzi, he of the dreamy name, is apparently the youngest player in FC Ingolstadt 04 history. He did well, in my opinion. I think we have something here, provided that we can learn how to set up opportunities for him.
Robert Deising was there once again, showing me the match stats and charts. Luzzi was isolated from the other players, a problem that we’ve had all season long. The back of the rotation can find each other with passes, but nobody seems to know how to push the ball forward.
However, we absolutely were able to neutralize the Saarbrücken attack. I consider that quite a feat against a team that is near the top of the league table. Focusing our efforts on closing down Rizzuto was the key. Even though we didn’t win, we came out of it looking like the better side.
I’m optimistic for the future again.
My Problem
I’m afraid that I’m addicted.
No, no, I’m not back on Football Manager again, not like I was in the old days. The days of playing for 8 to 10 hours a day while pretending to be in work meetings are long gone. Why play it when you can live it?
My problem is youth players. I can’t stop signing them, and I just can’t bring myself to play with the older guys instead.
It always happened to me while playing on the computer. No matter which team I chose, I always found myself wanting to pass up on the experienced players in favor of the youth.
I think I’ve got a good excuse for acting that way around these parts, of course. Everybody was surly and upset when I came on board a few months back. It’s natural to let the players who want to leave go elsewhere and find replacements for them.
But it just doesn’t end.
I ran to Sebastian Knosp, our head scout, and asked him if he had any left wingers in mind. All he said was “Kabadayi,” and I knew right away who he meant.
Yusuf Kabadayi is a top player on FC Bayern’s II squad. We’ve been looking at him for a few weeks now. He’s expensive, but I think he’s worth it. He just might be the piece of the puzzle that we’re looking for.
And, well, I did something that only an addict would do. I sort of “paid” for him on credit — using future installments.
As if that’s not bad enough, we’re trying to do the same thing now with his former teammate, Aleksandar Pavlovic - who I see as a potential replacement for Schröck next season.
Perhaps there’s a “wonderkids anonymous” meeting I can find somewhere.
Rot-Weiss Essen
We’ve got the first real big test of the season coming up. We’re playing on the road against Rot-Weiss Essen, a team that is playing absolutely superbly.
We need to score goals, and we need to score them soon. I know that the boys have it in them. They just need to take a few more risks and we’ll be there.
I spent a bit of my preparation time reading the latest from Cleon Hobson about attacking. No, we’re not going to do a crazy 3-at-the-back formation with attacking wingbacks in a defensive position like he does. We’ll stick with the 4-3-3 and the vertical tiki-taka, thank you very much. The last thing I want to do is confuse these boys any further.
However, Hobson does make some excellent points. We’ve got the possession down. We now need to make sure we’re winning the ball in midfield, we are moving the ball forward, we are using our width on the wings appropriately, and that we’re setting up our striker for success.
I think we can do it with this setup. We just need to have better cohesion.
We also need to pay attention to our pre-match scouting. The dangermen are Felix Götze, who I remember from my days playing with Augsburg on FM, and Clemens Fandrich. If we can shut them down, I think we have a chance.
Maybe tomorrow is the day our season turns around.