How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?

**bad_philanthropy** · 01-13-2014, 09:40 PM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

I've worked my way up from Hartlepool in League 2, to two and a half years at Birmingham in the Championship, and now to a relegated Stoke side in the Championship.

What a change from Birmingham. I play on legendary, all manual, and the matches with Stoke are all pretty much laughers. I've spent three years in this CM struggling for every point, and now I am just steamrolling through the Championship. I'm really not sure how this Stoke side was all the way down in 9th when I arrived. We're certainly not playing an unattractive brand of football down in this league.

The depth and talent level are so far beyond what I had at Birmingham. With the exception of keeper, the side is pretty above class in all areas, but man is there some trimming to do. So far I've just done an appraisal of the side, but I'll be switching formations and tactics soon. Here is the massive roster I arrived to:

GK Butland (73)
RB Shotton (73)
CB Shawcross (80)
CB Cameron (74)
LB Muniesa (77)
RM Arnaurovic (78)
RCM Jucieli (77)
LCM N'Zonzi (78)
LM Kightly (73)
CAM Toivonen (77)
ST Modeste (77)

Subs

RB Wilkinson ((72)
CF Stoian (79)
CDM M. Edu (73)
CB Huth (74)
LB Pieters (73)
CAM Hubschman (74)
GK Bachmann (64)

Reserves

RB Kerr (63)
RM. Pennant (69)
CM. Ness (71)
RB Gomez-Nieto (62)
CM Richardon (69)
ST K. Rossi (67)
RM L Dawson (65)
CB S. Westley (56)
LB J. Campbell (60)
CB P. Rudnevs (55)
CDM M. Wilson (73)
CDM W. Palacios (69)
ST Horwood (61)
ST Thereau (71)
CF J. Walters (66)
CM C. Adam (73)
ST C. Jerome (74)

We had better damn well win the league with this squad. We even have 12 million Euros in the bank. Talk about going from the poor house to the ritz.

**Timeetyo** · 01-14-2014, 01:16 AM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

How do you guys handle depth and what do you aim to keep around for your team at each position? I have been rebuilding a league 2 team mostly through the youth academy and after a big class came out this season I'm struggling with how many to keep and how many to sell and re-invest into better scouts...especially with the lack of stamina on some of my young guys. Running a 442 diamond wide.

Trying to get a handle on:
1 - how many players do you keep at each position? (not counting those loaned out for growth).
2 - how do you distribute your playing time for those players? how do you rotate starting vs subs
3 - what is "enough" playing time to have reasonable progression for your backups? I know progression from loans isn't as good as playing them yourself, but how much playing time do they need to be worth keeping on your squad vs loaning.

So what I've found myself doing is the following:
- My strikers all have crap stamina. Every one of them. All told I have 2 that should be good, 2 that are passable for now but I hope to replace next year, and one ok sub. Due to their stamina I'm running essentially 2 lines (1&4, 2&3) that I rotate out each game. If after a long break I always run 1&4 as i'll definitely be keeping #1, not sold on all of the others. I keep #5 constantly on my sub list. The other 2 are on reserves and swap from reserves to starting. I do have another extra reserve, but he is just there in case of an injury I don't ever plan to play him if I can avoid it.
- My best CAM has crap stamina, my 2nd has great stamina, and I have a reserve with crap stamina. I always play my best CAM (my favorite player on the team) if he is rested but even then have to sub him most games. My 2nd usually gets the last 30 mins of each game and the full game if coming off of a short rest.
- My LM&RM I have 2 for each that are equivalent and I rotate each game (and also sub as well at times). Reserves only show up in emergency.
- My CDM is a beast who came in at 70 OVR at 17 with high stamina. He starts every game and is rarely subbed. I do keep a reserve CDM who also subs in other midfield slots as needed.
- My LB/CBx2/RB are all solid and all but 1 have good stamina. They play almost every game 100% assuming not on suspension. I keep 1 sub and 1 reserve.

I am afraid that I am spreading out my playing time too much at some of the midfield position and striker and that will hurt progression. On the other end I'm also afraid that as time goes by the gap between my starter and backups at CDM/CB/RB will be too high as I have hardly played my backups.

**doyce7** · 01-14-2014, 01:52 AM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Originally posted by Timeetyo

How do you guys handle depth and what do you aim to keep around for your team at each position? I have been rebuilding a league 2 team mostly through the youth academy and after a big class came out this season I'm struggling with how many to keep and how many to sell and re-invest into better scouts...especially with the lack of stamina on some of my young guys. Running a 442 diamond wide.

Trying to get a handle on:
1 - how many players do you keep at each position? (not counting those loaned out for growth).
2 - how do you distribute your playing time for those players? how do you rotate starting vs subs
3 - what is "enough" playing time to have reasonable progression for your backups? I know progression from loans isn't as good as playing them yourself, but how much playing time do they need to be worth keeping on your squad vs loaning.

So what I've found myself doing is the following:
- My strikers all have crap stamina. Every one of them. All told I have 2 that should be good, 2 that are passable for now but I hope to replace next year, and one ok sub. Due to their stamina I'm running essentially 2 lines (1&4, 2&3) that I rotate out each game. If after a long break I always run 1&4 as i'll definitely be keeping #1, not sold on all of the others. I keep #5 constantly on my sub list. The other 2 are on reserves and swap from reserves to starting. I do have another extra reserve, but he is just there in case of an injury I don't ever plan to play him if I can avoid it.
- My best CAM has crap stamina, my 2nd has great stamina, and I have a reserve with crap stamina. I always play my best CAM (my favorite player on the team) if he is rested but even then have to sub him most games. My 2nd usually gets the last 30 mins of each game and the full game if coming off of a short rest.
- My LM&RM I have 2 for each that are equivalent and I rotate each game (and also sub as well at times). Reserves only show up in emergency.
- My CDM is a beast who came in at 70 OVR at 17 with high stamina. He starts every game and is rarely subbed. I do keep a reserve CDM who also subs in other midfield slots as needed.
- My LB/CBx2/RB are all solid and all but 1 have good stamina. They play almost every game 100% assuming not on suspension. I keep 1 sub and 1 reserve.

I am afraid that I am spreading out my playing time too much at some of the midfield position and striker and that will hurt progression. On the other end I'm also afraid that as time goes by the gap between my starter and backups at CDM/CB/RB will be too high as I have hardly played my backups.

I think your handling it quite well actually. With that formation for me personally I usually try to have 3 rotating Strikers, a sub winger who can play on both sides and another who only plays every now and then. On my teams CAM is usually my best player so he plays alot and the second plays maybe 1 in 3/4 games. I like rotating my CDM constantly since I use this position as a box to box and they get tired. At the back I like having 3 first team quality CBs and the Fullbacks is kinda the same as wingers.

What I love having more than anything is guys that can player multiple places, it just helps in so many ways. I had a CM and this one guy couldnt start in any 1 spot but he played nearly every game cause he was my #3 Striker, #2 CAM, and #3 winger and he had great stamina(94 I think)

**Bendenyer** · 01-14-2014, 05:23 AM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Originally posted by indiblue

For those following my Nottingham Forest career, I've retired it. I won the treble after defeating Real Madrid in the 2017 Champions Cup final. Once the board gave me a good £75 million to spend the next season, I realised I was no longer interested.

Of course, I can't just stop playing altogether, so I toyed around with a few ideas -- turning Schalke or Bayer into the newest super-club, rebuilding Inter or Milan to end Juventus's dominance, a Benfica revival in Europe. I finally settled on two careers: the rebuild of a Milan club, and the task of out-winning Liverpool's five European titles with my club, Chelsea.

Not sure which I want to do first but leaning towards the Serie A just to have a different league and setting. Which would you guys be interested in seeing, and if you choose Serie A, which Milan club do you want to see restored to glory?

Really enjoyed following this career, top work. Personally, I'd love to see you rebuild one of the Milan sides. I'm swaying towards inter because I know they have some young talent already, however I do love ballotelli/montolivo/Honda etc..tough call keep us updated!

**eF 5ive** · 01-14-2014, 05:06 PM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Took my first L at home vs Newcastle. Couldn't see them in the snow. "Wtf, so many refs on the field. "

**TerpHamm** · 01-14-2014, 08:18 PM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

I have serious Career Mode OCD. I always think that I am going to stick with a Newcastle CM but I consistently get bored and quit. Just started one this morning with Wolves as I think it will be a fun build to get them back up to the PL. I will say that they are significantly better than anyone else in League 1 so this first season shouldn't be very difficult, but I'm hoping the players will grow.

**moose141** · 01-15-2014, 02:47 AM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Season 1, Episode 2: Premier League Play Begins

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CFe0_XQsXBo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

**Andyn86** · 01-15-2014, 03:52 AM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

So I'm playing as QPR in 4th season 2nd in championship league but the problem I'm running into is that I have jack Butland and he has not grown over the past few years at all is this normal for it to happen of it's the case then who should I get instead. Amos is my back up and he's grown 2. I tried to get Leali but he would not come any advice would be appreciated

**doyce7** · 01-15-2014, 04:17 AM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Originally posted by Andyn86

So I'm playing as QPR in 4th season 2nd in championship league but the problem I'm running into is that I have jack Butland and he has not grown over the past few years at all is this normal for it to happen of it's the case then who should I get instead. Amos is my back up and he's grown 2. I tried to get Leali but he would not come any advice would be appreciated

What are you looking to spend?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

**indiblue** · 01-15-2014, 05:14 AM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Cheers for all the top praise. I didn't realise the career was being followed as much!

I've decided to rebuild Inter because of three major reasons:

1. Their squad requires a near-total overhaul -- too many aging players and very few under 30 that I rate. Considering I've blocked the initial summer window, I'll need to wait until summer of 2015 to really have the team I want.

2. The kits are outstanding, especially their home and classic strips. On top of that, the San Siro is amazing if you make sure you avoid playing on sunny (horrible shadows).

3. They're the only team in Serie A who justifiably require transfer budgets in the region of €30 million. On top of that, they're one of the few in the league who can stop the dominance of Juventus. In every season of career mode I've played on FIFA 13 AND 14, Juventus have won Serie A by as little as a point or as many as 15. I'm sick of this, plus I abhor Juve in real life, though I'm not too fond of Inter -- but that was mostly Moratti who's gone into the background now Thohir is majority shareholder.

I've set myself the following limits, in addition to only making realistic signings:

1. I can make no more than one free transfer every season, and it can't be for world-class talent like Lewandowski or Hazard. This is a big part of why the Forest career became so boring so soon -- team-building was so easy that it was done long before it ought to have been. Furthermore, free signings must have a value/overall of less than €15 million/85.

2. I can only buy three non-EU players from foreign clubs each season, and each must replace a current non-EU player who must go to a foreign club. This is a real condition in Serie A, and I've decided to implement it in my own career. There is no limit on how many non-EU players I can buy from Italian clubs, or on how many foreign EU players I can buy from anyone.

3. No more than two contract extensions per season, including for players who want better pay. This will force me to continue buying new players and consider selling potential superstars, keeping the transfer side of the game fresh.

4. Any player who refuses a contract extension for any reason must be sold or exchanged in the next window, to a club from another country.

And so I began the first window, and my first task was to look at the squad and segregate them into three categories: unwanted, needed this season, and wanted for the long-term. Guys like Zanetti and the youth players fit into the first, guys like Guarin and Milito fit into the second, and guys like Kovacic and Alvarez fit into the third.

I've got €30 million in the bank, with an eventual view to bring 4-4-2 to the Serie A. Among the players I want to bring in this January are a box-to-box midfielder, a technical-strong pair of strikers, and a speedy winger. My shortlist is: Blaise Matuidi (France, PSG); Eder (Portugal, Braga); Alessio Cerci (Italy, Torino); and Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Basel). I'm also going to tie Ignazio Abate (RB, Italy, Milan) to a pre-contract agreement and get Serge Gnabry (RW, Germany, Arsenal) on loan with a deal to buy at the end of the season. High-earning players like Campagnaro, Chivu, Samuel, and others are the ones I'll try to offload in January in order to make some extra money.

But for this season, I've got to play a 4-2-3-1 to make the best of what I have.

GK Handanovic
RB Zanetti
RCB Ranocchia
LCB Juan Jesus
LB Nagatomo
RDM Kuzmanovic
LDM Cambiasso
RAM Guarin
CAM Kovacic
LAM Alvarez
ST Palacio

Bench: Carrizo, Campagnaro, Wallace, Taider, Jonathan, Pereira, Icardi

It's quite a disjointed team but one that can finish in the top five or six at any rate, though I expect Zanetti to be damaged goods by January. Hopefully, I can implement phase one of my 4-4-2 plan from summer 2014 onwards.

The first three friendlies were all resounding wins: Nantes 1-0, Granada 1-1, and Aston Villa 3-0. Palacio scored in all three to secure the starting striker's spot ahead of Milito, who I find to be absolute bobbins. In the next update, I'll have details of my first games: in the cup against Padua, and in the league against Genoa (might be Cagliari).
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**indiblue** · 01-15-2014, 12:57 PM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Update on Internazionale, season 1

I began the season with a pair of 1-0 wins against Padua in the Coppa Italia and Genoa in Serie A, both at home. This was followed by a 0-0 draw at Catania; goals were tough to come by in the early days when the team was still gelling.

After the September international break, I grabbed a 2-0 win at Sassuolo and a 3-1 home win against Fiorentina, my first major scalp. By now, the team had begun to click thanks to Cambiasso's brilliant passing. I drew at Cagliari, a boring 0-0 affair that reminded me just how bad Milito is.

Up next were league leaders Roma, who had a 100% record before I drubbed them 3-0 at the San Siro. Ricky Alvarez ran the show and picked up a brace for his efforts. Then, against Juventus at home, Palacio goals either side of a Pogba header gave me a 2-1 win over my most hated team in Serie A.

I now sit second in the league, with 17 points from seven games. Roma are a point ahead of me, and Lazio are two behind. Thanks to Palacio, Juventus are in a not-so-distant fifth with 14 points.

Thoughts on the team

Credit has to be given where it is due: Inter is not as bad as I thought they were. In fact, a few additions could even get me the title, but I may be jumping the gun. Then again, I don't have European games clogging up my fixture list. On the other hand, I have been playing mostly at home.

After the draw to Catania, I moved to the 4-4-1-1 Attack formation. Unfortunately, Kuzmanovic and Guarin got sprained knees in the game right before it, and I had to make the change. But now, I like this system so much that I'm sticking with it even though I have both players back.

I've set myself far more realistic goals than the board has asked of me. They want me to wualify for Champions Cup (top three), and I will be disappointed not to. But they only wish for me to reach the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia, and I want to make the final.

And so I have set a new goal for this career: to beat Milan's tally of seven European titles, which means I need to win five Champions Cups (Inter have three, Milan have seven). A minimum of three league titles in the same time is also a goal, with at least one treble. Let's make Inter as fearsome as they used to be.

**Andyn86** · 01-15-2014, 01:20 PM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Originally posted by doyce7

What are you looking to spend?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

Looking to spend 5million up to over 10 if I have to I'll even trade off some players but I need a goalie that will grow. Every time I use Butland he does not grow any idea why he isnt

**NJFIFAFreak** · 01-15-2014, 06:07 PM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Hey guys, Here is my Road to Glory career mode with Chesterfield FC, I will be uploading every single day around 3:00 PM EST, and double uploads on Saturday's and Sunday's be sure to let me know how I could improve this series, FIFA ON!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dlqiwzqdSoQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

**doyce7** · 01-15-2014, 07:27 PM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

Originally posted by Andyn86

Looking to spend 5million up to over 10 if I have to I'll even trade off some players but I need a goalie that will grow. Every time I use Butland he does not grow any idea why he isnt

I've never been able to grow Butland, no clue why. I've seen him grow with other people.

Ali Ahamada from Toulouse is good and young starts at 21YO

Fernando Muslera is for my money a top 5 GK in the game but he's older starting at 27.

Ter Stegen is really good, doesn't grow much but he doesn't need to. And he's young as well.

And lastly Leali is my favorite keeper on the game, he's just a monster once you get 5 or 6 years in. If there's any way to can end up getting him to sign, do it. Aside from him though Ahamada is probaly your best bet for getting the most bang for your buck.

<HR class=hr>

**eF 5ive** · 01-15-2014, 07:40 PM

Re: How's Your FIFA 14 Career Mode Going?

So I recruited this striker and went to play him. Dude is wearing pants. Is this normal? I always have to double take before passing to him.

How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?

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