A FIFA 20 CAREER MODE WITH FC ST. PAULI - PT. 1

A FIFA 20 CAREER MODE 

My 'Semi'-Realistic Venture with FC St. Pauli

So, with the lack of football being played globally (with a few odd exceptions, of which none are anywhere near as fulfilling as the 2. Bundesliga) I decided to bring out my inner-nerd by starting a 'career mode' with my beloved St. Pauli. Desperately scrawling through my wardrobe to find my full 'Under Armour' tracksuit, I flicked the kettle on and scoured the house for my match day slippers.

I wanted to overhaul St. Pauli with my favourite 3-5-2 formation, which could also be quickly adapted to form a 5-3-2, when called upon. The 5-3-2 option would be deployed when trying to hold onto a tight lead, or allowing more aggressive teams to push, then allowing for a quick counter-attack. Essentially, the only change between the two would be the wide players sitting deeper to form a makeshift pair of wing-backs.

Here's how I intended my standard starting XI to setup...

Having identified the players I'd be relying on, plus a handful of tidy additions on the bench and forming the reserves, I found a selection of players who could move on with their careers or benefit from a loan spell...

Marc Hornschuh (TRANSFER LISTED) - to Beijing Guoan for €430k

Park Yi-Young (LOAN LISTED) - to Preston North End for 1 year

Jakub Bednarczyk (LOAN LISTED) - No Takers!

Daniel Buballa (OFFER MADE & SOLD) - to West Bromwich Albion for €1m

My targets set by the board, for my first season in charge of St. Pauli were fairly tame. I was expected to fulfil a 'mid-table finish', whilst also reaching the 'round of 32' in the DFB-Pokal. I am hoping to do better than that, by aiming to push for a top 5 finish in the 2. Bundesliga, whilst at least going the one round further in the cup.

So, it was time to play some matches. In order to keep things realistic and interesting I decided to 'simulate' every other match, meaning the result was completely out of my control, bar the team selection coming into the game. Here are my first 6 results...

League games have been highlighted in orange, cup games in green

ARMINIA BIELEFELD 0 - 2 FCSP (Gyokeres, Veerman)

*sim* FCSP (Veerman) 1- 2 GREUTHER FURTH

DYNAMO DRESDEN 2 - 3 FCSP (Buchtmann, Knoll, Becker)

*sim* STUTTGART 3 - 0 FCSP

FCSP (Gyokeres) 1 - 0 HOLSTEIN KIEL

*sim* DYNAMO DRESDEN 1 - 0 FCSP

EVERY GAME I 'SIMULATED', I LOST...

Transfer deadline day arrived and I was yet to replace those who I had lost, but couldn't really identify where I could strengthen. My only concern was the lack of a true play-maker who could feed the ball in all directions in the final third. After hours spent scanning the market for the right player, I wasn't able to find the addition I was looking for, within my budget. In order to please the fans and not leave the window empty-handed, the search for a back-up striker was still an option. I moved in for an attacking player with plenty of pace, to contrast my existing options...

Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (PURCHASED FROM WEHEN WEISSBADEN - approx €1m)

*can play as a ST or RM*

Whilst the negotiations for Kyereh were coming to an end I was told that in a last-ditch attempt to bolster their squad, a price was being thrown at me for one of my central defenders...

Phillipp Ziereis (OFFER MADE & SOLD) - to Leeds United for €1.7m

Leeds United took Ziereis from me and I was one centre-back down. Ziereis was only a reserve player at that point, lacking in play time and confidence. I was happy to receive that fee for him as he was unlikely to be used unless serious injury occurred to one of my predominant back three. The window closed and no further transactions were made. I had made a good profit, from players who I couldn't really see having much game time for the remainder of the season. A tasty sum made, with a sensible addition to the attack.

The next fixture in the season is one of the most anticipated in the calendar - the stadtderby, at home. Luckily, I don't have to 'simulate' this one...

*TO BE CONTINUED*