FM26, better late than never?
The above is such a well used cliché. Is it better that we got the game when we did as opposed to not at all? The jury is very much out on that one.
It would be almost impossible to launch into my new FM save without first giving my 2 cents about the new game. When I first loaded it up, the title of this blog post was my immediate reaction. I don’t want to labour too much as every VFMer and their dog have given their reaction videos on their YouTube Channels (and their dogs’ YouTube channels). To summarise, there have been 3 things over the last few months that have really made me acknowledge the pace at which I am aging: my eldest child starting secondary school, my youngest child starting primary school and this new FM UI.
I will grow to tolerate it, maybe even love it, but from the off there’s a lot I just don’t like initially. I’m not sure how better to describe it other than to say that everything feels very “busy”. There’s a lot going on: menus, drop menus, pop out applets. There’s just so much information presented that I’m not sure whether I’m loading up a game for fun or compiling reams of complex data to present to my boss at work. FM is fast becoming what is commonly known as a “busman’s holiday”.
I’m now 34 years old with 3 children and a fairly demanding job. Maybe it’s not the game. Maybe it’s me. Maybe FM just isn’t built for people like me anymore. My ideal Friday Night is loading up my latest save game and having a few beers while talking to a few likeminded FMers. I’m honestly not sure my mind could cope with trying to work out what screen to go to next after even just a tin of Harp - the golden nectar of Ulster.
Regardless, I am happy to have a new FM in my life. I’ll try to assimilate as best I can. Maybe before 2025 dawns on us, I will be waxing lyrical about how SI have done it again. Either that or FM26 will be uninstalled and I’ll be spending my Friday nights down t’local Social Club having Ale and chatting with t’other clientele.
Chapman’s Heaven
Time for your Wikipedia history lesson. The name København (or Copenhagen to the English tongue) translates, through various progressions, back to Chapman’s Heaven in English. A translation (of various translations) derives the name from the term Køpmannæhafn meaning “merchant’s harbour” or “buyers haven”. Copenhagen (from herein because I can’t be bothered with the funny ‘o’) has been a great exporter of many delights: Danish pastries, Carlsberg and of course the works of fish-woman Fantasist: Hans Christian Andersen (not born in Copenhagen but having lived there from his teen years).
Copenhagen has also had its impact on the footballing world. John Dahl Tomasson, Dennis Rommedahl adn the great Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg having come from the great Viking Stronghold.
Starting a new save with Copenhagen continues a transition I started in FM24 - taking over at a club that has an immediate expectation of success. I took a lot of time to think about where to go in FM26… I had a spare year, didn’t I? FCK were an attractive option - well set in terms of facilities and a starting squad that included a lot of players that I felt would create a good long term save.
A Good Launching Pad
Copenhagen were the 2024/25 Danish Superliga and Danish Cup winners, this is a high platform to start from with just a few qualifying rounds separating the club from Champions League proper football.
My cliché at this stage is to talk about the spine of the team. In goals, new signing Dominik Kotarski is a solid shot stopper, if a little gung-ho in rushing out. Brazillian Gabriel Pereira is what you expect in a modern centre-back being solid defensively while also confident in bringing the ball out and a competent passer of the ball. Thomas Delaney, back at the club he started with, is the link from the defence to the midfield and beyond. Another new signing, Yousouffa Moukoko is a player who will surely outgrow the club very quickly - but initially my hopes will be pinned on the young German to lead the scoring charts.
There’s plenty to look at in depth of the squad - even beyond the first team. Copenhagen is recognised as a well established Youth Academy, Oliver Hojer is a highly rated midfielder who is the son of another former Copenhagen player turned staff member. Daramy is a name many FMers will be familiar - Abdul Daramy is the younger brother of Mo Daramy and appears to be stocked with a similar level of potential. Viktor Bjarki Dadason has been making waves in the Champions League this season - the Icelandic 17-year-old with 2 goals in his 3 European Appearances this year so far.
One element of the squad that really interests me is the amount of relatively high profile Scandinavian/Nordic Nation players. Players like the aforementioned Delaney along with Jordan Larsson (son of Henrik), Mohamed Elyounoussi, Viktor Claesson and Andreas Cornelius. I won’t make it a specific objective but it would be nice to be able to bring more Scandi-Nordic players of a similar stature to Copenhagen as the seasons go by. I’ve already mentioned Hojbjerg, haven’t I…?
Aims and Objectives
So what do I actually hope to achieve in this save?
Every FM save starts out the same for me - just try not to get sacked.
Beyond that, we should probably expect to win the league most seasons and at least be challenging intently where we don’t.
A few domestic cup wins would be a minimum and to be competitive in European Football - aiming to progress beyond the group phase of the Champions League within the first 3-4 seasons.
Outside of competitions focus, I hope to get to grips with the new UI, learn how the match engine and tactical elements work. Develop young players and see them integrate into the first team or move onto much greater things.
I think these are all quite manageable ad realistic aims. For now.