Operation "Bringing AC Milan back to top"

[Mads-TheChamp]

Yesterday I was starting my first Master League with the DFL option file as setup, and with some implementation in Europe from other threads.

The difficulty is set as Superstar.

The ambition is to bring Milan back to the elite. A club with a lot of history and also rules in how to play, and sometimes doing irrational stuff.

The first "irrational" thing to do, was to bring the legend Kaka back to the squad. We were indeed low on people with some experience, and this is Kaka most important assignment in the club. To learn everyone how to win!
Otherwise the club has blocked all activities in the first window, because of the sale of the club to Chinese owners.

Tactics we are using is 4-3-1-2 with ball possession in games against weaker opponents. 4-3-2-1 against the better, with focus on the defensive work.

The season is started with a Super Cup against Juventus. A team there is clearly better than we are. We were standing defensively and trying the counter attack, all game. We were holding up until overtime were Gonzalo Higuain and Pjanic, got their best possible debut as Juventus players and destroyed os. 2-0.

First league game was against Bologna. We were struggling a lot. Against our tactics, Bologna was pressing high on the pitch. The lag on skills was obvious in terms of holding on the ball. At the break we were down 1-0. In the second half, we were still very bad playing, but in out of nowhere no one than Carlos Bacca was rescuing a point for us.

Milan is starting the season as expected.

This is a start on a potential ML story. Please let me know if it shall continue!

 

[Silver Surfer]

The ambition is to bring Milan back to the elite.

Yes I would be interested to see your progress, especially as i'm playing with Inter :laugh:

You've got some good young players to develop like Donnarumma, Romagnoli and Locatelli so it would be nice to see some screenshots of their stats in the future.

 

[Mads-TheChamp]

Kaka was getting a very low score after playing the last 20 minutes in Bologna. 4.5 was the score. He didn't live up to the expectations at all.

Next game was in Chievo. This should really be a victory if the dream of returning to the Champions League shall come true.

In a heavy raining match, we were a lot on the ball, but without becoming really dangerous. But Bacca did score out of nowhere in the second half, and I actually thought that this was home. Chievo did although score in out of nowhere as Zapata left his man on a cross from nowhere.

Just 5 minutes after Lapidula was saving us, with a lucky goal after a long ball from defence.

This was not a pretty victory, but a very important one.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Kaka was getting a very low score after playing the last 20 minutes in Bologna. 4.5 was the score. He didn't live up to the expectations at all.

I find that Kaka isn't very fast and will often get caught out if he's more than 40 yards from goal. He needs to play almost as a second striker to influence the game for me. If you drag him out of position at all he's useless with his old legs.
I only play him in cup games and occasionally off the bench so his form and fatigue don't suffer to much and he's always fresh and ready to go...plus if you captain him he gives your team spirit and players nice boost.

 

[Mads-TheChamp]

I find that Kaka isn't very fast and will often get caught out if he's more than 40 yards from goal. He needs to play almost as a second striker to influence the game for me. If you drag him out of position at all he's useless with his old legs.
I only play him in cup games and occasionally off the bench so his form and fatigue don't suffer to much and he's always fresh and ready to go...plus if you captain him he gives your team spirit and players nice boost.

Thank mate. But I know. It was just as a information on the new signing Story wise.

 

[Sweey]

Do everyone a favour and sell 80% of the squad.

I wish you luck in your endeavour.

 

[rebelinho]

Do everyone a favour and sell 80% of the squad.

I wish you luck in your endeavour.

In my previous Milan saves I only kept De Sciglio, Albertazzi, Suso, Bonaventura and El Shaarawy. Too bad you need somebody to buy them... and nobody wanted to.

 

[Mads-TheChamp]

Yeah. I'm trying to have a realistic approach from start. Therefore the tactics and so on.

Obviously I need better players to compete for the biggest titles. But in these first windows the changes will be limited.

Donnarumma and Romagnoli will be seen as new Milan legends, which will contribute to the team for years and maybe never be sold (who knows!)

 

[Mads-TheChamp]

Empoli at home. Another must win if we will be in the fund end of the table.

Actually we were playing the absolute best game so far. We were constantly on the ball and was creating a lot of chances. Kaka came in again in this game, and had the biggest chance of the game.

0-0 was the result at the San Siro. Spectators could conclude that every sign of a disappointing season has been there again in these season.

Remember that it sometimes will sound as I'm frustrating. In fact I'm deeply in love with this game at the moment! Maybe it's because I'm a big Rossoneri in real life also, but these games and the challenges I'm meeting is feeling quite similar to the challenges for Milan in real life these years.

 

[Sweey]

Sounds a bit too realistic to me :crymore:

 

[tross840]

Empoli at home. Another must win if we will be in the fund end of the table.

Actually we were playing the absolute best game so far. We were constantly on the ball and was creating a lot of chances. Kaka came in again in this game, and had the biggest chance of the game.

0-0 was the result at the San Siro. Spectators could conclude that every sign of a disappointing season has been there again in these season.

Remember that it sometimes will sound as I'm frustrating. In fact I'm deeply in love with this game at the moment! Maybe it's because I'm a big Rossoneri in real life also, but these games and the challenges I'm meeting is feeling quite similar to the challenges for Milan in real life these years.

Glad you're finally on ML mate!

I'm bringing Zaragoza back to La Liga and it's incredibly hard. 12th a midseason but I was 21st for a long time so some recent good results.

Milan is tough but I like that you're taking a realistic approach with them. The impulse must be to sell everyone and buy a bunch of good youngsters ASAP but imo if you do it organically you'll have a lot more fun.

1) When if a bigger club comes in for any of your young players that aren't Milan primavera players you have to sell if it's over market value.

2) Only 5 singings in the summer and only 2 max in the winter.

3) 2 loan deals MAX per season.


Sign Cozzari! He's a Bolonga youth player but he's a free agent in the game. He's been saving my Zaragoza season so far.

 

[Mads-TheChamp]

Sounds a bit too realistic to me :crymore:

The most unrealistic hasn't come yet, because my Milan is in the Europa League

The group: Celta, Celtic and Sparta Praha.
Here we off course expecting to go through, as 1st or 2nd.

Biggest transfers in Serie A:
Manolas from Roma to Man Utd
Koulibaly from Napoli to Barcelona
Candreva from Inter to Arsenal
Dzsudzsak to Roma

So the rivals is weakened.

 

[Mads-TheChamp]

Glad you're finally on ML mate!

I'm bringing Zaragoza back to La Liga and it's incredibly hard. 12th a midseason but I was 21st for a long time so some recent good results.

Milan is tough but I like that you're taking a realistic approach with them. The impulse must be to sell everyone and buy a bunch of good youngsters ASAP but imo if you do it organically you'll have a lot more fun.

1) When if a bigger club comes in for any of your young players that aren't Milan primavera players you have to sell if it's over market value.

2) Only 5 singings in the summer and only 2 max in the winter.

3) 2 loan deals MAX per season.


Sign Cozzari! He's a Bolonga youth player but he's a free agent in the game. He's been saving my Zaragoza season so far.

The approach with transfers I'm on. I won't change the whole team from every summer.

 

[Sweey]

The most unrealistic hasn't come yet, because my Milan is in the Europa League

:shocking:

 

[Mads-TheChamp]

The first game in Europa League was against the best opponent in the group Celta Vigo. But in Europe something happens with Milan. 0-2 victory with a more direct and defensive tactic (4-3-2-1). Kaka made his first goal in the jersey after the comeback.

Up next was Genoa out. Always a difficult place, and with the same tactics as against Celta, but this time we lost 3-1 in a high intense match.

The pressure was beginning to show in the league after a very bad start and the next game was at Juventus Stadium. With an early goal from Luiz Adriano we've got ourselves the best start and actually managed to hold Juventus off. We nearly parked the bus and stood very deep with the defense. A vital victory in one of the toughest places.

League ranking after 5 games:
1. Inter (13 points)
2. Lazio (10 points)
3. Roma (10 points)

We're at 9th with 8 points, so everything is close. It's positive that both Juventus and Napoli is below with 7 points.

 

[Pesmandk]

Hej Mads.
Hvordan gik det med AC Milan og hvad er dine erfaringer med at købe italienske spillere fra italienske klubber?
Jeg spiller selv på 4. Sæson med Genoa. Kunne være nice hvis du havde et par screenshots af holdet.
Cheers!