Football Manager 2012: Introducing Borussia Dortmund

Football Manager 2012 has been out for over two weeks now and even though I have had the game since release day these here web pages haven’t seen much action. I apologise, I’ve been busy with real world things and my spare time was made up of playing of the game which I have really go into again this year.

Germany is my starting location this year with Champions League side and last years German champions Borussia Dortmund. Choosing Dortmund as they have a good spine of young players but with still a lot of work to do. I am looking to build an empire here in Germany to compete with the mighty Munich.

Before we start getting into great detail about my strategy I thought it be a good idea to do a quick introduction post

Tactics

I am not going to go into too much detail about the tactics that I am using right now, I will save that for a later post.

My philosophy is to develop attractive attacking football relying on flair, creativity.

This will be produced mainly from having the right players instead of having the right player instructions. My summer reading has brought me to the realisation that players are key. You can have two different players, in the same position with the same instructions. But depending on PPM’s and attributes you will get two different results.

Much of which has it’s roots in a lot the SFraser posts I read before the 2012 release. Once the foundations are laid, I will propse to build on them with my own ideas. I have started with a 4-2-3-1 framework which will look to harness the talent that I have already at the club.

My second and third tactics are a simple 4-4-2 and a 4-5-1 the staple formations in modern football.

Meet the Players

I will take you through the key men already at the side that will make up the foundations of the squad.

Dortmund come with a decent side which has a lot of potential, but for a reigning champion they don’t really have a huge side put together and with a few clear weaknesses I will need to overcome to implement the new system.

I am lacking quality in depth also, past the key first team players there is very little to go on.

Neven Subotic (DC)

I will start at the back with our defensive pair, starting with Serbian Neven Subotic, still young at 23 he holds good attributes in key positions for a defender. Good in the air, strong and positions himself well, still has a few years to improve and I will be mainly concentrating on building his intelligence.

Mats Hummels (DC)

German international Mats Hummels partners Subotic again 23 but a much better player so much, so he is being courted by Real Madrid who have had a £21m bid rejected for him. Both very good players, a little similar in strengths and weaknesses though which will be resolved over time with a few extra players giving balance and variety at the back, I am mainly looking for someone with a bit more pace.

I don’t want my defenders to do anything fancy. Just sit back stop the opposition and move the ball forward again. Mats and Neven will do that just fine.

Sven Bender (MC)

Sven wouldn’t be out of place at the back between these guys, he is simply a destroyer of midfields. 18 for tackling, 16 positions and 18 anticipation. He lacks anything going forward though. He will make up one half of the box that I showed you at Real Madrid though so will form a great foundation as I look for someone more creative to go alongside him.

The final corner in the square will be:

Sebastian Kehl (MC)

The veteran and captain of the team Seb is another defensive unit, but again another player that doesn’t want to do much going forward. Both have PPM’s to play the simple pass and both lack in creativity.

Kehl has an even more important role in my side so I will be keen to keep him in the squad as he is the best tutor in the side with fantastic mental attributes so he will be key in developing new players of the future even when I have found a more permanent player in that role.

Ilkay Gundogan (MC/AMC)

I have not been able to fully make up my mind on Gundogan just yet. The 21 year old does look a great prospect for the future. Passing is fine, a fair bit of creativity but lacking in flair, which makes me want to put him in the MC role alongside Bender. But he lacks defensively to control the midfield which makes me think AMC is his role. He might be only destined to play as versatile player in the midfield as his future goes on. But one I will try and mould as best as possible.

Mario Gotze (AML)

Mario is the talk of Football Manager 2012, one of the most exciting prospects this year. At 19 he is an excellent passer, creative and exciting. If he could put the ball in the back of the net he would be the perfect player. But never the less I will be looking to Gotze to put the killer balls into the path of my strikers and terrifying defenders.

Shinji Kagawa (AMC)

The Japanese attacking midfielder is the most understated player in the side. Quietly gets on with his job, with assists and goals. Catching the eye of Manchester City, I will be keen to wrap up a new contract for him soon. He has a few gaping flaws for a player who wants to play behind the striker, such as his creativity and composure. But he is doing a fine job so far this season. I will probably look to improve on him further down the line but even then he will be a fantastic squad player.

Kevin Grosskreutz (AMR)

Kevin I imagine is the Kuyt of my Dortmund team. Hard worker for 90 minutes who will contribute to the odd goal. Not the most technically gifted player but will offer a lot to the side.

Lucas Barrios (ST)

The goalscorer, he will be the end product of all the hardwork that is going on behind him. He is a fine all rounder striker, able to link up with the rest of the play, but steady in front of goal. Has a little problem keeping himself injury free though which will be testy through the season.

The Plan

So above will be the main spine of the team and what the rest of the team will be built upon. I have young players that in their own right can do a great job in either defensive role or attacking role, few that can contribute to both. The team really lacks in a player like Nuri Sahin who left for Real Madrid before my arrival. A true deep-lying playmaker and the type of player I want to bring back to the club.

My main areas of concern are those MC’s positions and full backs. With only £2.2m to start with, the board haven’t given me a lot to build a side capable of going too far in the Champions League and competing for the title again and not enough quality in the squad to make a bit of money on transfers.

This will be a long haul save as I build a side in my image over a few seasons. I will hope to consolidate our position in the Champions League with a top 4 finish and hopefully the extra revenue from being in Europe will reap it’s rewards in the second season giving me some money to play with.

Over the coming blog posts I will discuss my transfer targets, players brought in, tactics and training development.