Ponta de Lança

Travelling with work for the last week, so haven't had much chance to play/post.

Grab a coffee, relax, and enjoy the story of Bukayo Saka - my G.O.A.T. in Football Manager 2024 - from 💫 Star Boy to Superstar!

Far and away the most iconic team in Premier League history, Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal dazzled with pace, power, elegance, and artistry, completing an unprecedented unbeaten season known simply as 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔.

Fun morning writing about the most iconic team in Premier League history 🥳

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 in Football Manager 2024 will be in your inbox 10am on Tuesday morning ☕️

Enjoy!

Refreshing the Squad Navigating a period of transition from one great team to the next.

pontadelancafm.substack.com/p/refreshing...

You rejoin me in 2037, calmly navigating a period of transition from one great team to the next. Declan Rice retired last summer, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Jurriën Timber have entered the ‘last dance’ era of their careers, and a new generation is emerging..

Seamlessly replacing club legends enables sustained long-term success and builds great teams into dynasties that transcend individual teams or players - no matter how iconic - to rewrite football history.

Enjoy ☕️

Palmeiras '96: Ataque do 100 Gols in Football Manager 2024

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Palmeiras’ legendary 1996 team, famed for the ‘ataque do 100 gols’ - the ‘attack of 100 goals’ - encapsulated the artistry, joy, and soul of Brazilian football, characterized by positional fluidity, intricate combinations, dribbling, one-twos, diagonals, and asymmetries.

Introducing the Hale End Lab Exploring player longevity in Football Manager 2024

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Inspired by the legendary AC Milan Lab of the early 2000s, the Hale End Lab initiative manages game-time, optimises training, and adapts tactics to maximise player longevity, extending elite-level performance far beyond typical prime years, turning star players into all-time greats.

A little distracted by the football over the weekend, so just finishing up this week's post: Introducting Hale End Lab (inspired by Milan Lab of early 2000s) exploring player longevity in Football Manager 2024.

In your inbox tomorrow morning! ☕️

Few milestones capture the scale of football club growth quite like building a brand new stadium; a 110,000+ seater emblem of sustained success and ambition for the future.

New post outlining the planning & financial impact of building Hale End Stadium.

What is the Ponta de Lança? Ponta de Lança - ‘point of the lance’ or ‘spearhead’ - describes the iconic and enigmatic Brazilian ‘number 10’ graced by legends such as Pelé, Zico, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar; goalscorers, play...

pontadelancafm.substack.com/p/what-is-th...

Ponta de Lança - ‘point of the lance’ or ‘spearhead’ - describes the iconic and enigmatic Brazilian ‘number 10’ graced by legends such as Pelé, Zico, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar; goalscorers, playmakers, and artists.

👇 including download link for paid subscribers.

Exploring tactical evolution underpinning a glorious decade developing the Hale End ‘golden generation’ - Saka, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri & Dowman - into global superstars, evolving the playing style with modern football trends & adapting the system as players develop.

Out now ☕️

The Deep-Lying Playmaker is one of the most influential yet understated roles in football; a midfield architect orchestrating play from deep, dictating tempo, and controlling the rhythm of the game with calmness, composure, elegance, and finesse.

Enjoy ☕️

Spent the morning writing about my (𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑) favourite tactical role in Football Manager 2024 - including a tribute to Tiago Dantas (my GOAT) - covering what makes the role so effective and how to use it in your own tactical systems..

Thank you 🙏

Meia Armador on X: "I have not seen enough analysis of PSG's in-possession tactics, especially structural. People struggle to analyze a more dynamic positional game and end up calling it not positional. I will be breaking down their approach in the final, focusing on 2 aspects: the structural https://t.co/87AxH2AGDK" / X I have not seen enough analysis of PSG's in-possession tactics, especially structural. People struggle to analyze a more dynamic positional game and end up calling it not positional. I will be breaking down their approach in the final, focusing on 2 aspects: the structural https://t.co/87AxH2AGDK

Inspired by @MeiaArmador excellent thread on rotations within Luis Enrique's PSG team.

x.com/MeiaArmador_...

New post exploring the concept of intra-system rotations within the functionality of the Football Manager tactics creator, creating a dynamic and fluid style of football within a 2-3-5 attacking shape.

Out now ☕️

Meia Armador on X: "I have not seen enough analysis of PSG's in-possession tactics, especially structural. People struggle to analyze a more dynamic positional game and end up calling it not positional. I will be breaking down their approach in the final, focusing on 2 aspects: the structural https://t.co/87AxH2AGDK" / X I have not seen enough analysis of PSG's in-possession tactics, especially structural. People struggle to analyze a more dynamic positional game and end up calling it not positional. I will be breaking down their approach in the final, focusing on 2 aspects: the structural https://t.co/87AxH2AGDK

Inspired by @MeiaArmador excellent thread on rotations within Luis Enrique's PSG team.

x.com/MeiaArmador_...

New post exploring the concept of intra-system rotations within the functionality of the Football Manager tactics creator, creating a dynamic and fluid style of football within a 2-3-5 attacking shape.

Out 10am GMT, tomorrow morning ☕️

If you’re feeling inspired by the excitement of the approaching new season and want to start a new save, enjoy my 10 tips to help you improve at Football Manager 2024, gradually developing your own tactical identity.

My favourite save of Football Manager 2024 ♥️ Building a Hale End dynasty; dominating European football for a decade with Myles, Ethan, and Max, alongside Bukayo Saka..

Interested in building your own tactics in Football Manager 2024 but not sure where to start?

Baseline tactic templates provide a simple, balanced foundation using various formations for readers to evolve & adapt to their teams, gradually developing your own tactical identity.

Explore Lionel Scaloni's Argentina side, breaking the tactical homogeneity of modern football, platforming Messi, and conquering world football with a flexible, adaptive player-driven tactical setup.

Three-part series exploring the greatest teams of the Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United dynasty, out now.

Starting with the Cantona-era, moving through the Class of '92, and finishing with Cristiano Ronaldo; exploring tactical evolution as well as the foundations of success.

Sir Alex Ferguson's Greatest Team? The Ronaldo-era

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Final post on Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United dynasty, covering the great Cristiano Ronaldo team of 2008 out now..

Not at all easy to write as an Arsenal fan, so I hope you enjoy! ☕️

Writing about Football Manager can bring your save to life, crystallise your thought process, create a community, and improve you as a player.

Reflections on 3 months of Football Manager substack for those thinking of returning to long-form writing ✍️

Out now. Enjoy! ☕