Football Manager 2018: Country Guide – France
Don’t fancy the challenge of English football, why not try the other side of the channel?
French football has had something of rebirth in the last few years, with PSG and Monaco emerging as the two giants in the country. This guide will give you three teams in this country that you should consider managing, with varying levels of difficulty.
Elite Club – Paris Saint Germain
Paris Saint Germian stand out as the biggest kids in this playground, with large sums invested in the playing squad and elite facilities. This would represent a very different challenge to most clubs you could choose to manage, with vast resources and the pull of challenging for trophies on all fronts, you can assemble a squad of practically any player you desire.
In that first year in charge, you’ll need to find a way to steal back the title from your rivals on the south coast, AS Monaco. With a transfer budget of at least £44.5 Million and a squad that has already been significantly improved with the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe just this summer, that challenge can be overcome with little change.
Ultimately, this team of superstars is a very good starting point if you are after a more relaxed start to this year’s game. With almost unlimited resources and a league not as competitive as it’s neighbours in Spain and Germany.
Potential Powerhouse – Lille OSC
Having won Ligue 1 in 2011, this club would not appear to be as much of a challenge as other teams in the French top tier. However, that side in 2011 contained players such as Eden Hazard, Yohan Cabaye and Simon Kjaer, all now plying their trade elsewhere. The 2017 Lille side is comprised of a mix of youth and experience, that if well managed, could lead to a European push and future success.
In attack, you’ll find youthful exuberance in Anwar El-Ghazi, Yassine Benzia and Luiz Araujo, all players capable of creating and finishing chances. You also have a solid base of defensive players with Adama Souamoro and Ibrahim Amadou leading from the back. If you need to improve, you have a budget of at least £13.5 Million, that can be used to bring in the star quality this squad needs to go to the next level.
Ultimately, this club provides a big enough challenge for anyone looking to prove themselves as more than just a big club manager. Balance the defensive solidity with the youthful attacking flair and you could create a team capable of toppling the status quo in France.
Underdog Story – Paris FC
Do you like your Football Manager experience to be filled with highs and lows, marked by the heroes and villains you find. So how about trying to unseat one of the world’s biggest clubs as the best team in Paris?
Paris FC currently ply their trade in France’s second tier, having bounced between that and the third tier since their inception. Only promoted due to the financial issues of another side, this side needs a lot of improvement but certainly represents one of Football Manager 2018’s most intriguing challenges.
Ultimately, Football Manager 18 is arguably the most challenging football management game ever made, so wherever you decide to take charge, you’ll need to think creatively to become one of the most successful managers in the game.
So let me know where you decide to take charge and how you get on. Also, let me know what country you want to hear about next?
Featured Image: By Charlie Pumfrey
