Football Manager 2015 has been out for a few weeks now and we're starting to get to grips with the new match engine. If your first go at the new game was simply a test-run to get the hang of it with your favourite club, you may be looking for something more.
We at Balls.ie have been playing away and have picked out five teams for you to start a career with if you are looking for some depth. Some will be easier than others, so pick the team that best suits your style.
Premier League clubs are so mainstream, so unleash your inner football-hipster with one of our 5 teams to start an exciting career with on Football Manager 2015.
AS Roma - Italy (Serie A)
Aside from having an absolutely gorgeous kit, AS Roma are a Champions League outfit who are a hell of a lot of fun to use on Football Manager 2015. You already have a number of fantastic players to get you on your way, such as Gervinho, Mattia Destro, Leandro Castan, and Radja Naiggolan, not to mention Kevin Strootman returning from injury, as well as the iconic Francesco Totti.
The challenge here is to end the Juventus era of domination, which will not be easy as they are bloody dominant on FM15. Once you have reached the summit of Italian football it's time to turn your attentions to the Champions League. No pressure. At least potential targets won't be turned off by the city of Rome.
Real Sociedad - Spain (Primera Division)
David Moyes has recently been handed the reigns at Sociedad, so why not prove that you were the man for the job all along? Atletico Madrid did the impossible last season by breaking the Real/Barca monopoly on La Liga titles, so now you have no excuses.
You'll have to play football the right way, and your budget won't be the biggest, but you have got some decent players already in place to work with (such as Carlos Vela and Inigo Martinez), as well as a solid production line of talent coming through the academy. The first task is returning the club to the Champions League, then see what you can do from there.
Paderborn - Germany (Bundesliga)
This should be a real challenge. Top flight rookies Paderborn had an excellent start to their first season in the Bundesliga, but performances have since dropped off. You will be tasked with making a similar start, but maintaining that form throughout the season in order to keep the team up and avoid the drop.
As for the players at your disposal, there is not too much to write home about apart from on-loan Dortmund striker Marvin Ducksch, so there is room to mould the team into your own project right from the off, although you'll have to be cute with free transfers and loans for the most part.
Keep the team up, improve the squad, and see if you can give the big bullies at Bayern a run for their money.
Nottingham Forest - England (Championship)
Nottingham Forest were once winning European Cups to beat the band, can you return them to their former glory? To start out, you will be given the biggest budget in the Championship, so bring in a few big names and see if they can fire you back to the top flight.
You've got some good pieces already in place here. Britt Assombalonga and Henri Lansbury have bags of potential, and you've got Andy Reid for a sing-song to raise morale.
You'll have to earn promotion as soon as possible, then the focus shifts to Premier League stability, and then you have to crack the European places and get Forest back where they belong.
Portsmouth - England (League Two)
This is one for the long haul.
Pompey have been living a football nightmare for the past number of years, are you the man to turn their fortunes around? You'll have more stature than most in the league, but don't expect to be able to buy your way to success from the off, as this is a task for a frugal football manager.
You've got players who can get you promotion straight away and shine in League One as well in Jed Wallace and Craig Westcarr, and lets not forget footballing great David Connolly who is there to help out. Don't forget to get him in as a coach when he retires. He deserves it.
This is no doubt the toughest task on this list, but it will be incredibly rewarding if you can bring Pompey back to the promised land of the Premier League.
