Squad Review: Who’s Ready for the Step Up?

If you’d offered us the play-offs in August, I’d have snapped your hand without hesitation. Promotion to Serie A wasn’t the expectation, a mid-table finish was. Yet over the course of the season, this group did more than steady the ship; they outperformed projections, handled pressure, and delivered when it mattered most.

But sentiment doesn’t survive in the top flight.

Serie A will be faster, sharper, and far less forgiving. Margins shrink. Mistakes are punished. And performances that were good enough in a promotion campaign may not withstand the step up.

This section is about clarity.

Who has shown the consistency, underlying numbers and tactical intelligence to scale upward?
Who profiles as rotation depth rather than starter?
And where must we be ruthless if we’re serious about survival?

Serie A survival will require hard decisions.

Goalkeepers

The season started with Ghidotti and Tanchalotti as joint number 1’s. Both performed steadily, but in the January window, our Director of Football decided a step up in quality was needed and bought in Robin Risser on loan from RC Lens.

Risser did well, conceding just 20 goals in 19 games and was a calming influence on the defence in the second half of the season. He kept 7 clean sheets and won the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

I’d like to retain her services, but the loan option to buy is £2.8 million and that’s money we don’t have.

Verdict: A Serie A level goalkeeper is needed, if I can’t extent Risser’s loan.

Left Back

We had a tough time on the left side of our defence, with Ezeh deciding he was destined for better things and leaving for Spain, and Ioannou retiring after tearing his ACL.

In came Andrés Cuenca who did a great job on loan from Udinese. However, I can’t afford him so I’ll need to bring in new additions.

Verdict: At least two new signings are needed.

Right Back

We have two solid performers here. Club captain Fabio Depaoli and younger Alessandro Renzi, who I bought with me from Arezzo.

Depaoli logged 2315 minutes, his defensive volume is higher than Renzi’s and he commits fewer fouls. The pass accuracy (90%) is strong for a fullback who carries the ball and plays forward. He scored 4 goals and looks balanced enough to survive against Serie A wingers while still contributing in transition.

Renzi got plenty of game time (1500 minutes) and he reads the game better defensively (higher interceptions, 4.0). His crossing efficiency is stronger (23%). He looks more like an up and down wing-back than a pure fullback, or an inverted function where intelligence matters more than raw physicality.

Verdict: We’re set here.

Centre Back

Giorgio Altare was the most reliable performer. Strong aerial output (4.0 headers won p/90), solid defensive volume (10.5 possessions won p/90), and dependable passing without overcomplicating things (94% pass accuracy). His 7.03 rating across 35 appearances carries weight and he should be good enough to hold down his position in Serie A. 

Alessandro Riccio is very safe, technically clean, and consistent across the season (2074 minutes). However, he’s less dominant defensively than Altare (8.6 possessions won p/90 vs 10.5). He looks after the ball well, with 95% pass accuracy.

He won’t overwhelm Serie A forwards physically, but he’ll rarely hurts us. He’s probably more of a rotation option next season. 

Seid Korać joined in January from Venezia and performed strongly over a smaller sample size, with a 7.00 AVG from 789 minutes. Very good aerial win rate (86%) and clean on the ball (95%), but the minutes are limited and we don’t yet know if this output sustains across 30 Serie A matches. He’s in interesting depth option, but proven starter level yet.

Agustín Rogel will leave the club when his contract expires. He performed steadily but not enough to justify his high wages. We’ll see him next season as he’s joining Spezia who won automatic promotion with a 2^nd placed finish.

Verdict: I’m happy with Altare, but would like to find an upgrade over Riccio and Korac if possible.

Midfielders

Samuele Giovane is the most “Serie A safe” midfielder, thanks to his high pass accuracy (93%)and good defensive awareness (3.0 interceptions/90).

He doesn’t rack up goals or assists, but in what will likely be a survival season, that profile matters.

Liam Henderson blends output with work rate. Nine assists from a BBM role is strong. He’s not explosive physically, but tactically disciplined (1.8 tackles and 2.5 interception, 2.2 key passes/90).

Luis Hasa had a great season in Serie B after a slow start, with 9 goals and 8 assists. However, he’s weak defensively (1.0 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 5.0 possessions won/90) so will need support around him. He bore the creative weight last season, but I’ll need to get him help in Serie A. 

Alessandro Bellemo is a safe pair of hands, with 90% pass accuracy, but he doesn’t impose himself on the game. He’s a good option for game management but, at 32, isn’t a long term option.

Neither Javi Serrano, Emanual Vignato or Raul Guti had enough playing time to really assess them, or make me think they could contribute enough in Serie A. 

The wildcard of this bunch is 22-year-old Mate Ivkovic, who spend the season on loan in Serie C, where he stared 36 games and proved himself to be a defensive monster with 13.6 possessions won and 3.0 interceptions per game. However, The question is whether his output scales to Serie A. He lacks the polish of top-flight holding midfielders, but he has the athletic profile I value. I’ll see how he gets on in pre-season. 

Verdict: With finances limited, I think the midfield is the least in need of upgrades. I’m happy with what I have.

Wingers

Elayis Tavsan is most aggressive winger statistically, with the highest shot volume (4.0 shots/90), and 9 goals, from 6.56xG. He plays like a second striker from wide areas. In Serie A, teams will sit deeper against much less often meaning more transition moments, which could suit him. He isn’t a major creator (xA 3.23). He’s a finisher-first wide player.

Victor Narro is the most all-round winger, and offers good crossing, (22%), balanced goals (4) and assists (3) and defensive contributions (5.7 possessions won/90). He won’t dominate anywhere, but he’ll contribute across the board.

Nikola Sekulov, like Narro, is another all-round contributor, but master of nothing. 4 goals and 3 assists, with 7.0 possessions won, he works hard and he’s steady but he’s not decisive… and I feel in Serie A that won’t be enough. 

Estanis Pedrola is the most frustrating of our wingers, and on paper the most Serie A ready… He has 4 goals from 5.59 xG and only a 6% conversion rate. His shot accuracy is decent though at 42%. I REALLY need to get him finishing his chances and he could be a key player next season. He won’t get 4 shots per 90 often in the top flight. So efficiency becomes critical.

Verdict: Across all my wingers, none have elite xA numbers or look like top-tier creators. I’ll likely need

• Either one explosive 1v1 winger
• Or one elite crosser for a transition striker

Strikers

With 18 goals from 14xG, Thibo Baeten has earned the right to be our starting striker next season. He currently gets 2.9 shots per game, which I doubt he’ll get in Serie A… but if I can get him 2.0, then he could have a large contribution. His 43% shot accuracy and 21% conversion rate are respectable. He also contributes creatively, with 8 assists, proving he can get into the channels and link play. 

Giacomo Gabbiani spent the season here on loan but I wont he retaining him next season. With 5 goals he did his job when needed but he’s not quite a Serie B level striker yet, let alone Serie A. 

Verdict: I think I’ll need a couple of options for next season, offering different profiles. I definitely want to pick up a veteran Target man.

The Requirements

So, to recap, I need to look for upgrades at:

• Goalkeeper (if I can’t extend Risser’s loan)
• Left Back
• Central Defender
• Winger
• Striker (back up)

I’ll also look at midfielders if I have the budget available.

Recruiting with purpose

As we’ll likely embroiled in a fight to avoid relegation it’s important that I recruit players who and mentally and physically ready for the fight!

Therefore, I’ll be looking for players with good Work rate, Bravery and Positioning for defensive players or Off the Ball for attacking players.

Each signing must answer the following question:

Does he protect the structure, or sharpen our transition?

If they do neither, they won’t be signed.

Recruiting with a system

I want my FM26 experience to feel like that of a modern day manager.

But, as the Director of Football experiment wasn’t a total success, I’ve decided to swap things up.

Identifying the Need

I figured Recruitment meetings would take place where the manager would outline which positions he feels need strengthening (either a new starter, or depth). The Recruitment team would then consult their database or go out and find suitable players.

To replicate this, I’ll create Recruitment Focuses and use the Transfer Room.

Identifying the Players

When the Recruitment Team comes back to me with their list of players, I’ll then identify a shortlist based off the scouting a analysts reports.

The Director of Football can then go away and work through that shortlist and sign the player he deems appropriate.

Director of Football, Andrea Mancini, son of Calcio-legend Roberto Mancini

Transfer Budgets

The Board have given me their initial budgets for the upcoming season:

£2.8 million to spend is around what I was expecting, especially given the club is £38 million in debt.

I also have a few players to move out, Javi Serrano, for one, who should bring around £1.5m.

So, I’ll have to work the free agents and utilise loans where possible.

The wage budget is probably larger than I’ll need so I may also be able to reduce that and add to the transfer pot.

And Finally…

For once – the first time since FM23 – I’ve actually got a good, no, ELITE, youth intake:

None are first-team squad standards but its nice to have something to look forward to.