Written by : Big B 1970
Having been relegated in Season 44 and coming straight back up in Season 45, the aim this season was to avoid being labelled a yo-yo team and stay up. This was ultimately achieved but it went all the way to the relegation play-off before Division 2 safety was secured. The opening games weren't a disaster, I was content taking a point from x Morriis and 3 points from AJS Ryjones. After these games, the infamous patch came in on FC25 and I knew the season would get a lot harder. A strong part of my game has been the ability to defend, and then counter attack, but with defending turning into a complete lottery, I was going to have to change to a more attacking formation and hope for the best. After 2 heavy defeats to Gardner I 8 I I managed to pick up points from TR00PER1919 and deareststorm to keep me above the relegation zone. Next game a pair of high scoring games against MarcTheSharc in which I scored 6 then 5 goals but still lost both. Wins against CCFC_Coxy and JoeA15 game me enough points to avoid automatic relegation (especially with the bottom two having points deducted) but I'd completely forgotten about the play-off! I dont beat TheAshCohen09 too often, but looking at his Division 3 record this season, I saw that he had conceded a lot so as long as I could keep the prolific Gabriel Jesus quiet I was in with a chance. I took the lead early but it was immediately cancelled out by an equaliser, but I went into half time 4-2 up. Ash pressed very aggressively in the 2nd half but I managed to get the passing going and finished victorious with the final score of 5-4.
In the Champions League, the story was the same as the previous few seasons, with some good results in the first stage seeing me though to Stage 2 in the upper tier. 2 big defeats then halted progress but at least I got a good win against Gardner I 8 I after he'd thrashed me in the league. We had a swift exit from the other cups, beaten in the first round of both, by AJS Ryjones in the Divisional Cup, and ItsOnlyJEFF9108 in the League Cup.
I used a total of 27 players this season, which is more than I normally go though, but I was doing well financially and I was able to stick to the theme of my squad, bringing as many German players as I could to Dresden. I won 11 players in BFA's this season, not all of whom I kept, as I flipped a few of them for a decent profit. Most of them were bargains, the most expensive being Leroy Sane, well worth the 35m I paid for him. In the transfer market I was in profit to the tune of just under 100m, probably my best season for doing deals.
Although it wasn't a requirement, I used my reserve goalkeeper for cup games this season, I just thought if he's in the squad I can at least let a play a few games. It didn't seem to make any difference to the results either. 
With my 4-3-3 formation, Alexander Sørloth was the focus of the attack and scored an impressive 40 goals, but the wingers Gordon and Sane as well as Brandt at CAM chipped in with good totals too. My longest serving player Maxi Beier started on the right wing, but the arrival of Sane meant he dropped to the bench to be used as a half time sub when I needed to go 4-2-4 and chase some goals.
Its time to say goodbye to the squad now that we have a reset. I'm sure I'm not the only manager that feels a slight attachment to some of these players and we have our favourites that we're reluctant to part with. I'm sure I'll be seeing some of them again when we get a few seasons in and the ratings rise. That probably means I'll end up paying more than i should to get them back!