DNAjax is an Ajax Football Manager rebuild built around identity and squad cohesion. If you love nurturing talent and playing with style, this save is for you.
DNAjax is a rebuild where I aim to create a team that is reliable and consistent. It’s not just about getting world-class players; it's about finding players who fit the team’s style and philosophy.
In case you’re not familiar, “DNA” is a term in FM that refers to a club’s identity and playing style. You can find more detailed explanations on other websites like Passion4FM, but here’s my own simplified take on it.
DNAjax was a one-season beta save for FM22.
What is DNAjax?
In DNAjax, building a successful team is not just about acquiring the most talented players; it’s about finding those who possess the right attributes. Five key qualities that I look for in every player are bravery, composure, determination, teamwork, and workrate.
- Bravery: A player’s willingness to do what’s best for the team, even if it means taking risks.
- Composure: Important in high-pressure situations, reducing the likelihood of making costly mistakes.
- Determination: The drive to succeed and improve, both individually and as a team.
- Teamwork: Essential for following instructions and building relationships on and off the pitch.
- Workrate: A player’s physical effort and motivation to perform at their best.
While player ability is important, DNAjax also places significant emphasis on a player's mentality, personality and background. This may mean that some big names will have to leave the club early on, but ultimately, it’s about creating a solid and dependable team that embodies these five key attributes.
Class of 92?
In the world of Football Manager, managing a squad of 92 players can be daunting, especially when you have a specific vision for your team. This was the situation I found myself in with Ajax.
Managing such a large squad raises several questions:
- How do you balance the need for rotation to keep everyone happy with the desire to develop tactical partnerships?
- How do you ensure your youth players get the right development opportunities?
For DNAjax, there is no doubt that the size of the squad needs to be reduced significantly. In fact, I have set a target to let go of at least half the players by the end of the 2021–2022 season. It’s a tough task, but one that will be necessary to create a cohesive and successful team.
Tactics
I was thrilled when I stumbled upon RDF Tactics' Ajax-inspired tactic on my Twitter feed. It’s a perfect fit for DNAjax, as it’s based on the playing style of the real-life Ajax team.
What’s even more impressive is that RDF tested the tactic in FM22, and Ajax went unbeaten with it.
I can’t wait to see if DNAjax can replicate that success in the game. Plus, using an established tactic saves me the trouble of creating a new formation and allows me to focus on other areas of the squad.
Player Analysis - Part One
Player analysis is a crucial part of Football Manager, but it can be quite time-consuming.
There are different ways to approach it. Some managers rely on their Assistant and Coaches to provide reports, while others prefer to trust their own instincts and attribute assessments. Some use a combination of reports and match practice, while others take things a step further with detailed spreadsheet analysis.
For me, I fall into the last category and have created an in-depth spreadsheet to analyse every player in my squad.
Managing a squad is all about finding the right balance, and that’s exactly what I aim to achieve with DNAjax. Whilst having the best players available is important, it’s equally important to have players who can cover multiple positions and play in a variety of roles.
My spreadsheet allows me to analyse each player in detail, taking into account their attributes, preferred positions and even their personality and background. This helps me identify players who may be better suited to different positions than my Assistant suggests, or who have the potential to develop into versatile players in the future.
By using a combination of Assistant reports and my own player analysis, I’m able to make informed decisions about who to keep, who to sell and who to develop. It may take more time and effort than relying solely on my Assistant, but the end result is a more balanced and competitive squad capable of achieving great things.
Squad Changes - First Team
The first team originally consisted of 26 players, which decreased to 21 after the squad analysis. Not a huge difference in numbers, but nine of these players had been newly promoted from the B-Team.
Five players were demoted because they were either too young to cope with the demands of top-flight football or their current ability wasn't up to my standards.
Nine players were added to the transfer list, with a combined market value of £106m. There are some high-profile names on the list, but that’s DNAjax for you – if you don't fit the club culture, Ajax isn't the club for you.
Following the same process, I can also quickly put together my Reserve and Youth squads.
Squad Changes - Reserves
Originally 35 players strong, the B-Team has been cut to 14. The squad size isn't something I'll be too concerned about, as First Team players who aren't currently getting game time will be made available for the reserves.
Thirteen players were added to the transfer list, with a further two offered out on loan to gain match experience. Another two will be given opportunities in the first team through substitute appearances and cup games.
Squad Changes - Youth Team (U19)
The squad started with 31 players and has now been reduced to 12. As with the reserves, I'll use younger squad members to fill any gaps in the youth team. The smaller squad also reduces the workload on the coaches and gives them more time to offer one-to-one coaching to our up-and-coming stars.
No players were considered good enough for promotion to a higher level, but four players were demoted into the squad.
A massive 23 players have been released from the club, with another three offered out on loan.
Player Analysis - Part Two
To earn a place in the first team and starting XI, a player must meet three criteria:
- Achieve a 60% or higher rating in Squad DNA.
- Achieve a 60% or higher rating in their role and squad formation.
- Rank among the top five players for their allocated role.
This immediately rules out five players who don't quite meet the role requirements yet. However, I believe they could get there after a season of training alongside the first team. They'll also get opportunities through substitute appearances and cup games to help speed up their development.
Each player then goes through another assessment based on their suitability for the formation. This helps determine whether they could earn a place in the starting XI.
Perfect Fit
→ DNA is above 60%.
→ Best role within the formation is above 70% and is also their strongest role overall.
Good Fit
→ DNA is above 60%.
→ Formation suitability is above 65%.
Okay Fit
→ DNA is above 60%.
→ Formation suitability is above 60%.
These are players whose strongest overall roles don't quite match the formation, but who still score highly enough to do a good job. You could argue that they're some of the most valuable squad members, as they can perform in more than one area.
After fully assessing the squad, I can now see where I need to invest in new signings.
The priorities will be:
- IF, CM and TF: There are no DNAjax players who comfortably fit these roles, so all three are priorities in the transfer market.
- CD: Magallán is out on loan for the season, so I'll need to find a replacement.
- DM/CD: Ideally, I'd also like to bring in a player who is comfortable in both roles and happy to provide backup if injuries hit the squad.
In addition to new signings, I'll also look at retraining one of the RPMs in the CM role to balance the centre of midfield.
As this is a beta save for FM22, I won't be looking any further into the youth side of the club on this occasion.
Transfer Strategy
If DNAjax were to continue beyond one season, I'd invest more time in scouting. On this occasion, though, I'll be using my Football Manager Attribute Spreadsheet to find players.
Having already decided on the type of player DNAjax needs and the positions to fill, finding transfer targets is a simple process. All I need to do is head to the player search screen and enter the five core attributes I'd like my players to have. I'd also prefer them to be Dutch or able to speak basic Dutch.
Inside Forward
Transfer Fee: £5m
Central Midfielder
Transfer Fee: £875k – £1m
Transfer Fee: £875k – £1m
Target Forward
Transfer Fee: £63k
Transfer Fee: £300k – £375k
Central Defender
Transfer Fee: £1.6m
Defensive Midfielder / Central Defender
Transfer Fee: £425k – £500k
For a combined total of £8.7m, I've brought in seven new players who fit the DNAjax mould and help balance the squad.
I may still need to bring in another IF, but that's something we'll decide as the season gets underway.
The Results
AI-assisted review
We celebrated our first trophy by winning the Johan Cruijff Schaal. New signing Hanche-Olsen made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut. The victory marked the beginning of an exciting journey for us.
Deadline Day brought a flurry of activity. We secured seven new signings while offloading a staggering 40 players. The transfer fees weren't always ideal, but the main objective was to clear out players who no longer fitted the squad.
In a comical turn of events, Onana started complaining about his lack of playing time, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was serving a nine-month suspension.
We found ourselves ill-prepared for what could only be described as a "Group of Death" in the Champions League. The draw dealt us a difficult hand, pitting us against some formidable opponents.
The mid-season break arrived with us dominating the league. However, one draw was enough to get inside my head. The frustration came not only from dropping points but also from who we dropped them against.
The Dutch Cup victory wasn't particularly emphatic, but it was a hard-fought triumph. The team showed resilience and determination to get over the line, proving they could overcome challenges when it mattered.
By the end of the season, we'd enjoyed a remarkable campaign, dominating the league with just one defeat. We lifted three trophies and established our dominance domestically. Europe proved more difficult, though, with some tough opposition ultimately bringing our continental campaign to an end.
Despite doubts from my Scouts and Assistant about his signing, Necid defied expectations to finish as the Eredivisie's top scorer. He proved that the right mentality and workrate can be just as valuable as natural ability.
Overview
DNAjax was built around finding players who matched a specific set of personalities and attributes. The results backed up that approach, with just one league defeat and three trophies across the season. Bravery, composure, determination, teamwork and workrate became the foundations of the squad. Necid was perhaps the best example of the philosophy in action, proving his doubters wrong by finishing as the Eredivisie's top scorer.