FM27 Training Guide: Schedules, Individual Focus and Youth Development
Training is where Football Manager players quietly win or lose a season. A good tactic gets results this week; a good training setup makes your squad better for the next five years. This guide explains how the training screens work in Football Manager 27 and gives simple setups you can copy and adjust.
1. The weekly schedule
Every week is made of sessions. Each session trains a group of attributes (for example attacking, defending, physical or set pieces) or prepares for the next match. Three rules cover most saves:
- One match a week: use a balanced week – two or three general sessions, one tactical session for your shape, one match-preparation session the day before the game and a recovery session the day after.
- Two matches a week: cut the general work. Recovery after each game, match preparation before each game, and keep only one or two light sessions in between.
- Pre-season: more physical and tactical sessions early, then move towards a normal match week in the last ten days so players arrive sharp, not tired.
If you don't want to manage this, let your assistant manager handle the schedule and only control individual training. That is a perfectly good option.
2. Intensity and injuries
Training intensity decides how hard players work. Higher intensity can help development, but it also increases fatigue and injury risk. Keep it at normal for most of the squad, lower it for players returning from injury or showing high fatigue, and use rest days after matches. In crowded months, rotating your squad does more for you than any training setting.
3. Role training
Each player can train for a specific role, which slowly improves the attributes that role needs. Pick the role the player actually plays in your tactic. For young players, choose one role and keep it – switching every month spreads the work too thin. A full-back who plays as an inverted wing-back should train as one, not as a classic full-back.
4. Individual focus
On top of role training, you can add one extra focus. Use it to fix the single attribute that holds a player back in his role – for example first touch for a striker, or positioning for a centre-back. You can also train a new position: a winger learning to play as a wing-back, or a midfielder learning centre-back. Learning a new position takes many months, so start early.
Tip: don't add a focus to every player at once. Pick the five or six players where one attribute makes the biggest difference.
5. Developing wonderkids
- Minutes matter most. Young players develop much faster when they play competitive matches at a level that challenges them. If your first team is too strong, a loan to a club where he will start is often better than the bench.
- Mentoring. Put a young player in a mentoring group with experienced, professional senior players. Personality traits rub off over time, and a good personality helps development.
- Training facilities and coaches. Better facilities and coaches with good ratings in the relevant areas make every session more effective. Ask the board for facility upgrades when the club can afford them.
- Be patient. Development is gradual. Check progress every few months, not every week.
Looking for players to develop? See our FM27 wonderkids and cheap wonderkids lists.
6. Match preparation and set pieces
Match-preparation sessions before a game focus on things like the opponent, your own tactic or set pieces. Familiarity with your tactic grows as you train it and play it, so avoid changing the shape every week early in the season. If you score or concede many set-piece goals, add a set-piece session to your weekly schedule.
A simple setup to copy
| Day | Normal week | Two-match week |
|---|---|---|
| After match | Recovery | Recovery |
| Day 2 | General: attacking + defending | Light tactical |
| Day 3 | Tactical: your shape | Match preparation |
| Day 4 | General: physical + set pieces | Match day |
| Day before match | Match preparation | Recovery / preparation |
Need a tactic to train? Try the free FM27 tactic builder or read FM27 best formations.
FAQ
What is the best training schedule in FM27?
There is no single best one. Use a balanced schedule in normal weeks, lighter sessions before and after matches when you play twice a week, and more physical and tactical work in pre-season.
How do I make wonderkids develop faster in FM27?
Give them match minutes at the right level, train them in one role, add an individual focus on a weak key attribute, keep training intensity normal to avoid injuries, and put them in a mentoring group with professional senior players.
Should I set training intensity to high?
Only for short periods and only for fit players. High intensity raises injury risk, so most managers keep it normal and use rest sessions after matches.