Topic: Football Manager Series

[CheshireDave]

Can't you just transfer list him for his value? If he sells he's happy. If he doesn't you get to keep your man and he should understand no bids came in.

[Elzars brussels sprouts farts]

I bought the new one recently, quite impressed with the updates and changes. It feels a lot better transfer market wise, and as always I leave all the finer details to other staff members - Nobody wants to run training.

I have just started a game with Athletic Bilbao, always a good challenge. Oihan Sancet is an absolutely incredible midfielder and the academy has so many 4 star+ players.

[Max_powers]

Can't you just transfer list him for his value? If he sells he's happy. If he doesn't you get to keep your man and he should understand no bids came in.

I did but in anticipation of him moving I had some CBs added to my team too, now if he stays I have one too many.

I had to loan him out.

[RMG]

Playing as Chelsea at the moment.

They have so many players it's hard to keep up, feels like every week someone is demanding game time, a new contract or a move away.

Got lads in the reserves worth 30-40m.

[LiverLuke]

Finding it quite easy as Liverpool, might have to change.

[Riquende]

https://www.pcgamer.com/why-i-love-the-surprisingly-tactical-thrill-of-cheating-in-football-manager/

Made me laugh cause I took away City's sugar daddy status, Chelsea's, and did so much to United they're in League One

Of my favourite files way back in the day was me playing as Luton, a mate as Watford (both in the 2nd tier at the time). We planted managers at Blackburn (recent champs), Man Utd & perhaps Arsenal, free-transferred the entire squad then joined with with everyone else scrabbling around for these suddenly available top class players. I remember ending up with James Beattie leading the line, maybe one or two others.

I haven't played the game in a decade probably, no doubt you can't get away with stuff like that now.

[Elzars brussels sprouts farts]

I bought the new one recently, quite impressed with the updates and changes. It feels a lot better transfer market wise, and as always I leave all the finer details to other staff members - Nobody wants to run training.

I have just started a game with Athletic Bilbao, always a good challenge. Oihan Sancet is an absolutely incredible midfielder and the academy has so many 4 star+ players.

Bilbao can be turned into a champions league qualifier, especially with their current and youth talent. Pushing them on is going to be so hard though. I'm basically giving my youngsters every chance to play I can in the hope they all develop to their max potential.

I get results vs Real and Barca every now and then, but really struggling to do the business in the knockout rounds in Europe.

[naYoRHa2b]

Just having a bash on this at the moment, subbed to pc Gamepass for a month.

Started off at Southport, came second in my first season, wage budget wasnt great though and it's seriously difficult to get decent players in never mind scout them. Ended up at Accrington halfway into year 2 and saved them from relegation, 24th when I took over in late October and ended up finishing in the last playoff position. Got knocked out but good run, gegenpress seems to work well.

It's not as much fun getting players in at the lower league teams as it used to be, very limited by scouting knowledge and also more work permit issues.

Decent though

[CheshireDave]

Good value for money this game!

It really is!

I downloaded a lower league UK database and started a save with Macclesfield FC (My local team and a team I have a season ticket for). We start in the Northern Premier League - West Division and as you can imagine getting crowds of approx 4000 (same as IRL) our bank balance is in a much better state than all the other sides in the league meaning we have been able to build a team which is too good for the league we started in and the one above. Not much to report other than we pissed the league in the first season and on course to win Northern Premier League this season. I have been playing full rotation in the FA trophy and the shit inter-league cup so not progressed that far in those. In regard to the FA Cup we made the first round twice. First season we got a tricky tie and went out. However, this season we have drawn Ashford FC from one of the lower league downs south so should progress and hopefully will get a big Championship side away.

I think we'll probably hit a wall when we get to the National League. I have kept 2 or 3 of the original squad. But I suspect they'll not make the cut next season and will end up flogging or releasing them. It is a bit annoying that because we're quite far down the leagues the players who are good enough for the National League have a really low value. So, I have league 2 teams and the like bidding like £3k for my best players and them getting a cob on because I flat out refuse to sell them. As I think we'll progress up the next couple of leagues pretty quickly I have been giving most players 1 year deals with an optional extension by club clause locked in. This means if certain players throw a wobbly because I am not selling them, I just dump them in the reserves and let them run their contracts down. It also helps there is no transfer window at this level so if I suffer a bad injury or have to banish players to the reserves, I just sign a replacement or loan someone in. I have found once the season kicks off and its clear a lot of League 2 players are not going to make the cut at their parent clubs, they will often loan them to you for nothing or just like 20% of their salary. I am hoping as we progress up the leagues the value of our players will increase and can look to move a few players on for actual money which I will plough into the facilities and improve the academy.

[bailey90]

Just started playing this again with a friend and managed to recreate our new formation on the game.

Really cool to see Trent tucking in when we have the ball and moving to a back 3 etc.

[ToneLa]

When I manage Liverpool I use Trent in the midfield and have Sergej Milinković-Savić from Lazio next to him as a BBM

Fabs sticking around as anchorman

Solid midfield. Trent and SMS get a decent amount of goals

[Hedley Lamarr]

When I manage Liverpool I use Trent in the midfield and have Sergej Milinković-Savić from Lazio next to him as a BBM

Fabs sticking around as anchorman

Solid midfield. Trent and SMS get a decent amount of goals

He phones it in at times though...I'm so sorry.

[ToneLa]

I forgive him haha

Got to the year 2032 and a Qatari bought the club  :'(

[ToneLa]

Unity engine change and women's footie finally!

Fm25

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/football-manager-24-is-the-end-of-an-era-as-fm25-switches-to-unity

[CheshireDave]

Very interested in this. Also the transferring saves onto newer versions is also going to be nice. Especially as I love a long term save.

[Wullie160975]

Very interested in this. Also the transferring saves onto newer versions is also going to be nice. Especially as I love a long term save.

Shame that only backdates from FM23 - I have some great saves from FM18 

[CheshireDave]

Anyone picked up FM24 yet?

I am really impressed. The match engine feels a lot more realistic though I can't fully explain why (surprised they changed much with the graphics as I believe they are having an all new match engine for FM25). They seem to have made it much easier to sell players which is nice. Not had chance to play about with the player targets feature yet.

Some of player wages at the Saudi clubs are insane. Benzema is on £3.5m a week, Ronaldo is on similar. I was in for a back up right back..agreed terms approx £120k a week... some Saudi team came in and offered him £800k a week and unsurprisingly I missed out.

Interested to know what people do with VVD if they're managing Liverpool. A whole host of Saudi clubs come in for him at the end of season 1 and you can bump the price up to like £60m. He's still very good though. After refusing to sign a new deal whilst there was Saudi interest he eventually did sit down to discuss terms and ended up getting him to take a pay cut of about £50k a week, 1 year deal with 1 year added if he plays 20 league games.

[red_lfc_costello]

I picked it up last week, only 8 games or so into the season at the moment. Interesting what you've said about VVD as ive just noticed the wanted icon beside his name and its a couple of Saudi clubs after him, same with Mo.

How did you do in your first season? Did you buy / sell or go straight in with what you had?

[CheshireDave]

I picked it up last week, only 8 games or so into the season at the moment. Interesting what you've said about VVD as ive just noticed the wanted icon beside his name and its a couple of Saudi clubs after him, same with Mo.

How did you do in your first season? Did you buy / sell or go straight in with what you had?

Yeah I have signed them both onto new deals. Both took a pay cut which was nice of them.

I won the League with a couple of games to spare, won the Europa, lost in the 4th round of the FA Cup, lost in the 3rd round of League Cup and won the Super Cup.

Regarding transfers I didn't do loads in the first window. Since then though at differing points of the season I have sold Gomez, Jones, Thiago, Gakpo, Bajcetic, Tsimikas, Matip, Endo and half a dozen of the U21s. Players of note I have brought in are Fati as back up to Diaz, Osimhen, Rico Lewis on loan for the first season as back up to Trent, Dani Olmo, Ousmane Diomande as Matip replacement, Ferland Mendy as back up to Robinson, Mazraoui as back up to TAA second season and João Neves at play as a BWM. I did try and get Upamecano on a loan to buy deal but he went to Barca instead of us.

This won't be a long term save to be honest. I will just play it until the full release comes out and then I will start a long term save. Not sure where yet. But maybe some sort of European rebuild.

I am playing a 4-1-2-3 custom gegenpress on positive most of the time from the start but if we are having above 50% possession I go attacking or very attacking just to kill the game off against weaker teams. If we are getting like 35% possession or less I drop it down to cautious, waste time, be more disciplined and on rare occasions turn off pass into space.

Allison (sk defend)

Robo (wingback support)
Virg (ball playing def)
Konate/Diomande (cb def)
TAA (wingback support)

Neves (BWM defend)

Olmo (CM support)
Szoboszlai (adv playmaker)

Diaz (inside forward attack)
Mo (inside forward attack)
Osimhen/Nunez (pressing forward)

[red_lfc_costello]

Thats quite the refresh!

Im top of the PL after 8 games, 7 wins and a draw. didnt go mad with signings in the first window, got a back up LB Branco (i think is the spelling) and bought Asprilla from Watford and loaned him back for the season. Been scouting a bit and looking at options for a defence rebuild so will see how that goes. Matip, Tsimi, Jota, Thiago will all prob go, will see what offers come in for others but i like to try and keep as many as the actual players around for a couple of seasons.

Is there usually a big difference between the early release and full game?

[CheshireDave]

Thats quite the refresh!

Im top of the PL after 8 games, 7 wins and a draw. didnt go mad with signings in the first window, got a back up LB Branco (i think is the spelling) and bought Asprilla from Watford and loaned him back for the season. Been scouting a bit and looking at options for a defence rebuild so will see how that goes. Matip, Tsimi, Jota, Thiago will all prob go, will see what offers come in for others but i like to try and keep as many as the actual players around for a couple of seasons.

Is there usually a big difference between the early release and full game?

Haha yeah I was pretty cutthroat about my business this time. Probably more so than normal as I know this is going to only be a 2/3 season save.

I know who you mean - Valentín Barco. I think a lot of people will get him in because of his attractive release clause. Roony Bardghji also has a pretty low release clause I think. I did think about selling Jota and bringing him in. But don’t think he is quite ready to be back up to Mo.

Regarding changes in the past there has been quite a few tweaks and fixes from Beta to full release but this year I don’t think there will be many. I certainly haven’t noticed any glaring issues. One thing I have noticed more than previous games (could be just coincidence and the fact I have very good inside forwards) is the number of goals scored from players cutting in and scoring from a tight angle. But the way the ball moves, rebounds, deflects etc seems more natural than FM23.

[CheshireDave]

Szoboszlai is bloody brilliant in FM24. Almost never has a poor game, scores some absolute bangers from long range, scores free kicks and pens. Such a well rounded player.

[ToneLa]

Szoboszlai is bloody brilliant in FM24. Almost never has a poor game, scores some absolute bangers from long range, scores free kicks and pens. Such a well rounded player.

You're not wrong
Using him as a BBM and he's solid and gets some long shots in

Haven't tried him on pens

--

My main save is a create a club having taken over Warrington and relocated it to Liverpool. It's grim at this level lol, youth demanding £5 a week.

Everyone's crap but we're scoring loads. Letting loads in.. but scoring loads

[JerseyKloppite]

Why on earth is the game not released until 4pm?!

[A scaleXtric DraeX Xmas]

Why on earth is the game not released until 4pm?!

Some of us are working mate!

[JerseyKloppite]

Some of us are working mate!

I'd like to download it so it's ready to go

[F-T-9]

I'm scared to get this as I'm pretty sure I'll be addicted. But then again, who doesn't love working on 2 hours of sleep?

[A scaleXtric DraeX Xmas]

I'd like to download it so it's ready to go

You just know if it's downloaded by 16:30 you're in and building your back office staff!

[XabiGerrard]

Will the mobile version be released through Netflix today?

[ToneLa]

match engine in this is amazing, best in years

Will the mobile version be released through Netflix today?

didn't come out at 4 but I think so, release date is today

[JerseyKloppite]

Slightly odd query - I was looking at signing Florentino Luis from Benfica but he doesn't seem to be in the game? Any reason he might be missing when the rest of the Benfica squad is there?

[ToneLa]

he's in my game

[JerseyKloppite]

That's so odd...

[JerseyKloppite]

A quick tip - if you're going to be LFC manager, don't give yourself no experience / badges. I've done this in the past without significant problems but this time I was told by Mo that I'd "lost the squad" after about 4 months, despite 5 wins and 2 draws in 7 league games, and progression in UEL/EFL.

[gerrardisgod]

Decided to go low, went for Sc*nthorpe. Dunno if it’s my training (actually thinking about it, they’re all in game) but injuries are absolutely rife, especially among keepers for some reason.

Just had my penalty taking striker in goal for the final twenty and of course we got a penalty, had to let him have it He scored thankfully.

[JerseyKloppite]

Any recommended face / logo etc packs?

[Garrus]

Any recommended face / logo etc packs?

sortitoutsi.net is your friend.

Personal preferences:

Faces - Cut-out faces
Logos - TCM logos
Kits - FC '12 kits
Trophies pack

[CheshireDave]

My main save is a create a club having taken over Warrington and relocated it to Liverpool. It's grim at this level lol, youth demanding £5 a week.

Everyone's crap but we're scoring loads. Letting loads in.. but scoring loads

Sounds good that. Never done a create a club.

I am currently managing Buxton. They have been in the playable leagues (National League North) for a couple of years now.

First season won the league, second season won the national league and currently midtable in League 2.

I have been offered interviews with Stoke, Luton and a few other League 1 and Championship outfits. Turned them all down. No interest in leaving.

The club is now professional and building a new stadium.

I have been and still am to an extent over reliant on loans. But because the clubs reputation is very low the pool of players who will join on a permanent is lower than the rest of the league. You’re allowed up to 5 loans in your match day squad in the EFL and I am pretty much always maxed out on that.

I absolutely love this type of save and am always excited come 1st July when the bigger teams release their unwanted players and there is a scrap to sign the best youngsters.

I would be more than happy to stay in League 2 this year. As it would allow our club rep to catch up a bit. The club expect us to fight bravely against relegation. But there is no chance we will go down.

One thing I have noticed is the number of injuries. Especially to goalies. At one point last season I had to play a greyed out player in goal because both my keepers were injured. In years gone by I would never play a GK on the bench. Now I always do. Which is a pain in non-league as you only have 5 sub spots. Less of an issue in the EFL as you get 7. Last year I took a team from level 10 (custom database) all the way to prem title and I don’t think my GK was injured in a match once. This version I have had it happen half a dozen times in 3 years. I have a feeling they may nerf the amount of times GKs are injured in a patch.

Another thing I have noticed is I am giving away and getting some penalties which look like great tackles. Player makes a tackle, ball flies 10 yards into touch and then the ref gives a pen. Something not right with the animation and outcome.

Those two issues aside I think this is the best version of FM in terms of how the match engine looks and plays.

[JerseyKloppite]

sortitoutsi.net is your friend.

Personal preferences:

Faces - Cut-out faces
Logos - TCM logos
Kits - FC '12 kits
Trophies pack

Cheers! Will give the facepack a miss for now as it's 13GB and may laptop reckons it would take 13 hours to download it all... But the rest of the stuff will massively improve the appearance of the game anyway.

[Garrus]

Cheers! Will give the facepack a miss for now as it's 13GB and may laptop reckons it would take 13 hours to download it all... But the rest of the stuff will massively improve the appearance of the game anyway.

There's a torrent option for the faces that you can use.