Topic: Football Manager Series

[Lycan]

After giving last seasons version a miss, I thought I'd give this seasons on a go.

My opinion so far(On the beta version. Full game doesn't come out till Tuesday).

The match engine hasn't really changed. And I'm not impressed.

Players still moving about the pitch like they're skating on ice.

I've been getting a ridiculous amount of penalties. Got 3 in one game. Missed two. Scored the other.

Keepers still standing there watching the ball roll over the line.

Very buggy as you come to expect from a beta version of a Football Manager game. They don't usually manage to get everything sorted till after January.

[Something Worse]

If it's possible to sell any players for a reasonable price, been an absolute chore on 19 to the point where I just stopped playing.

[ScottishKopite]

If it's possible to sell any players for a reasonable price, been an absolute chore on 19 to the point where I just stopped playing.

I stopped playing FM19 early on because of this also was a struggle.

FM 17 I ended up doing 9 seasons with Ajax what was pretty fun but after 2 - 3 seasons gets a bit out of hand.

Has anyone ever seen that youtuber called loki doki who done like 30 seasons with Fort William in the Highland League took them up to SPL and Champions League.

I have never been able to go a lower league side and work my way up the leagues

[Elzar]

I stopped playing FM19 early on because of this also was a struggle.

FM 17 I ended up doing 9 seasons with Ajax what was pretty fun but after 2 - 3 seasons gets a bit out of hand.

Has anyone ever seen that youtuber called loki doki who done like 30 seasons with Fort William in the Highland League took them up to SPL and Champions League.

I have never been able to go a lower league side and work my way up the leagues

FM19 I had Elgin City in the scottish prem. Made the Europa League but my interested died a little after having a bad transfer market and Fifa coming out in September. That took about 11 seasons of grafting and free transfers, player development and defensive football were key. That 1 spot promotion from Championship to Premiership is a killer.

I rotate FM and fifa, so i notice changes more.

[Dench57]

Gave up on 19 because it was much harder than previous versions to scout and sign players for non-league/lower league teams. Most fun in FM is taking a non-league team all the way to the top but I just couldn't do it in 19 because of how hard it was to find suitable players.

[RideTheWalrus]

Said I wasn't gonna get this one. Bought it yesterday. 

[red_lfc_costello]

Said I wasn't gonna get this one. Bought it yesterday. 

Think I say this every year, not going to bother, for the little time I get to play it ill keep with the previous version. Thought 19 was ok, had a good save going with Liverpool, still going but haven't played in a few weeks. Tempted to keep playing as I remember finally getting one of my long term targets due in the next window, would be a shame to give up on that save now. but, 2020 is shiny and new so ill prob end up getting it at some point.

Interested to see what everyone says once they get into a save a little.

[tubby]

Gave up on this series a few years ago because that it felt like tactics were waaaaay more important that players, which is fair enough to some degree.  But having bad tactics made world class player do really stupid stuff.

[FiSh77]

After giving last seasons version a miss, I thought I'd give this seasons on a go.

My opinion so far(On the beta version. Full game doesn't come out till Tuesday).

The match engine hasn't really changed. And I'm not impressed.

Players still moving about the pitch like they're skating on ice.

I've been getting a ridiculous amount of penalties. Got 3 in one game. Missed two. Scored the other.

Keepers still standing there watching the ball roll over the line.

Very buggy as you come to expect from a beta version of a Football Manager game. They don't usually manage to get everything sorted till after January.

Don't play as the mancs then

[Something Worse]

Any good left backs at a decent price? Going for Itter at the moment

[Sangria]

Gave up on this series a few years ago because that it felt like tactics were waaaaay more important that players, which is fair enough to some degree.  But having bad tactics made world class player do really stupid stuff.

Did your copy have Roy Hodgson on the cover?

[ToneLa]

Started a new club, Olympus FC, already got them wanting to "walk through walls" for me

Tactics from 19 seem to be working a treat!

In Vanarama North, aiming to play Liverpool in a future CL final 

[Lycan]

Don't think there is much longevity in taking over a big club really. After about 4 or 5 seasons, when you've built the squad you want, it all becomes a bit too easy for me. Going undefeated, scoring well over 100 goals, winning everything in sight etc...The AI just doesn't seem to work intelligently enough to keep the league a real challenge. Lower league clubs are the way to go if you want a game that will last you in my opinion.

[ScottishKopite]

FM19 I had Elgin City in the scottish prem. Made the Europa League but my interested died a little after having a bad transfer market and Fifa coming out in September. That took about 11 seasons of grafting and free transfers, player development and defensive football were key. That 1 spot promotion from Championship to Premiership is a killer.

I rotate FM and fifa, so i notice changes more.

Did you experience the play offs at any stage in this career ? 3rd play 4th over two legs then winner plays 2nd over two legs final is also over 2 legs plays 11th in spl or 9th in champ l1 or l2. 

so if the team finishing 4th in championship gets in play offs and aims to get promoted then need to play a max of 6 games to get there. 


I done a Raith Rovers save once got to the Prem but struggled and stopped hate managing in Scottish leagues.

[Elzar]

Did you experience the play offs at any stage in this career ? 3rd play 4th over two legs then winner plays 2nd over two legs final is also over 2 legs plays 11th in spl or 9th in champ l1 or l2. 

so if the team finishing 4th in championship gets in play offs and aims to get promoted then need to play a max of 6 games to get there. 


I done a Raith Rovers save once got to the Prem but struggled and stopped hate managing in Scottish leagues.

Ye, they are horrible. More just having to play a team from the league above, especially when you start as such a poor club. My seasons went in a bit of a pattern

Lost in playoffs
auto promotion
mid table
lost in playoffs
auto promotion
mid table
survived relegation
lost in playoffs
won in playoffs

Once in the SPL I had no funds and didn't look like I was going to be getting any, my club was still semi professional 2 seasons in and I decided I couldn't be bothered. Might look at going back to it though sometime.

[ScottishKopite]

aye that's a nightmare.

I sometimes loose interest after a few season because it becomes a bit too much.

[ToneLa]

Started a new club, Olympus FC, already got them wanting to "walk through walls" for me

Tactics from 19 seem to be working a treat!

In Vanarama North, aiming to play Liverpool in a future CL final 

Top of our league in Jan 2020, but just knocked Spuds out of the FA Cup 

Felt fuckin brilliant.... 3-2 thriller, really great, complete with a cheeky dubious VAR decision ruling out a goal of ours!

Cannot wait to take on the PL teams with this - it feels a lot more special than, forgive me, guiding our IRL-brilliant Liverpool to further glory which I've done since 2011.

My lower league club in my image is absolutely brilliant fun...

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

What role does VAR play in the game? How have they actually gone about incorporating it?

Didn't play last years version as dad duties no longer give me the time.. but I have a week of freedom coming up so was thinking about buying!

[ToneLa]

What role does VAR play in the game? How have they actually gone about incorporating it?

Didn't play last years version as dad duties no longer give me the time.. but I have a week of freedom coming up so was thinking about buying!

It seems decent, not too obtrusive (I've only seen it in cup matches)

Tell you what it's less game-killing than the real life version. A goal will happen and it's no less annoying than it being flagged for offside - it'll say it's a VAR call and show the same computer generated "Line" you see on TV and the decision.

One thing about last year - I NEVER had a VAR-disputed goal stand, ever ever. Not experienced it enough this year to know if that's still true.

But for how it's handled, it's good - another element to the game that's realistic, and crucially, flows nicely without disrupting the game (and the few calls I've seen did seem fair and consistent - something I can't say for the real life version!)

[Lycan]

If you're looking for some good, young, cheap attacking talent, look no further than Francisco Trincao and Thiago Almada. You can thank me later. Mohamed Daramy is a good one for the future as well.

[Something Worse]

If you're looking for some good, young, cheap attacking talent, look no further than Francisco Trincao and Thiago Almada. You can thank me later. Mohamed Daramy is a good one for the future as well.

For Liverpool or lower league?

[Linudden]

FM's glory days are long, long gone. I gave 19 a go since someone bought it for me on Steam during a selloff, but I was really disappointed with the way it has developed into something resembling trying to complete a PhD research project rather than just a stable gaming platform. Everything from tactical instructions to scouting players were shit and also players with very high finishing missed simple tap-ins all the time. I dominated almost every game I played but lost way more than I deserved even though I played 4-2-3-1 gegenpress and had good finishers and CB's on the pitch, mainly as Leicester and Lazio in order to not make it too easy. I still much prefer the older FM's that were rawer but had a more user-friendly feel to them. They've overcompensated to cater to the worst nerds that probably write to them in droves and the result is predictable 

I'd sort of liked playing 19 as a sporting director, but having to combine that with coaching the team and the slow progress was overkill.

Another part that sucks is that they've lost so many licenses. I had to spend two hours in the editor to recover the Brazilian clubs to even their real colours, let alone figuring out which was which, farcial! Also in the old games one could change licensed shirt colours. Way better. Liverpool's shirts somehow are way too bright red as well.

[Lycan]

For Liverpool or lower league?

I never play Liverpool. Trincao and Almada become good premier league players if trained properly. Same with Daramy, but he's only 16 from the start.

[Lycan]

FM's glory days are long, long gone. I gave 19 a go since someone bought it for me on Steam during a selloff, but I was really disappointed with the way it has developed into something resembling trying to complete a PhD research project rather than just a stable gaming platform. Everything from tactical instructions to scouting players were shit and also players with very high finishing missed simple tap-ins all the time. I dominated almost every game I played but lost way more than I deserved even though I played 4-2-3-1 gegenpress and had good finishers and CB's on the pitch, mainly as Leicester and Lazio in order to not make it too easy. I still much prefer the older FM's that were rawer but had a more user-friendly feel to them. They've overcompensated to cater to the worst nerds that probably write to them in droves and the result is predictable 

I'd sort of liked playing 19 as a sporting director, but having to combine that with coaching the team and the slow progress was overkill.

Another part that sucks is that they've lost so many licenses. I had to spend two hours in the editor to recover the Brazilian clubs to even their real colours, let alone figuring out which was which, farcial! Also in the old games one could change licensed shirt colours. Way better. Liverpool's shirts somehow are way too bright red as well.

FM lacks competition. There were so many good football manager games back in the 80s or 90s. Now it's just FM.

[Garrus]

FM's glory days are long, long gone. I gave 19 a go since someone bought it for me on Steam during a selloff, but I was really disappointed with the way it has developed into something resembling trying to complete a PhD research project rather than just a stable gaming platform. Everything from tactical instructions to scouting players were shit and also players with very high finishing missed simple tap-ins all the time. I dominated almost every game I played but lost way more than I deserved even though I played 4-2-3-1 gegenpress and had good finishers and CB's on the pitch, mainly as Leicester and Lazio in order to not make it too easy. I still much prefer the older FM's that were rawer but had a more user-friendly feel to them. They've overcompensated to cater to the worst nerds that probably write to them in droves and the result is predictable 

I'd sort of liked playing 19 as a sporting director, but having to combine that with coaching the team and the slow progress was overkill.

Another part that sucks is that they've lost so many licenses. I had to spend two hours in the editor to recover the Brazilian clubs to even their real colours, let alone figuring out which was which, farcial! Also in the old games one could change licensed shirt colours. Way better. Liverpool's shirts somehow are way too bright red as well.

You could give FM Touch a go mate. It comes free with the full game and is definitely a lot more pick up and play compared to the main game which can be quite tedious at times. Mostly play FMT these days as I can't really be bothered spending 3 hours on pre-season alone in the main game.

[[new username under construction]]

Someone needs to write a new version of 01/02 for me. The fun was never in details tactical management and the match engine; for me it was always buying players, training them etc....Even now I stick 01/02 on super fast match.

[stoa]

You could give FM Touch a go mate. It comes free with the full game and is definitely a lot more pick up and play compared to the main game which can be quite tedious at times. Mostly play FMT these days as I can't really be bothered spending 3 hours on pre-season alone in the main game.

Tried one of the mobile versions (either 19 or 18) and it was basically how the main game used to be five or six years ago. I completely lost interest in fm in recent years as it has become too crazy. Just like Linudden mentioned. Another thing that pissed me off is that player morale played such a huge part in being successful yet they had no real way of making an impact there without the whole thing turning into rocket science...

[ScottScott]

Not gonna pick this up for the 1st time in years. I've played the demo and not enough has changed for me to warrant it. I'll update FM19 and keep playing that

[Mr Mingebag Squid]

Someone needs to write a new version of 01/02 for me. The fun was never in details tactical management and the match engine; for me it was always buying players, training them etc....Even now I stick 01/02 on super fast match.

There was a version floating around that had 18-19 data - think if you google CM0102 or something like that it should pop up.

[Elzar]

Someone needs to write a new version of 01/02 for me. The fun was never in details tactical management and the match engine; for me it was always buying players, training them etc....Even now I stick 01/02 on super fast match.

Try here
https://champman0102.co.uk

You might be able to get a more up to date version

[Elzar]

Not gonna pick this up for the 1st time in years. I've played the demo and not enough has changed for me to warrant it. I'll update FM19 and keep playing that

As I said earlier in the thread, buying it every 2 years seems to be more fun, you notice more of the changes. There is usually database updates until January time anyway for last years.

[ScottScott]

As I said earlier in the thread, buying it every 2 years seems to be more fun, you notice more of the changes. There is usually database updates until January time anyway for last years.

There's database updates every week and they are excellent. I've used them before. Think 2 years is the way to go, see more change, more things to look forward to

[CheshireDave]

Waited a while to get FM20 but finally picked it up on Friday. I wanted to wait until they’d at least released a couple of patches.

Started a save with Macclesfield Town. First season went much better than I and the board thought. Macclesfield are in financial ruin. They took out a £4m quid loan and eventually a takeover was completed (oddly by their ex-chairman in real life). They are given £0 transfer budget (just 5% of transfer sales goes back in the pot!) and a wage bill of £22k a week, of which they’d spent about £21k of by the time I arrived. They have 0 good youth prospects in the u19s. I sold 3 or 4 players and brought 2 or 3 loan players in. Media thought we’d finish last. Board wanted me to fight bravely against relegation. I ended up finishing 6th and then lost 3-2 in the playoff semi to Cheltenham. Did nothing in the cups. Don’t think I won a cup game except against Villa U21 in that crap EFL cup. In a way I was actually quite happy we didn’t get promoted as this squad (which 90% of contacts ran out at the end of the first season) would get demolished in League 1. As I say most of the contacts ran out in the summer. I signed 3 or 4 of them back up and luckily managed to convince them to take a small pay cut. And my prize for massively overachieving and finishing in a playoff position? The board cut my wage bill from £22k a week to £15k a week and gave me £0 transfer budget again. Great.

Just in pre-season in season 2 now (played 3 easy friendlies against pub teams). Secured 6 loans (you can only have 5 in the match day squad in league 2) 4 or 5 kids released from Prem/Championship sides. I am almost in the position of having 2 players in each position and around £600 a week in wages left which is realistically 1 decent player or 2 kids. The first season I probably used 70% of my squad as the rest were useless. This season I am going to have to use 100% of my squad at some-point or other seeing as the board removed a quarter of my budget.

In the January of the first season I picked up a CM (but can play RW) and a CB both of which are worth around £300-400k. At some point I am going to have to sell them. But I am reluctant to whilst all I’ll get is 5% of the money to reinvest. But on the other side of things if manage to bring in around £1m it might ease the financial mess and they may start giving me more to spend. 

Playing a 4-2-3-1 wide positive formation at home and 4-1-2-1 DM cautious formation away. Trying to keep things really simple. Basically when at home my fullbacks get further forward than they do away from home or against a strong team. Away from home I have a DM (or ball winning midfielder in the DM position) and at home I play with an attacking midfielder in the CAM position. I have my wingers/inside forward on support roles and play with an advanced forward home and away, mainly cos that's all I had.

I was offered the Coventry job who are in League 1 I believe. I turned down the interview as the only way I will leave Macclesfield is if I am sacked. Which right now is unlikely as I was on an A- on the club vision screen. Really not sure how this save will pan out. It’s really dependant on the finances. If I stay up again and they cut my budget again it will really hard to keep keeping them in League 2. The only way I can see them getting out of this financial mess is if I am able to pick up some very good released kids and sell them for a big profit. Will try and give another update once the second season has started and I know how the squad I have assembled manages.

[ScottishKopite]

Waited a while to get FM20 but finally picked it up on Friday. I wanted to wait until they’d at least released a couple of patches.

Started a save with Macclesfield Town. First season went much better than I and the board thought. Macclesfield are in financial ruin. They took out a £4m quid loan and eventually a takeover was completed (oddly by their ex-chairman in real life). They are given £0 transfer budget (just 5% of transfer sales goes back in the pot!) and a wage bill of £22k a week, of which they’d spent about £21k of by the time I arrived. They have 0 good youth prospects in the u19s. I sold 3 or 4 players and brought 2 or 3 loan players in. Media thought we’d finish last. Board wanted me to fight bravely against relegation. I ended up finishing 6th and then lost 3-2 in the playoff semi to Cheltenham. Did nothing in the cups. Don’t think I won a cup game except against Villa U21 in that crap EFL cup. In a way I was actually quite happy we didn’t get promoted as this squad (which 90% of contacts ran out at the end of the first season) would get demolished in League 1. As I say most of the contacts ran out in the summer. I signed 3 or 4 of them back up and luckily managed to convince them to take a small pay cut. And my prize for massively overachieving and finishing in a playoff position? The board cut my wage bill from £22k a week to £15k a week and gave me £0 transfer budget again. Great.

Just in pre-season in season 2 now (played 3 easy friendlies against pub teams). Secured 6 loans (you can only have 5 in the match day squad in league 2) 4 or 5 kids released from Prem/Championship sides. I am almost in the position of having 2 players in each position and around £600 a week in wages left which is realistically 1 decent player or 2 kids. The first season I probably used 70% of my squad as the rest were useless. This season I am going to have to use 100% of my squad at some-point or other seeing as the board removed a quarter of my budget.

In the January of the first season I picked up a CM (but can play RW) and a CB both of which are worth around £300-400k. At some point I am going to have to sell them. But I am reluctant to whilst all I’ll get is 5% of the money to reinvest. But on the other side of things if manage to bring in around £1m it might ease the financial mess and they may start giving me more to spend. 

Playing a 4-2-3-1 wide positive formation at home and 4-1-2-1 DM cautious formation away. Trying to keep things really simple. Basically when at home my fullbacks get further forward than they do away from home or against a strong team. Away from home I have a DM (or ball winning midfielder in the DM position) and at home I play with an attacking midfielder in the CAM position. I have my wingers/inside forward on support roles and play with an advanced forward home and away, mainly cos that's all I had.

I was offered the Coventry job who are in League 1 I believe. I turned down the interview as the only way I will leave Macclesfield is if I am sacked. Which right now is unlikely as I was on an A- on the club vision screen. Really not sure how this save will pan out. It’s really dependant on the finances. If I stay up again and they cut my budget again it will really hard to keep keeping them in League 2. The only way I can see them getting out of this financial mess is if I am able to pick up some very good released kids and sell them for a big profit. Will try and give another update once the second season has started and I know how the squad I have assembled manages.

I love taking a chance on a youngster or a free agent then being able to sell on for huge profit. I haven't bought FM20 normally buy every 2 years got 19 never really played it. was thinking on starting with lower league English team. not really looking to the craziness saves like getting Mk Dons into prem win league and champions league.

Was considering going Crewe they have history with bringing good youth players through.

[CheshireDave]

Yeah man. First season is always a slog in the lower leagues but when them bigger clubs start releasing players the fun starts!

Tell you the truth I only generally manage in the lower leagues on FM. I will stick this out with Macclesfield for couple more seasons and depending on how the finances are either stick at it or start a new save. I fancy taking a lower league South American team to Continental glory. But it's easier said than done down there as the finances are generally absolutely shite and the league structure seems to be set up to keep the bigger teams in the top leagues...but those South American regens!

Another idea I have is a Eastern European journeyman save - make a new profile as an Eastern European Manager with no badges and no experience and load up only the Eastern European leagues and work my way up to one of the better teams in Eastern Europe giants like Shaktar, Dinamo, Red Star or Steaua.

[ToneLa]

[gwalk]

Got the mobile version to keep me entertained on a flight last weekend

lost interest after 2 hours

[CheshireDave]

Not sure what the mobile version is like nowadays to be honest. I played one 3 or 4 years ago and it wasn't nearly detailed enough for me. I am the sort of sad git who'll spend an hour looking for an U18s physio.

Started 2nd season with Macclesfield in League 2 the other night. It was really hard to build a squad due to only having £15k a week in wages to spend. Down from £22k the previous year!

Unbelievably after 17 games of the season I sit top of the league, 6 points above 4th (top 3 go up automatically). I was 7 wins and 1 draw from the first 8 games at one point. But I picked up a few injuries and basically had 1 fit winger for a month. Which is not ideal as I play 2 wingers every game pretty much. I am £1.5k over the wage budget and  reliant on loans (I have the allowed 5 loans almost every game in my squad). Had a slight wobble in the league mainly due to injuries and not having a big squad. In League 2 there is a restricted transfer window which runs until about November I think. In this window you're allowed to sign free transfers. Obviously I am skint so can't be bringing any in on £700+ a week. So instead I have brought in 3 kids, who were released from Prem/Championship clubs. They're nothing special. But I just need bodies. 1 or 2 of them have decent potential, but they're not great. If I can get a season out of them and flog them for a few grand in the summer I will be happy. Main thing is though because they are 17-19 years old I am only paying them around £150/£200 a week so I have been able to not batter my wage budget.

Got knocked out of the League cup by Port Vale in the first round. I got knocked out of the EFL cup only getting 1 win from 3 in a group with Leicester U21 and two other league teams whose names escape me right now. Maybe Fleetwood was one of them. Board not really arsed about those tournaments. In the FA Cup I draw Morecambe in the first round and drew with them 1-1 away from home. Got the reply coming up and the winner will play Sunderland away in the next round. So I really do want to win this 1st round. Not only because the board want me to make the 2nd round but also I guess I might get a bit of cash with it being against Sunderland.

Due to the injuries I was forced to make a new formation to try and get some sort of plan B. I scrapped the 4-1-2-1 DM cautious I mentioned in previous post in favour of a 4-4-2 defensively minded setup. Reason being I have a few striker options but was down to scraps in terms of wingers. Rather than having my fullbacks overlapping they hold their position more and the wingers become more of wide play makers. I am still getting good possession numbers, just not making the 4 or 5 clear cut chances which my more attacking formation yields. I plan on making a more narrow formation too. Something like 4-1-2-1 but with fullbacks pushing on and the DM holding their position.

[Something Worse]

It's so fun reading about LLGs but the lowest I've ever gone has been Championship/Serie B, and I hated it haha

[ChrisLFCKOP]

Love lower league management, basically have to rebuild your squad every year!