The Football Manager Thread

[Gray Fox]

He's in the van.

https://gyazo.com/3a19a37562fb828cd4a8c581ea7e7200.png

Also the team obviously hate Americans.

https://gyazo.com/d3652014c8ba602d41143d1b36abf9aa.png

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Do you not just use the instant results button for that Mahow? Makes life easier.

I am now, cheers.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/sCdRaWD.png

http://i.imgur.com/79okArY.png

:drool:

Can't imagine he'll be here long though, quite a few league 1 sides are sniffing around.

[Baz]

Injury crisis and we're having a nightmare run of form.

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/eib41xl0.png

:(

[Baz]

Anyone had Franco Lopez before? Not sure if he starts at River Plate or Barcelona.

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/w36mjhd5.png

Had a £3.8m bid accepted., but so have Hoffenheim. I really need him. My boss Romanian striker got injured and we've lost 8 in a row without him. :cab:

[Gray Fox]

He looks way more developed on your save than he does mine.

https://gyazo.com/74ff3e524cf824f3ec71b63c59a2781e.png

[Baz]

Got him. :drool:

Also signed Sime Vrsaljko from PSG for £4.9m. He's best as a right back but I'm hoping he'll be my left back for the next few years, once he's mastered it.

My other January signings were Will Hughes for £9.75m. He was listed for £8m but my skin-flintedness didn't work out so I ended up paying more than I'd liked.
Also got a cheap centreback as backup in Emiliano Velázquez for £1.7m, which seems like a bargain.


Ahh man something just happened that made me actually feel bad for a player on a computer game. :face:

Mark O'Brien's been at the club since the start - and bossed it, to be fair:
https://i.imgur.com/4irH7pn.png

But he's just done his cruciates and is out for 8 to 9 months. :( Captain, too.

[Gray Fox]

Baz those are worse when they come out and claim they may have to retire because of it. It's a bastard of an injury.

[Gray Fox]

Got through to the end of summer again and some deals have come and gone. I'll start with the outs.

https://gyazo.com/547d51bd2e7a2c05df063ac3060c3dd6.png

It was a case of shifting some fringe players on. I finally realized Stancu wasn't cut out for life here and by only newly promoted Charlton coming in for him it kind of confirmed I was right to move on. Ajer was the captain but we now have some better players, with more potential who could use his game time. Surprised by how much we got for him. Ragusa was the lad who did his ligaments last season. After a year off almost he needed to be playing every game and Udinese say they'll be doing that. Balanta was entering the last year of his deal and was wanting 6 figures. I deemed him not worth it and sold him on, if a little cheaply. Some of the young lads went out on loan to feeder clubs. Vallejo never wowed me and when City rocked up with big money I was only happy to accept. Lincoln and Roberts are in the same situation as Ajer was but permanent homes couldn't be found. Interestingly Roberts accepted the Everton move despite them being in the Championship. £85m made back across transfers and loans isn't bad going.

https://gyazo.com/59a0af409e7b5fb0d114ceadab605174.png

As for the ins, we are benefiting from stacking the team out on previous years. It was only really defence that needed upgrading along with the striker position. We have 2 Mexicans arriving at the back. Manuel Perez (https://gyazo.com/f37c858ac4ca4b4fdbf19adb3c66c6ac) being the first. He's aerially dominating but is no slouch either. Could do with gaining a point or so on some mental stats but looks good. Added bonus is that with those attributes he looks right at home as a defensive midfielder.
Guillermo Pena (https://gyazo.com/9a71380d1104942894b5a7648f2c00d8) is quite similar to Perez in some ways but looks a little less polished. His upside is he still has plenty of room to grow. The two also play together for country so they should gel well together in no time.
Lastly there's Wahyu Tri Abdullah (https://gyazo.com/267d1798edd54fead3f0c60ec47cfdf7). He has pace and can use it all game long. If he grows into those 2 stars then he should be very good indeed.

We've now got a pretty stacked team. The oldest player is Butland at 27 with the next guy down being 24. This team could well dominate without buying anyone for the next 5 seasons at least. There's now £209m in the bank and we have a 54,000 seater St. Marys with top training facilities. We just need to win some cup competitions now. Other than that Champions League run we've gone out early basically every year. Other than the league we've won the Charity Shield 3 times and that's it(beat Everton on pens this year).

Anyway as for the Champions League draw we got the group of death.

https://gyazo.com/9194c9d4d8ed751d2ef873234a0340e9.png

For the 3rd year in a row we got Dortmund in our group. That's still a tough one though.

Lastly, this is the year the board have realized we've made it. They now expect me to win the league, get the Quarters in Europe and Semis in the FA Cup. Media have us down as joint 2nd favourites so we'll see how it goes.

[John]

An unexpected short day with absolutely nothing to do means FM in the sun until the Champion's League starts tonight. :drool:

Here are my star men.


http://i67.tinypic.com/2ee9ag3.png

Decided to stay and signed a new contract until 2032, which is lovely although he does now account for 14% of my total wage bill. He's such a complete don though that it's absolutely worth it. He's won the Golden Boy three times on the run.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2eovh9d.png

The new Modric. The game hasn't told me so, but he fucking is.

http://i63.tinypic.com/j0b0y0.png

Came through the season after we sold Ante Supe and has been in the first team since the second he appeared. He has one star left to develop into so he's not likely to get much better, but he's good enough to be my centre forward forever already.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2q0ugd3.png

Started out as a reasonably quick clogger with good tackling, but he's developed into a proper defensive midfielder. Bosses the midfield.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2d7x5j4.png

Came through a month ago and looks like he could be something special. He represents the third youth intake in a row with nothing but strikers showing any potential, but his stats make him look as though he could become a top attacking midfielder, so I'm retraining him to play there. We're twenty points clear in the league so he's straight in the first team and will start wherever possible.

We're pissing the league as usual, and have been putting in the sort of performances in the Europa that suggest winners. We scraped past Sporting in the first knockout round, but we then fucked Fiorentina 4-0 away from home Dortmund 4-1 away from home, so we're running riot at the moment.

[John]

Robert Cacic, my starting goalkeeper, was taken to play for the Croatia U21s for a month the day before I was due to play Leverkusen in the Europa final. That left me with only Antonio Klaric, a twenty six year old who's spent seven years out on loan, three of those in the second tier, and hadn't yet played a first team game for the club.

http://i66.tinypic.com/2utqcfl.png

The cunt fucking saved one. :drool:

[John]

http://i64.tinypic.com/20pq9f.png

What a fucking pest. Cacic has turned up to ask for a new contract too, I agreed that I'd offer him one, hit continue once, and he was back to complain that he hadn't been offered a deal.

Get fucked, Cacic. Klaric is a hero.

[Adramelch]

How does the game fair compared to the old ones (didn't play 2015 either)? More interested in the game engine stuff.

[John]

I quite like it, but it's still biased towards players with pace and for some reason hilariously biased towards right backs.

[Baz]

An unexpected short day with absolutely nothing to do means FM in the sun until the Champion's League starts tonight. :drool:You play FM outside? :D

[John]

I was sitting on the patio with my laptop, yes,

[John]

We've won the Euro Super Cup for the second time. Despite the game having three red cards, two missed penalties, my star winger picking up an injury, and my other winger pinging one in from distance, my biggest reaction came from the Manchester City goalkeeper's name. Wes Grundy. Excellent.

[Gray Fox]

I've not seen a newgen come through and get 20 pace myself so that is something. I'll agree players with pace seem to be great no matter the technicals really. I'm thinking my next save/destination will be somewhere like Croatia. Short and sweet seasons, actual challenge to win in Europe.
I was considering leaving Southampton but I wouldn't like to without winning all of the cups here first.

[John]

Babic has had 20 pace but it's at 19.8 for now, and his acceleration was 19.6 at one point but it's 18.4 at the moment. He spent six months out with a broken leg so I'm amazed he's got back up there myself.

Croatian league season is thirty six games, but there's only one cup so I suppose it is short in that way. Their scheduling is a fucking shambles though, as I've mentioned before. There are inexplicable week breaks throughout the season in addition to the two month break over Christmas, but the end of season regularly looks like this;

http://i64.tinypic.com/dqjc0j.png

And I've posted this picture before, from an earlier season, just to show it's not European football that fucks them up.

http://i67.tinypic.com/291zyxi.png

One game a week for a month and three in five days to finish it off.

[John]

Top seeds for the Champion's League draw. :cool: We've pulled AC Milan, Valencia, and Anderlecht, which should be a group we can get through with some momentum.

[Chrissy]

I was sitting on the patio with my laptop, yes,

To be fair it was good weather for it today.

FM is the only game iv'e ever played outside my house on the laptop. Few beers and FM in the sun is good vibes.

[John]

It was for a while but it started to get a bit dull around fourish and then there was a minute long flurry of fucking snow, before the sun came back out and it was lovely and warm again.

Christ knows what's going on with our weather.

First game of the Champion's League group we've fucked Anderlecht 5-0, with Babic scoring two and assisting two. So, so good. :drool:

[Gray Fox]

I've gone into add/remove and set the Swiss, Swedish, Norwegian, Croatian, Danish and Austrian leagues to activate this year. Although I'm not sure if it's best doing this, or starting a fresh save. It'll probably be a few years until I leave but it should populate the leagues.

My original next destination was going to be Italy to take down Juventus, but I missed this happening last year. (https://gyazo.com/cb76a15b398e6d502b92bc38f1870f6a)

[John]

The Serbian league might be worth a look. They've turned out a couple of cracking players in this save. One in particular who's shat on my head a few times for Juventus.

http://i63.tinypic.com/29avb6e.png

Basically the best striker in the game at the moment, with only an Argie nutcase at Man City close to him.

[Gray Fox]

He looks bloody mental. Pace + the Anticipation/Off the ball combo says to me he must hit 40 a season.

[Gray Fox]

Brought Rodriguez on for his first run out and he scored. As a reward I started him against Villa in the next game. They broke his ankle the twats and we ended up losing 4-0. :moop:

EDIT: Next game in the 3rd minute, Andrija Zivkovic gone for 8 months after heavy challenge did his cruciates. Damn.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/jV2wIh2.png

http://i.imgur.com/4uxtus9.png

http://i.imgur.com/gs4YzU4.png

128 wins in a row now but only at level 18 from next season.

I am never doing one of these again.

[Townsend]

Is there any geez who can do me a favour?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Riga_FC_logo.png

I'd like this logo resized to appropriate fm sizes but I don't have photoshop on my laptop.

[John]

My latest youth intake has continued a recent trend of offering up reasonable quality exclusively in positions where I'm set for a while.

http://i66.tinypic.com/2aipj02.png

Babic seems happy enough to stay for the moment, and has just come second in the Ballon d'Or, so of course the best player in the intake is a left winger. Of course he is. Though I'll never not be happy with a 'best of his generation' player coming through.

http://i64.tinypic.com/ngyjc0.png

This one is actually quite welcome since my current goalkeeper is a midget who can't jump, albeit one with outstanding reflexes. Hopefully that potential bar isn't lying and he'll be good enough to become number one. Still though, I have one capable defensive midfielder and one good right winger in the entire club.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2ur5cmc.png

Even the third highest recommendation is in a position where I have three highly capable players already. And he doesn't look up to much.

[John]

And the player I was having to retrain from last year's is coming along beautifully. One year on he's natural in his new position and performing well.

http://i66.tinypic.com/35b8qae.png

[Gray Fox]

I know you've retrained him there, but in my save there's no attacking midfielders like that. The ones I seem to generate have high passing and first touch to start with but dribbling in single figures. He looks like he'll be a great shadow striker.

[John]

Exactly the role he'll be playing for me. First choice there now is far closer to the sort of player you're talking about.

http://i63.tinypic.com/2wqsi0j.png

Came through in the first intake and was a seriously slow developer. The sort of player who'd never have had a sniff if I was buying players. Didn't become a real first team player until about 22/23, but he's performed well since.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This guy is going fucking bonkers this year:

http://i.imgur.com/jINACQi.png

http://i.imgur.com/frgaqVZ.png

[Baz]

Is there any geez who can do me a favour?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Riga_FC_logo.png

I'd like this logo resized to appropriate fm sizes but I don't have photoshop on my laptop.
http://i.imgur.com/J0qrpJ8.png

[Townsend]

Cheers Baz! Can you do a small one as well?

[Baz]

At work now. Will do it at about 3:30 if nobody else has.

[Townsend]

Thanks mate.

[Gray Fox]

January again and this time it's different.

https://gyazo.com/899f953962d6821c94e598648b26c1f2.png

City are on another level this season. We've just been too inconsistent. We've started to turn the corner lately but it's already too late. I think I'd left too much potential to be filled and not enough quality for here and now. Though oddly it went well in Europe.

https://gyazo.com/d15843cabd608da651ef53fb460d7e8f.png

We face Sassuolo who got in via a Europa League win last year in the knock outs.

[John]

My group this year also finished with us and Valencia going through, oddly. We then done Atletico in the first knockouts and Real Madrid are up next. We've played them eight times and won once, so I don't expect much.

[Gray Fox]

They've really found their feet on my save. Struggling to start with they're now in the top 4 regularly.

[John]

I don't have the league loaded so can only see the top three. They've finished third once, and that was last season.

Sevilla have had a couple of thirds, but other than that it's been Barcelona, Real, and Atletico in one order or another every year.

[Baz]

Cheers Baz! Can you do a small one as well?
It didn't turn out so great. :uhoh:

http://i.imgur.com/lhX1w1W.png

[Baz]

Offered trials to about 100 players. Really wish I hadn't. :moop: Not only do I have to confirm them one-by-one and move them into the U21/18 squad, the amount of 'potential to be a useful player' is frustrating.

Fog of war may be realistic, but it's annoying.

[John]

Real Madrid dispatched on penalties. I've now beaten them once in ten games. Barcelona in the next round. We might as well open up a satellite office in Spain.

[Townsend]

It didn't turn out so great. :uhoh:

http://i.imgur.com/lhX1w1W.png

:D Looks awful in game. Cheers for trying though mate, better than nothing and the normal sized one is great.

[Baz]

Two games to go:

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/flolszd1.png

My remaining fixtures:

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/ej5ctjku.png

:uhoh:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/2e5O9al.png

http://i.imgur.com/ZuxLErZ.png

Goodnight you beautiful beast :(

[John]

What were the six appearances in? Is there a cup competition exclusively for teams that low down?

[Gray Fox]

Two games to go:

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/flolszd1.png

My remaining fixtures:

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/ej5ctjku.png

:uhoh:

How did it finish?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What were the six appearances in? Is there a cup competition exclusively for teams that low down?

http://i.imgur.com/6xPOwhD.png

3 cup competitions.

He also scored a double hattrick against Montpelier Villa III in the league, he loved that defence.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/70O2WSs.png

When 'Tammy' (what a shit name for a male btw) left quite a few others followed so we weren't smashing everyone left, right and centre after that but it's still too easy.

http://i.imgur.com/eAoELg5.png

102 GD (106 scored, 4 conceded) in 18 matches is absolutely fucking bonkers.

161 matches won in a row, this is fucking torture.

[Gray Fox]

Deliberately getting yourself knocked out of the cups could speed the game up immensely. You look like you play more cup games than league.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's not as bad now that I have the instant result button but I just hate playing with a side that is clearly better unless I've built it from the ground up. This just feels like cheating and in the worst possible way.

I like a challenge in FM which is why I'm always pissing about in some shit hole of a country to try and make a shit team competitive. These low league challenges are just the pits though (7th tier up with Hitchin was quite fun actually) and I'm counting down the seasons until we get some competitive games.

[Baz]

As much as you say you're not enjoying it, it's still pretty impressive how well you're doing.

We're do you predict you'll finish in your first season in the conference south?

[Mike]

Could you not holiday it a little to get the easy seasons out the way, or part of them.

[Baz]

How did it finish?Just beat Spurs 3-1 to go even on points. :eek: They've got +2 GD on me though, mainly thanks to Kane's 35 league goals, so to get 4th I've got to better their result or score 2 more than them if we both win. Spurs have 13th placed Norwich. I've got Champions Arsenal, who will hopefully rest everyone for the Champions League final. If only FM worked like that, eh.

If Chelsea lose their game to 19th placed Stoke, we also make it. :moop:

I've just had a pint of Berocca. Never been so up for a game!

EDIT:

https://i.imgur.com/Br3qZzS.png

https://i.imgur.com/A8fqOUP.png

Spurs and Chelsea both bloody won too didn't they. :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

As much as you say you're not enjoying it, it's still pretty impressive how well you're doing.

We're do you predict you'll finish in your first season in the conference south?
First more than likely, we have league 1 and 2 quality players. I'd imagine we'd batter most of the teams in the conference right now.

[Vim]

After about a month or so off, I went back to my FM15 save where I got hired by Juve. (I'd originally started with Sassuolo)

First game back, this happens:

https://i.gyazo.com/3c430704a9fef8cca4bd669cd02e38e8.png

Lost this 2-1, with their goals coming in the last 7 minutes. Six matches in and this basically condemns us to second place, I made Sassuolo too strong before leaving. :moop:

[Gray Fox]

Not much business done in January except for this.

https://gyazo.com/67c0c914ef95423d02c157a713c53ce4.png

He'd been bitching for about 2 months about a lack of football. That fee can rise to £35m if he makes 50 league appearances for them.

We then went and stole the first leg of our Champions League tie. Hopefully we don't bottle the 2nd leg.

https://gyazo.com/49a45a05d7c54ec45fe883117162a237.png

EDIT: Youth intake day has thrown up a couple of 5 star potentials.

Morty Surridge

https://gyazo.com/e4bce4b3cd3a75faef6b09f40cec36e3.png

Stefan Earls

https://gyazo.com/8d13170a20e41c486dc866ac96e6c871.png

I have had a fair few 3/4 star players in the youth system so far, but none have made it to the first team and as we've improved, have had their star ratings move down and then they've moved on.
There are a couple in the u-18s now that might be able to do it, but Morty there is the first Southampton born player to have the chance.

[Baz]

https://i.imgur.com/kBJhRQq.png

Not happy about that.

EDIT: https://i.imgur.com/yOiP83P.png

The Premier League is ridiculous.

[Gray Fox]

If memory serves, you get a shitload in parachute payments even if you shit it up.

[Gray Fox]

https://gyazo.com/832af241448b0a39d475388d916d3388.png

That was nervous from the 55th onwards but thankfully they didn't really get a chance. I looked at the full first round results after and there was a big shocker in there.

https://gyazo.com/4b47f33bdea8fd532d408e1302612578.png

Celtic, Ajax and Galatasaray getting through was unexpected. Our 'reward' is Madrid away first in the next round.

[John]

Morty looks quality. Different attribute spread but he looks like he could be the second striker you were craving when I had Petravic come through.

[Gray Fox]

After clawing City back slowly over the last 10 games, we've got smashed away at United 4-1 and then Hugo Lloris was yet again the best goalkeeper there ever was and we lost 1-0 away to Spurs. That's probably the title out of the question this season.

[Dark Soldier]

We've just hit the woodwork five times en route to a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea in a game we dominated. I've never seen more than four. Fuck this game sometimes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/qu6HGDk.png

http://i.imgur.com/qkkfczF.png

That extra time effort :uhoh:

Win streak is now at 200.

[Gray Fox]

We've just had the most mental 2nd leg against Madrid. They had Scuffet in goal and he seriously saved them in that 2nd half. It was all one way traffic.

https://gyazo.com/58c4fdff1bcfc735623a4c623a2583fe.png

EDIT: The same week ended a little better though. I'd torn some hair out after we missed our first 2 spot kicks.

https://gyazo.com/83747e80f5620f1b4395beda4d97c5de.png

[John]

Lads. LADS

http://i.imgur.com/XOhvovY.png

A seriously eventful game.

http://i.imgur.com/KLYi6a8.png

And fucking scenes. Martinovic is not a special player, but fuck me he's had a special game. At 3-0 I was celebrating, at 4-1 I was wary but confident, at 4-4 I was certain we were fucked. That's my objective in this game complete, fourteen seasons and five months later, but I've now added taking the Croatia job whenever Prosinecki is improbably sacked and winning the World Cup to keep this save going. It's great.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That 3 minute spell, you must have been seething.

http://i.imgur.com/ZSUfRkN.png

The potential capacity there :drool:

What a stadium.

[John]

The minute the first of those three went in I was resigned to losing the game, so I skipped past seething and when the final whistle at a draw I was relieved. After the game though I realised I didn't actually have anything to worry about at any point. They're managed by one Steven James Sidwell.

I'd be fuming at that, Mahow. Presumably the fact that a stadium named after you already exists will mean the next one will be named after the club or something, so you've blown your named stadium on a place that can be outdone by a decent sized train.

[Gray Fox]

Congrats John. I would've seethed myself to death when they made it 4-4.

[Baz]

I'd be fuming at that, Mahow. Presumably the fact that a stadium named after you already exists will mean the next one will be named after the club or something, so you've blown your named stadium on a place that can be outdone by a decent sized train.Hopefully there are other club legends still in the game by that point, so he can nickname them and hope one of his choices gets picked.

The season I'm about to start with Luton is our first in the Harford Stadium. Forgot to nickname Mick Harford didn't I. :moop:

[Gray Fox]

Season 2020/21 over with.

https://gyazo.com/f53bc06f2cb47e37aaa746c3c409b4f8.png

The first time I've been made to regret selling players to City. Only once so far have we got enough points in a season to have beaten them. We need to be better next year. Special mentions for QPR and Bournemouth. They were both set for 4th place with 3 games left but both shit the bed and Spurs fell over the line there.

Elsewhere around the world, Barcelona finished 2nd to Madrid despite getting 96 points. They sacked the manager for that too. Likewise Marseille were 2nd with their 92 points behind PSG who broke records with 103.

As you'll have noted above we did have an FA Cup final. I was expecting to face Man United there but somehow Championship strugglers Ipswich beat them.

https://gyazo.com/ec4c7d495a161bac814dae061716785a.png

My boy Sergio finishing his season strongly. Gian Paulo likewise. It was a professional job but I got nervy when we didn't put them away in the 2nd half. But that wraps up what is my first Cup win of my time at Southampton. It also sees me into the Icons list here and creeping into the Hall of Fame.

Full squad stats:
https://gyazo.com/24354387136a197030a265d769e60c5e.png

Pleasing to see the younger lads breaking double figures in goals and good to see plenty of assists around the team. Just a shame there's so little English here.

The club now has announced itself to be debt free and has given me essentially £200m to spend and £2.5m p/w wage budget. I'm hoping for a quiet summer though.

[Gray Fox]

Juventus who have failed to win the league for the past 2 years (5th place followed by losing on the final day of last season to finish 2nd), have just been expelled from European competition for failing FFP.

A lot of their squad are throwing a wobbly now as that's 2 years out of the Champions League. I'll see who I can poach.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Italian football is such a mess in FM.

I always had clubs missing out on Europe due to FFP and Inter even dropping to the second tier.

I miss that game :(

[Clunge]

Okay, new Touch game - the setup:

Transfer list and offer out all of Aston Villa's first XI, with the exception of the better young players (i.e. all the bloaters). Holiday season one to May 16 when the season starts in the hope they get relegated (they do).

Return from holiday, retire manager, create new manager of Aston Villa. Offer out again all the deadwood that remains. Promote all the youth players good enough to play Championship football. Start building the club up again, starting in the Championship.

Players who survived the cull - Bunn, Steer, Webb, Baker, Suliman, Clark, Bacuna, Amavi, Gardner, Westwood, Grealish, Abdo, Green, Robinson, Hepburn-Murphy and Gestede (although I intend to ship him out).

Obvs, having flogged off most the first XI, I have a fair amount of cash swilling round so I've brought in so far - Josh Meekings (Inverness), Havard Nordtveit (BMG), Richard Smallwood (Rotherham), Will Hughes (Derby) and Christian Pulisic (Dortmund).

Three wins out of three so far. I'd imagine my squad should be easily good enough to make the play-offs but I'd almost rather lurk in the Championship for an extra season before making back up to the Premiership. We'll see.

[wullie]

Just had the Qatar World Cup shifted to Argentina due to club protests, not had that one before.

[Greg]

http://i.imgur.com/V8m6IJk.png

Won 3-1 on the final day to squeeze into 3rd...

[John]

http://i.imgur.com/Xq5tM9y.png

We have one commercial affiliate club, and they're a second division Chinese shambles. Has this fucking game just forced me into complicity with financial doping?

[Gray Fox]

Were you set to fail FFP or any financial trouble?

[John]

I know it's happened because we were going to fail FFP, we have an unsustainable wage bill and only haven't failed the last two years through player sales. I just haven't seen the board bring money in quite like that before and it seems a lot like the game's version of a rich board member buying the car park for eleventy billion quid and leasing it back free.

I went overboard on the wages because I could see the essence of a great side there and I wanted to keep them together. It worked out nicely with a Champion's League win last season, but then the expected exodus to cleanse the wage bill and fill the bank didn't come, so I'm paying champagne wages in a prosecco league.

That said, my wage bill is only actually half of what the board would allow, and if I spent my current transfer budget we'd be a hundred million quid in the red, so the board are lucky I'm not Smiffy.

It probably won't be long until someone matches the release clauses for Konjevic (32.5m) and Babic (56m) anyway, so the board have doped for nothing.

[Gray Fox]

Is the league rep going anywhere near the top leagues yet? That's a Europa League and Champions League trophy you've got recently if memory serves, assuming you've had normal quarter/semi-final appearances since they your coefficient should be going through the roof.

I saw wullies post above and forgot where the World Cup had gone in my save. It's at the end of this season too so I checked to see it's gone to Morocco on mine. Then something in the past winners column took my eye.

https://gyazo.com/74dae92b37cf8f812bf08eec3e78a90c.png

https://gyazo.com/21f2d6d25bbf2f3b902687d164477144.png

That must have been one mental World Cup.

[John]

Three Europa Leagues and a Champion's League since 2023, but the last two of those came in consecutive seasons. As a club we're sixth in Europe but the rest of the league is so desperately shit by comparison that it doesn't make too much difference. The league is tenth in the world, between the Dutch and the Brazilians.

[Baz]

My first go in Europe and this is the league that the Europa League has thrown at me:

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/qt4f4lez.png

Tough!

Amusingly, Championship side Burnley won the FA Cup last season so they're in it too, and their group isn't much better:

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/wfjvpm79.png

[wullie]

Playing as Milan and it's really just a case of chasing down a runaway Juventus each year, but it's getting closer so it's got to happen within at least seven more seasons. Going with the kids is working quite well, there are a few prospects coming through, all of these already first team players with Donnarumma just past 100 games


http://i.imgur.com/fI9bi28.png

http://i.imgur.com/No6G3Ov.png

http://i.imgur.com/gm97TJy.png

http://i.imgur.com/89lQD62.png

Calabria in particular is a bit good, almost playing Abate into semi-retirement

http://i.imgur.com/U4IBR4g.png

[Baz]

Transfer Window has shut.

http://www.littlemonstersforum.co.uk/images/q/kunnnq6n.png

Spending Premier League figures nowadays. :drool: Although I only tend to buy players off the transfer list.

Rooney's in for tutoring regens. New centreback pairing of Bruma and Mangala is a force to be reckoned with too.

[Manc]

I need to back involved with this. What price range am I looking at for a Laptop that can run it comfortably?

[Mike]

So having won EVERYTHING EVER at Boca in the space of three months, this has happened
https://i.imgur.com/794iUkB.png

Winterthur > Metz > Boca > Manchester United.

:D

Took my sweet time but I've got to the end of the season.
https://i.imgur.com/8tP1jFg.png

Fixtures from when I took over.
https://i.imgur.com/Go9VN6L.png

https://i.imgur.com/mCOmGKT.png

https://i.imgur.com/DXGbnPq.png

Pretty much sacked off the League and went all out on a Europa Cup win to get into the Champions League.

It's going to be a busy summer, hopefully I get money to spend.

EDIT: Given £100mil to spend :D

[Baz]

https://i.imgur.com/xxcMAZy.png

Finally.

[Mike]

While rebuilding Manchester United, I've also been busy at the Olympics.
https://i.imgur.com/Y9gx7G5.png

[Mike]

It was a busy summer
https://i.imgur.com/pwKrGeR.png

It's paying off though
https://i.imgur.com/RO5WxbY.png

[Gray Fox]

Is Grecco by any chance a quality central attacking midfielder?

There was one with the same name on my Southampton save.

[Mike]

He was the goal keeper at my title winning Metz side.
I'd signed them another before leaving so they let him go to me. Still cost a fortune.

[SincereTheRebel]

Moving into my 12th season on FM15. I won 10 titles in a row until i changed formation and finished 3rd. Its annoying that year after year, its only PSG who actual bid for my players. I thought it was something to do with the cost, but even if i ask for 25% of a players value which is £50m. Its only PSG who actual bid. Im going to use the editor and see what other clubs finances are like.

[Bernanke]

http://i.imgur.com/oLxVGVF.png?1

:D / :face:

[Disco]

http://i.imgur.com/oWbDkmi.jpg

Yeah, fair point.

[Shindig]

What a bunch of Yevs.

[Disco]

We've drawn twice since then, they'll probably lynch me at the next one.

[Disco]

Although we're not the only ones to have a weird view of the league this season.

http://i.imgur.com/rku9uAw.jpg

Yeah mate, of course you are...


http://i.imgur.com/4gYuQLU.jpg

[Pepe]

Brendan Rodgers managing Juventus. :D

[Disco]

It gets better...

http://i.imgur.com/RqfEMNK.jpg

[wullie]

http://i.imgur.com/Z0cmggB.png

I want to say Isco's won me the league and broken Juve's stranglehold, but we've got Inter at home and away at Pescara so it's still a fumble waiting to happen.

[John]

Croatian heroics have made me load up my Zagreb save to kill an hour, and I'm immediately reminded of what a shambles the scheduling is.

It's December and we have seven games in hand in the league. Seven. We played through the winter break a few years ago so this is nothing new, but I think we were about four games behind that season and still ended up with a mad run of fixtures at the end of the season, so fuck knows how this will shake out once European and domestic cup fixtures are scheduled.

[Bam]

Is there anywhere you can torrent graphic megapacks? I can be arsed with this part downloading nonsense.

[five time]

Sortitoutsi have a torrent I'm pretty sure.

[Bam]

Oh right, I'll have a look. Cheers.

[Bam]

Cant find any torrents on Susie.

Like fuck am I downloading all this bollocks again, my old Laptop has gone for a burton and I can't get old stuff off. :mad:

Just took 20mins to get some kits. :(

[Disco]

This save is the gift that keeps on giving.

http://i.imgur.com/y85FXIg.jpg

[Yevrah]

Susie have two massive megapacks, one for faces and one for logos.

I don't think they're available via torrents, but unless you're on dial up it should be fine.

[Bam]

Susie have two massive megapacks, one for faces and one for logos.

I don't think they're available via torrents, but unless you're on dial up it should be fine.

Yeah but don't you have to download each park instead of just one huge pack?

[Baz]

Yeah afraid so, unless you donate and get a premium account.

[Bam]

Well thats just shit. Looks like i'm going to be forced into pay for that.

[Baz]

Well thats just shit. Looks like i'm going to be forced into pay for that.
Don't do that. You've got a PM.

[randomlegend]

Has anyone had Cristoph Kramer on this? Signed him in my latest game and he's been a brilliant defensive midfielder, but he's a total nutcase.

Got sent off 5 times last season and just walked again in the first pre-season friendly of the next season for mullering someone :D

[Shindig]

I'm playing 01-02 and for the first time ever, I've seen the Share Issue message. £21.5m. Freddy's lost it.

[John]

Started a Rangers game a couple of weeks ago intending to piss around with it until the new game comes out, but I've wound up tuned right in. Coming towards the end of the third season and loan striker Alberto Cerri has just broken an at this point in the game eighty six year old club goalscoring record, having already punched Henrik Larsson in the dick months ago. Forty six league goals.

[Shindig]

It may be my longest Newcastle save in 01-02 but its all going south. League form was never great (6th, 5th, 7th finishes) but the board are after the title year on year and only cup runs prevent the axe. Keiron Dyer's pulled the trigger on his contract, Nobby wants a new challenge and Bellamy thinks I'm shite. Shay's still chucking games away whilst Chiotis has also caught that bug. Meanwhile attempts to sign David Prutton have been scuppered twice as he keeps injuring himself at the 11th hour. Probably the game's way of saying he's accident prone.

We reached the FA Cup 1/4 and League Cup semis last time around but this time I'd rather concentrate on Europe. We lost out to eventual winners PSG at the 4th Round. This time we face Atalanta at the same stage.

[Spikey M]

Anyone got a good lower league tactics for FM2016? My Southend side is struggling like MJ's marriage.

[Bam]

Lazy git. Go on SI's offical fourm, they have loads of tactics.

[Shindig]

Just ask your Assistant. Or give your players a stern telling off. I dunno, I've got my own problems. Shearer's retiring.

A err... video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAPZZJ25sgc

[Kikó]

Just started on my first 16 game and the first team to give me a chance are going to take a bit of work to improve:
http://i.imgur.com/A0Ld6yN.png

4 actual players as well.

[Shindig]

Was going to do another CM video but OBS suddenly dislikes my bluetooth headset. I'm now the third-longest serving Toon manager behind Joe Havey (13 years) and Stan Seymour (19 years). We finished in a record low 11th position but followed that up with a respectable 7th the following year. Keeper and defence are still a problem but I've now got a trio of young keepers that are ousting Given and Chiotis. Joe Dolan is a calming influence at the back.

And Alan Shearer rumbles on. He left us as expected but not to hang up his boots. His form had dipped but was still enough to land 30 in his final season. He kept knocking back our contracts, as if he was paving a way for a retirement. Then he changed his mind. Another offer comes in which he scoffs at saying "Newcastle can't meet my demands." So I let him leave. For a year he sat doing nothing as a free agent. Whilst struggling to replace him (Chopra and Cort just aren't consistent enough), he changed his tune wanting £25k a week.

Bought Alan Shandran instead. Shearer now plays in the Spanish Second Division. He should destroy it.

[Dark Soldier]

Gonna dick about with a Legends database on 16 soon, this guy has put a fucking ton of work into it:

https://community.sigames.com/topic/330340-fm-2016-ultimate-stars-and-legends-game-1880s-to-2016/?page=1

Loaded it up and there's a shite load of greats at all their respective clubs. Probably get bored in no time.

[Raoul Duke]

Gonna dick about with a Legends database on 16 soon, this guy has put a fucking ton of work into it:

https://community.sigames.com/topic/330340-fm-2016-ultimate-stars-and-legends-game-1880s-to-2016/?page=1

Loaded it up and there's a shite load of greats at all their respective clubs. Probably get bored in no time.

Looks interesting, although how does he prevent (or not) a) duplicate players b) just giving everyone 20s all over the shop?

[Dark Soldier]

I can't say I noticed any duplicates, Ronaldo is at United but not Real or Sporting as an example. With regards to stats, therein lies the problem as its hard to balance it right due to the simple 1-20 system. According to Genie Scout, the best player is an Austrain AMC/SC who you can buy for about six mil.

The more I look into it, its a great achievement but sadly only the big clubs (primarily England), and the bigger players have been done.

[Shindig]

Looks interesting, although how does he prevent (or not) a) duplicate players b) just giving everyone 20s all over the shop?

DC did a PES6 OF like that and it had 3 Ginolas. Anyway, I sorted OBS out.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsogWYLUPnY

I feel like doing these once a week. Ta for those that viewed the first one.

[Dark Soldier]

2017 announced.

Clicky (http://www.footballmanager.com/games/football-manager-2017?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_term=fm17&utm_campaign=announce)

FM Touch removed from the game, but you very, very kindly get it free if you pre-order. If not, got to buy it seperately.

Its always good for everyone when one company has a monopoly on a certain market. Cue another broken husk of a shitty mess.

That I'll still buy.

[Vim]

I'm pretty sure I haven't played more than four full seasons on 16. I'll probably still get the next one, knowing myself. It's usually 20 pounds tops at least.

[Mike]

I'll get it. The 20% discount if you've had the last 4 is nice, I imagine it'll still be cheaper elsewhere though.

[Shindig]

All I want is the annual Miles Jacobson Twitter breakdown.

[Dark Soldier]

I wonder which position will be broke this time? Full backs on 16, so I'll go for centre attacking mids, think that was CM5 when they were last fucked.

[Mike]

Keepers, of course.

[Dark Soldier]

Ah they worded it like a lunatic, SEGA have clarified FMTouch is still free with any copy bought.

Isn't it about time we saw a drip feed of new look advertising hoardings and new haircuts for your manager? All that exciting shit.

[Shindig]

Improved Press Conferences

You can now call someone the second nicest man in football, after yourself.

[Raoul Duke]

Time played:

FM10 - 596 hours
FM11 - 532 hours
FM12 - 783 hours
FM13 - 117 hours
FM14 - 370 hours
FM15 - 358 hours
FM16 - 66 hours

Think I might be done with it if there's nothing major this year (I'll probably still buy it)

[Smiffy]

.....

[Shindig]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ5AUo4rAbU

Alright, I've seen way too many new things in this run. A simple request for a few extra seats in the stadium results in the largest club stadium in the country. I wonder if the game calculates that off your spare funds? I'm also wondering how this will end. I've never once lost the fans and the board have barely shown any discontent in my eight years.

At this point, the only club record to chase is Joe Harvey's 591 games in charge. With Robbie Elliott's retirement, only Chopra, Cort, Given and Dabizas remain from the original squad. The mackems have had a change of Chairman which has resulted in a string of sackings. Peter Reid went in 2005, followed by Joe Kinnear (who won them an FA Cup) and then resigned a year later. Lawrie Sanchez followed and now it's the turn of David Moyes. They're not even doing badly. They finished 8th last year with the Swedish triforce of Hersi, Risp and Elmander. Kily Gonzalez is having the time of his life there. There's some decent youth on display with the hilariously named Danny Danks.

Kevin Phillips retired this year. Celtic have Joe Cole back from Barca as the world's most expensive used condom. £26m. Rio Ferdinand's switch to Barcelona from Leeds remains the world's most expensive. £41m. This year alone he's played for three different clubs. United sold him back to the Spanish giants before ditching him at the end of the season to Feyenoord.

Zinedine Zidane seems to get released and re-signed by Lille on a yearly basis.

[Yevrah]

Tempted to boot this bad boy up again.

Any recommendations for an interesting game with this season's data?

[five time]

You could have a look at one of the transfer updates, maybe a team like Newcastle who just went down?

[Mazuuurk]

I've been too, lately. It's the transfer market that does it. Usually the urge dies down once it's shut, and I never bother as I don't want to play the old game during a new season (I know they are hardly different, it's not rational). Since the game usually comes out in November, that's why I normally end up getting it in January - in the end.

[Yevrah]

Time played:

FM10 - 596 hours
FM11 - 532 hours
FM12 - 783 hours
FM13 - 117 hours
FM14 - 370 hours
FM15 - 358 hours
FM16 - 66 hours

Think I might be done with it if there's nothing major this year (I'll probably still buy it)

Must have bought FM10 on disk, but here's the rest:

FM11 - 632 hours
FM12 - 620 hours
FM13 - 622 hours
FM14 - 1,835 hours
FM15 - 1,760 hours
FM16 - 227 hours

Dormant time must be built into those hours and surprised 16 is that much to be honest, feels like I've barely done anything on it.

[SvN]

I quite often keep FM minimised for days on end, so my figures are way out.

[Yevrah]

Yep, me too.

I played 14 and 15 A LOT, but that's all that can really be garnered from those numbers.

As an aside, anyone have a link to a good update? Went with the Susie one, but while it's transferred players it's omitted promotions and relegations. :cab:

[Mazuuurk]

Which one was Eibar, 15?

[Yevrah]

Yeah, would have been.

[7om]

Yeah, that Eibar game was fantastic reading. Such a shame the old board is dead.

[bruhnaldo]

Yes, the Eibar updates were fantastic reading. Actually got me wanting to play the game again.

My current laptop has a shit video card, though, so I've been hesitant. Is there still a way to just use the drop down 2D view? Sorry for such a basic question.

[Yevrah]

In some ways I think that killed FM for me. It's definitely the best save I've had on FM (maybe not CM) and once I'd done that everything else seemed a bit shit.

[Yevrah]

Yes, the Eibar updates were fantastic reading. Actually got me wanting to play the game again.

My current laptop has a shit video card, though, so I've been hesitant. Is there still a way to just use the drop down 2D view? Sorry for such a basic question.

There is.

[bruhnaldo]

Thanks bud. I keep thinking it'll just crash if I try to run it in general.

I don't really play computer games at all anymore *shoots middle fingers at the PC master race* but used to spend days on end playing FM back in my less responsibility-laden days :(

[Yevrah]

Really struggling to find any sort of appealing save to play, particularly when I don't have 20 hours+ to sink into each season, for multiple seasons.

If I did, I'd do the Queens Park game.

[Mazuuurk]

The problem for me is always getting into it, specially with crappy teams. Once you're a season or two in, it usually becomes more fun as you can start getting bargain buys and actually start getting the tactics right, etc.

[wullie]

As an aside, anyone have a link to a good update? Went with the Susie one, but while it's transferred players it's omitted promotions and relegations. :cab:

I tried the one here the other day and although a few League 1 transfers were missing the teams were in the right divisions for the English league at least - https://sortitoutsi.net/football-manager-data-update

[Shindig]

In some ways I think that killed FM for me. It's definitely the best save I've had on FM (maybe not CM) and once I'd done that everything else seemed a bit shit.

Yup. Had the same problem with 01-02 when I had my Spurs dynasty. And the Southampton dynasty before that. Makes those times when you do get into a save so special.

[Reg]

In some ways I think that killed FM for me. It's definitely the best save I've had on FM (maybe not CM) and once I'd done that everything else seemed a bit shit.

Could have something similar with the new game...


Leganes, where Samuel Eto'o started his senior career after a loan move from Real Madrid, are undoubtedly the fairytale team of the new season, with their 8,000-capacity Batarque stadium preparing for the first top-flight campaign in the club's history.

The Madrid-based minnows are also notable for possessing maybe the strangest nickname in football: The Cucumber Growers. This summer they have been running a marketing campaign entitled 'Now Try Our Cucumbers', while their victory in Vigo came in their change strip... all green, of course.
Also Alaves (from the 2001 UEFA Cup final) have been promoted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37178108?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_match_of_the_day&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=sport

[Shindig]

100 games shy of Joe Harvey's record, I find myself in a crisis. League form is piss poor and the dressing room is in a sulk. I did the kind of thing a manager does when he kinda wants out...

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k336/shindig1984/desperate%20times.jpg

And that Scottish kid with the Spanish name is coming in the summer.

EDIT: We finished 4th after a glorious three-month spell which saw me take 3 Manager of the Month awards. Rafael Van der Vaart also joined. Saviola scored twice against the mackems on his debut. From 40 yards. Unfortunately, the board still dislike Daniel Jensen so I've decided he's too flourish elsewhere. Same goes for Chris Davis who had a good World Cup with Scotland. Matteo Ferrari's in. 477 games down. 115 to go. Meanwhile David Moyes celebrated Sunderland's League Cup success with a sacking one month later. State of their Chairman.

John Toshack had his job in the balance til Leeds won the FA Cup. Boo. And the Joe Cole World Tour continues. He leaves Celtic yet again for pastures new.

[Shindig]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMt3bA8OZQ0

I was not expecting any of this. I'll see if I can rattle off the remaining games for Harvey's record and then I dunno. I'm really hoping to get sacked at some point. Oh, bollocks. OBS has arsed the aspect up on that.

[Mike]

I've given two best man speeches this month. Both mentioned Football Manager :cool2:

[bruhnaldo]

Now that I know my laptop won't spontaneously combust, I want to pull the trigger on 16 but feel like I'll just get annoyed when 17 comes out .

[Mike]

Now that I know my laptop won't spontaneously combust, I want to pull the trigger on 16 but feel like I'll just get annoyed when 17 comes out .

It's a bit of a wait. November before it's out.

You can get it for a cheapish price.
£13.88 from a site I've never heard of http://uk.mmoga.net/Steam-Games/Football-Manager-2016.html?ref=392&currency=GBP
or a little more from an ebay seller: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Football-Manager-2016-PC-Mac-Full-Digital-Game-STEAM-DOWNLOAD-KEY-/121964659374

[Demerit]

My lack of 16 game time is purely down to my laptop's deficiencies to be honest.

I think if I got a new one this autumn I'd be balls deep in 17.

[bruhnaldo]

It's a bit of a wait. November before it's out.

You can get it for a cheapish price.
£13.88 from a site I've never heard of http://uk.mmoga.net/Steam-Games/Football-Manager-2016.html?ref=392¤cy=GBP
or a little more from an ebay seller: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Football-Manager-2016-PC-Mac-Full-Digital-Game-STEAM-DOWNLOAD-KEY-/121964659374

Oh, nice. Part of it was me thinking I'm an idiot for spending $50 but I'd gladly pay a $20 spot.

Now to find the facepacks, kits, logos, blah blah blah then.

Thanks again for sharing.

[Mike]

https://sortitoutsi.net/graphics/style/1/cut-out-player-faces

They have a torrent file.

[bruhnaldo]

Mike, you do live up to your profile tagline I'll give you that.

Appreciate bro.

[Mike]

HA cheers.

I've gotten back into FM over the weekend. Loaded up my long running save and my Man United side are sitting pretty at the top of the League. Come a long way from cold nights managing Winterthur

[Mike]

Oh Football Manager...
https://i.imgur.com/7eq5Dhl.png

[Mazuuurk]

They seriously need to spend all their time on fixing shit like that. Fuck the Match engine - if anything is Immersion-breaking it's that stuff and basically all interaction with players & press in any way.

[Shindig]

I'd be happy if they scaled that stuff back. At least to the point where you felt press interactions mattered again.

[Disco]

I've almost certainly ranted about it before but all the stupid shit that would take five minutes to fix is still massively infuriating. How hard would it be to fix all the totally illogical squad interaction rubbish?

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Anyone else still playing older versions? I've now got almost 1400 hours against an FM2012 save, 1000th game up next. Feels a bit unhealthy when you work out the number of whole days of your life you've put into something like this.

[Manc]

Fm12 is and was the absolute bees.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I've only sampled 2013 for a few hours, not played anything newer.

[Mike]

Crumbs.
https://i.imgur.com/6dTvwpB.png

Just had a thrilling 2-2 Manchester derby.

[Shindig]

13's the only FM I've truly got into. Part of it's due to Rangers being such a coast.

[bruhnaldo]

Well downloading those facepacks has become too tedious and I've given up entirely.

[Manc]

Could any old laptop run 2012?

[Raoul Duke]

Read the minimum requirements?

[Samadini]

How long do you normally have to wait for someone to throw up a data update, after the transfer window?

Need Daryl Murphy to don the Championship. I tried to do it myself, but it was borked, all my players wanted to leave immediately.




Looks like someone has released one today :drool:

[Shindig]

Sweet release. 624 games in charge.

2 League Cups
1 FA Cup
1 Charity Shield

... and the league title that killed us. We challenged for the title both years since but, as soon as the form slips, the players look elsewhere. They've not given a fuck this year and neither have I. The fans ultimately fired the shot in the space of what seemed like a week.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEYPT88O-OM

[John Arne]

How long do you normally have to wait for someone to throw up a data update, after the transfer window?

Need Daryl Murphy to don the Championship. I tried to do it myself, but it was borked, all my players wanted to leave immediately.




Looks like someone has released one today :drool:

Yeah, Susie has one
https://sortitoutsi.net/football-manager-data-update

[Ian]

In 2027 on my FM15 Newcastle save. Just won my fourth consecutive Champions League but every fucking final has been on penalties. :moop:

[bruhnaldo]

Fuck.

I did a CL Final on pens back in the day and lost, was absolutely gutted. To be honest I think I quit playing FM after that (but can't remember if I half-heartedly tried to keep going)

I can't imagine the thrill of winning four in a row like that.

[Gray Fox]

Back in the days of either 06 or 07 I was in a network game with 3 mates. Liverpool(me), Everton, United and Arsenal were the teams chosen. Back then it took an age to get through one season in a network game because none of us was buying our own PCs. The United manager came 2nd, me 4th, Arsenal 5th and Everton manager 6th and won the FA cup. After about a month of playing it I made it to the Champions League final against Bayern. It was tense but our side dominated the game start to finish without scoring. Went to pens and they even missed their first but turned it around to win. I was gutted. Worse still, the other 3 guys were watching in game and mocked me for weeks after.

Safe to say we never played another season.

[Raoul Duke]

I tried picking up my game the other day and couldn't be arsed. Maybe a 'bottom at Xmas' short-term thing could work, if you're super motivated to play

[Smiffy]

.....

[SvN]

I've got a guy who's been a Physio at United since 1999 suddenly deciding he can't work at United because of the club's rivalry with Liverpool. It's now 2031, so he's been at the club already for 32 years.

http://i.imgur.com/JJPBNfL.png

http://i.imgur.com/hDVR7ux.png

[Clunge]

Question; If I buy FM Touch '17 for Mac/Steam, does that entitle me to a tablet/mobile version? I.e. you don't have to buy it twice do you for different devices?

[Clunge]

Question; If I buy FM Touch '17 for Mac/Steam, does that entitle me to a tablet/mobile version? I.e. you don't have to buy it twice do you for different devices?
Anyone?

[Smiffy]

.....

[Raoul Duke]

Anyone?

Doesn't look like it to me:


All copies of Football Manager 2017 (whether pre-purchased or bought after the release date) will come with a free copy of Football Manager Touch 2017 (for PC, Mac or Linux). Football Manager Touch 2017 - the more streamlined, ‘transfers and tactics’ way to manage - can also be purchased separately as a standalone game.

Whether you pre-purchase or pre-order Football Manager 2017 from a participating digital retailer, or a participating boxed retailer, you’ll also receive a range of free downloadable content for Touch including 'Board Override', 'No Firing', 'All Job Applications', 'National Management' and three brand new challenges to play in the 'Challenge' game mode.

A host of new and updated features will be revealed in the days leading up to the Beta release at footballmanager.com and on our social channels, so follow us now to be kept fully up-to-date.

Information about Football Manager Mobile 2017 will follow in the coming weeks.


FM + FM Touch are one thing, FM Mobile is another.

[Clunge]

Oh FFS. I thought the whole point of Touch was that you got it for PC/Mac and tablet, and the saves were cloud-based so you could jump between the two?

In fact, I still think it means that. I'm sure they delineated FM Mobile was just for phones, while Touch was for high-end tablets? Might just ask Miles on Twittargh.

[Raoul Duke]

Maybe - I'm not 100% (and haven't owned it) but it looks like they're separate products judging by that.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Smiffy]

.....

[Shindig]

I'm itching to get back to mine just so I can settle Samba vs Georcelin as my main striker. Plus I want to do some Team Spreadsheet stuff when the clock hits present day.

[Raoul Duke]

The amount of FM legends in that team :drool:

[Pleb]

I didn't realise that I had a disc copy of CM99-00 :serious:

It's loaded and booted up on my laptop now :drool:

[Giggles]

Was there one released for free a while back?

[Smiffy]

.....

[Smiffy]

.....

[Smiffy]

.....

[igor_balis]

Started with Crewe on 16 again, got about 4 games in and just can't be arsed. I've said this about 10 times already but I think I am finally done with FM. Even when I had a fairly sustained period without a girl to have sex with or a job a few months ago I couldn't be fucked.

[John]

I'm done with the current version, but I'll be going right into the next one with a youth system only save in a lesser country in hopes I can do something along the same lines as my Dinamo Zagreb game. That one held my interest for twenty seasons of domestic domination.

[Reg]

The Steam offer ends tomorrow evening.


Loyal fans of the series can pre-purchase FM17 now on Steam at up to 20% off for a limited period only. There’s 5% off for each addition owned dating back to Football Manager 2013 but you’ll need to get the deal wrapped up early as this offer ends at 11:59pm BST on Friday, October 14th.

The 'big reveal' was today; they've put up a 31 minute video with Miles Jacobson video talking about the new features ... Which was an unattractive prospect to me, so I read this instead: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3834382/Football-Manager-2017-features-FM-17-sees-new-animations-camera-angles-social-feed.html

No big news. In fact, the least news there has been for years?

[Raoul Duke]

Sounds like a load of horsewank

[Shindig]

I wish Miles would stop doing those.

"Guys, here's some patch notes." <video ends>

[Danny]

NEW FEATURES
New camera angle
Social feed tab
Improved personal avatar
Scouting highlight packages
Heat maps and key statistical info
Kosovo and Gibraltar available to play

Massive progress

[John Arne]

Oh god.
I started watching the reveal video and switched off soon after the main reveal was the new camera angle :face:

Enhanced grass!!!

Implementing rule changes is hardly a new feature... It's simply keeping the game in line with current rules.

As someone who doesn't even use 3D, it seems nothing has changed.

[Dquincy]

Apart from fine tuning the existing features, is there really that much to add to this game. Just buy it if you want a tweaked game with updated database. Why do people grumble about it so much.

I might buy the ipad version. I haven't done that since the basic ipad versions 6 years ago. I don't really play fm any more apart from loading up an old fm11 save every now and then. I'm in the year 2045.

[Smiffy]

.....

[leedsrevolution]

Brexit simulator in FM17.

[leedsrevolution]

Beta out in a few hours.

[Sam]

Essentially all it is a database enhancement, bit better graphics, a bit different ME and now a Brexit simulator that can't be switched off.

First FM I've decided not to buy, just seems like a waste of money these days when the previous year has pretty much nailed it.

[Mike]

I'm kind of glad it's no huge changes and just little improvements to the game. I really enjoyed 16, so an improved version of that is fine with me.
I'm off work next week so can get deep into the beta.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Smiffy]

.....

[Reg]

Do it Smiff!

I'll give in and buy it later. Roma save first, then maybe Coventry or a Spanish second tier side.

[Giggles]

CM01/02 is taking an alarmingly long time to load. My old desktop 15 years ago ran it better.

[Shindig]

How many foreground leagues?

[Giggles]

How many foreground leagues?

5 I think, maybe 6. It's flying now that it's loaded though.

[The Merse]

Just something to pass the time until the new FM. It's such a fun game but I regret only loading England.

I had initially created McGrath as I wanted a proper club legend but I may have over did it. :D I've nicknamed the regens to who they were. Ronaldo isn't one, yet!

https://s14.postimg.org/jpoxznzxd/image.png


https://s14.postimg.org/g7cy39z1d/image.png


https://s14.postimg.org/nburcb6ap/image.png


https://s14.postimg.org/vve5a2en5/image.png


https://s14.postimg.org/uuihyon1d/image.png

How did you get it to start in 2015???

[Giggles]

I know the new iterations are too loaded with pointless fluff, but playing CM01/02 again has ruined the memories of it for me. You really do fuck all, might as well be on holiday in it.

[Giggles]

Newcastle absolutely beast the Championship in the first season in the updated 01/02, near impossible to catch them.

No transfer windows is really strange too.

EDIT: And like clockwork, just got a walloping off them.

http://i67.tinypic.com/ixfref.png

[wullie]

Brighton have the best player names with Bong, Dunk and Elvis Manu in the side.

[Shindig]

This Leeds side is awful. Quality strikers with no supply line. Kallstrom and Carlos Martins in. It's a young side as well. Meanwhile Newcastle sit second after selling Saviola to Milan for big bucks. Robbie Keane's outshining Samba and Georcelin. Suddenly Toshack's retirement looks real hard to follow.

But I'm off to an okay start.


================================================== ==============================================
2013/4 Transfers
================================================== ==============================================

Date Player In From Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
16.7.13 Brian Dixon Fulham £2.5M
20.7.13 Kim Källström Blackburn £5M
29.7.13 Brian Edge Tottenham £1.6M
19.10.13 Carlos Martins Blackburn £2.7M
15.12.13 Denis André Da Soul Reggina £1.6M

Date Player Out To Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1.7.13 Keith Brady Derby £2.7M
4.7.13 Gavin Phillips Released Free
9.7.13 Adam Day Released Free
11.7.13 Lee Parker Released Free
11.7.13 Fredrik Ljungberg Released Free
14.7.13 Igor Biscan Released Free
18.7.13 Nicky Hodson Released Free
24.7.13 John Cross Released Free
24.7.13 Stephen McPhail Released Free
28.7.13 Darren Ward Released Free
28.7.13 Dennis Preston Released Free
11.3.14 Mick Walker Released Free

The IN's are what matter, here. An entirely new midfield due to McPhail leaving and the young understudies being much of a muchness. Anyone would've been an improvement but Kallstrom was unprotected with Martins being listed. Edge also chipping in with goals. Brian Dixon and the wonderfully named Denis De Soul (check your database, lads) added some bite. Annoyingly, we have serious keeper issues. Robinson remained in goal for all of it as the alternatives were shocking. I didn't keep an eye on his contract and he's Newcastle-bound for 2014/5. Out of spite, I've sniped a reverse with Steve Wharton leaving the Magpies for us.


================================================== ==============================================
2013/4 Fixtures
================================================== ==============================================

Date Opposition Ven Competition Res Attend Scorers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.7.13 Q.P.R. A Friendly 4:1 6463 Samba 2, Georcelin, Stephens og
23.7.13 Aston Villa A Friendly 1:0 25548 Pacquette
17.8.13 Birmingham A Premier Division 1:1 35779 Samba
21.8.13 Nottm Forest H Premier Division 0:0 40172
24.8.13 Norwich A Premier Division 1:1 21060 Georcelin
7.9.13 Chelsea A Premier Division 0:0 41951
16.9.13 Man City H Premier Division 2:1 39634 Keane, Samba
18.9.13 Kidderminster H League Cup 2nd Rnd 0:0 28222
22.9.13 Liverpool H Premier Division 0:0 40191
28.9.13 Leicester A Premier Division 2:0 26416 Keane, Samba
2.10.13 Arsenal H Premier Division 2:3 40164 Samba, B.Edge
14.10.13 West Ham H Premier Division 2:0 38996 Wilkins, Edge
20.10.13 W.B.A. A Premier Division 0:1 30278
27.10.13 Tottenham H Premier Division 2:0 40165 Keane, Carlos Martins
30.10.13 Man Utd H League Cup 3rd Rnd 4:1 39411 Edge, Källström 2, Keane
2.11.13 Gillingham A Premier Division 3:1 17455 Källström, Keane, Carlos Martins
16.11.13 Fulham A Premier Division 0:2 24552
20.11.13 Lincoln H League Cup 4th Rnd 2:1 29370 O'Brien, Pacquette
23.11.13 Blackburn H Premier Division 1:1 40181 Georcelin
30.11.13 Bradford A Premier Division 3:0 35984 Pacquette, Edge, Samba
4.12.13 Sunderland A League Cup Qtr Final 2:4 48291 Edge, O'Brien
7.12.13 Man Utd H Premier Division 0:1 40179
15.12.13 Sheff Wed A Premier Division 2:2 39814 O'Brien 2
21.12.13 Nottm Forest A Premier Division 2:1 30571 Keane, Samba
26.12.13 Birmingham H Premier Division 1:0 40195 Carlos Martins
28.12.13 Portsmouth H Premier Division 1:1 36411 Keane
1.1.14 Norwich H Premier Division 3:0 36735 Samba 3 (1 pen)
4.1.14 Brighton H FA Cup 3rd Rnd 3:0 30369 Källström 2, Keane
8.1.14 Newcastle H Premier Division 1:3 40187 Carlos Martins
12.1.14 Arsenal A Premier Division 1:2 38383 Keane
18.1.14 West Ham A Premier Division 0:1 34994
25.1.14 Stevenage H FA Cup 4th Rnd 2:1 29704 O'Brien 2
1.2.14 Chelsea H Premier Division 0:0 40179
5.2.14 Man City A Premier Division 0:1 34995
8.2.14 Leicester H Premier Division 0:1 37496
15.2.14 Sunderland H FA Cup 5th Rnd 0:0 33005
23.2.14 Newcastle A Premier Division 0:2 62972
26.2.14 Sunderland A FA Cup 5th Rnd Replay 2:0 48298 Samba 2
2.3.14 W.B.A. H Premier Division 1:0 39640 Samba
8.3.14 Fulham A FA Cup Qtr Final 2:1 26859 Edge, Samba
15.3.14 Liverpool A Premier Division 1:4 45321 Samba
31.3.14 Gillingham H Premier Division 1:1 35570 Samba
6.4.14 Wycombe N FA Cup Semi Final 2:1 35838 Samba, Edge
9.4.14 Tottenham A Premier Division 3:1 36191 Keane, Samba 2
12.4.14 Bradford H Premier Division 1:1 40161 Samba
20.4.14 Fulham H Premier Division 1:0 35900 Samba
26.4.14 Blackburn A Premier Division 2:3 33981 Keane, Samba
3.5.14 Sheff Wed H Premier Division 3:0 40165 Pacquette, Samba 2
10.5.14 Gillingham N FA Cup Final 2:1 83816 O'Brien 2
14.5.14 Man Utd A Premier Division 2:1 67791 Ferraro, Keane
18.5.14 Portsmouth A Premier Division 0:1 19393

With the squad in such a shambles, the FA Cup victory felt really fortunate. Cherno even had the gall to be injured for the final. Luckily 18-year old Dave O'Brien pulled us through. Robbie Keane looks set to leave. What a servant. Samba, for all his hot and coldness, finished top scorer in the league and finished third in the PFA awards. A 9th-placed finish could've turned to a 5th place if we'd turned a result our way. Newcastle took the title which is a turnaround I didn't expect. Dorsin's probably taking Dabizas' appearance record. Shandran's 20 sky of record goalscorer but is almost out of favour.

[Giggles]

How the fuck do you do data updates in FM16? All this import/export xml shite. How do I just download one and have it make the changes?

[wullie]

Last one I did, you drop the entire folder in the editor data folder in Docs/SI/FM 2016 or equivalent, and you can choose it when you select the database when starting a new game. From Sortitoutsi I think

[Shindig]

So I hit the retire button on Leeds, let time play out and assumed it was saving all the way. Went back to it today and realised it hadn't. So, I guess I'm committed to this. Life after Robinson and Keane is difficult. Turns out the secret to our defensive prowess is a good goalkeeper. Brought in another keeper whose name escapes me. Wharton's every bit the disaster he was in his teens. Ferraro's off to Spurs so Da Soul is having to mind the engine room. Mikael Dorsin's in for £1.1m.

Our league form is turgid. A series of 9 score draws which leave us hovering between mid-table and obscurity. My only hope is a cup success. On the plus side, China think I'm great. Two years in charge. No matches. Anthony Shandran left the toon for Bristol City and promptly dumped us out the League Cup. Samba's putting performances in but he's not scoring freely. Georcelin is gathering attention. I fancy moving abroad next.

EDIT: 15 games in we were sitting on 17 points in 14th, Newcastle leading a further 17 ahead of us. We were 14 minutes away from taking the title in May. Fuck. 24 outfield players.


================================================== ==============================================
2014/5 Senior Club Stats
================================================== ==============================================

No Name Apps Gls Con Pens Asts Yel Red MoM Av R
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Andrews, Danny 40 (5) 8 0 0 8 3 1 3 7.18
29 Andrews, Garry 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6.50
24 Burns, Grant 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
38 Carlos Martins 27 (9) 5 0 0 8 2 0 1 7.19
34 Carter, Chris 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 7.00
- Curtis, Darren - - - - - - - - ----
5 Da Soul, Denis André 52 (2) 6 0 6 (6) 8 5 0 5 7.81
36 Dixon, Brian 27 (6) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 7.48
2 Dolan, Joe 19 (14) 0 0 0 0 5 1 2 7.12
13 Dorsin, Mikael 27 (1) 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 7.29
22 Edge, Brian 37 8 0 0 8 2 1 2 7.24
18 Fenwick, Chris 35 1 0 0 4 7 0 2 7.60
28 Field, Ryan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
35 Georcelin, Justin 24 (4) 21 0 4 (4) 2 0 0 4 7.39
23 Gerber, Heiko 38 (7) 8 0 0 12 3 0 6 7.33
10 James, Jamie 25 (3) 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 6.46
37 Källström, Kim 31 (7) 9 0 0 7 12 1 2 7.29
1 Knaepen, Kevin 51 (1) 0 53 0 0 1 1 3 7.54
31 Murphy, Peter 3 (4) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.71
8 O'Brien, David 43 17 0 0 3 0 0 3 7.23
19 Pacquette, Richard 11 (8) 4 0 0 1 1 0 0 6.74
3 Payne, Glenn 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.71
17 Reeve, Barry 22 (3) 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 7.16
21 Reid, Paul 37 2 0 0 2 2 0 1 6.95
9 Samba, Cherno 32 (5) 24 0 4 (4) 2 1 0 6 7.73
- Smith, Gary - - - - - - - - ----
4 Taylor, Martin 33 (1) 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 6.88
7 Telmo, Jorge 38 (2) 5 0 0 12 4 1 0 7.25
- Warren, Darren - - - - - - - - ----
12 Wharton, Steve 4 (5) 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 7.22
14 Wilkins, Jimmy 20 2 0 0 4 3 0 1 7.15
- Young, James - - - - - - - - ----

Only six players were unused.

[Shindig]

So it's now 2017 in game time and I've decided to see how nuts the game has gotten financially and competitively. I was mainly seeing how the game handles the long run and whether transfer fees and wages balloon or taper off. Here are some key findings:


David Prutton has spent 3.5 years of his career injured.
Of all the ex-player Managers, Steve McManaman is the most successful
He also retains his playing stats at 45, despite not playing in a decade.
German football makes its money from gate receipts. Most clubs having stadia above the 50k mark.
Bayer Leverkusen have no league status.
Everton scrap in the Second Division thanks to Jamie Redknapp's management.
No one true European dynasty has emerged.
Newcastle had three years of league dominance followed by a flirt with relegation.
Juventus now ply their trade in Serie B after a decade of mediocrity.
Rio Ferdinand's £41m transfer in 2006 is the largest transfer we're ever likely to see.
Belgium's coefficients have been bolstered by Club Brugge spending their way to a couple of finals.
No manager has had more jobs than Alex McLeish.
His tenure at Sunderland lasted 65 days.
In constrast, Mattias Sammer remains at a successful Dortmund side.
The German Cup is won regularly by lower division sides.
England's last two managers have had no experience in management.
All of Pakistan's national side have British names.
Spain is a perpetual power vaccum.
Barcelona have been out of the top flight for four years.
Whilst Real Madrid struggle for a top-half finish.
As a result, Spanish sides have to qualify for the Champions League. Two spots.
Alexander Farnerud is the best paid player at £120,000 a week.
I remain the most reputable manager in the world, despite two much more qualified options.
Gillingham are an established, cup winning, Premier League side.
Roma have won 5 Scudetto in this time. They are now in Serie B.
Arsenal's title win of 2003 will be the last trophy Arsene Wenger will ever lift.
Talavera are La Liga mainstays,
Cordoba have won La Liga twice in this period. As many as Real and Barca.
Japan were absent from this year's Asian Cup as they were hosting the Olympics two months prior.
Argentina are the reigning World and South American Champions.
Ukraine, Denmark and Romania have all been crowned European Champions.
Denmark beat Norway in their back yard to win it.
Southampton struggle in the Third Division.
Finland finished third in the 2006 World Cup.

Stuff went down. The McLeish thing is great. Two months into the job at Sunderland, as he's getting his backroom staff sorted, he jumps ship to Spurs. I can definitely see my next job being in Spain. Their coefficients are behind Croatia. England has this horrid sense of expectation with every job you enter.

[Giggles]

I'm out at Southampton, Mancini is out at Liverpool. I'm in at Liverpool, Mancini is in at Southampton.

[Giggles]

I don't know how I ended up posting that there.

[Shindig]

Just to make a mockery of THE SCIENCE, Cordoba storm to their second La Liga in succession and take the Champions' League as well. Fernando Torres is loving life. Meanwhile I take China to the 2018 World Cup after a group containing Japan, Iran and Saudi Arabia cannot hold us. Sealed it with an easy six points over an Iran side full of South Americans. I don't get that. As a precaution against the 'fancy a change' excuse being triggered after the World Cup itself, I sign up for Third Division Wigan. Already crowned champions and, despite a poor World Cup where we finish third behind South Africa and eventual winners Argentina, the Chinese FA stay strong and keep me on.

Wigan's squad is... well, Division Three. I've raided the free transfers for Keith Gillespie's regen from Braintree, an Australian international and a striker with the customary 20 for finishing ... and aggression. I might not be done. Whilst I do want to keep some cash in Uncle Dave's wallet, there's a few proper, proper nice freebies that I might try to take. Oh, there's a genuinely good Icelandic keeper bought as well. Only a work permit prevented me from grabbing a South Korean international. I guess that's the perks of international management.

Typically, as soon as I signed for Wigan, Steve McManaman got the 'time for a change' treatment at Chelsea. Odd, as I rarely see it at club level. Sammer left Dortmund as well. Hoddle got booted out of Gillingham who seriously have a big-club mentality going on that does not suit their modest ... everything. Wycombe and Southport remain in the top flight. Heroes. Barcelona still struggle in La Liga whilst Aachen and Duisberg run Germany. Genoa have a second title in succession in Italy. Joe Cole and Jermaine Defoe retired, too. As did Youssouf Hersi who has some tidy management stats.

One final thing: The £30m barrier got breached for the first time in 12 years. Inter spending £33.5m for a Portuguese centre-back who has 15 for finishing. I keep thinking there's so many clubs probably sitting on billions. Dortmund's top-flight status and 150,000 stadium must spew money every second.

[Shindig]

Yup, Cordoba are The Dynasty (tm). 3 straight leagues and a retention of their Champions League. All on a rather meager squad size and with a 35 year-old Fernando Torres commanding the line. 11 points clear of everyone else. Helps push Spain up to 7th in the coefficients. No new spots but presumably they get seeded now. They make a real good go of fighting on all fronts with that small squad. VfB Stuttgart had a dominant year in Germany under Matthias Sammer. His former club surviving relegation on the final day via goal difference.

And if you think this giant bashing is set to end, Real and Barcelona scrapped it out to avoid the drop as well. The Barca squad is completely fogged so I can't judge their talent without sending scouts over. Still no sign of Leverkusen returning to the league structure. HSV are now a non-league outfit. Juventus and Roma struggle in Serie A with Genoa's reign over. Sampdoria took it by four points.

Southampton begin their long climb back with promotion from the Third Division. Everton still struggling to make a mark as they record their lowest ever finish. 12th. Fulham took the Premiership . Trond Solleid's Newcastle adventure still bringing silverware. An FA Cup salvaged from a lackluster 8th placed finish. Leeds survived a relegation dogfight with Cherno Samba's career seemingly about done. Notts County hit the big time, though, ensuring a couple of derbies with Forest next season. Aston Villa are down to the Second Division. As for me, well ...

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k336/shindig1984/formbook.png

I always bring the gold. It was intense.

Began the season with two defeats and brought in some quality freebies. Well, relatively speaking.


================================================== ==============================================
2018/9 Senior Club Stats
================================================== ==============================================
No Name Apps Gls Con Pens Asts Yel Red MoM Av R
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Boyd, Philip 26 (4) 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.70
35 Christensen, Matthew 37 (1) 8 0 0 11 1 0 4 7.47
31 Evans, Justin 35 (3) 0 0 0 1 5 1 0 7.05
36 Fowler, Paul 29 (7) 23 0 0 3 1 0 4 7.25
29 Gottskalksson, Stefan 31 0 29 0 0 0 0 0 7.13
22 Guerrero, Iván 20 (5) 10 0 0 0 1 0 3 7.16

Boyd's kinda the odd one out. Very '6/10' but a full international with Northern Ireland. I mean, I'm pretty sure he's Keith Gillespie so I don't expect too much. Fowler and Guerrero came in due to our strikers being trash. They both have issues with form but there's this weird mutual respect thing going on which means I'm fair game to just swap them when one goes missing and Ivan's already on the coaching staff at 31. Christensen's the star man. Won't make two games in a week but easily our most creative player. Getting on in years but he's done a job in England at this level. Finally, I've already started adding in readiness for next year.

Andrea Mosca is a league winner with Genoa. He's been out of contract for a year and now's the time. Trying to add a Scottish utility player seeing as the extravagant Iranian I want won't meet my demands. Say that again in a year's time, lad.

Finally, I'm on retirement watch for the likes of Samba, Shandran (played one game all season and now has depression), Fernando Torres and the almighty David Prutton. Javier Saviola is still enjoying life dominating Argentina. One more year on his contract. 829 played, 429 scored. Denis Andre Da Soul is currently looking to finish his career out in Belgium. Leeds just released him. Actually, Prutton's got another year. I need to catch his stats before he goes. I need a final injury tally.

[Giggles]

I don't get what's happening there. Did you edit a load of leagues?

[Shindig]

No, it's what's happening to my save 18 years down the line. You want to know how shit the Premier League's got? Fulham were top scorers. 46. That's the lowest a league-winning side has posted since last season's Spurs side. 30 goals off the all-time record in 2008/9. Football is killing itself. Fulham's Scott Reynolds winning the golden boot with 11. The state of it. Average attendances are slowly going down, as is average ratings.

In Italy you can lose 10 games and still be crowned champions. To put it into context, Cordoba scored twice as many goals as England's best. If you want to see a side drawing matches in single digits, you've got Arsenal in 10th and two relegated clubs.

[Giggles]

How is Fernando Torres 35 then?

[Dark Soldier]

Because Torres was 17 on CM 01/02.

[Giggles]

Ah.

:thbup:

[Shindig]

Because that's the age he will be in 2019. Aye, what Soujah sez.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k336/shindig1984/english%20table.png

I swear, this is like a Pulis and Allardyce league of 1-0 and 0-0 results. I could be in that soon. Help.

[Shindig]

================================================== ==============================================
2019/0 Senior Club Stats
================================================== ==============================================

No Name Apps Gls Con Pens Asts Yel Red MoM Av R
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39 Alexander, David 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 6.40
14 Barnett, Joe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
- Barry, Robert - - - - - - - - ----
7 Blackwell, Lee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
18 Boyd, Philip 24 (12) 3 0 0 5 3 0 1 6.75
35 Christensen, Matthew 41 (2) 3 0 0 16 2 0 3 7.56
21 Cook, Dave 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
38 Cooper, Danny 2 (4) 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 7.17
46 Dean, Simon 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.00
32 Edwards, Carl 27 (11) 4 0 0 4 1 0 0 6.89
31 Evans, Justin 1 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.33
36 Fowler, Paul 48 (1) 40 0 0 2 0 0 6 7.39
29 Gottskalksson, Stefan 46 (1) 0 36 0 0 1 0 2 7.11
- Gould, Matthew 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
22 Guerrero, Iván 4 (9) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.85
8 Hall, Danny 37 (2) 5 0 0 5 0 0 0 7.21
- Hardy, Neil - - - - - - - - ----
33 Harper, Nicky 20 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6.70
15 Hirst, Simon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
20 Howell, Mike 13 (4) 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 6.76
37 Hunt, Andrew 6 (16) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.45
4 Hutchison, Tom 46 (1) 0 0 0 2 3 0 3 7.17
28 Kelly, Junior 14 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 7.71
9 Leach, Shaun 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
12 Mäkelä, Juha 42 (1) 0 0 0 10 8 0 7 7.79
5 Mason, Peter 1 (5) 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 7.00
- McKenzie, Craig 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
13 Mosca, Andrea 28 (2) 3 0 0 1 2 0 2 7.10
1 Moss, Micky 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
2 Mullen, Marc 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.50
17 Muntari, Souli 23 (10) 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 6.61
16 Naylor, Ian 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
11 Neal, Ray 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.00
10 Parsons, Adrian 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ----
27 Pearce, Matthew 45 (2) 5 0 4 (4) 3 8 1 3 7.57
- Poole, Jermaine - - - - - - - - ----
24 Price, Gary 15 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 6.67
6 Robinson, Adam 18 5 0 0 2 1 0 2 7.22
34 Söderström, Mattias 39 1 0 0 6 2 0 4 7.33
30 Taylor, Gary 23 0 40 0 0 0 1 1 6.78
19 Thorpe, Jason 4 (1) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 7.00
26 Walker, Russell 34 (2) 1 0 0 1 2 0 4 7.67
23 White, Tommy 0 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.00

Bought really, really well. Scouring the free market for internationals worked a charm. Fowler's 40 is a new club record. Christensen continues to provide a supply line despite his ageing legs. And Juha Makela is a world class bastard.


================================================== ==============================================
2019/0 Transfers
================================================== ==============================================

Date Player In From Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
4.6.19 Andrea Mosca Free Transfer Bos
9.6.19 Tom Hutchison Free Transfer Free
10.6.19 Phil Brown Everton £230K
19.6.19 Leigh Williams Cork City £6K
20.6.19 Gus Caesar Rangers (HKG) Free
24.6.19 Ray Neal Burton Albion £3K
24.6.19 Matthew Pearce Free Transfer Free
25.6.19 Juha Mäkelä Free Transfer Free
26.6.19 David Alexander Wolves £30K
28.6.19 Danny Hall Reading £325K
3.7.19 Carl Edwards Wolves £775K
8.7.19 Neil Hardy Free Transfer Free
9.7.19 Matthew Gould Free Transfer Free
9.7.19 Robert Barry Free Transfer Free
10.7.19 Michael Stewart Tranmere £140K
13.7.19 Pier Antonio Torroni Free Transfer Free
18.7.19 Craig McKenzie Airdrie £60K
19.7.19 Souli Muntari Rushden Free
8.8.19 Mattias Söderström Derby £1.3M
24.12.19 Neil Montgomery Charlton Loan

Date Player Out To Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
5.6.19 Gary McGarvey Aston Villa Bos
6.6.19 Adam Welsh Released Free
9.6.19 Eric Young Released Free
11.6.19 Mick Betts Released Free
17.6.19 Jimmy Massey Released Free
18.6.19 Tony Scott Released Free
19.6.19 Dick Shakespeare Released Free
20.6.19 Scott Clark Cheltenham Bos
27.6.19 Richard Carr Released Free
27.6.19 Roger Bentley Released Free
4.7.19 Rob Hudson Released Free
4.7.19 James Webster Released Free
4.7.19 Keith Coxon Released Free
7.7.19 Ross Cross Released Free
7.7.19 Joe King Released Free
10.7.19 Andy Linighan Released Free
10.7.19 Chris Worthington Released Free
12.7.19 Steve Shepherd Released Free
17.7.19 Jim Lake Released Free
25.9.19 Gary Taylor Hitchin Loan
21.12.19 Darren Perkins Colchester £250K
26.2.20 Junior Kelly Margate Loan

Not featured, Juha's hasty exit to Newcastle for £6.5m. I stoked the bidding way and Newcastle were the only ones to hold out. Once the deal was done, the prick went to the media saying, "This club needs better players." Criticised the little sod and, lo and behold, the fans and board backed me overwhelmingly.


================================================== ==============================================
2019/0 Fixtures
================================================== ==============================================

Date Opposition Ven Competition Res Attend Scorers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27.7.19 Derby A Friendly 1:0 12589 Mosca
31.7.19 Macclesfield A Friendly 2:0 1795 P.Fowler, Hall
10.8.19 Sunderland A First Division 2:1 41855 P.Fowler 2
17.8.19 Swansea H First Division 2:1 15268 P.Fowler 2
20.8.19 Northampton A League Cup 1st Rnd 1:1 7082 Robinson
24.8.19 Bristol C A First Division 1:0 19412 Guerrero
26.8.19 Birmingham H First Division 0:1 14217
7.9.19 Huddersfield H First Division 1:1 13765 P.Fowler
11.9.19 Leicester A First Division 1:2 10407 Guerrero
14.9.19 Stoke H First Division 3:1 22325 P.Fowler, Söderström, Robinson
18.9.19 Blackburn H League Cup 2nd Rnd 0:0 5070
21.9.19 Middlesbrough A First Division 1:4 15049 Edwards
25.9.19 Oldham A First Division 0:2 24906
28.9.19 Crystal Palace H First Division 1:0 15661 O'Brien og
4.10.19 W.B.A. A First Division 1:2 20786 Hall
12.10.19 Rushden H First Division 4:0 13975 Robinson, Pearce, P.Fowler, Walker
15.10.19 Wycombe A First Division 2:0 7710 P.Fowler 2
19.10.19 Portsmouth H First Division 2:0 16196 Christensen, P.Fowler
22.10.19 Doncaster A First Division 1:0 8255 P.Fowler
26.10.19 Grimsby H First Division 3:2 16081 Robinson, Boyd, P.Fowler
2.11.19 Millwall A First Division 2:0 23565 Christensen, P.Fowler
16.11.19 Brighton H First Division 1:0 16668 Edwards
23.11.19 Stockport H First Division 1:1 16471 Robinson
1.12.19 Wimbledon H First Division 0:1 16656
4.12.19 West Ham A First Division 0:3 16144
7.12.19 Wolves A First Division 1:2 29234 P.Fowler
14.12.19 Lincoln H First Division 2:0 15700 Johansson og, P.Fowler
21.12.19 Bristol C H First Division 2:2 16733 Edwards, P.Fowler
26.12.19 Birmingham A First Division 2:0 17937 Craig og, P.Fowler
28.12.19 Sunderland H First Division 2:0 13967 P.Fowler, Mosca
1.1.20 Swansea A First Division 2:1 7334 Pearce pen, Boyd
4.1.20 Notts Co A FA Cup 3rd Rnd 6:1 6950 P.Fowler 4, Montgomery, Guerrero
11.1.20 Leicester H First Division 2:0 16703 P.Fowler 2
17.1.20 Stoke A First Division 3:0 9806 Howell, P.Fowler 2
25.1.20 Ipswich H FA Cup 4th Rnd 0:1 12229
1.2.20 Oldham H First Division 2:2 16291 P.Fowler, Hall
8.2.20 Huddersfield A First Division 2:3 11395 D.Hall, P.Fowler
15.2.20 Middlesbrough H First Division 0:0 16929
18.2.20 Rushden A First Division 0:0 10045
22.2.20 W.B.A. H First Division 3:1 16822 P.Fowler 2, Edwards
28.2.20 Crystal Palace A First Division 3:2 12200 Mosca, Christensen, Hall
4.3.20 Doncaster H First Division 1:0 16350 P.Fowler
7.3.20 Grimsby A First Division 1:1 7631 Montgomery
17.3.20 Wycombe H First Division 2:0 15705 P.Fowler 2
21.3.20 Portsmouth A First Division 2:2 6880 P.Fowler 2
1.4.20 Millwall H First Division 2:0 16740 Pearce 2 pens
4.4.20 West Ham H First Division 2:0 17476 Pearce pen, Hall
11.4.20 Brighton A First Division 1:2 13744 P.Fowler
13.4.20 Stockport A First Division 0:1 6487
17.4.20 Wimbledon A First Division 2:0 10306 Boyd, P.Fowler
25.4.20 Wolves H First Division 0:1 13617
3.5.20 Lincoln A First Division 0:2 7114
9.5.20 Huddersfield A First Division Playoff Semi Fi 1:0 12673 P.Fowler
13.5.20 Huddersfield H First Division Playoff Semi Fi 1:1 16738 P.Fowler
25.5.20 Birmingham N First Division Playoff Final 2:1 72185 Mosca, P.Fowler

Back-to-back-to-back promotions. Juha's sabotage threatened to sour it all but he still performed despite the other 10 players hating him. Newcastle won another league, Man Utd won the Champions' League. England's looking a lot less tripe and, once again I got passed over for the England job. Whatever. Premier League, lads.

[Chrissy]

Son in game, correct name, correct sided foot (left) favourite position (left wing) but it says he supports Rangers. Half tempted to wake up the real one and demand an explanation.

https://gyazo.com/287b370c68b6010568742817f2083352

[Shindig]

Avoid relegation turned into a third-placed finish. Eagerly awaiting the Qaulifying draw. Speaking of qualifiers, that's all I have to look forward to as the game decided my China squad wasn't Asian enough to appear in the AFC Nations thing. Y'know, the thing I almost won four years ago. I think the game picks the nations at random.

My top scorer spearheads club and country. The first Chinese player ever to win the PFA Player's Player of the Year. 28 goals this season. The buying culture remains freebies and cheap rejects. With Chao Lin scoring so much, Paul Fowler's been restricted to the rare appearance. Still 5 in 6 from him, thanks to a hat-trick whilst Chao was on international duty. Finland continues to dish out excellent free agents. They're not coming with min. release fees now so I can rule them.

Cherno Samba's retired. Stoke got 50 games out of him last year. 704 in total. Meanwhile, the ARSE command is finally coming good with some Newcastle player getting bans for rude gestures and 'use of an illegal substance' whilst Alan Shearer's regen punched a ref for a six-month ban. Every time I take a Newcastle player, they seem to take a shot at Trond on the way out. Chelsea won everything last season. Our expectations remain the same. I'm trying to shove Christensen into reserve duty as his advancing years are showing.

Loving it.

[Shindig]

One season on and we've landed another third spot and a Champions League runner up medal. Semi finalists in the League Cup. Unfortunately, this now means my comfortable expectations are shattered. They want the title, despite being nowhere near it. Trond's Newcastle thumped a knackered Wigan side in the CL Final and then promptly retired. How dare he. Javier Saviola still rolls on and is seemingly the last member of the original database to still be actively playing.

955 games. 506 goals. I think I've taken Wigan as far as I can. China still hang on to me. Another World Cup saw us draw three in the group stage and bow out.

[Byron]

So fired up the game for the first time with Gillingham.

Basically Kent are shit when it comes to football teams. We have a host of teams in non-League football (Dover, Ebbsfleet, Maidstone, Margate, Folkestone) but only Gillingham have spent any real time in the League.

Right off the bat, three things I noticed;

1.) About half of my defence is on loan and my best goalkeeper, Jonathan Bond is on loan for 6 months from Reading. My contracted keeper, Stuart Nelson is both old and shit.
2.) The 35 year old Paul Konchesky is my best defender. What the fuck.
3.) Bradley Dack is worth £5.5m and is immediately under interest from Newcastle and Villa

So I immediately sold Dack for £4.4m because frankly that kind of money can't be turned down in League One. He's the best player in the Gillingham squad and he's a good young talent but he's not worth keeping when I get that kind of offer.

Squad is pretty mediocre however and the board want a top-half finish so I'll need to get the cheque book out. Pressing concerns are a goalkeeper, central defender, a replacement for Dack and a striker.

[Byron]

Also, we have no coaches, no scouts and no physios.

But we have a Director of Football! Who recommended Emile Heskey as a signing. He needs his P45 asap.

[Shindig]

Finished up my last season with Wigan. 8th-placed finish but a League Cup final and a Champions League run to the semis kept me the right side of safe. Villarreal are the next port of call with my 22 year tenure in England closed out. My last action was to try and poach talent from a Newcastle side disheartened by all things Gary Megson.

The Trophies (2001-2023)
Intertoto Cup (2003)
FA Cup (2005, 2014)
Charity Shield (2005, 2014)
League Cup (2009, 2011, 2014)
Premier League winners (2011)
UEFA Cup (2015)
Second Division winners (2019)

Would've been nicer to convert that second placed finish with Leeds and a couple more Finals. Wigan now has £60m to squander. My new club is £2m under.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k336/shindig1984/vintage%20sav.png

This might be it. He's got another season on his contract but the legs are almost off the cliff. Have you got 15 more games in you, Sav?