The Football Manager Thread

[John Arne]

Fark. Having taken just 1pt from the last 3 games, I ended up in the play-offs.

Then WBA scored a 92nd minute goal to knock me out. Twats.

[Bernanke]

Everton's starting 11 is ridiculously good when you get a goalkeeper in. I went with Alisson, and brought in Amartey as well as a utility player.

Lukaku is being shit though, how fucking difficult is it to score...?

[Jeet]

I saw my first ever corner goal yesterday. I've just left the settings completely untouched and literally nothing ever happens, at either end. That one seemed like just a fluke because Mulumbu is fucking huge.

Still, 1-0 me after 45 games, so I'm not planning to fiddle with it much.

Only scored 1 myself in 1 and a half seasons. Had a game where I had 20 corners. Jack all .

[John Arne]

44yr year Roberto Carlos joining in the summer on $300-a-week. :drool:

He seems to be this years David James (i.e. never retires).

[Smiffy]

.....

[Manc]

http://i.imgur.com/16gSniG.png http://i.imgur.com/gjQIl3H.png

Woof. Sacked by Villa in December, European winner in May. Sporting, Besikitas, Fiorentina and Bilbao were cast aside on our way to the final before we smashed the Frogs. Despite leading 5-1 at half time, the relaxed second half wasn't enough rest bite for us to push on and do the double three days later.

http://i.imgur.com/dSZAv17.png

The Europa league win throws us straight into the UCL group stage making the 7th place finish irrelevant, although finishing below Villa was painful. Despite fielding the same side and formation, Paul Clement turned them into a imperious team.

http://i.imgur.com/utcDpX8.png

Shaw & Kongolo improve the defence for less than £10m, whilst the wealth of midfield talent has been added to with two bargains. Oliver & Ferati join the likes of Vlasic, Ayew, Shaqiri, Bellarabi & Nouri which is a mouth watering prospect. Top four next season I reckon.

[Toby]

Respite.

[John Arne]

https://gyazo.com/77c3fa5bcf837caa14c9eafabbec2a00.png

Touch me.

[Toby]

First season down and it can only be described as a success so far:

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

It frustrates me that that Sunderland result has been picked out as the best, given we went unbeaten against Chelsea, beat Arsenal and whomped Everton 4-0, but it'll do. As a Mourinho-era Chelsea fan I'm obviously more drawn to the 1-0s against superior opposition.

We lost to Sunderland on the last day of the season but eighth placed Crystal Palace also losing means we sneak in to seventh. If Tottenham beat Southampton in the FA Cup Final that means Europa League, which is quite a lot better than the targeted surviving relegation.

I've just done the expectations for next year and said we'll do the same again, which couple of idiots in the squad have said is too unambitious... That side of things does seem to be borked and I've noticed it in the fans and media reactions as well. Winning games became an expectation towards the end of the season, rather than "jesus, this run is still going?"

Moving on to next season, I suspect we'll lose Mulumbu to the release clause in his contract, and get big offers that may be hard to turn down for Nathan Redmond and Robbie Brady. My current first choice striker is a loanee who'll be returning, but I've changed my mind about making it permanent as I think I could get a younger and similarly able player for cheaper. I'll also need to buy a new centreback as I don't expect Liverpool will let us have Andre Wisdom again, but other than those replacements I'm mostly just planning youth transfers.

[Toby]

Typically, Southampton won it. Although I've been awarded Manager of the Year despite never having won Manager of the Month.

Transfer attempts are frustrating so far. I'd picked out a few youngsters who my best scout had recommended signing, but they're all getting offers from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham. Cunts.

[Trancemeister]

It's impossible to keep a clean sheet on this.

[Toby]

Signings so far:

Lukas Klostermann - £8 million-ish once clauses are all met
19-year-old right back from Red Bull Liepzieg (who seem to have a team full of brilliant but fairly pricey prospects) who is already about on par with Whittaker and likely to be much better in a season or two

Aaron Cresswell - £11 million-ish
Probably overpaid here but I had a work permit denied for Insua from Udinese. Cresswell is actually the better player and his Englishness/home grown status is an added bonus.

Sandro - £11 million-ish
Had one eye on Mulumbu possibly leaving with this but they'll play well together if he stays. Lets me have two very strong holding players sit behind Zarate/Dorrans and my two wingers.

Then I'm hoping to get Marko Pjaca, a 21-year-old Croatian winger from Dinamo Zagreb. I had a bid accepted already but he chose to go to Inter, who subsequently decided they couldn't afford the £6 million fee (lol). So I'm trying again and right now the only club with an offer in. He's better than Brady and looks to have a lot of potential.

I've released a lot of shit and had some small sales of fringe players, but had surprisingly few offers on my first team despite lots of rumoured interest. City came in for Redmond but they only offered £11 million, which I rejected outright as he should easily be attracting more. He had a bit of a whinge but I seem to have successfully convinced him to shut up and stay for now.

[Bernanke]

What is it with the pathetic transfer offers on this one? Chelsea and City want Lukaku, he's valued at 42.5 million. Second highest scorer in the league 15/16, and most goals in the Euros.

I offer him to them for 45, and they both come back with non-negotiable offers of 22.5 million. :moop: Fuck off.

[Gray Fox]

Just gone to grab this off CD Keys and set it to download as the kids went to bed. Sold out and I can only find it on 2 sites for a reasonable price. One is getgamesgo.com and the other is g2a.com.

Never having used either one, are either of them reliable?

[Yevrah]

What made you pick Norwich Tobes?

I'm looking forward to getting back into my save with them from the beta when I can put Fallout 4 down.

[Toby]

What made you pick Norwich Tobes?


I'd initially thought I'd challenge myself to build a team of Scots who could survive in the Premier League, and they have a good number to start with. But I quickly deserted that idea when I realised how impossible it would be.

[Ian]

After winning the Champions League with Newcastle I've barely touched my save since the end of last month but I dipped my toe back into it yesterday. Looks like another summer of not being sure who to spend all my money on. The positions I feel I could do with improving (wingbacks, a ball-winner in midfield) there just isn't anybody about. Not simply overpriced, just not much going. I'm also not sure what the end point for this save will be. Despite winning in Europe I suppose I'd like to get the league back first but the surprise European success killed my momentum a bit.

[Bernanke]

http://i.imgur.com/Ym0VV2Y.png?1

Second season. :drool: Juve were surprisingly tame, and Barbosa is a god.

[Toby]

Started the new season reasonably well - undefeated in seven after Spurs beat us on the opening day - but it's all about to come crashing down as the next four games are Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea. :moop:

[Dquincy]

Reached the halfway stage of my second season with Milan.

Champions League group stage was a toughy.

http://s8.postimg.org/wnlhmee9x/UEFA_Champions_League_Information_Stages.png

Needed to beat Marseille away in the last match...

http://s22.postimg.org/bwmx8bw8x/Marseille_v_Milan_Information_Overview.png

http://s23.postimg.org/pzfgyda57/UEFA_Champions_League_Information_Stages_2.png

Serie a is looking promising after a shit start. Might have had something to do with me signing 16 players in the summer.

http://s3.postimg.org/jzumq4har/Serie_A_TIM_Information_League_Table.png

My £37 million striker has had an injury plagued season with broken ribs and a slipped disc keeping him out for most of the season thus far. But never fear, this fella has stepped up to the plate...signed him on a free from Huddlesfield.

http://s12.postimg.org/ic9uae8kt/Craig_Corcoran_Profile_Attributes_2.png

[Jeet]

Had a huge injury hit season in my 2nd season, had 10 senior players injured at one point. Managed to grab 3rd spot with a 88th min winger from Jesus! Was 5th as ManUtd and Spurs all were winning, ending up 3rd on GD as we all finished with the same points.

Went on to win the Uefa cup and Fa cup as well. 4-2-2-2 with 2DM seems to be doing the trick. Bellerin finished top of the average rating in the prem. Bought Jorge in and after 4 games it looks like I have the left side version of Bellerin too - got the 2 best full backs now. The amount of attacks I get from them is unreal as my attacking wide men play more narrow as playmakers.

Anyone had the 2022 World Cup moved to Canada aswell :D

[Mike]

Finished my second season with Liverpool. It went much better than the first.
https://i.imgur.com/vCDnRFe.png

Heres my little squad.
https://i.imgur.com/WmyOUOD.png
https://i.imgur.com/h1cPpqT.png

[Luke Emia]

I've started as Norwich one because I read what Yev and Toby were up to. Two because it's just down the road and three I couldn't make Liverpool work. 7 games in and 12 points so it's already looking better than any of my previous three starts with Liverpool.

[Toby]

What's your starting eleven?

I think at that stage I was mostly going with

Ruddy

Olsson/Whittaker
Bassong
Wisdom
Martin/Whittaker

Tettey
Howson
Dorrans

Brady
Redmond
Mbokani

[Gray Fox]

Finally picked this up after some having to fuck around with customer service of the place I bought it. I'm off to find the fixes that I need to make it look prettier.

[wullie]

Recovered from my start of straight defeats to pick up some solid points, barring a spectacular collapse I should hopefully end up nicely clear of relegation

http://i.imgur.com/8XASmIu.png

[Gray Fox]

Is it considered cheatsy to make myself fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian in the start of the game?

[Yevrah]

What advantage are you hoping to gain by doing so?

[Danny]

Depends, ¿Hablas portugués? o spagnolo ? ou italiano ?

[igor_balis]

Aside from dicking around on draft mode, I think I might be done. Started a game with livorno but just couldn't be arsed even slightly.

[Gray Fox]

So I don't have any language barrier issues managing abroad. Or is it only the players that really matter for that?

[Smiffy]

.....

[Smiffy]

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[Bernanke]

Holy fuck. That finishing, first touch, anticipation, composure, off the ball, at 17?! :drool:

[John]

In a word, I am going to be fucked.

:D

That Milne kid looks shit hot.

[Toby]

In a word, I am going to be fucked.


:D

For fuck's sake. :D

[wullie]

In the pre-season I signed Vydra and Van Aanholt for about a mil each and gave them whatever they wanted contractually so long as their basic wage was kept within the structure I was making up on the spot. Now they've played well I've had the news item about how their value is now hovering close to their release clause so I've shit it and given them bouncy new deals with a £15m release instead. This is all still ok, but if it turns out that I do get relegated again I think we're going back to Sixfields and wearing last season's shirts like 2013.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Yevrah]

Holy fuck. That finishing, first touch, anticipation, composure, off the ball, at 17?! :drool:

Yeah, one thing that was apparent from the beta was that far too many newgen strikers had ridiculous poacher stats. I've got one in my Norwich save who looks like he'll have 20 in all those key stats while he's still a teenager.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Bernanke]

Screenshot that Swede for me Smiff.

[Smiffy]

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[Smiffy]

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[Manc]

Top scenes, Smiff. That top four is a tough nut to crack eh? Spurs have fallen away in my save, but the big five are all still at it.

What's with the canaries love btw?

[wullie]

Slowly picking up momentum while not being embarrassed during many of the defeats, December was a particularly good month.

http://i.imgur.com/kmqt3F0.png


http://i.imgur.com/hOJ4SPD.png

Calm down love

[Toby]

Started the new season reasonably well - undefeated in seven after Spurs beat us on the opening day - but it's all about to come crashing down as the next four games are Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea. :moop:

http://i.imgur.com/UfqS6FD.png

Went about as well as I could reasonably have hoped - we only lost to Liverpool of the three and beat United pretty comfortably.

Could perhaps have done better against Arsenal, who are in a serious 'false position' at 19th currently, having just sacked Ronald de Boer who took over from the retiring Wenger. They'd had a ridiculous fixture list to start the season, I think they've played all the top six already. I'm now the media favourite for the job, which again suggests to me that reputations are entirely out of whack on this edition.

[Jeet]

Portugal are donning it in my game, most the players on my shortlist are players from Benfica (Got to CL final) and Porto.

[Dark Soldier]

Portugal are donning it in my game, most the players on my shortlist are players from Benfica (Got to CL final) and Porto.

Same on my game. They end up insanely good within 3/4 seasons. Some of the regens they either hunt out and buy, or those that come through their academies are ridiculous. Chelsea bought a regen Benfica striker for about 65mil (I'm midway through my 6th season as Watford), his stats are beastly.

[John]

I bought this earlier tonight, installed it when I got in, and was informed it needed to update before I could actually turn it on. That was about four hours ago and it's still telling me there's an hour and a half to go before I can play it.

Now, my internet is shite. It's not that fucking bad. I assume their servers are playing up or something, because I'm not having it that it's suddenly taking my connection the best part of six hours to download a gig and a half. :moop:

[Giggles]

http://www.joe.ie/sport/winner-of-cabinteely-fcfootball-manager-competition-will-be-added-into-the-game/520726

Gone a step further now. The regen thing is probably better than the season ticket seeing as they don't have any stands.

[Gray Fox]

They did that for people who went to the cinema to see FM15s reveal interview with Miles. 1 per cinema got in.

[Toby]

My avatar started growing a horrendous moustache and it took me until it disappeared on December 1st to realise what was going on.

[Manc]

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

:moop:

My second year with the Hammers and this season was the big push for the top four. Riding high off our Europa league triumph I really believed this would be "our year", but Christ this league is unforgiving. Our disappointment in the domestically was confounded in the cups as Spurs & Stoke knocked us out in the earlier rounds. A penalty loss in the last 16 to PSG shows how far we've come, but despite clearing the clubs debts, this is a squad that can't run on Waffer prize money.

After nailing every transfer thus far, I went about striking deals in January once again. Savic (http://i.imgur.com/X6c0TWS.png) came in from United as our new No1 and performed admirably, whilst Klaassen (http://i.imgur.com/DDynLjV.png) added to the midfield magic after sales of Nouri (£35m) and Poyet £12m left us short in the middle. More stars are expected in the summer and perhaps a tactical jig as I work out how to fit all our stars in the same team.

[Mike]

https://i.imgur.com/hPbtqq0.png

Silly wages, but no fee means I don't mind.

[Smiffy]

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[Smiffy]

.....

[Toby]

The bad run has finally hit. Drew two games to Leicester and West Ham, which is sort of frustrating but not terrible, but then somehow chucked a 2-0 lead to ten man bottom of the league Middlesbrough. That had me wanting to chuck the laptop out the window for the first time on this edition. There is nothing as certain in life as the fact Alexander Tettey will get booked in every game he plays, but that was the first time he had been sent off to throw our advantage down the pan.

Followed that with a 3-0 thrashing from City and I fear I could be on course for my first consecutive defeats with an away game to Everton now coming up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have certain midfielders getting booked every week as well. One bloke got 28 yellows in a season or something absolutely laughable.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Gray Fox]

How are you racing through the seasons so quick Smiffy?

[Smiffy]

.....

[Gray Fox]

Fair enough. After some fucking around the web to finally get my kit packs downloaded(those subscribe for faster download sites) and trying to find a decent name fix(the last one I tried named WPOTY as the Ballon d'Or ffs), I'm about ready for this year. Even though I now have the full on proper Italian club names displaying :moop:.

For my first save I'm thinking along the lines of someone longer term. Valencia or Sevilla are tempting sheerly because there will always be two/three big challenges from the big boys. Any of the teams in that 3rd-8th place pack in Germany look good. In England, anyone in the bottom half. I could also try and win ol' big ears with one of the Portuguese teams. There's always the Milan based revival game in Italy too.

[Smiffy]

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[Smiffy]

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[wullie]

I'd go at least a season more to have a pop at the Champions League, unless you've already done that.

[Manc]

Commentary/Quick Result.

I would have never left cm 01/02 if this was my jam. You need to get with the 2D classic, Smiff.

[Weaver]

Finished 3rd, got drawn against Crawley in the playoffs and Matt Doherty got sent off in the 4th minute. Lost the first leg 3-0, won the second leg 1-0 and didn't advance any further.

As it is, I have the best team in League One this year (Boro didn't sign Lee Tomlin permanantly, I've signed Michael Hector from Reading and a few younguns from Man United including Michael Keane) but I've had a slow start with a few draws and I'm mid-table.

I ended up winning the title from Brentford by around 8 points in Year 2 - they fell to bits towards the end, which helped, but I only lost three league games from December.

I put Sam Johnstone in goal in place of Bobby Olejnik, which did the trick defensively and I signed James Wilson in January when Britt Assombalonga was in Africa.

The bad news is that despite winning League One, Michael Bostwick (captain) and Lee Tomlin both won't sign new deals - strangely, the latter took out his transfer request following the last game of the season, but still won't sign a new deal (can't even negotiate with him) so he's still leaving anyway.

As far as next year goes, I'll be looking to keep Johnstone/Keane/Bigirimana/Gary Gardner/Wilson on loan, and I've also agreed to sign Tyler Blackett for £40k and also someone called Reece Hands from Morton. I'm still assuming Tomlin and Bostwick will be off, and Grant McCann is out of contract as well.

[Smiffy]

.....

[phonics]

Does Quick Result work? It always seemed a bit random to me.

[Bernanke]

Does Quick Result work? It always seemed a bit random to me.

Since the game is already simulated beforehand it just gives you that result instantly I assume?

[Reg]

It's not entirely simulated though, because the changes you make in-game have an effect on the result.

I know you can set changes to mentality etc with instant result, but you have much less freedom.

[Bernanke]

It's not entirely simulated though, because the changes you make in-game have an effect on the result.

I know you can set changes to mentality etc with instant result, but you have much less freedom.

Isn't it just re-simulated everytime you make changes? In the first minute, the end result is already decided on a code level until you for example make a sub, therefore quick result isn't any more random than just watching it play out.

[Reg]

Well you have a very limited number of options with quick result.

If I'm watching a game, I can decide to change my 4-4-1-1 to a 3-1-4-1-1, switch the mentality and make any number of role changes.

I'm not sure how the coding works, I have no idea, but you have many, many more options when actually watching the game.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Reg]

I haven't got anything against it, and it clearly works.

[Manc]

Surely watching the matches is the biggest reward? Must be very anticlimatic with instant results.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As in all football related things, you're surely doing it for the moment of goal.

That said I remember playing Premier Manager 98 for hours on end as a kid and because my computer couldn't handle its primitive 3D highlights, I always had the results which showed up first at half time and then full time. The joy when you turned a half time deficit around was incredible. You could do a season in around 20 minutes as well.

I've parked Mansfield and am having a little look at Athletic Bilbao, principally because transfers don't interest me. Let's see how it goes.

[Bam]

https://www.dafcdirect.com/quick-order

Can anyone tell me if that's for a download link or a physical copy? Only it seems to go on about shipping.

[Bernanke]

The Everton Champions League-experience so far this spring:

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

http://i.imgur.com/Krnox9E.png?1

The turn-around against Barca was special. They destroyed me in the first game, Suarez had like five 1-on-1s in the first 20 minutes until I set to defend very deep, and still they ripped me open 3-0.

The shoot-out against Chelsea though. :lol: First and third were great saves from Alisson, and just when I was starting to form plans about replacing him this summer...

[Gray Fox]

Have they fixed the shootouts that would go on for seemingly hours?

[Toby]

Only couple I've had have been over without even needing all five.

[leedsrevolution]

Right, so I'm having another session on this game, decided to start a game with Red Bull Salzburg. Should in theory win all the domestic shit but I haven't played recently so bound to fuck it all up.

[phonics]

Started a game that I actually got into that was semi-interesting. Found it had the remnants of a database edit I made and half the MLS was in the Premier League

:facepalm:

[igor_balis]

Gonna give it another bash. Any vague ideas about tactics on this one, lads? I don't like using tactics created by other people, but any general themes, like how on the last one using short, considered passing was good, and strikerless good on fm14 (hi Guido).

[leedsrevolution]

I've personally created the most generic one for Red Bull. Nothing fancy but a 4-2-3-1, control, short passing game - high defensive line, much high tempo, be disciplined, stick to position, retain possession, play out of mother fucking defence team you've ever seen.

[Vim]

I've turned the game on again after like a week, and the first thing that happens is yet another corner goal. I've rage quit because it's not really fun when out of three games in the season, three goals come from corners. :/

[Toby]

I currently have my left back taking corners and I've noticed if the other team clears it out and starts breaking forward, he'll just sort of amble leisurely back towards the halfway line. It's allowing teams a lot of chances down that side and starting to really frustrate me. Is there anything I can change to tell him to stop being such a dick? I'm not sure if there is and starting to think it might be game error of some sort.

I don't want to just have somebody else take corners as he has the best stats for it and those even close to him are more likely to do something in the box.

[Matt]

Im really struggling on this years game.

Started as Newcastle and was sacked just before Xmas bottom of the league.

Started again as Arsenal and have so far lost 2-0 in the Charity Shield to Chelsea. Debuchy hitting a clearance against Costa that rolled into the net and a Matic header late on when we were pushing for an equaliser.

It just seems every clearance from the AI turns into a superb 60 yard ball straight to a teammate wereas my players can't knock a 20 yard pass under no pressure.

Anyway the main reason of the post. Giroud is out injured and I dont want to go into the season with Walcott as my only forward but im struggling to find anyone who's going to cost me less than £50 million. So far im looking at either Lukaku or Higuain. Who would you go for?

[John]

Gabriel Barbosa looks shit hot and would likely cost you a fair bit less than fifty million quid.

I've started up with Maritimo, an old FM favourite, and set about taking advantage of the lax foreigner rules to bring in a load of south Americans on loan. Rodrigo Bentancur of Boca looks like the sort of player everyone should have on a shortlist.

[Dquincy]

Just beat 2nd place Palermo to open up some daylight in the league.

But injuries are starting to mount up now, 4 first teamers out injured and have Lens to contend with in the champions league 1st knockout stage.

http://s24.postimg.org/406cqmc85/Milan_v_Palermo_Split_View.png

http://s17.postimg.org/nq5qauavj/Serie_A_TIM_Information_League_Table.png

[wullie]

I'm somehow six points away from first place with 10 to go. If I win the league I'm going to have to send the game back as faulty.

[Dquincy]

Well that was tricky. Don't hold out much hope for us in the 2nd leg. Injuries still ravaging the first team.

http://s16.postimg.org/4cnen3n1h/Milan_v_Man_City_Information_Overview.png

[Dquincy]

My season is quickly imploding with 6 of my first 11 out injured.
Look at the recent results...slags the lot of them.

http://s9.postimg.org/gk4f8h59b/A_C_Milan_Milan_Fixtures.png

[Dquincy]

Amazing (lucky) 2nd leg performance away to Man City.


http://s18.postimg.org/g0qk9yamx/Man_City_v_Milan_Information_Overview.png


PSV in the semi-final,

Followed by this utter tripe.


Missed a sitter in the last minute.

http://s4.postimg.org/rj0i3hlel/Inter_v_Milan_Information_Overview.png

Seriously?! Cunts, all of them.

http://s18.postimg.org/8tove2zq1/Napoli_v_Milan_Information_Overview.png

http://s30.postimg.org/7z5cr1hht/Quincy_News_Inbox.png

Got 4th place Juve next, my small crippled squad is knackered with so many games in quick succession.

[Dquincy]

Stop the rot, can't stop the rot
You can't stop the rot, can't stop the rot [repeated]

Shake that paranoia, can't stop the rot!

http://s22.postimg.org/6hyoyr8wx/A_C_Milan_Milan_Fixtures.png

[Toby]

I have to play with Extended highlights as I can't stand the inevitability of Key.

What's that? My player cleared the ball and the highlight is still going? Guess we're about to concede then.

[Jeet]

Sell Theo and Jack - Will just be on the treatment table as I have found out.

I got in Barbosa, then Later Gabriel Jesus who is better. The first season I got in Domenico Berardi £35mill who finished top scorer and best shot/target ratio player in prem. None of them clicked as a lone forward for me, one I played 2 they all started firing.

[Giggles]

The proper tablet touch version of this is out now for €20. Looks fairly close to the PC one too.

The mobile version was gack as always.

[Giggles]

Was going to buy that but I'll probably get the PC version anyway after so I might as well just get that now. That Steam shite is installed and I just need to buy. Amazon want €50 and Steam want €55.

Where's the best deals people have got this for?

EDIT: Is cdkeys legit? It's €31 there.

[Giggles]

Hopefully it is legit because the sneaky fuckers made me pay for it and then wouldn't let me download it until I gave them my mobile number.

Anyway, it's now downloaded but I refuse to start a game in the state it comes in. Is sortitoutsi still the best place for logos and kits? And how do I fix all the fake names in this version?

[Giggles]

Right you bunch of cunts, that was more hassle than I wanted having to look it all up myself but I'm sorted, but can one of you point me in the direction of where the editor is as I can't see it at all.

[John]

You download it separately through the 'tools' section on Steam.

[Danny]

Seperate download on steam I believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUnmr4fHp2w

[Giggles]

Good men, I have it now.

Ready to start once this 4.4GB of logos copies to my graphics folder.

[Baz]

Start without it, and just reload the skin once they've copied. I'm sure you can cope for an hour without badges.

[Giggles]

Didn't know that would work. Cheers.

[Gray Fox]

CD Keys is fine. I've bought loads from there.

EDIT: Didn't see the new page.

[wullie]

Running out of time for it to really be tasty

http://i.imgur.com/16QvJQJ.png

FA Cup final against Chelsea too. I really shouldn't be here.

[Giggles]

I've loaded up and left it holidaying until summer 2020. I'll pick it up from there.

[phonics]

Boys I'm top of the table in November. This never happens. Something is clearly broken.

[wullie]

I thought the game was scripting a league win for me when I next played Villa at home, and at 1-0 down after 80 mins they contrived to concede a penalty with the offending player being sent off along with a second player complaining about it. I won 2-1, but then I didn't realise my remaining two games were away defeats to Arsenal and then Chelsea, followed by a 1-0 FA Cup final defeat.

Still, Europa League, £45m budget, debts cleared, stadium purchase in the process and I've just brought Callum Wilson back.

[leedsrevolution]

Top of the table with Salzburg at the beginning of December by 9 points which is nice. But more impressively I've got out of the Champions League group stages.

[Giggles]

Stopped the holidaying and Spurs had just sacked Martimo in summer 2021 after finishing 5th so that's my first port of call. Man Utd have won all the leagues since 2015 bar one.

[Giggles]

And the fucking tramp crashed because of the Steam servers. That steam shit is the worst thing ever happened this game.

[John]

Coming towards the end of my first season with Maritimo and I'm not entirely confident there will be a second. I'm on course to very slightly exceed my seasonal expectations in the league but first round exits in both cups mean that might not be enough. I'm beginning to get a sense of what sort of tactical systems work best and what sort of players work best within those though, so even if I wasn't able to add anyone in the summer I'd be confident of doing better next season. As it stands I've secured the signings of a couple of promising looking young players, so hopefully I get the chance to put them to work.

There have been three standout players in this first season. One Maritimo player, one who starts on loan with Maritimo, and one I bought in January for a pittance.

http://i65.tinypic.com/19xrmr.png

http://i66.tinypic.com/11sf8js.png

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

[Giggles]

Finally up and running again. Just holidayed until June 2017 and picked it up from there. Application in for 14th place Southampton who have just sacked De Boer. Leicester is also available but they've finished 19th and gone down.

A David Moyes led Arsenal have romped the 2016/17 premier league and Europe is dominated by Andres Villas Boas' Barcelona, so it's like an alternate universe.

[John]

That seems like a hell of a lot of changes to have taken place in two years.

I wound up finishing sixth, which is good for a Europa League place and a new contract. It's also meant the board feel comfortable trebling my wage budget and giving me close to four million quid to spend, which is lovely. At the moment I think most of that will go on the future fee I speculatively negotiated in Rodrigo Bentancur's loan deal, but I'll be doing some serious scouting before committing to that.

[Giggles]

Not sure what happened at Barcelona but Wenger retired.

Got the Southampton job, they're fucking loaded. I've got myself a €2.8m wage budget (vs €1.8m actual) and an €89m transfer budget for promising a top half finish, 6th round of the FA Cup, and 5th round of the Capital One. If I'd said Europa League I'd have got €103m and €3.5m. Haven't got much of a look at the squad yet but it doesn't look to have changed a massive amount.

[Giggles]

Les Reed has just bought two players and given them a combined €295,000 a week. One of them being Giovani dos Santos.

[Gray Fox]

The money in England really does get stupid with that BT deal kicking in.

[Manc]

http://i.imgur.com/DdgZmR7.png

It's all going to plan. Two points off the top, but more importantly 10 points ahead of Liverpool in 5th. Our brilliance has been helped by Arsenal having a shoddy season and it's safe to say we've got the top four in the back pocket. Three defeats thus far all of which were away @ Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and The Emirates. Our performances in these games suggest the title is out of reach, but you never know.

Transfers (http://i.imgur.com/1bl1ZIB.png)

Not even a dream team of Harry Redknapp & Galliani could have pulled off some of the coups I've acquired since moving to London. Oliver (free), Ayew (£2.2m), Ferati (free), Shaw (£3.5m), Bellarabi (£5m) and now the mother of all coups, Lincoln (http://i.imgur.com/WtuhrST.png). He's running riot as a shadow striker and does something brilliant in every game. Bolstering the defence were Walker and Boilesen, Dozzell and Antic (http://i.imgur.com/GkTJDwk.png) are players for the future.

Chelsea in the tin cup semi final, OM in the Europa league, Crewe in the FA cup, it's all to play for.

[John]

Rodrigo Bentancur decided he wants to go somewhere a bit further up the footballing ladder so the three million I was going to spend bringing him in is going on a load of cheap players, and it seems those are considerably easier to find this year than they have been in the past. My old mate Marius Lundemo for less than two hundred grand still looks like the biggest bargain I'll get all year, as he always is, but there's plenty of value to be found.

I'll do a full transfer update when my business is done, but for now here's my man Paul Dano.

http://i63.tinypic.com/bdpp43.png

[Weaver]

The bad news is that despite winning League One, Michael Bostwick (captain) and Lee Tomlin both won't sign new deals - strangely, the latter took out his transfer request following the last game of the season, but still won't sign a new deal (can't even negotiate with him) so he's still leaving anyway.

As far as next year goes, I'll be looking to keep Johnstone/Keane/Bigirimana/Gary Gardner/Wilson on loan, and I've also agreed to sign Tyler Blackett for £40k and also someone called Reece Hands from Morton. I'm still assuming Tomlin and Bostwick will be off, and Grant McCann is out of contract as well.

Bostwick stayed, Tomlin left and I did resign Johnstone/Gardner/Wilson.

I started the Championship season with eight games unbeaten, winning 4-0 on the first day, but the season's gone a bit weird - I drew against Middlesbrough from 1-0 down and with nine men, but then I chucked a 2-0 lead against West Brom the very next game. I have since suffered four straight defeats to drop me down to 11th.

I did get offered a new contract until 2018, which I've accepted, and London Road has been extended a little bit as well.

[Bernanke]

http://i.imgur.com/hrW9Nym.png

:D

[Gray Fox]

That's just perfect. :clap:

[randomlegend]

Is this year's effort worth the outlay?

[Ian]

By coincidence I just finished reading RPS' review.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjpr4DKm7PJAhUBfhoKHRkcB0YQqQIIITAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockpapershotgun.com%2F2015%2 F11%2F27%2Ffootball-manager-2016-review%2F&usg=AFQjCNGUc7afSNRwI85CLqcYl952CZOqOA&sig2=dV68Q3iBlLObe3b80sabXA

[Giggles]

By coincidence I just finished reading RPS' review.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjpr4DKm7PJAhUBfhoKHRkcB0YQqQIIITAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockpapershotgun.com%2F2015%2 F11%2F27%2Ffootball-manager-2016-review%2F&usg=AFQjCNGUc7afSNRwI85CLqcYl952CZOqOA&sig2=dV68Q3iBlLObe3b80sabXA

"Wot I think"? Does he rate it in blings out of 10?

[Ian]

They don't do numbered ratings, so no.

They've been calling their reviews that since they started. No idea why and it's always struck me as a touch try-hard but it's still one of the best sites if you want to actually read things rather than just look for x/10 at the bottom so it doesn't bother me.

[John Arne]

If anyone is bored, download pretty much all leagues in the world in one file... http://sortitoutsi.net/downloads/view/19297/fm16-around-the-world-over-220-countries-with-big-leagues-europe-americas-asia-africa-oceania

I've just loaded Russia (to level 7), Vietnam (to level 5), North Korea (to level 1) and Germany (to level 10).

Might keep my entertained for 20 minutes.

[Gray Fox]

I've started with Southampton. Should be a tough challenge to break that top 4/6 consistently.

They've a very talented midfield on this. JWP, Wanyama and Mane look the best 3 players at the club, but I have a feeling I might have to sell one to bring in some needed depth.

[Dquincy]

The season is coming to a crescendo. The league is looking tight, and I've got my old team Liverpool in the Champions League Final.

http://s23.postimg.org/cqeyv2uzv/Serie_A_TIM_Information_League_Table.png

http://s22.postimg.org/a3mgjdar5/A_C_Milan_Milan_Fixtures.png

[Dquincy]

Last day of the season and this is how it looks.

http://s21.postimg.org/jg12ya3pz/Serie_A_TIM_Information_League_Table_2.pnghttp://s22.postimg.org/7bm6vwxip/Serie_A_TIM_Matches_Fixtures_Results.png

[Dquincy]

Champions for the 2nd year on the trot. :cool:

Champs league final up next.

http://s10.postimg.org/5pbjdtud5/Milan_v_Bari_Split_View.png
http://s30.postimg.org/ygk1clxc1/Serie_A_TIM_Information_League_Table_3.png

[Dquincy]

Champions League Final against Liverpool


:dance:
http://s2.postimg.org/o3dbajds9/Milan_v_Liverpool_Information_Overview.png

[Dquincy]

Season stats.

http://s13.postimg.org/ikfy6ttiv/A_C_Milan_Milan_Players.png

[Manc]

Which fm is that, dquincy?

[Gray Fox]

I would guess FM12.

[Danny]

I think hes on 11

[Giggles]

Two friendly games in and I'm getting totally raped, absolutely torn apart at the back.
I really don't know what I'm looking for in players or what I need to be doing tactically in this version so I expect this job to be short lived.

Expecting friendlies to be arranged and only realising I had none 3 days before the Community Shield didn't help either.

[Giggles]

Yeah I'm fucked. Fans already going mad :uhoh:

http://i64.tinypic.com/20qkutj.jpg

[John]

Why have you holidayed in rather than just starting from the beginning? Seems like an odd move for your first game on a new version.

Tactically I'm finding success playing wide, crossing early, passing into space, and playing on the counter.

[Gray Fox]

Full backs are lethal on this by the looks of it. Get them on the overlap and don't be shy about crossing it in.

[Giggles]

Why have you holidayed in rather than just starting from the beginning? Seems like an odd move for your first game on a new version.

Tactically I'm finding success playing wide, crossing early, passing into space, and playing on the counter.

Just to add an extra dimension. It's not causing any added problems as I wouldn't have known what I was at if I had started in 2015 either.

I think the detail level has just gotten away on me now with this version. There's too much to take in.

[John]

You've highlighted two problems it's causing you already, though one of them is admittedly a small one. If you were starting from the beginning you'd be able to take suggestions from the thread on board in terms of who you should be signing, but by two seasons in the bargains and youngsters will all have been bought up. You'd also have had friendlies arranged for you if you'd gone from the beginning. I just don't see why you'd want an 'extra dimension' on your first run with a new game. It's basically just adding difficulty.

I don't really think it's much more detailed than the last version, if at all. The tactical instructions screen is a bit cluttered, but that's just a load of pointless graphical flourishes, the substance of the screen is the same. What are you noticing that wasn't there before?

You should start basic with the tactics. Pick a shape that best suits your best players then tweak the instructions as you go.

[Giggles]

I think it's the fact that, while I bought 2015, I rarely played it so it's all really alien to me. I've been playing the generic 4-1-2-3 (and a 4-4-2 for the Liverpool game because Les Miles said I should).
I think the main problem is that I have absolutely no idea of my best 11. I seem to have 2 or 3 average players for every position but nobody actually good. It'd need time to get sorted out.

[John]

Post a screenshot of your squad. Assuming you were right in saying not much had changed there should still be some quality in there. Mane and Tadic look shit hot for a start.

[Giggles]

2 wins now at least. Selnaes, Cedric, and Slagveer look like the best of what I have. I'll be glad to see Ward-Prowse back from a long term injury too though.

Dos Santos is a complete waste of space. An offside machine.

[Giggles]

Post a screenshot of your squad. Assuming you were right in saying not much had changed there should still be some quality in there. Mane and Tadic look shit hot for a start.

Mane had to go as he was going into the last year of his contract when I took over and had no interest in a new one.

[Giggles]

http://i66.tinypic.com/33bmzjb.jpg

[John]

http://i65.tinypic.com/20jhkye.png

:drool:

That was fucking glorious.

[Gray Fox]

Made my signings for now.

https://gyazo.com/b3e20591d3d68ad5fdcc9b9e2146a1d6.png

One I'm happiest with is Ajar

https://gyazo.com/75c62e908ec68fbdf7bba16ad52d8bc0.png

Not a great deal to spend but I think there's some bargains there. Tried to get Ashley Cole in for one season but he wants £75k a week. Gaston Ramirez is my top earner now on £55k a week so no chance.

That's seen us lining up like this so far: https://gyazo.com/d92d08460c3cf4b6916e8b5dccdb5b31.png

Board only wants a top half finish and to not be "outclassed too often" in Europe. So it looks like I'll have some time on my hands.

Right now there's a few people buzzing about my top players but no bids yet. Is there anyone I should be snapping up should I come into some money?

[John]

The same starting eleven has just followed that wonderful away performance by bending over and acquiescing to a violent 6-1 bumming from Braga. At home.

[Giggles]

4 game win streak now (albeit against Newcastle, Wigan, Middlesbrough, and Derby). Pelle has gone into the team and has scored 4 in 2, however Wanyama is still a yellow card machine.

[Manc]

Top, top window, gray. Zivkovic and Ajer are currently donning Madrid and Paris in my save.

[Gray Fox]

I recognised Zivkovic from FM15 so at that price he seems a steal. We're short of a full-back or two and also home grown players though so that will need addressing at some point.

[John]

I had Ajer on loan for the second half of last season and while he played well, he didn't progress at all and didn't seem like he would be going on to 'don' anywhere.

[Bernanke]

Right now there's a few people buzzing about my top players but no bids yet. Is there anyone I should be snapping up should I come into some money?

Rodrigo Mora and Marcelo Meli are good value players if they haven't moved yet and you can get a permit. Rajkovic from Tel Aviv if you need a long term goalkeeper, if you need one immediately Timo Horn is your man. He's gonna be an auto-buy for me pretty much.

There's some RB at Gent or Genk who looks great as well.

[Manc]

Give it bifters, Smiff.

[John]

Right now there's a few people buzzing about my top players but no bids yet. Is there anyone I should be snapping up should I come into some money?

Rodrigo Bentancur.

[Dark Soldier]

For the price you pay, Ajer can don it:

https://i.gyazo.com/2ddf5d6b2e5891da405ab1c520cca61d.png

[Dark Soldier]

Malcom is also one to buy:

https://i.gyazo.com/673e45f08398d26b6b8a10100c4965ea.png

[Gray Fox]

Bentacur looks one hell of a prospect. Had to talk him into joining but have a £3m bid pending.

Malcolm looks good too, but I've run out of money now with the deal I just mentioned. One for next year maybe.

[Gray Fox]

https://gyazo.com/a84f26cd246046031bb1393b64fb40db.png

Excellent news.

[Dark Soldier]

Have a look at Cristian Pavon too, at Boca. Ended up very good on my save despite having ten months out with a broken leg.

[John]

Look at that big black hair at the top left. :sick:

[Smiffy]

.....

[Giggles]

I'm 3-0 down at halftime away to an Arsenal side who have scored via Gonzalo Higuain and Ivan Rakitic. Now I know why managers rest players for some league games.

[John]

Business done. In anticipation of Ruben leaving I'd already signed another left back on a free transfer last January, so I'll include him in this.

http://i68.tinypic.com/307x748.png

http://i67.tinypic.com/eq36he.png

His appalling anticipation probably means he won't ever be a properly top class player, but for that sort of money I'll be making a Wonga level return on my investment if he even grows by two or three points in the important positional stats.

http://i63.tinypic.com/2l10e1.png

Signed primarily for his physical stats but he's actually a very good all round defender for the level I'm at. As above, that price. :drool:

http://i63.tinypic.com/30uu4nm.png

Appeared on my radar because someone else was bidding so I had to move quickly and grab him without proper scouting. He's much better than I expected though, and I'm now left with two goalkeepers who are both good enough to be starters. Jose Sa has room to grow and will likely be in there long term but this bloke starts for now.

http://i67.tinypic.com/70i4xd.png

Doesn't seem to have much room to grow but his current stats make him well suited to the role he'll be playing. Looking like Jack Wilshere is doing him no favours, but he goes into the season a nailed on starter.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2i9m68.png

A complete punt but he's actually the second best striker in the squad at this point. Maritimo do not have a good side.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2u3v79u.png

I had a little lol at his name, but he looks good enough to overcome that and become a properly useful player. My best coach reckons he'll be a 'leading winger' some day, so fingers crossed.

http://i64.tinypic.com/ay4v7n.png

On loan from Sporting Lisbon with a £2.4m future fee. As above, the best has him pegged as a potential leader in his position, so assuming he doesn't drop a serious clanger this season I'll be taking them up on that deal.

http://i65.tinypic.com/2rw5ap4.png

Will be my second left back and my third centre back for this season, but with those stats at nineteen and at least two stars to grow into I imagine he'll be taking over one of those positions before too long.

http://i63.tinypic.com/34hgp55.png

Signing of the summer, I reckon. He's on a season's loan but he's got a £2m future fee, which looks like a fucking bargain for that level of talent. He plays in the same position as my best player last season, but it was a bit of an Ozil Cazorla situation, even with quality there already I'm not letting that player go past.

http://i66.tinypic.com/16jm3o9.png

Last day of the window, I needed a right back, I had £2m left to spend. Ho hum. Far more than I'd have wanted to spend on any individual player at this stage, but he was by far the best player I could get so I bit the bullet. Inter, Juventus, Napoli, and Roma are showing as having 'minor interest' in him, so hopefully either he fulfills that promise or they do.

http://i68.tinypic.com/10hpx6h.png

The left back I signed last season. I stuck him in the first team for the second half of last season when Ruben signed a precontract elsewhere so he's improved a reasonable amount since I signed him, but he'll have to improve a fair bit more before I'll be giving him the six grand a week he wants.

The Europa League group is a bit of a stinker. We've got Rubin Kazan, Besiktas, and Real Sociedad. Five points is the target.

[John]

In a novel turn of events, Maritimo have an African player who is going in completely the wrong direction when it comes to age chicanery.

http://i63.tinypic.com/28k3j2f.png

[Giggles]

Time to retire for the night. Things finally looking up after a horrid start, mainly thanks to Pelle who is an absolute beast. Seem to have settled tactics now too and know my favoured first team that's shown below too, it's not wonderful but the drop off isn't too bad when someone else has to come in.


http://i67.tinypic.com/2uyj382.jpg


http://i68.tinypic.com/4hqwt3.jpg


http://i65.tinypic.com/qqehpj.jpg

[Dquincy]

Which fm is that, dquincy?
FM11.

I've tried the recent incarnations, but they're not for me. I need something a bit simpler click-able for my simple mind.

How are you finding the new one?

[John]

My neighbours having the sort of blazing argument that usually precedes a murder inquiry has kept me up almost all night, so I've reached the halfway point in the second season. After a seriously shite start to the season we're sitting fourth, eight points off the top. Nobody is having a particularly good season, with Benfica sitting fifth and Braga forming the buffer between us and the other big two, but I reckon one of them will streak clear fairly soon. Benfica are being linked with some serious quality and seem to have about twelve billion quid to spend so I wouldn't be surprised if it's them.

My last minute signing, Miladen Stevanovic currently has the highest average rating in the league. He's been outstanding but he's only just beating another right back so I'm going to give most of the credit there to the game engine boosting full backs. Kelvin is my top man at the moment though, with eleven goals and five assists so far from the wing. He's been so good I'm beginning to worry he might get a bit too big for his boots and decide he doesn't want to stay.

As for Europe, we've gone through the group in second place and drawn CSKA in the next round. My five point target was looking ambitious, but it turned out Rubin were absolutely terrible and the momentum from stuffing them carried me through the Sociedad game. I reckon Besiktas will win it.

http://i64.tinypic.com/24nqhlg.png

http://i65.tinypic.com/fx9cf9.png

[John]

http://i67.tinypic.com/vzyam9.png

He'll be popular.

[Manc]

FM11.

I've tried the recent incarnations, but they're not for me. I need something a bit simpler click-able for my simple mind.

How are you finding the new one?

Fair enough. For my money this is the most on point match engine they've ever produced.

[Ian]

I've no idea what to do. As I said last week winning the European Cup in my save has knocked the momentum right out of me but every time I go to start a new save I stare at the screen and then just quit out.

It'd help if there were any significant upgrades to my team available for less than a billion quid, as well.

[Pavel]

2024/25 Season so far: Oct 19th

http://i68.tinypic.com/eg3sw.png

The initial generation of the squad are at their peak last two seasons/this season, being between 26-29 - finally sold on Dean Murray, our keeper for the last 11 seasons, bringing in Uli Siedschlag and Matteo Lasagna two young keepers to take the reigns behind now England first team keeper Sam Spence. Vice Captain Stevie Cassar who was with us for the last 11 seasons as well also went on, and young cub Danny Williams to Arsenal as I thought he just wasn't going to get a chance in the squad being 5' 3" and with a lot of strong competition out right and in the centre of defence.

Have won everything going for the last four seasons - bar the F.A Cup, League Cup and Premier League in 2020/21 - collecting 21 honours, everything that the team has been built towards has clicked into place; and the next complete generation of core players are beginning to be formed. I think, given how well that the team has performed over the last three years that this squad template as such would be best sticking to; trying to find the players who can essentially replace each current core squad member as they hit 29/30.

We've managed as least a negative £20m transfer spend year on year since joining the Premier League, although now have a £131m wage bill, the fourth highest in the league after managing to keep it below £100m until this year - I'm confident that with the recycling of the current players that it shouldn't go any higher. Whilst the stadium has a capacity of 32,236, with 16,000 on the way at the end of this year.

Also, this is the first year in a long time that I'm not offering the players maximum bonus for the season ahead, as we simply cannot afford it given the current wage bill - I'm hoping it doesn't have too much of an impact, and doesn't seem to have had so far, other than we've conceded a few extra than we had done by this time the last few seasons.

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

Eoin Scanlon is coming up rice for me this season, having come in for a combined £35m (£7.5m with appearance and goal clauses) five seasons ago with an ascending record of:

18(17) - 6g / 4a
10(17) - 4g / 7a
22(12) - 11g / 10a
27(19) - 12g / 12a

He's slowly been maturing, although between his age now and personality I don't think he'll improve much further, although what he does, he does fantastically. Would be great to get his finishing up another spot.

He's like a regen-Sterling, and can play right across the front of field. That speed. :)


I also finished my four year run with Northern Ireland, taking them to the final of the European Championships this Summer, only to be solidly beaten down by Spain 0-2 after taking out Ukraine, England, France as well as Italy, Norway and Scotland in the group stages. Seeming close mate in the game Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer, took over as manager after seeing successful time with both Norwich and Stoke City.

During that time we went from 98th to 5th in the rankings, managing 12 games won in a row twice and 38 games unbeaten between 3/9/21 and 23/7/24, which may be one of my proudest ever runs in the game despite of course never managing any silverware. A European Championship runners' up ain't too bad.

[Giggles]

Going into the November international break in 3rd after briefly being top on the Saturday evening. I do seem to be on a decent run of games though, no sign of the big boys in the last run so I'm just hoping to make hay before they come along.

Also, van Dijk and Trippier are very decent players in this.

EDIT: Selnaes out for 8 months after doing the cruciate playing for Norway :moop:

[Bernanke]

http://i.imgur.com/SFQIRh3.png?1

The next Batistuta. :drool:

[Shindig]

"No, they're saying Boo-tistuta."

[Lee]

Just downloading FM Touch on the iPad. Just the same as the PC version except there's a thirty season limit (I'll never get that far anyway so don't care) and you can only select three nations. Ideally I'd select four for an English game but I'll drop Germany (where I probably wouldn't go from England) and stick with Spain and Italy (where I would). Most of today will be spent mucking around on this and watching football on telly.

[phonics]

Only tangentially related but I was just reading a gossip column when I was hit by this piece of nostalgia.


Everton, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Swansea and Bournemouth all scouted Bordeaux winger Henri Saivet

I used to buy him every time as someone raved about him on here and he was always crap. Still kept buying him though.

[Giggles]

I know what Toby meant when he said about the inevitability of playing the matches with 'Key' on. Basically it's highlight starts, count to 5, whoever has the ball will most likely score.

I've bought that Bentancur fella mentioned above to come in January too. And Secezny, so Forster can finally get sold.

[Smiffy]

.....

[P_3]

https://i.gyazo.com/9543f3b5344fd225a5da9c6472f18b75.png

Thought we fucked it up at 4-3 down. :cool:

[Giggles]

Tadic has played too few international games so I can't get a work permit for a new deal and he's out of contract in 6 months. No Tadic and no transfer fee :(

In other news:

http://i66.tinypic.com/2m3pixv.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/eKToRIJ.gif

[Bam]

So ive been sorting out some graphics on this, moved my old cut out facepack over and added the latest update from Susie and the cunting thing don't work. Any ideas chaps?

[Disco]

Second season with Exeter and after a ridiculously unlikely promotion I wondered what the hell was going on when we won three of our first four League 1 fixtures. All is beginning to right itself though as we've now turned into absolute masters of not winning, we don't discriminate either we drawn with Bristol who are top as well as Fleetwood who are bottom.

http://s30.postimg.org/lqw91ut0h/Capture.png

[Smiffy]

.....

[Giggles]

I added a whole 4.4GB of logos from susie too and most of them didn't work. Some tiny ones show up but that's all.

Also, is it just part of the match engine or is there anything I can do about every time I lose the ball in the final third, one long hoof has one of their players clean through on the keeper with all my defenders looking like a dog on an ice rink.

[Bam]

Yeah, the club badges, flags and skin is all working fine, just no facepacks. I've just found a huge torrent im downloading now anyway.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Disco]

18 games, 10 draws.

We're having to be gloriously negative in order to avoid getting overrun and our attack is toothless enough to begin with, the silly thing is at least one of our draws was 3-3. Seemingly we can only score if the other side does.

[The Merse]

I'd not reported on my save yet as I didn't expect to stick with it past the beta, so... to get up to speed and start posting...

I started the save in January 2016, taking over Peterhead, who were sat in 8th position in the third tier in Scotland, and leading them to promotion via the playoffs after moving up to third. I lost my three best players, got no increase to the budget and we retained Part timer status, so we lost the first 6 games of the new season in the second tier and I was sacked.

I took up the vacancy at Morecambe, who sat 21st in League 2, and led them to 15th, securing League safety. Again, the board showed no ambition for recruitment and I lost a couple of my best players, replacing them with top flight teenage releasees and loanees. Finishing 19th in my first full season, I'm now up to 2018-19 and was a bit gutted that relegated (from The Championship) Bristol City came in for me but couldn't reach an agreement for compo with Morecambe. So, League 2.

I've recruited heavily and made a tidy profit, and in Hanley, Crawford and Garcia, have some genuine midfield quality, and experience of this division at the back in Grandison and Anderson. I've also just had the youth facilities upgraded and have one product of the youth team looking likely to break through in Chris Thompson, who hopefully will improve as a CM and fit my 4-1-2-2-1 formation.

http://oi63.tinypic.com/2n71350.jpg

http://oi66.tinypic.com/1i0ozl.jpg

[Smiffy]

.....

[John]

I've been having a look at Manu Garcia on a free at the end of this season. I've already sealed Dongou and Sergio Tejera though, with the latter of those being considerably better in the position Garcia would need to be playing to progress.

http://i66.tinypic.com/inai2o.png

:drool:

[The Merse]

John Garcia's coming along alright for me. He's top of the league for key passes despite missing 4 of our 10 games so far, but he's a mile off Tejera there.

http://oi64.tinypic.com/wv644z.jpg

Nonetheless, he's likely to be handy up to League 1 if he continues to develop and it's looking likely that we'll be pushing to get there this season.

[Smiffy]

.....

[wullie]

Had a busy summer with some cash to play with

http://i.imgur.com/qo0DKSH.png

Resulted in a bit more squad depth after last season struggling with any notable injuries

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

I could have been champs if it wasn't for the start of straight defeats, and I've kicked off by beating Man Utd at home and taking a point at both Spurs and Everton so here's hoping.

[John]

Manu Garcia looks better than that technically in my game, but it's at the expense of five for natural fitness, which is seriously crap.

I'm close to getting the first team into a position where I can start bringing in young players with no chance of a first team game right away, which is my favourite point in any game.

[John]

Martin Odegaard is a fucking menace.

[Giggles]

To say things had gone to shit lately would be an understatement.

http://i68.tinypic.com/dqsupu.jpg

[Giggles]

I've just realised you can give instructions to individual players in this :face:

There's a few things I have been crying out to do with the formation and I didn't think I could.

[phonics]

I did 6 months at Boro in one night only to relaunch it the next day and my save won't load. Im done for the year.

[Giggles]

Actually, all the instructions seem to be locked unless you're in-game for some reason. Not really much use.

[Jeet]

Martin Odegaard is a fucking menace.

Got him for £1.4mill, was transfer listed after 1 season :drool:

Him and Lincoln are bargains on the flanks

[Smiffy]

.....

[Toby]

Actually, all the instructions seem to be locked unless you're in-game for some reason. Not really much use.

You can definitely change them outside of matches, there's just a lot of stuff that's built in to the role (e.g. full backs always look to cross the ball etc). It does feel pretty limiting but I suppose it makes sense.

[Byron]

So taken the plunge. Watford seem a solid chose, £15m to spend, £100k a week in the wage budget, not looked through the team so it could be complete dogshit.

[Manc]

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

Woof. Perennial top four chases to title challengers.

We never looked likely to win the league, or anything for that matter as City, Chelsea & Benfica knocked us out of the cups. A few positives to note are the £170m in the bank, an average attendance of 43,500 and the academy is producing a few decent lads.

Once again I managed to strike lucky in the window as Sergi Roberto & Meyer came in for the departing Obiang & Destro. This now leaves us with these midfield choices.

http://i.imgur.com/S8e1Y46.png

:drool:

[Byron]

Okay squad seems okay, certainly good enough to survive in the division. Terminated Diamanti's and Ibarbo's loan deals as I don't like loan players and it saves me a further £65k a week. However, not sure what world we live in where the highest earner is Valon Behrami.

Need a striker though. Deeney and Ighalo are good, but an injury crisis could proper fuck me.

[John]

http://i63.tinypic.com/24wu2a8.png

He's growing at roughly the same rate as my club so he remains out of my price range at the moment. What a player he'll be.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Clunge]

Riddle me this chaps - full fat FM16 comes with FM Touch.

A. Does that also include FM Touch for mobile too? Or would you have to pay another £15 on top for that?
B. If you just buy FM Touch for PC (£20), does that also include FM Touch for mobile? Or would you have to pay another £15 on top for that too?

The actual FM site is cack for this kind of info.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Giggles]

How do you get the instant result button up? The match engine in this really is a disgrace.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Giggles]

:thbup: That's done it. No more ice skating defenders.

[P_3]

Fuck, as Ajax just lost Fischer and El Ghazi for a combined £60m. Both have 50% sell on fees too. :drool:

[Smiffy]

.....

[Giggles]

I still don't know how I've gone from beating Man City 3-0 and being fancied in a lot of games to being underdogs in games at 16th placed Newcastle and 17th placed Derby while still sitting 7th.

Does it mean my tactics are 'cracked' or that my training (which I have absolutely no idea how to work) is causing the players stats to deteriorate at a fast rate?

[John]

It means you've been in shite form long enough for the odds to adjust.

If your player's stats were deteriorating quickly you'd be aware of it, and if you are then you should probably be taking steps to fix it. The training screens are incredibly easy to work out.

The match engine seems to reward tactical stasis less than it did in previous years, so if you're going into every game with an identical tactic and lineup you're likely to get sussed out. I've taken to making one or two minor. occasionally cosmetic changes per game, which seems to be working. The only time I fell into a rut was in the early going last season, and that rut ended with the institution of my current rotation policy.

[John]

I was right to suggest in a prior update that someone would go on a mad run to win the title, but it was Porto who fucked everyone, rather than Benfica. That said, Benfica did go from fifth at Christmas to second by the end of the season, so I wasn't far wrong.

http://i64.tinypic.com/35irqtw.png

Caicedo finished the season with sixteen league goals, which was good for joint third top scorer and seems incredibly impressive for someone signed for about eight quid. The main man, though. was Kelvin. He finished the season close to the top three in both goals and assists, and according to my own crude investigations had 'contributed' to the highest number of goals in the league. What a player. We were dicked out of Europe in humbling fashion by CSKA, but that end of season result meant we qualified for the Champion's League, so get fucked Europa.

Despite qualifying for the Chamion's League playoff, finishing higher in the league than last season, and generally signing a quality of player that's significantly better than anything the club has ever seen, my transfer budget was almost cut in half. I managed to sign one of the loan players from last season, but it's still a terrible display of frugality from a board who nonetheless asked for a significant improvement on the previous season.

http://i66.tinypic.com/28ssax4.png

http://i67.tinypic.com/2rwn87t.png

Takes over as the primary creative force in the side, allowing Lundemo to move back into the box to box role which suits him best, so we've considerably improved two positions with one signing. Unlikely to retain the position long term or move on for a big fee, so he doesn't fit my general model for signings, but he's absolutely perfect for the moment.

http://i65.tinypic.com/vwu52c.png

Immediately worth more than double my next most valuable player. I imagine that's mostly down to the fact that he came from Barcelona, but he has a release clause of fifteen million so hopefully that value drops. I'll feel like a twat for negotiation such a clause for a player who's quickly worth twenty five million.

http://i66.tinypic.com/vopwuf.png

A young player who's gone out on loan immediately, he'll replace Dongou when he inevitably leaves. Deeply average for the moment, but his potential should offer a two or three points increase in most important attributes and that will be enough to see him become a proper striker.

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

A loanee from last season, and I'm fucking delighted to get him on a proper deal. A complete bargain.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2j6ae0y.png

A bit of an impulse buy, since I didn't need anyone in any of the positions he can play, but the £3.5m buyout on his loan deal made it a no brainer. The sort of buy-to-sell gem I'm looking for.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2n83l39.png

In on a loan to provide backup for Fransergio as a defensive midfielder, he seems like he might supplant Fran and end up forcing me to buy him. He looks like a poor man's Andres Cubas, who I had my eye on all summer but couldn't afford, but is precisely the sort of player I'll end up buying.

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

Not much to say here. Will be a backup, but I'll try to sign him if one of the hundred thousand bids coming in for Jose Sa end up triggering his release.

[Giggles]

It means you've been in shite form long enough for the odds to adjust.

If your player's stats were deteriorating quickly you'd be aware of it, and if you are then you should probably be taking steps to fix it. The training screens are incredibly easy to work out.

The match engine seems to reward tactical stasis less than it did in previous years, so if you're going into every game with an identical tactic and lineup you're likely to get sussed out. I've taken to making one or two minor. occasionally cosmetic changes per game, which seems to be working. The only time I fell into a rut was in the early going last season, and that rut ended with the institution of my current rotation policy.

That's a good idea on the tactics. I have been changing a few things but probably too much, the familiarity levels are very low for the end of January.

As for the training, I have absolutely no idea what's going on. I remember some older versions used to let you set out a fairly long schedule but I can't see ahead more than two weeks on this one. Do you have to check in every week to make changes then? I'd tried letting my assistant do it but then I realised n January that every week had been set to Fitness and every match prep was set to Attacking Movement.

[Giggles]

Fucking cunt bastard crashed again :(


Anyone else had it where either the calendar game progression overlay or the save game overlay get stuck on the screen? I can see the screen changing in behind when I click things but it's all blurred out because of the overlay and there's no way to get rid of it. That's 3 times now.

[wullie]

I was getting crashes quite a bit during games, mostly when I made tactical changes. Cleared out all the logos and kits that I added and it seems to be behaving itself again.

[Giggles]

After taking some more time over training and shaking up the defence, things are looking up a bit of late. Bentacur has made a difference in midfield too. Still in contention for Europe but I've two of the big boys breathing down my neck.


http://i64.tinypic.com/akk26u.jpg


http://i68.tinypic.com/2i0ena1.jpg

[Giggles]

5th after. 4 points off Arsenal in 4th. Success anyway after only promising top half.

8th place Man Utd have just sacked Ancelotti though and my name is being mentioned :uhoh:

[Bernanke]

After corrupting yet another save, I've finally figured out the problem. I've closed my laptop too quickly after quitting the game, because apparently the save-process can be writing a full 30-45 seconds after the game has shut down, even on a SSD.

So, bye Everton, it was good while it lasted. Sociedad is up, and this one is gonna stick. I'll stay away from the obvious ones this time in Barbosa, Ajer, Zivkovic etc.. Still gonna try and get Bentancur in. Meli + Rodrigo Mora perhaps, and I've been wanting to try out Lozano.

[Toby]

Smashing the second season with Norwich. Sixth in the league with a game in hand plus seven more to go, won the League Cup and into the semi-finals of the FA Cup with the sort of fantasy land final four that screams total failure if we fail to win it from here.

To be honest though I'm finding it a real slog to see out this season. Despite performing well above expectations there's no real sense of achievement. It feels totally random and yet entirely predictable - like it doesn't really matter what I do. I change tactics slightly almost every game but I don't feel like there's any real reward to studying opponents or really thinking about things much.

One of the few games we've lost recently was a 3-1 away to Chelsea. Their left back, left-sided centre back and defensive midfielder all picked up early bookings and yet when I changed tactics to "exploit the right flank" - since Redmond is my best player on the right wing and Hazard was charging on to leave booked players exposed - I still found them launching themselves into now perfectly timed challenges. They should have been shitting themselves as Redmond tore past them - as he does most opponents and as he has Chelsea before - but I feel like the AI isn't actually smart enough to take those sorts of things into consideration.

[Manc]

http://i.imgur.com/3bx0qpq.png

Sunderland. :face:

As you can see were doing our upmost to keep pace with the big boys and up until United smashed us 4-1, it was going swimmingly. Chelsea and Liverpool are having mares, so the top four should make for easy pickings. In a bid to improve the squad over the summer, I decided to reunite the Argentinean defensive duo that worked well in my early Villa days. Welcome Balanta (http://i.imgur.com/km1rF14.png) & Mammana (http://i.imgur.com/kvGSi7E.png) for a combined £20m.

[John]

http://i68.tinypic.com/2qsv212.png

What a name.

[Giggles]

Torn what to do with the season expectations now. I was only 4 points off the Champions League the past season but I really wanted to bring in at least 3 of the U21's to the first team by Christmas, so maybe would be better going top half again.

EDIT: Europa only got me €2m more in transfers and CL only got me €3m more, so I just went top half again. Only have €13m this time round though so I better blood those youngsters, and I can only keep a small fraction of outgoings. Job one will be getting dos Santos off the wage bill.

[wullie]

Still crashing. I don't know whether to blame Windows 10 or the game, but Windows 10 cost me nothing so up yours SI.

[Giggles]

Mine hasn't in a while, but I'm saving like a fucker.

Is it the same crashes I get?

[wullie]

It's not all the time, but happens when I try making subs or moving players around during a game. Little popup tells me I've got a crash dump and then the game cuts out and a steam prompt comes up with 'installing'. Submitted the save and dump to SI and they suggested it was graphic packs and that I should remove those and possibly do a complete reinstall. Ditched the graphics and thought it was alright, but then had it happen again so I'm trying the complete reinstall next before giving up.

[Pavel]

I did 6 months at Boro in one night only to relaunch it the next day and my save won't load. Im done for the year.

That's harsh, I use the weekly auto-save on a rolling ten saves; have managed to only come across three crashes total in the last nine months which is nice - and one corruption that happened whenever the graphics driver was updating in the background at the time of saving.


Antonio Patino has hit his stride for me in the game these last two seasons something fierce; 28 in 36(18) last season, and 20 in 22(25) in his first with us after a year out on loan to Barcelona where he knocked in 14 in 9(28).

Still have another £21m in goal bonus to pay out to America(Mex) after another 13 league goals, which looks likely to be going out this season after all given that he's stuck in seven in the last three games - but all in all, £62m over four/five years was a good investment upfront between him and my 6'7" beast Ibriama Honda for £44m.

http://s3.postimg.org/rmld2pi8j/patino1.png

[Toby]

What made you choose that ghastly skin?

[wullie]

That screenshot is too busy for my eyes to fathom.

[Clunge]

Riddle me this chaps - full fat FM16 comes with FM Touch.

A. Does that also include FM Touch for mobile too? Or would you have to pay another £15 on top for that?
B. If you just buy FM Touch for PC (£20), does that also include FM Touch for mobile? Or would you have to pay another £15 on top for that too?

The actual FM site is cack for this kind of info.
Anyone?

[Bernanke]

Why am I not getting a warning about non-EU player count when I'm trying to sign Amartey as Valencia? He's only Ghanaian?

Edit: All Cotonou-players are treated as EU. :O

[Pavel]

What made you choose that ghastly skin?


That screenshot is too busy for my eyes to fathom.

It's for FM14, I liked the manner that the data was presented. Suppose I'm used to it.

It appeared to be the one to best suit my needs from what I could find online.


Ugh, one of my key forwards is out now for six months with a broken leg, that's the end of his season - quite possibly even his career with us.

Does mean that Patino has prime opportunity now to cement himself into the secondary goalscoring position, and young Miles Bennett Dyson (as I've called him) will have more room to get a few starts to help him along. Hopefully it doesn't take the sting out of my attack on rotation as the games double up again weekly in January.

[John]

Academica are currently taunting me with the existence of this nutcase.

http://i67.tinypic.com/2816mf6.png

Fucking sixteen.

[Raoul Duke]

Anyone?

My guess would be they're separate things:

FM Touch (included) is the version which works with touchscreen computers (as in things like the Surface) which can also use touch. It'll will be the same game, but with a touch-friendly UI.

FM Touch for say iOS or Android is the same thing, but you don't automatically get that (otherwise there wouldn't be much call for it as a separate thing as surely most people own the desktop version?).

So, if you want to have it on both formats, and don't have a touchscreen PC then you need to purchase both.

[Raoul Duke]

Academica are currently taunting me with the existence of this nutcase.

Fucking sixteen.

Maybe they don't love you enough to give you their last Rolo?

[John]

My board are fucking twats.

I've just finished the third season, with a good end of season run pushing me four points above Sporting and turning the big three into a proper big four. I'd negotiated upgrades to the training and youth facilities, set to begin once the season was done. Two days before the final game of the season I get a news item telling me that the board have decided they're going to build a new twenty thousand seat stadium for thirty million quid, followed by two more telling me they were cancelling the upgrades due to a lack of funds. :moop:

It also means my transfer budget is down on the previous season for the second season running. Qualifying for the Champion's League last season meant the board found an extra five million behind the couch going into January, which I gratefully spent on young regens who I'll post along with the transfer update when I hit September, but I could do with an actual transfer budget in the summer.

Now, a six thousand seat council owned shithole is far from ideal, but they could have waited a bit longer before fucking the club financially.

[The Merse]

Well, remarkably... From 19th last season and another season target of avoiding relegation, we won the league, whilst making a profit in the summer.

Proper fist pumping stuff, as we won it on the last day of the season.

http://oi64.tinypic.com/2djw49k.jpg

http://oi66.tinypic.com/s48gfd.jpg

I've used the close season to bring in Alex Henshall on a free, who I'd had on loan for 18 months and was League 2 POTY for me last season, and record signing Kieran Agard, who scored 22 goals for Burton in League 2 last season, whilst retaining most of the squad. I could still do with a right-back, a real top class (for L1) centre half, and possibly a right winger but the transfer kitty has run dry.

[Dquincy]

This just happened...

http://s23.postimg.org/bra2hxtxn/Quincy_News_Inbox.png

[Bernanke]

I saw Zlatan as an assistant manager in one of my saves. Has to be the single most unrealistic player turned staff in the game.

[Dquincy]

I've replaced Rio and taken the Dortmund job.

We're 9th in the Bundesliga at the end of September 2032.