I hate FM 2005

[SunDancer]

My name is SunDancer, and I am a FM 2005 addict.

(Back to my cave to play)....

[finkenst]

HEHE..

nice touch, sundancer... and you haven't even got your good computer to play it on yet, have you?

[SunDancer]

HEHE..

nice touch, sundancer... and you haven't even got your good computer to play it on yet, have you?

Nope...I prolly get that around the second week of April I am guessing (order it yesterday). I uploaded the game on my computer, with the "Big Five" premier leagues (France, Spain, Germany, England and Italy), and took over Airbus in the the sixth league of Wales. It's not going so well. I didn't download the patch, and won't until I get the other computer. It doesn't run as much or fast, but it's great to get a sense and experience of the game.

I am not doing well, I need to get defense and speed. One win, a pair of draws, and losses (we are battling to stay out of the cellar). I would love to cut half of the team, the financial impact would hurt, but I think that getting the team straighten out, with a wage bill in line, it may be something I may consider.

Are Wales' clubs financially sponsored by companies, in the point of selling the naming rights of the club? My team is Airbus, and we play at "the Airfield". You have Total Network Solutions, and a few others I believe.

[FrogMan]

welcome to the darkside of the force my friend, you will never see the light of day again, muahahahahaha

:D

FM

[Francis_Cole]

Well done you've taken the first step.
Welcome to our world ;)

[Francis_Cole]

Are Wales' clubs financially sponsored by companies, in the point of selling the naming rights of the club?

Yes. Much like the panthers stadium is called The Bank Of American Stadium.
I'm guessing Airbus got less money though for selling their rights than the panthers did for selling their rights ;)

[Critch]

There are a few teams about that have sold naming rights, Legia Warsaw in Poland were called Legia Daewoo Warsaw for a bit, not sure if they still are or not. Most FA's have rules against clubs having the name of companies though, years ago when the Scottish league was expanding the top non-league team was tied to a company (Ferranti Thistle, Ferranti are a defense company) so they had to change their name before being allowed into the league.

Hopefully they never allow teams to sell their naming rights, BSkyB United v Carling Hotspurs would kill soccer for me.

[MacroGuru]

I have it, have played it a little bit, but with Easter Weekend coming up, I will be hunkering down for a long play time....(No saturday practice)

[FrogMan]

I have it, have played it a little bit, but with Easter Weekend coming up, I will be hunkering down for a long play time....(No saturday practice)
Oooooohhh, I had almost forgotten about the long weekend!!!! I have Monday off, means some more playing time, weehee!!! :D

FM
PS: not much playing done on either Saturday (kid's birthday party) or Sunday (Easter, family, chocolate, bah... just kidding, good times with or without gaming on that Sunday :) )

[Eaglesfan27]

Oooooohhh, I had almost forgotten about the long weekend!!!! I have Monday off, means some more playing time, weehee!!! :D

FM
PS: not much playing done on either Saturday (kid's birthday party) or Sunday (Easter, family, chocolate, bah... just kidding, good times with or without gaming on that Sunday :) )

I don't have Monday off :(

But, I do have Friday off :D

I can't wait for a long weekend with plenty of FM.

[FrogMan]

I don't have Monday off :(

But, I do have Friday off :D

I can't wait for a long weekend with plenty of FM.
hehe, where I worked before, we used to have both off. In fact, we still have both as holidays, but the Friday is moved to a date in between Christmas and New Years day to make a two week holiday. That two week break was indeed used for much FM playing ;)

FM

[SunDancer]

welcome to the darkside of the force my friend, you will never see the light of day again, muahahahahaha

:D

FM

Up til 3 last night. :D

I actually deleted the Wales dynasty, and launch one with AS Monaco-with the premier leagues of France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, England, Netherlands, Germany, Scotland, and Greece). I am saving the lower-level challenge (I got my eye on Cambridge City of the Conference Regional League :), and "in-depth anaylsis" (studying every move, checking out training, ect).

I check it out, Europe has 85 leagues over 34 countries. I would love it if my new notebook could handle that.

[SirFozzie]

Try running a Brazil team sometime. The top teams play something like EIGHTY games in a year, between Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamerica, State Championships, and divisional play. It's nuts. NUTS I tell you.

[FrogMan]

Try running a Brazil team sometime. The top teams play something like EIGHTY games in a year, between Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamerica, State Championships, and divisional play. It's nuts. NUTS I tell you.
oh, I gotta try that someday!!!! sounds sweet! :D

FM

[SirFozzie]

Here's what I have faced with Cruziero in year 1.

Minas State championship.. The best teams from each region compete in a regional championship in January. Minas State is fairly easy (there are a bunch of 2nd and 3rd division teams), but you play 11 or 13 games in the main round (once vs each other team in the region, I forget whether there are 12 or 14 in that Region).. Then two-legged playoffs in the semifinal and final (top 4 qualify for playoffs). Total: Either 15 or 17.

Copa Libertadores: I was seeded directly into Group stage, which is good.. (6 games).. then Round of 16 on, two legged playoffs, all the way to the final (8 more matches): Total: 14 matches

Brazillian National First Division: 24 teams, play each other team 2x. Add 46 matches to the total.

Copa Sudamerica.. I'm not quite sure to be honest, haven't begun that, I just named a squad for it.

So we're at 75-77 matches for Cruziero on the year already, before we add the Copa Sudamerica.

It SUCKS to be 6 games into the National First Division schedule, and see teams 12-13 games in because they didn't have longer state seasons or games moved for international play.

It also sucks to get "Player X Needs rest" when you know there's 40-50 games left to play!

[Anthony]

i have a nice PC, i'm wondering - how many league should i be playing with and which ones?

right now, off the top of my head, i think i have: England (i always love taking Division 2 teams and trying to get them to the top level. emphasis on try). MLS (in case i get fired and no one wants an American running their team). Brazil. Germany. and i think Spain.

which ones are must haves?

[3ric]

Italy is a must have.

[SirFozzie]

Agreed on Italy.

Here's my CORE ones

Europe:

England
Italy
Germany
Spain
Scotland
Holland

S.America
Argentina
Brazil
Colombia

N.America
USA
Mexico

[Desnudo]

The only ones that are must haves are the ones you might want to manage in. Although for more realism I usually run the top leagues in Europe - Italy, Spain, and England plus the 2nd tier European leagues - Germany, France, and Holland.

[Hammer755]

Do you guys check the 'Extra Detail' box for any nation other than the one you're managing? What about ones where you may want to manage? Also, how far down in each nation do you select your leagues?

[Desnudo]

I don't check extra detail for any leagues. I find it slows down the game too much.

[FrogMan]

Do you guys check the 'Extra Detail' box for any nation other than the one you're managing? What about ones where you may want to manage? Also, how far down in each nation do you select your leagues?
by default, I think the nation you play in becomes 'full detail', but somebody could confirm that...

To answer your question, well I run only England, from the bottom up, so extra detail was a no brainer. I've heard of people not puttin 'extra detail' on anything, not even the league in which they play in, since it supposedly becomes full detail when you're in it (that's my understanding anyway)...

FM

[Desnudo]

I think you are right Froggy.

[moriarty]

With all these 'I hate FM' threads, I pity the poor fool who reads only the thread titles and concludes FM must really suck.

[SirFozzie]

we're saving them, really moriarty. Saving them from the fate we now share.. that of being a FM Zombie.

[Anthony]

can someone explain to me one thing i've never understood about CM/FM:

what is the difference to having a league selected (the Englands and Brazils) and say the rest that aren't? different amount of information? or is it just so that you focus on certain leagues you might want to manage in someday and eliminate others that you have no inkling to ever manage?

[FrogMan]

can someone explain to me one thing i've never understood about CM/FM:

what is the difference to having a league selected (the Englands and Brazils) and say the rest that aren't? different amount of information? or is it just so that you focus on certain leagues you might want to manage in someday and eliminate others that you have no inkling to ever manage?
I'm sure somebody will have a better answer, but yeah I think it's basically a bit of what you said in there. Selected leagues are the only one you can ever manage, that's a given, and I'd assume you'll get more generated players from selected leagues than from non-selected ones, with more information on these players also...

FM

[Desnudo]

can someone explain to me one thing i've never understood about CM/FM:

what is the difference to having a league selected (the Englands and Brazils) and say the rest that aren't? different amount of information? or is it just so that you focus on certain leagues you might want to manage in someday and eliminate others that you have no inkling to ever manage?

You can't see year by year standings and statistics for leagues that aren't turned on. So if you want to see who wins the Spanish league and who led it in scoring, you need to have it turned on.

[SunDancer]

I launch a new dynasty with Scottish premier club Livingston. Expected to battle regulation, and have a bank loan of 10.5 million (Euros) to pay back through 2009 or 2010. We aren't in debt, but the club would lose money if I didn't make the transfer deals I have. Raise my transfer budget to aaround E425,000 from E28k, but I can't seem to find the right player and keep clubs from trying to make offers to about 5-6 current players I have now. Found MetroStars Richardo Clarke, valued at about E160k, and made an offer. A big-time deal for us, but I though he would be that final piece. Just signed a new deal with the Stars for around E500 a week, so the talent, value, and wage were a perfect match. Made, the offer, before a damn spanish club made a whopping E1.35 million offer. Put the end to that deal

So far, we are 5-out-6 in wins in friendlies (granted against lower-level teams, though we were up 2-0 on Crystal Palace before falling out 3-2 in the second half), and 1-1-1 (haven't played the Rangers or Celtic yet) on the season so far. I like to bring in one big-time player before the end of this week's transfer window, but I just haven't quite got a handle on the transfer market and dealings yet, nor find the right player. Plus, no one really is too crazy on coming to Livingston.

Man, I can't wait to get back at it tomarrow.

[Marc Vaughan]

Selected/Non-selected leagues
==========================
There are three levels of simulation within specific leagues in FM.

Full Detail
This is the most realistic level of simulations and does EVERYTHING. You can watch any match from within one of these leagues in full 2D glory, BUT its very slow.
You can manage teams in these leagues.

Non-Full Details
This level loads all the players for a league and simulates the games, however it doesn't allow the user to watch the matches in 2D view (as the games aren't in 'full-detail ... duh ;) ), isn't as slow as 'Full detail'.
You can manage teams in these leagues.

Not selected
Players for top teams in the league will still be loaded and the game will simulate hidden matches for these teams behind the scenes (which is why they show games played etc.) BUT there will be no league tables etc. displayed for them.
You cannot manage these teams.

PS> If you started one league full detail and others non-full detail then if you move into a non-full detail league the 'full detail' will follow you around.

eg.
England - Full
Scottish - Non Full

Move from an English club to a Scottish one and hey-presto ..

English - Non Full
Scottish - Full

Hope this helps,

Marc

[Ajaxab]

I launch a new dynasty with Scottish premier club Livingston. Expected to battle regulation, and have a bank loan of 10.5 million (Euros) to pay back through 2009 or 2010. We aren't in debt, but the club would lose money if I didn't make the transfer deals I have. Raise my transfer budget to aaround E425,000 from E28k, but I can't seem to find the right player and keep clubs from trying to make offers to about 5-6 current players I have now. Found MetroStars Richardo Clarke, valued at about E160k, and made an offer. A big-time deal for us, but I though he would be that final piece. Just signed a new deal with the Stars for around E500 a week, so the talent, value, and wage were a perfect match. Made, the offer, before a damn spanish club made a whopping E1.35 million offer. Put the end to that deal

So far, we are 5-out-6 in wins in friendlies (granted against lower-level teams, though we were up 2-0 on Crystal Palace before falling out 3-2 in the second half), and 1-1-1 (haven't played the Rangers or Celtic yet) on the season so far. I like to bring in one big-time player before the end of this week's transfer window, but I just haven't quite got a handle on the transfer market and dealings yet, nor find the right player. Plus, no one really is too crazy on coming to Livingston.

Man, I can't wait to get back at it tomarrow.

Have fun trying to break the Old Firm! I'm currently managing Stirling Albion in Scotland's Div.1. We got promoted from Div.2 in year 1 even though it was a long shot, but barely escaped relegation in year 2. We're currently battling relegation again in year 3. I just hope we can stay up. Probably the biggest problem is trying to attract players to the club. No one who's any good wants to come to Scotland if they aren't playing for Rangers or Celtic. I'll be curious to see how your time at Livingston plays out.

[ice4277]

Yeah, Scotland is definitely a challenge. I've managed Hearts and Dunfermline, both in the Premier League, and, its true what they say, winning against Celtic and Rangers is kinda like winning a title. One thing I don't like about the Scottish leagues is the small league format, it seems like you are playing the same teams over and over again. It just gets kind of boring to me after a while.

[FrogMan]

Selected/Non-selected leagues
==========================
There are three levels of simulation within specific leagues in FM.

Full Detail
This is the most realistic level of simulations and does EVERYTHING. You can watch any match from within one of these leagues in full 2D glory, BUT its very slow.
You can manage teams in these leagues.

Non-Full Details
This level loads all the players for a league and simulates the games, however it doesn't allow the user to watch the matches in 2D view (as the games aren't in 'full-detail ... duh ;) ), isn't as slow as 'Full detail'.
You can manage teams in these leagues.

Not selected
Players for top teams in the league will still be loaded and the game will simulate hidden matches for these teams behind the scenes (which is why they show games played etc.) BUT there will be no league tables etc. displayed for them.
You cannot manage these teams.

PS> If you started one league full detail and others non-full detail then if you move into a non-full detail league the 'full detail' will follow you around.

eg.
England - Full
Scottish - Non Full

Move from an English club to a Scottish one and hey-presto ..

English - Non Full
Scottish - Full

Hope this helps,

Marc
Thanks Marc, this was very informative. One question though. What are the implications if you don't select any league as full details, i.e. not even the league you are in? Can you still watch the matches in 2D in that one league you're in, or not at all?

In my current career, I only have England from the lowest conference to the top. Started it that way cause I was itching to play and I kept on playing with the new patches. I have full details ticked on now, so it's not a problem now. My question is more for when I'll restart a new career, which may only happen in the Summer, given how much fun I'm having with QPR right now. Anyway, hat if I start a career with say England (L2 and up), and top levels in Italy, France, Spain, and maybe another one or two, but none of them in full details, what would be the implications of doing that, in terms of speed and details to the league I play in?

Thanks in advance.

FM

[SirFozzie]

Re-Read what he says, the league you're in automatically becomes full detail.

[FrogMan]

Re-Read what he says, the league you're in automatically becomes full detail.
That's not exactly what he said... Marc said this:

PS> If you started one league full detail and others non-full detail then if you move into a non-full detail league the 'full detail' will follow you around.

eg.
England - Full
Scottish - Non Full

Move from an English club to a Scottish one and hey-presto ..

English - Non Full
Scottish - Full

I'm asking about if you start with no leagues in full details, all in non-full details...

FM

[Critch]

I think the league you're in must be automatically in full detail, I didn't click full details for any of the leagues but I can still view the "goal of the month" winners in my own league. If my own league wasn't in full detail, there'd be no 2d for the goal of the month winners.

[SirFozzie]

If you start with no managers.. I'm not sure to be honest. But the second you have a manager on a team, that league (by virtue of the manager being in that league) becomes full detail

[FrogMan]

I think the league you're in must be automatically in full detail, I didn't click full details for any of the leagues but I can still view the "goal of the month" winners in my own league. If my own league wasn't in full detail, there'd be no 2d for the goal of the month winners.
okay, you're a good person to ask this question to then. When we click the "full details" at the start, it's for a nation. I understand you didn't click "full details" and you still get details in your league. But what about other leagues in your nation. Say you're in League Two, I understand you can see about everything in League Two, but can you see matches in the Premiership, or in the Conferences?

Reason I'm asking is simply to know if you can still consult match reports for players that your scout has reported to you. I often like to go and see a player's stats in games they've played...

FM

[Critch]

You can change the divisions that are being simmed for each nation when you first start a game, so I'd guess that when the nation you're playing in goes to full detail it's all the divisions you've selected. But I'm just guessing.

In my game I've just selected the top division from the 20 most important soccer nations, so I can't check any lower divisions within the country I'm managing in to see if they're on full detail.

[Anthony]

Hope this helps,

Marc

immensely. :)

[Runtheball]

I launch a new dynasty with Scottish premier club Livingston. Expected to battle regulation, and have a bank loan of 10.5 million (Euros) to pay back through 2009 or 2010.

So far, we are 5-out-6 in wins in friendlies (granted against lower-level teams, though we were up 2-0 on Crystal Palace before falling out 3-2 in the second half), and 1-1-1 (haven't played the Rangers or Celtic yet) on the season so far. I like to bring in one big-time player before the end of this week's transfer window, but I just haven't quite got a handle on the transfer market and dealings yet, nor find the right player. Plus, no one really is too crazy on coming to Livingston.

Man, I can't wait to get back at it tomarrow.

I'm playing the demo as Aberdeen (yes, the 'sheep-shagging bastards' of Aberdeen). Currently ranked 6th in the Scottish Premier League. We just played Celtic, and were down 3-0 after 20 minutes. I replaced my goalie, and we were down 3-2 with less than 10 minutes in the match. Had multiple shots on goal in those last 10 minutes but couldn't get it in there. It was an exciting game. We've just now won our 2nd Scottish Cup match and are going to the quarterfinals.

Anyone know if I can use this saved game (from the demo) once I receive and install the full version and the latest patch?

[FrogMan]

Anyone know if I can use this saved game (from the demo) once I receive and install the full version and the latest patch?
it's always been my understanding that yes, you can keep on playing a game started with the demo in the full game.

FM

[vyshka]

I'm playing the demo as Aberdeen (yes, the 'sheep-shagging bastards' of Aberdeen). Currently ranked 6th in the Scottish Premier League. We just played Celtic, and were down 3-0 after 20 minutes. I replaced my goalie, and we were down 3-2 with less than 10 minutes in the match. Had multiple shots on goal in those last 10 minutes but couldn't get it in there. It was an exciting game. We've just now won our 2nd Scottish Cup match and are going to the quarterfinals.

Anyone know if I can use this saved game (from the demo) once I receive and install the full version and the latest patch?

Speaking of sheep and Football Manager, you guys have all seen the 'Everybody wants to be a manager' video, right ?
here (http://www.footballmanager.net/everyonesafootballmanager.html)

[ISiddiqui]

Anyone know if I can use this saved game (from the demo) once I receive and install the full version and the latest patch?
Yes you can. I've done so with a Chelsea game I played with the demo (though I don't play it anymore).

[Huckleberry]

As stated on another thread, I took over Stafford Rangers when they were 20th in Conference North in October. I guided the club to 13th by the end of the season.

Pretty nice. Transfer budget is crap, though. I could be here for a while.

[vyshka]

I have been playing Cambridge City in Conf. South. 14 games left and I am 2 points out of first. I was 5 points clear, but have gone into a slump and players are starting to wear down from the grind. This is my first foray into
England as I usually try to do something with Limerick FC in Irish 1st Div and usually fail. :)

I just got issues 2 and 3 of FM magazine in the mail after ordering them last week from gameplay. Issue #3 appears to have the tips, not sure if this is the stuff Marc wrote. It also has screenshots of the new version of OOTP.

[SunDancer]

Man, my computer went way-wired today (I turn to turn it, and makes a weird sound, kinda like a computer-internet sound), and it won't "power" itself up (its turns on, but the screen is blank).

[SunDancer]

Yeah, Scotland is definitely a challenge. I've managed Hearts and Dunfermline, both in the Premier League, and, its true what they say, winning against Celtic and Rangers is kinda like winning a title. One thing I don't like about the Scottish leagues is the small league format, it seems like you are playing the same teams over and over again. It just gets kind of boring to me after a while.

I agree, the size of the league kinda leaves more to desire. Maybe thats why the Rangers and Celtic are not doing as well as they use to in European Cup play in reality? How are the Rangers and Celtic so financially and resourcefully far off from all the rest? Usually, you have the "rich", the "middle class", and the "poor" in many of the other top leagues around Europe, but Scotland isn't like that.

[SirFozzie]

You have Rich Rangers and Celtic.. Poor everyone else

[SunDancer]

You have Rich Rangers and Celtic.. Poor everyone else

Yeap...Just curious how they got that way? Did the Rangers and Celtics have an extremely rich owner to start with, and just been able to maintain the success (having more revenues-continuing the success and stream of revenue)?

[Flame Eater]

I love the Scottish leagues. You can get into some really heated "wars" with the other managers; with the leagues so small you get to know everyone.

[Desnudo]

Yeap...Just curious how they got that way? Did the Rangers and Celtics have an extremely rich owner to start with, and just been able to maintain the success (having more revenues-continuing the success and stream of revenue)?

Their being located in Glasgow probably has a lot to do with. I think Glasgow is the most populated city in Scotland, so it makes sense that the biggest football teams would come from there. The population of Glasgow has dropped nearly 100% since the 60s, which could help explain why the teams have had so much financial trouble lately. I believe one of the reasons the old firm are so popular is because they represent Protestants (Rangers) v. Catholics (Celtic).

[Critch]

Their being located in Glasgow probably has a lot to do with. I think Glasgow is the most populated city in Scotland, so it makes sense that the biggest football teams would come from there. The population of Glasgow has dropped nearly 100% since the 60s, which could help explain why the teams have had so much financial trouble lately. I believe one of the reasons the old firm are so popular is because they represent Protestants (Rangers) v. Catholics (Celtic).

Glasgow is still the highest populated city in Scotland, it's more than twice as big as Edinburgh. The Glasgow population hasn't really dropped (certainly not by 100% anyway :D ), just people have moved outside the city boundaries to the suburbs and surrounding towns. That's what my family did.

Rangers and Celtic have always had bigger supports than the other teams in Scotland, they're both averaging around 50k for each home match, where the next biggest (Hearts and Aberdeen, maybe Hibs) average around 14k if they're doing ok. The bigger following translates into far bigger merchandizing and a bigger share of the tv money. Add in that the majority of the clubs in Scotland are in financial trouble (Rangers and Celtic are both in huge debt themselves, though they're both able to tick over ok for the moment) and there's nobody to challenge them.

In the mid-80's Rangers were in a very unsuccessful period (for them) but had built themselves a new stadium and were poised to start using their cash. They brought in Graeme Souness as player-manager and took advantage of the fact that English clubs were banned from European competition to lure top English players into the Scottish league (until then Rangers and Celtic players were overwhelmingly Scottish with the odd Scandanavian or UK/Irish player thrown in). Souness arrived as manager at the start of the 86/87 season and Rangers won 12 of the next 14 championships. Celtic took a bit of time catching up as they were privately owned by a couple of families who were quite happy making their cash and not taking risks. Eventually Celtic got rid of the families, flirted with bankruptcy for a bit, then started using their financial power too. And that's how we ended up with Rangers and Celtic sharing the last 19 championships between them (Rangers 13, Celtic 6).

The situation really isn't that different from a lot of other smaller European nations. In Portugal the big three (Benfica, Sporting and Porto) have won all but 2 of the championships since WWII. In Greece the big three (Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK) have won all but 3 of the championships since WWII. In the Netherlands the big three (PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord) have only failed to win the championship twice since the 50's. In Norway it's only a one team race, Rosenborg have won 13 championships in a row.

[SunDancer]

Didn't Ajax have a crazy tatic and style of football in the 80's, winning everything well doing it?

[ISiddiqui]

The Ajax tactic I'm familiar with is Total Football, where every one was expected to be able to play every position, based on what was going on in the game (so if the defender made a forward run, the winger became the defender and the defender was the new winger). That sort of thing. Is that what you are talking about?

[Desnudo]

I just had my greatest CM/FM moment. Playing as Norwich in the 09/10 season, first place in the EPL comes down to last weekend of the season. We're in 1st, tied with Liverpool on points with 89 apiece, but way ahead on goal differential. Norwich is away against already-relegated Middlesbrough, while the Reds face a tough road challenge at Old Trafford.

Things are looking good until Boro actually decide to show up and play their match like it was the first of the season. The title dream looks at risk as the game is tied, 1-1, going into three minutes of extra time. With 30 seconds remaining in ET, Lebohang Mokoena is pulled down in the box, penalty on Boro! With the evil AI, I'm not holding out much hope that he'll convert as Mokoena begins the run-up, but wham, in goes the ball and Norwich are champions on a last minute penalty! Unbelievable stuff.

[ice4277]

I just had my greatest CM/FM moment. Playing as Norwich in the 09/10 season, first place in the EPL comes down to last weekend of the season. We're in 1st, tied with Liverpool on points with 89 apiece, but way ahead on goal differential. Norwich is away against already-relegated Middlesbrough, while the Reds face a tough road challenge at Old Trafford.

Things are looking good until Boro actually decide to show up and play their match like it was the first of the season. The title dream looks at risk as the game is tied, 1-1, going into three minutes of extra time. With 30 seconds remaining in ET, Lebohang Mokoena is pulled down in the box, penalty on Boro! With the evil AI, I'm not holding out much hope that he'll convert as Mokoena begins the run-up, but wham, in goes the ball and Norwich are champions on a last minute penalty! Unbelievable stuff.
Congrats! That is an incredible feeling to win a title like that; I had the exact opposite happen on an old game of FM and it left me depressed for about a week. Just curious, did you start the game with Norwich or take them over at some point?

[Desnudo]

Thank you. I started the game with them. I had finished second in 08/09, but it wasn't all that close. It's amazing how many more ups and downs there are in FM. It's a lot harder to win consistently than in previous versions.

[FrogMan]

Congrat Desnudo!

I wanna add on this though:

Congrats! That is an incredible feeling to win a title like that; I had the exact opposite happen on an old game of FM and it left me depressed for about a week. Just curious, did you start the game with Norwich or take them over at some point?
something similar happened to me when I got sacked by Luton, I mean being depressed about it. Dang, took me a week to get over it. This game feels like real life, it's just amazing...

FM

[Anthony]

wow...i finally got around to playing a match last nite, and that fucking 2D engine rocks! it's sick. i can really see myself staying up late to play the game.

question: i started as a Div. 2 English team (Lincoln City) - so i'm in February and my first real game is in August - what am i supposed to do with all that time? schedule an endless amount of friendlies? or go on holiday for several months?

and during the offseason what kind of training should my players be on?

[SirFozzie]

HA: When you start a game you're given a choice of when to start the game (England starts in July 2004, USA (I bet you chose that as default) is Feb2004.

[vyshka]

I just won the Conference South with Cambridge City this morning.
At the beginning of February was 5 points clear of 2nd place Sutton Utd.
Then team went on slide going until mid March without a win, luckily grinding
out quite a few draws and only a couple losses. Had dropped to 3rd. Had a
slew of strikers injured in this period, and couldn't find anyone who wanted to
come on loan, so switched from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1 and went on a 5 game win
streak to close out the season and take 1st by 2 points. With 2 games left,
I was in 2nd place and 4 points behind Grays. They lost and I won closing to
1 point. They finished the season against #4 Havant and W and I was playing
relegated Redbridge. I went up 2 - 0 in the first 13 minutes, and Havant
managed to go into halftime up 2 - 0. In the 2nd half Grays managed to
equalize, but Havant managed to get a 3rd goal and win the match ensuring
my winning the Conf South. 1st time I have managed to get promoted in
CM or FM. Someday I will manage to get Limerick FC promoted from the Irish
1st Division. What a ride! Yesterday I was all happy with the way things were
going. Then last night the slide in form hit along with the injuries to almost all
of my strikers, and I was bumming big time. Then to end up coming back to
grab the conference in the final game of the season was awesome.

Unfortunately no transfer budget, so I could very well be back in Conf South
after this next season.

[Anthony]

HA: When you start a game you're given a choice of when to start the game (England starts in July 2004, USA (I bet you chose that as default) is Feb2004.

rats...

ok, so i'm in February, which brings me back to the original question - do i go on holiday or is there something i should be doing for several months?

[SirFozzie]

I'd go on holiday.. It's no FUN to play games that don't count :D

[scooter]

HA: You may want to start your game over as it sounds like your game is confused. In February, Div 2 teams should have a full schedule of games to be playing (they are about 3/4 of the way through their season at that point). If you don't have games scheduled, your game is not going to play correctly. Check out some Div 1 and Prem teams and see if they have games going on. If you are the only one without games something is wrong.

[SirFozzie]

scooter: When you start in Feb 2004, all england is shhut down until july, because 2004 results are hardcoded into the system

[scooter]

scooter: When you start in Feb 2004, all england is shhut down until july, because 2004 results are hardcoded into the system

I understand that, but it means that all the players on your team age an entire season without the benefits of playing for that year. Doesn't sound like fun to me.

I've started games in past versions with slightly different start dates (German start date (June) for an English career) in order to get a little more pre-season time, but I've never missed a quarter of a season to that issue. If it were me, I'd just start over.

[vyshka]

I think Fozzie is right. When you create a new game the US is chosen and the first league chosen's start date is the start date unless you set it
differently. Since the English leagues don't start up until August 2004 in FM there is nothing going on at this point except in the USA, IRL, Russia, and
possibly South American leagues.

I agree with starting over and getting the start date right, which should be
July 2004 for England.

[tanglewood]

I've started games in past versions with slightly different start dates (German start date (June) for an English career) in order to get a little more pre-season time, but I've never missed a quarter of a season to that issue. If it were me, I'd just start over.

In CM/FM age is done by date of birth, so not sure how this could be an issue.

[scooter]

I guess I was confused by the date of his game - I thought he was in Feb 2005 and had lost the first 3/4 of a season. I now understand that he was talking about Feb 2004. Don't worry about me, it was 7am here when I first posted and I had just gotten up - not thinking straight yet :)

[Desnudo]

Congrat Desnudo!

I wanna add on this though:


something similar happened to me when I got sacked by Luton, I mean being depressed about it. Dang, took me a week to get over it. This game feels like real life, it's just amazing...

FM

Thanks Froggy. I know what you mean about getting depressed. Three matches before the finale, we had gotten plastered away against newly-promoted Leicester to let Liverpool back in the race in the first place. At that point, with two matches left for them and three for me, I was four points behind. They'd won something like 10 matches in a row and didn't look like losing, so I was really upset.

You keep telling yourself it's a game, but we'd been in first nearly the whole season and now we'd lose the title because of Leicester? Fortunately, a Liverpool tie let us back into the next match or else I might have needed a new keyboard.

[SunDancer]

Congrat Desnudo!

I wanna add on this though:


something similar happened to me when I got sacked by Luton, I mean being depressed about it. Dang, took me a week to get over it. This game feels like real life, it's just amazing...

FM


LOL...I can see your the dinner conversation between you and your young song who always ask about how your doing:

"Daddy, how are you doing with the orange team?"
"Well son, I got fired."
"Fired? You don't have a job anymore?"
"No son, but I sent out applications for a new one. Until then, we'll be just having bread and peas for dinner. Money will be tight".

:)

I was born in 1984, but the game doesn't go below the age of 31 when I am announced as the new coach. Is this a bug, that is fixed in the patches?

[ice4277]

I was born in 1984, but the game doesn't go below the age of 31 when I am announced as the new coach. Is this a bug, that is fixed in the patches?
I believe it is set up this way on purpose; generally speaking, it would be pretty unrealistic for a 21 or 22 year old to take over as manager, so they bump to age up to a more realistic starting point.

[vyshka]

It has always bumped the starting age to 31 if you are younger.

[Ajaxab]

I just had my greatest CM/FM moment. Playing as Norwich in the 09/10 season, first place in the EPL comes down to last weekend of the season. We're in 1st, tied with Liverpool on points with 89 apiece, but way ahead on goal differential. Norwich is away against already-relegated Middlesbrough, while the Reds face a tough road challenge at Old Trafford.

Things are looking good until Boro actually decide to show up and play their match like it was the first of the season. The title dream looks at risk as the game is tied, 1-1, going into three minutes of extra time. With 30 seconds remaining in ET, Lebohang Mokoena is pulled down in the box, penalty on Boro! With the evil AI, I'm not holding out much hope that he'll convert as Mokoena begins the run-up, but wham, in goes the ball and Norwich are champions on a last minute penalty! Unbelievable stuff.

I just had one of these great moments today with my Stirling Albion squad in Scotland's Div.1 in 2009/10. The odds of us winning the division were 16-1 at the beginning of the year, but somehow we found ourselves in contention throughout most of the season. So the title race comes down to us, Kilmarnock and Falkirk separated by three points just before the last game. We're on 61 pts, Killie are on 61 and Falkirk are on 59. We have a 2 goal edge on Killie on goal difference so we have a slight advantage. It's us against 8th place Ross Country, Kilmarnock have 5th place St.Mirren and Falkirk have 4th place Hamilton Academicals (love that name). I guess my team is fired up to start the game as we jump out to a 3-0 first half lead. But Ross County storm back with two goals, one to end the first half and one to open the second making the score 3-2. I'm starting to get nervous. When I check the other scores, St.Mirren is helping us out by taking a 2-0 lead on Killie, but Falkirk and Hamilton are knotted at 0-0. We still need to make sure we win this game. Midway through the second half, we scratch out another goal to make it 4-2, but in the 80th Ross County score again to cut it to 4-3. A harrowing 10 minutes later, the game is over and I need to check the scores to see how things have turned out. No changes on the other scores! We're champions! The fans declare me a magician for orchestrating this success.

It's off to the Scottish Prem now. I don't know how we'll survive, but we just have to beat one team this season to stave off relegation. It's still a real chore to attract players though. My ultimate goal is to break the Old Firm.

[SunDancer]

I uploaded the game on my mom's laptop (it's alittle faster), but just playing around still.

I took over AS Monaco, with a budget of about E18.5 million to use.

How do you guys play the transfer market? What are the positives and negatives of "declaring your interest" as oppose to just making an offer directly?

[FrogMan]

How do you guys play the transfer market? What are the positives and negatives of "declaring your interest" as oppose to just making an offer directly?
I've declared my interest a few times in the past. Sometimes, it'll help you know if your fans think the player could be god for your team, and sometimes, you can get reactions from a player on your team that gets unsettled at the thought that you could be trying to replace him.

Watch out though, if you declare your interest too much, your board may tell you to slack a little, and other teams may get tired of it, since your declaring goes on the media and may cause some of their players to become unsettled...

FM

[SunDancer]

I uploaded the game on my mom's laptop (it's alittle faster), but just playing around still.

I took over AS Monaco, with a budget of about E18.5 million to use.

How do you guys play the transfer market? What are the positives and negatives of "declaring your interest" as oppose to just making an offer directly?

Oh man...4 games into the season, 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Sitting tied for 6th in the First League (league co-favorites Paris) is sitting in 15th. Went on to a 6-1 avegrrated goal win over some semi-pro club from Cyprus in the 3rd round to advance to the Champions League group stage. Got Ajax, Werder Bremen, and Sparta Prague to deal with. One group has Arsenal, Inter, Celtic, and Leverkusen.

Addictive it is. My transfer deals included selling defender Juan Rodriquez for E3 million to league rival Lille), and begain my slow transformation of the midfield on back with the purchases of midfielder 24-year-old Martin Retov (Denmark native who played with Belgium's Brondby) for E1.9 million and wonderkid 18-year-old Vincent Kompany, a defender/defensive midfielder, from Belgium's Anderlecht club for a E8.5 million price tag. I need to improve badly the defensive land, and Beligan Kompany looks like he'll be a real star, and an instant No. 1 defender. Anderlecht fans were outrage at him being sold.

The striker/foward position is unreal. We got E31 million dollar value man Javier Savida on loan for the entire season from FC Barcelona, at no cost to us. Then, we got 24-year-old Uruguary star Javir Erneso Chevanton (E10.5 million value), who has not played due to a 2-month injury. The star has been 20-year-old Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayer (value has risen to E8.5 million since the beginning of the year). The Togo national teamer has scored about 5 goals I believe so far in French league play, and kick butt in the friendlies and cup matches. Souleymane Camara is No. 4 striker, who I just signed to a new, long-term deal. The 21-year-old Senegal native can play, but I don't think he has all the tools to be a every-day starter.

I've flirted with Eddie Pope, Tim Howard, and a Czech Republic standout (both on the team on his Czech league team), but all failed miserably in getting any real deals up until my two signings. I have just a hair over E11 million dollars left in my budget, and I may look at going after Dovonan from Bayer once he returns from loan (with San Jose) and is eligble to transfer in January. I need a young, playmaking star midfielder, and to continue the talent retooling and upgrading. Camara could be someone I may sell, or maybe offer, to help get him. I suspect a price tag of around E12-14 million for Dovonan if we decide to make a move on him.

This game rocks! Hope the royal family can be proud. :)

[Desnudo]

So when is your mom going to get her laptop back? ;)

[Desnudo]

I just had one of these great moments today with my Stirling Albion squad in Scotland's Div.1 in 2009/10. The odds of us winning the division were 16-1 at the beginning of the year, but somehow we found ourselves in contention throughout most of the season. So the title race comes down to us, Kilmarnock and Falkirk separated by three points just before the last game. We're on 61 pts, Killie are on 61 and Falkirk are on 59. We have a 2 goal edge on Killie on goal difference so we have a slight advantage. It's us against 8th place Ross Country, Kilmarnock have 5th place St.Mirren and Falkirk have 4th place Hamilton Academicals (love that name). I guess my team is fired up to start the game as we jump out to a 3-0 first half lead. But Ross County storm back with two goals, one to end the first half and one to open the second making the score 3-2. I'm starting to get nervous. When I check the other scores, St.Mirren is helping us out by taking a 2-0 lead on Killie, but Falkirk and Hamilton are knotted at 0-0. We still need to make sure we win this game. Midway through the second half, we scratch out another goal to make it 4-2, but in the 80th Ross County score again to cut it to 4-3. A harrowing 10 minutes later, the game is over and I need to check the scores to see how things have turned out. No changes on the other scores! We're champions! The fans declare me a magician for orchestrating this success.

It's off to the Scottish Prem now. I don't know how we'll survive, but we just have to beat one team this season to stave off relegation. It's still a real chore to attract players though. My ultimate goal is to break the Old Firm.

Congrats and good luck! I've always thought the SPL is a big challenge outside of the Old Firm due to the mediocre league rep and bad finances.

[Flasch186]

Congrats and good luck! I've always thought the SPL is a big challenge outside of the Old Firm due to the mediocre league rep and bad finances.


a forecast of how youll survive from my promotion with Vikiingt.....relegation.

[SunDancer]

So when is your mom going to get her laptop back? ;)

LOL...It's actually her work notebook (so it not really hers, but she can bring it home, ect). I get to play with it at night. But I had to take it off today, she can't have personal programs on it. My laptop should ship by Friday.

[SunDevil]

SunDancer,

You might want to change the title of this thread, very misleading.

[SunDancer]

SunDancer,

You might want to change the title of this thread, very misleading.

You serious? I was a joking.

[SunDevil]

Nope not serious, just thought you should change the title.

[illinifan999]

Wow every year when the ECC group stage comes up, I make a note of the hardest groups. I just got drawn into the hardest one I've ever seen in my game with Marseille. Inter, Barcelona, and Liverpool. And we were the ECC Runner-Ups last year. Wow, this one'll be interesting.

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow every year when the ECC group stage comes up, I make a note of the hardest groups. I just got drawn into the hardest one I've ever seen in my game with Marseille. Inter, Barcelona, and Liverpool. And we were the ECC Runner-Ups last year. Wow, this one'll be interesting.

That sounds like a very tough group. Good luck.

[SunDancer]

How are groups decided? I never understood the "seeds".

[illinifan999]

That sounds like a very tough group. Good luck.
And Barcelona and Liverpool have been made co-favorites to win the ECC. http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Desnudo]

How are groups decided? I never understood the "seeds".

It looks to me like final league position decides your seed. The groups are decided in a draw.

[3ric]

Just wanted to post a link to a thread in the Tactics forum at sigames.com, great stuff. Some of you might already have seen it, but I don't think the link has been posted before...
http://community.sigames.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/1519717/m/5792025701

[tanglewood]

How are groups decided? I never understood the "seeds".

Teams are seeded based on which league they come from and where they finished in that league last year. The groups are then randomly drawn, with two seeds and two non-seeds.

[SunDancer]

Teams are seeded based on which league they come from and where they finished in that league last year. The groups are then randomly drawn, with two seeds and two non-seeds.

Thanks. Who gets the seeds, the highest rated teams in the co-effecient rankings? What's the advantage of being seeded? So, basically, the seeded teams that are put into one basket, and the non-seeded teams are put into another, and they draw 2 seeded teams and 2 non-seeded teams for each group? Any restrictions on inter-country matchups in the group stage (I know they have them for the first two rounds of the knockout stage)?