I'm thinking of taking the plunge and getting FM 2005...

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

Did you guys know a whole lot about soccer before you started playing the game, and if not will it be detrimental to my enjoyment if I don't already know a whole lot about the game. Also, are there any 'guides' for noobs of FM 2005 to kind of lead you on the right path?

[FrogMan]

I had played/refereed soccer about 15/18 years ago. I knew the rules pretty well, but never bothered paying attention to tactics. I knew what a 4-4-2 was, but what makes a player good for a certain position, I learned on my own, little by little. There were frowing pains, I got close to being sacked a couple times in my first season, then I started finding players that played well in certain position/situations and I built on that...

I have Marc Vaughan's guide for CM4 if you want it, the basics behind it are very similar. It could help you with learning what the many skills mean and what skills are usuful for what players. PM an email addy and I can send it to you...

FM

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

PM sent, Frog Man, Thanks...

[Bee]

I knew nothing about soccer and this is my favorite game of all time. I'd suggest grabbing one of the download guides to get a basic understanding of tactics and player skills for each position. Also, you'll probably want to do a little reading on the transfer system and league promotion/demotion if you play in England (which I highly recommend). To me, the promotion/demotion thing just adds an incredible amount to the game. There's definitely a learning curve with the game, but it's not nearly as bad as you may think. If you ask questions here once you get started, you'll probably get a ton of feedback and suggestions.

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

Donde esta' el download guide? :)

[Eaglesfan27]

Did you guys know a whole lot about soccer before you started playing the game, and if not will it be detrimental to my enjoyment if I don't already know a whole lot about the game. Also, are there any 'guides' for noobs of FM 2005 to kind of lead you on the right path?
I didn't know much at all about soccer before I started playing. The game was so good that I started watching soccer, reading about soccer, and generally learning more about the game. I also asked a few people on the boards here plenty of questions.

[FrogMan]

PM sent, Frog Man, Thanks...
email is on the way. Also, can't believe nobody recommended you to download the demo. SI's 6 months demo are usually good indicators of what is in the game and could help you know if you'll ever be able to figure out tactics and such.

To add on what some others have said. I wasn't really following international (or England) soccer before starting to play FM2005. Now, I'm interested in it. It didn't go the other way around, i.e. I didn't have to know soccer to play FM2005, but playing FM2005 taught me soccer in a way and got me to get intersted in it again...

FM

[Bee]

Despite being engrossed in Football Manager 2005 and previous versions, I never really developed an interest in soccer. The sport itself seems really boring to me. What attracts me to the game is the challenging structure of the English league and the amazing depth of the "game engine".

You can download the previous guides at sigames.com or you can do a search here for CM 03/04 guide (someone had posted the guide on this board). I don't know if Marc released a FM2005 guide yet.

[Fonzie]

Just FYI, Marc Vaughn has (in another thread some while ago) asked that US-based folks purchase the US version of FM2005 - World Wide Soccer Manager 2005 (methinks that's the name).

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

email is on the way. Also, can't believe nobody recommended you to download the demo. SI's 6 months demo are usually good indicators of what is in the game and could help you know if you'll ever be able to figure out tactics and such.
FM

I downloaded the "vanilla" demo last night and had that 'this looks awesome,now where do I begin feeling'. :)

[FrogMan]

I downloaded the "vanilla" demo last night and had that 'this looks awesome,now where do I begin feeling'. :)
good, now say byebye to your free time :D

FM

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

Ultra noobish question, but I know there are some Brits/Scots on here I think. Can anyone tell me the closest team on the game to the Lanarkshire region of Scotland?

[AlexB]

SPL (Scottish Premier League) - Motherwell
SD1 (Scottish Division 1) - Airdrie Utd / Hamilton Academical
SD3 (Scottish Division 3) - Albion Rovers

I don't know if this is exhaustive: these are just the ones I know or could place immediately...

Hope it helps, and if you're looking for a challenge I'd guess Hamilton Academicals or Albion Rovers in particular would be tough!

[FBPro]

Awesome game, loving every minute of it. This is my first yr of really getting into it.

[finkenst]

where did all my free and sleep tme go?

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

SPL (Scottish Premier League) - Motherwell
SD1 (Scottish Division 1) - Airdrie Utd / Hamilton Academical
SD3 (Scottish Division 3) - Albion Rovers

I don't know if this is exhaustive: these are just the ones I know or could place immediately...

Hope it helps, and if you're looking for a challenge I'd guess Hamilton Academicals or Albion Rovers in particular would be tough!

I ended up choosing Hamilton. I won my first game against Petershead 2-0. I love the game but I still feel overwhelmed.

[Flasch186]

dont do it big mistake...itll consume your life.

[Galaxy]

I didn't know much at all about soccer before I started playing. The game was so good that I started watching soccer, reading about soccer, and generally learning more about the game. I also asked a few people on the boards here plenty of questions.

Same here...I always watch the US team, and catch the weekly show on the Premiership 'review" highlights, and any games such as the CL's. I guess I am being a fan, though I haven't found a "blood team" that I follow closely. Though I do have teams I like and hate (Manchester United falls here).

[FBPro]

Yeah, it took some getting used to w/ the player transfers but it is VERY addicting.

[FrogMan]

I ended up choosing Hamilton. I won my first game against Petershead 2-0. I love the game but I still feel overwhelmed.
Just like anything, the whole thing "slows down" after a while. I mean you get used to the gazillion skills describing a player, the fact there are tons of stuff influencing tactics and such, but you eventually get in a groove and it's easier then. As I said, my first season with Luton, I almost got sacked midway through the season, when we went on an 18 games without a win streak. That season, 2004-05, I barely avoided relegation to League, only to rebound big time the following season to promote the team to the Championship. My point is yeah, there are growing pains, but you learn as you go, and if you get sacked, you apply on another job, just like real life, except without bills to pay :)

FM

[Bea-Arthurs Hip]

I ended up choosing Hamilton. I won my first game against Petershead 2-0. I love the game but I still feel overwhelmed

Hey Hip - I hear you 100%. I took the plunge and can say that it took probably a half season (with Blackpool) to really get a feel for the game
and for me to truly believe I was running the team. Only thing I will warn you about is that since I got "hooked" I have watched MLS games and have even upgraded my cable package so I could get FOX sports Soccer channel and the FUTBOL channel. I have even started creating excuses and lieing to get out of things so I can be home to watch some good footie games on the telee .

[Flasch186]

I started with Viikingit in Finish first league. We got promoted to Premiere league and were quickly relegated back down. After some hard decisions I came to the conclusion that without a chairman willing to spend anything on players being with the team would limit my career so I took a job offer with FC HAKA of the Premiere league. While the Chairman felt the same way, he allowed me to keep 50% of my transfer dollars and I could alreday see some players i could move. Once there, we finished in second place the first season and this year we are leading the way with a couple of Euro wins too. If I win it this season I plan on applying to some jobs in England to see if I can move there.....

what fun!!

[Runtheball]

I downloaded the "vanilla" demo last night and had that 'this looks awesome,now where do I begin feeling'. :)

I was in that same position a month ago, now I'm playing every day, with every spare minute I have. Like you, I knew NOTHING about soccer, and didn't even care for the sport at all. It was the reaction and devotion of the people here on FOF Central that made me decide to give the game a try. Now I'm hooked on the game, and have a great appreciation for the sport, and actually enjoy watching soccer on TV. FM2005 is simply a masterpiece.

There is a ton of info online. Frogman, and others on this board, have been a great help to me. I've printed out alot of the most useful subjects and read them whenever I have time (like on the can) :D . The Sports Interactive forums also have some very in-depth analysis of tactics, and those have been invaluable. Look for Cleon's threads there, among others. Feel free to PM me if you want some specific links.

Kiss the wife and kids goodbye, and enjoy your new addiction!

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

Just a generic soccer noob question. In general when you are outclassed (my next match is my Hamilton Accies versus Arsenal whereby their worst starter is probably better than my best) in soccer do you play more conservatively, i.e. ultra defensive, or at least defensively, or do you play more aggressively, all out attacking style? My initial feeling is to play it close to the vest, shorten the game, make them work for it, however I'm sure there are alternate schools of thought. Any sort of Sun Tzu soccer guiding principles would be *much* obliged.

[SirFozzie]

if it's a friendly? Go out swinging. Might as well have some fun

League/Cup play? Bunker down, and hope you hit a conter attack

[FrogMan]

funny, but with my current group of players, when I set it to too defensive, we get hammered, we lose possession badly and our opponent start shooting on goal as if they had an AK47. Sometimes I get better results with the mentality simply set a tad lower than usual, but not so much on the defensive side... I agre with SirFozzie on the friendly/league/cup distinction, big, big difference on implications of getting slaughtered 0-4 vs losing 1-2 on a league game...

FM

[Huckleberry]

I am starting to have some success keeping the mentality close to normal but slowing the tempo down to almost nothing when I'm outclassed.

I figure it's just like basketball and football. When the other team is simply too much better, limit possessions for each side. You're more likely to get lucky enough to win when each team has only 20 possessions than 60. Or whatever the numbers are in a soccer match.

[mrsimperless]

I've always wanted to get the FM ball rolling as well, but the biggest problem I've run into is setting up the universe. I have no idea what leagues to include, what league to start in, what team to choose that is fun to build up, etc. etc.

Any recommendations on how to get started?

[FrogMan]

I am starting to have some success keeping the mentality close to normal but slowing the tempo down to almost nothing when I'm outclassed.

I figure it's just like basketball and football. When the other team is simply too much better, limit possessions for each side. You're more likely to get lucky enough to win when each team has only 20 possessions than 60. Or whatever the numbers are in a soccer match.
I describe my tactics in one of my dynasty threads and basically, it's all what I'm doing. Very short passing, very slow tempo, with us closing down on them to the extreme when they have the ball. Often gives me pretty good possession numbers, even sometimes around 60% and more. Won League One, but that was expected after demoting from the Championship. But then we finished third in the Championship, promoting through the playoffs and now in the Premiership, we're moving from 6th to 8th place, drawing teams like Arsenal and Manchester United, despite them having more chances of scoring... We simply waited to get a chance and converted it...

FM