To all of you who warned me about getting hooked on FM 2005

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

You were right. I'm hooked, already. Now if I really knew what the heck I was doing I wouldn't just be hooked, I'd be obsessed. :)

[Anthony]

i'm hooked too. I took the MLS MetroStars to the MLS Finals in my first year. i like managing an MLS team - we can afford decent enough transfer fees for players but aren't up to the Manny U level yet. i'm liking the game more now because the MetroStars represent NYC (among other cities), rather than some random Brit team that i have no connection with. i like Arsenal, but i want to build up my reputation before taking that team on, i don't think it's realistic for a 27 year old American to manage a team like Arsenal. i'm having fun.

[Eaglesfan27]

FM is the one game that I keep getting drawn back to.. I'm deep into Jade Empire and am completely enjoying that game. I want to play Jade Empire so much to see where the story goes next, but I find myself drawn back to FM despite other good games out there. I don't think I've gone more than 2 days without playing at least a little FM since the 5.05 patch came out.

[Ajaxab]

I've been playing CM/FM since 96/97 and for the first time in my experience of the game I had the bizarre circumstance of having my Sheffield Wednesday squad relegated from the Premiership, but still managing to win the FA Cup. The big boys knocked themselves out of the Cup and we faced a surprisingly good Bolton side (they finished 3rd in the Prem.) in the final. As the game unfolds, my best middie gets sent off by the card-throwing ref, Rob Styles, fifteen minutes in before I realize that Styles is officiating the game (tackling has to be set on easy with this guy). But somehow we manage to scratch out a goal in the 60th minute and hold on with 10 men to win 1-0. Unbelievable!!! So we're back in the Championship next season, but playing European football at the same time. I've managed to win some cups with lower level teams, but always when my team was winning in the league as well. I've never had a schizophrenic squad like this Sheff Wed. one where they decide to play superbly in Cup games, but just can't scrape out any wins in league play. Great stuff though!

[Sharpieman]

I'm pretty damn addicted too.

[Marc Vaughan]

You were right. I'm hooked, already. Now if I really knew what the heck I was doing I wouldn't just be hooked, I'd be obsessed. :)
Muhahahahaha .... (and other evil laughs) ...

Another innocent drawn within my grasp ;)

[SirFozzie]

Now we know why he's referred to as Darth Vaughan on the SI boards :D

[Marc Vaughan]

I've been playing CM/FM since 96/97 and for the first time in my experience of the game I had the bizarre circumstance of having my Sheffield Wednesday squad relegated from the Premiership, but still managing to win the FA Cup. The big boys knocked themselves out of the Cup and we faced a surprisingly good Bolton side (they finished 3rd in the Prem.) in the final. As the game unfolds, my best middie gets sent off by the card-throwing ref, Rob Styles, fifteen minutes in before I realize that Styles is officiating the game (tackling has to be set on easy with this guy). But somehow we manage to scratch out a goal in the 60th minute and hold on with 10 men to win 1-0. Unbelievable!!! So we're back in the Championship next season, but playing European football at the same time. I've managed to win some cups with lower level teams, but always when my team was winning in the league as well. I've never had a schizophrenic squad like this Sheff Wed. one where they decide to play superbly in Cup games, but just can't scrape out any wins in league play. Great stuff though!

This actually happened to Ipswich irl a couple of seasons ago - they got relegated into the Championship but clinched a EUFA Cup spot through the fair-play rule if I remember right ...

[Sharpieman]

Muhahahahaha .... (and other evil laughs) ...

Another innocent drawn within my grasp ;)
Don't you guys at SI have any remorse? You know how many marriages you've broken up?

[FrogMan]

Hate to say I told you so but, I told you so :D

Been playing the game since getting it on November 15 and just like EaglesFan27, I don't think I've spent two days in a row without playing it some. I'm a slow player and with family and all, playing time is sometimes hard to come by, but I always find a 30-45 minutes to sqeeze in at least one game with my squad, or a couple weeks of offseason work. It's just an amazing game...

FM
PS: my current career says I've been playing for over 13 days, with maybe some time where I wasn't in front of the PC, so let's say 13 full days. That'S 312 hours over 5 months, or 62 hours a month, or 14.4 hours a week. :eek: To anybody, that's the amount of time they could put in two days of playing (maybe even one day) but to me, it's simply amazing that I find time to play this much with two kids and a house and all the activities I go with my oldest son (soccer, karate, etc). A testament to the quality of the game, I'd say...

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

Quick noobish question. If I had a scrub that has 0 value, when teams offer to have him for 0, what are the pros/cons of doing so? Does agreeing mean that they assume his salary and I am free of him totally?

[SirFozzie]

yup. They take him off your hands

[Karim]

I've avoided FM for the very reason that I know I wouldn't put it down. I was playing EHM instead but got busy and haven't looked at it in a while. Now with EHM2 coming out this summer, I may not get much of a chance before a new version of FM is out.

[condors]

FM2005 is a job well done imho

I won't go as far as to say its perfect or anything but i still "want" to play it

I have the last 6 versions of cm/fm and can't say i felt abused with any (cm4 was the most disapointing maybe but still a good game onto itself everything considered)

If sigames gets baseball and hockey where fm is right now i don't how i will ever get to play other games that i want to. I don't have enough time for everything now!

[Huckleberry]

So I'm here at work but hoping you guys can answer a question before I get back to the manual.

Can you make board requests in this version? My Stafford Rangers are pocketing the fruits of my labor and not increasing the wage budget or transfer allowance.

[jbmagic]

FM is the one game that I keep getting drawn back to.. I'm deep into Jade Empire and am completely enjoying that game. I want to play Jade Empire so much to see where the story goes next, but I find myself drawn back to FM despite other good games out there. I don't think I've gone more than 2 days without playing at least a little FM since the 5.05 patch came out.


how is patch 5.05 now?

is MLS league all fix?

[SirFozzie]

yes, you can make board requests (and then if they don't go with it, ultimatums that say basically.. "Do this or I WILL Quit".. the board may relent, or they might take you up at your word)

[Eaglesfan27]

how is patch 5.05 now?

is MLS league all fix?

I think the 5.05 patch is great. The game is not perfect, but it is good enough that I continually want to keep playing.

I've started an MLS career on my new computer, and it seems good to me. I'm not an expert on the MLS so I don't know if everything is perfect there, but it seems good to me.

[finkenst]

As the game unfolds, my best middie gets sent off by the card-throwing ref, Rob Styles, fifteen minutes in before I realize that Styles is officiating the game (tackling has to be set on easy with this guy).
Note made about easy tackling...

Styles through 11 yellows in a recent game of mine...7 on my squad. http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Passacaglia]

I've made a couple requests to my board, and they've denied both. I haven't issued an ultimatum or anything, because I'm still above my wage budget, so I can understand where they're coming from. If you issue an ultimatum and they still refuse, do you have to quit? And if not, what happens if you don't quit?

I'm in the same situation as Rudy Huckleberry -- I just got promoted to Conference National (Stafford got promoted, too, actually), and I want to keep running up the leagues.

[FrogMan]

Rob Styles is a tool... Now, I said it, I feel much, much better...

FM

[Desnudo]

Try changing the individual and team Closing Down settings in addition to Tackling. Although I don't think it helps with him. I just cross my fingers and hope that it'll be the other team on the receiving end.

Styles is assigned to the real FA Cup final this season.

[SirFozzie]

Rob Styles is a tool... Now, I said it, I feel much, much better...

FM

Lock him and Mark Cooper (see? I can say his name without going insane) in a barrell and let them go riding over Niagra Falls.. :D

On second thought, send them seperately, just so I can see Cooper book Styles for diving. (Bad Pun Alert!)

[Passacaglia]

Here's another question:

When I send a scout out to look for players, does it matter where he goes? I sent mine to the US one fall for 3 months, to look for cheap talent, and he came back with nothing. Is it because the US has so much less talent than England, where he found tons of cheap guys all summer? Or is it because England is the only country I have included, meaning I'll be unsuccessful in any other country?

[FrogMan]

Lock him and Mark Cooper (see? I can say his name without going insane) in a barrell and let them go riding over Niagra Falls.. :D

On second thought, send them seperately, just so I can see Cooper book Styles for diving. (Bad Pun Alert!)
Good, I see your anger management therapy is going well. When's your next meeting due, so all the fans of the losing team in the real lif FA cup can attend? :D

FM
PS: more bad pun alert! just as long as he dives with... style...

[finkenst]

Here's another question:

When I send a scout out to look for players, does it matter where he goes? I sent mine to the US one fall for 3 months, to look for cheap talent, and he came back with nothing. Is it because the US has so much less talent than England, where he found tons of cheap guys all summer? Or is it because England is the only country I have included, meaning I'll be unsuccessful in any other country? you can send your scout out to look all over other countries?

obviously, i should spend more time looking around the game. ;)

[SirFozzie]

Good, I see your anger management therapy is going well. When's your next meeting due, so all the fans of the losing team in the real lif FA cup can attend? :D

FM
PS: more bad pun alert! just as long as he dives with... style...


Hmm.. note to self.. make more Mark Cooper and Rob Styles tackling dummies. The last one is starting to wear out, fourty thousand Arsehole fans could damage it severely (Not too worried if Arse wins over ManYoo, all their fans will suddenly start claiming they were Arsenal fans all along :D)

[ice4277]

No FM referee could ever be as bad as Uriah Rennie, circa CM 00/01. Still gives me the shivers thinking about it.

[Koryo]

Here's another question:

When I send a scout out to look for players, does it matter where he goes? I sent mine to the US one fall for 3 months, to look for cheap talent, and he came back with nothing. Is it because the US has so much less talent than England, where he found tons of cheap guys all summer? Or is it because England is the only country I have included, meaning I'll be unsuccessful in any other country?

It's because the US has less talent, not because you didn't include them.

[SirFozzie]

No FM referee could ever be as bad as Uriah Rennie, circa CM 00/01. Still gives me the shivers thinking about it.

ice: I would go into my ranty-ravey mode about Mr Cooper, but I see FrogMan still has that taser and I don't want to pay for electricity again.. but look at my Bristol threads over in the Dynasty forum for why I hate him so badly. Frog and Eagles I think also had run ins with this mental defective.

[FrogMan]

ice: I would go into my ranty-ravey mode about Mr Cooper, but I see FrogMan still has that taser and I don't want to pay for electricity again.. but look at my Bristol threads over in the Dynasty forum for why I hate him so badly. Frog and Eagles I think also had run ins with this mental defective.
I think I've had Cooper ref me a couple of times early on when I was with Luton in League One, but I'm definitely suffering through the living hell that is know as Rob Styles, especially since I've arrived to the Premiership.

Kinda funny though. Some of you may know, I used to be a soccer referee, from about when I was 15 to when I turned 22 or so. In the last few years, I was the referee dispatch for the whole Quebec area, dispatching refs to about 8-10 cities in the immediate Quebec City area. While I wasn't really evaluating them (I was only dispatch, not head referee) I got to know who was good and who wasn't and what the top level of everybody was. There were a few that were amazing soccer players, but were just sooooo bad as refs, it wasn't even funny. One or two of them, I knew their top level was maybe regional U16 male, maybe U18 female, but absolutely not senior male or even U18 male. Eventually, there came a time when I had a cancellation and I was out of recourse and had to put the not so good one in the center for a U18 male game, with the kind of results that Rob Styles can have. I'd have a look at the game sheet and there it was, 4-5 yellows on both sides, a red, sometimes two, and often times a call from the league disciplinary committee asking me why I had put that "clown" in there... Good times :D

FM

[Desnudo]

It's because the US has less talent, not because you didn't include them.

It's a combo of both really. The US will have less talent because you didn't include all players from the US in your game, and the US will have less talent overall. There's only a few US players that can get work permits anyway.

[Huckleberry]

Okay, so how do you make a board request? What screens do you go to?

I don't want to waste time in the manual when I get home. I've got to get straight to the strategy. :D

[FrogMan]

Okay, so how do you make a board request? What screens do you go to?

I don't want to waste time in the manual when I get home. I've got to get straight to the strategy. :D
Go to confidence report, you know where they tell you how much they like/hate you. The link to make a request is at the bottom right (or left if your skin is left handed)...

FM

[maximus]

I wish SI would attempt an American pro football sim. :)

[Glengoyne]

I wholeheartedly agree with BJ's hip on this one. It is hard to imagine how much I'd be drawn to the game if I was as familiar with Soccer as I am with Football or Baseball.

The CM/FM is easilly the gold standard for text based sports sims. I really enjoy FOF, FBCB, and Puresim, but SI is playing on a whole different level with the CM/FM series. They are literally generations ahead of the other games, in my opinion.

[Desnudo]

I wish SI would attempt an American pro football sim. :)

It's coming some day, I'm sure.

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

I got shafted by Styles two matches ago. 1 red and 4 yellows. Then I appealed the 1 match ban and it was extended by 2 more games. Punk. :)

[FrogMan]

I got shafted by Styles two matches ago. 1 red and 4 yellows. Then I appealed the 1 match ban and it was extended by 2 more games. Punk. :)
see how real this game feels... ;)

FM

[SirFozzie]

Sammy Sosa says:

EEeees SO REEEL!

[Passacaglia]

you can send your scout out to look all over other countries?

obviously, i should spend more time looking around the game. ;)

Yeah! I just discovered it myself pretty recently. Click on your team name, then click on "players" on the left margin, then click "scouting" -- on the bottom right, click on "scout" and select a scout. Then click on "assign.." and a scout assignment window will come up. You have to tell the scout where to look for players (a particular team, region, tournament, maybe even league or continent), how long to look for, then what kind of players you're looking for (with my low transfer funds and wage budget, I usually just look for players valued at less than $10K, making less than $10K per year). When I have him search in England, he gives me tons of players, but the one time I sent him to the US for 3 months, he came back empty-handed.

I have no idea if this is true, but I always worry that if I send my only scout on a trip like this, I won't be able to "get scout report" on a player, or at least it will take a very long time, and I hate that. So when I know I'm going to want to request reports on specific players, I don't send my scout on trips.

[Galaxy]

Game rocks! I entering the final leg of my first season with Cambridge City. Injuries kiled us at about the 2/3 season mark, and we kinda fell off the horse. We are third, a point out of second, and about 8-9 points out of first (and unlikely to catch them). We are getting back to full health, but we cannot get a streak going. We play the Grays, second place, next.

How does the MLS Combine work?

[Passacaglia]

Good luck, Galaxy! Hopefully you're able to take first place, since the playoffs out of Conference South can be a pain.

[Marc Vaughan]

Rob Styles is a tool... Now, I said it, I feel much, much better...

FM
Hearing that sort of comment makes me think we're heading in the right direction :D

Whenever people talk about folk in the game as if they're real its nice, it means they're 'into' the game in the way I want them to be, I love seeing comments indicating that players are 'loyal' or 'arsey' :D

[Eaglesfan27]

I've made a couple requests to my board, and they've denied both. I haven't issued an ultimatum or anything, because I'm still above my wage budget, so I can understand where they're coming from. If you issue an ultimatum and they still refuse, do you have to quit? And if not, what happens if you don't quit?

I'm in the same situation as Rudy Huckleberry -- I just got promoted to Conference National (Stafford got promoted, too, actually), and I want to keep running up the leagues.
I didn't see anyone answer this question, so I will. If you issue an ultimatum, the board might make you quit, but if you are very well respected they will "excuse your outburst" and let you continue to work for them, but they will generally be less pleased with you. However, I never use the ultimatum option unless I'm really prepared to walk from the team.

[Galaxy]

Good luck, Galaxy! Hopefully you're able to take first place, since the playoffs out of Conference South can be a pain.
How does the relegation/deregation work exactly between the Conference leagues? I know the top teams each get automatic promotions, but who is regulated/promoted of the remaining teams?

[rexallllsc]

I wish SI would attempt an American pro football sim. :)

Imagine the 2-d match engine for Am. FB. Amazing.

[SirFozzie]

How does the relegation/deregation work exactly between the Conference leagues? I know the top teams each get automatic promotions, but who is regulated/promoted of the remaining teams?

Winner of North and South both auto-promoted.

Teams 2nd-5th in each region playoff.

Winner of North Playoff vs South Playoff=3rd promotion team

[FrogMan]

Hearing that sort of comment makes me think we're heading in the right direction :D

Whenever people talk about folk in the game as if they're real its nice, it means they're 'into' the game in the way I want them to be, I love seeing comments indicating that players are 'loyal' or 'arsey' :D
very happy to be representing the "ordinary people" for you :D

It's really how I feel with this game, simply amazing. I've not played many sports management games where I feel a bit of pain with every little loss, where I get royally pissed off about losing a 2 goal lead in the second half of a game, etc. Is it perfect, no, but it does a very good job of mimicking real life and it's role playing aspect is simply amazing to me.

Heck, I got all excited when my reputation as a manager went from "national" to "continental" because of some good comments from Liverpool's Rafa Benítez :D

FM

[moriarty]

Suprised we haven't seen the, "To all of you who warned me about getting hookers in 2005" parody thread yet.

Welcome aboard Bo, don't say we didn't warn you. Great Game!

[Marc Vaughan]

very happy to be representing the "ordinary people" for you :D

It's really how I feel with this game, simply amazing. I've not played many sports management games where I feel a bit of pain with every little loss, where I get royally pissed off about losing a 2 goal lead in the second half of a game, etc. Is it perfect, no, but it does a very good job of mimicking real life and it's role playing aspect is simply amazing to me.

Heck, I got all excited when my reputation as a manager went from "national" to "continental" because of some good comments from Liverpool's Rafa Benítez :D

FM

LOL :D

One of the things which I think keeps SI buzzing and pushing forward is the fact that everyone here are 'ordinary people' and first and foremost fans of the games we make ....

(and don't remind me that I STILL haven't won the Champions League in my 28 season Cambridge City game ;) )

[SirFozzie]

What, you've had 28 years to win the Champions League with Cambridge City and FAILED EVERY SINGLE YEAR, Marc? Tut-tut-tut, I say.. :D

[maximus]

Imagine the 2-d match engine for Am. FB. Amazing.


Ahh, the images in my head are so beautiful....

[Marc Vaughan]

Ahh, the images in my head are so beautiful....
I always wondered why the "TV Sports Football" game didn't go down the management sim route (presume it had the same name in America?) - it was practically a sports-sim already (used to take dashed near 45 minutes to play a game ..) and I personally loved playing it, anyone know what happened to the company?

[Galaxy]

What, you've had 28 years to win the Champions League with Cambridge City and FAILED EVERY SINGLE YEAR, Marc? Tut-tut-tut, I say.. :D

I'm battling for the promotion in year one, from the playoffs. :D

[finkenst]

where I get royally pissed off about losing a 2 goal lead in the second half of a game, etc. Is it perfect, no, but it does a very good job of mimicking real life and it's role playing aspect is simply amazing to me.
*cough*

f'ing hattrick

that other fine establishment of virtual football.

*cough*


http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[finkenst]

marc and other FM people...

you've made a transfer deal that included a friendly.

you scheduled the friendly during an open period of your schedule (i was going to use all my reserves, anyway)...

a reschedule match due to international call-ups has resulted in your friendly being cancelled...

what is going to happen?

[Pumpy Tudors]

I always wondered why the "TV Sports Football" game didn't go down the management sim route (presume it had the same name in America?) - it was practically a sports-sim already (used to take dashed near 45 minutes to play a game ..) and I personally loved playing it, anyone know what happened to the company?
Ah, good old Cinemaware. It is sort of still around, but it's not the same as it was a dozen years ago. I didn't play every Cinemaware game, but Wings got a ton of my Amiga's time. The "TV Sports" line was pretty good, too, although I enjoyed the baseball and basketball more than the football. The boxing game wasn't great, but I always compared it to 4-D Sports Boxing, and there's just no contest there.

Come to think of it, can we get a remake of 4-D Sports Boxing?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Dola

I tried to start a new WSM career, and I just couldn't really get going with it. I got too attached to my Exeter City team in my first career. I think I may have included a few too many leagues in that first career, though, and it took forever to process even one day. :( I haven't touched WSM seriously in ages, but now I'm going to load up that Exeter career and try to find a way to occupy myself through the processing time. I was about to get sacked, if I remember correctly, but I'm hoping I can save my job somehow.

Strangely, I know a game is addicting when I come back to it after shelving it for a couple of months and hope to pick up right where I left off.

[DaddyTorgo]

something i just noticed: I had a game running as I was checking the board, and one of my forwards got injured. I wanted to see how he got injured before I subbed him, so I was trying to back-arrow to get back to the game, and I get the following popup: "Rune Skarsfjord (my AM) whispers in your ear that you still have an injured player on the pitch."


HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?!?!

[Pumpy Tudors]

I'm only three points out of the relegation zone with four matches left to play. Rumors are going around that a bad result in my next match will finish me at Exeter. I think my Grecians will have to finish with a miracle run to save me now.

[Huckleberry]

Bastards think my wage allowance is high enough to compete.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Woohoo! The Grecians get a huge win with their manager under pressure. My starting striker was on loan, and he had to go back right before my match. I replaced him with somebody who got himself injured in the first half. I brought in a reserve who had been shuttled back and forth between the top team and the reserves all year. He ends up scoring two goals to erase a 1-0 deficit, and now we're 7 points out of relegation with three matches to play. One more win will keep us from being relegated, although I probably need more than that to save my job.

[GoldenEagle]

Here's another question:

When I send a scout out to look for players, does it matter where he goes? I sent mine to the US one fall for 3 months, to look for cheap talent, and he came back with nothing. Is it because the US has so much less talent than England, where he found tons of cheap guys all summer? Or is it because England is the only country I have included, meaning I'll be unsuccessful in any other country?
If your with a team in the Conferene is probably more along the lines that you can't afford to scout the US. You have to have some financial backing to set up a global scouting system.

[Marc Vaughan]

If your with a team in the Conferene is probably more along the lines that you can't afford to scout the US. You have to have some financial backing to set up a global scouting system.
Scouts will generally only report back with players suitable for the club (ie. ones he thinks they can afford the wages and transfer fee for).

A conference club will pretty much NEVER be able to sign non-EU players, either because they'll expect too much in wages and signing on fee because they're relocating between countries (yes this is taken into account by players, depending on the different in culture and distance involved) or simply because the player wouldn't get a work-permit in the UK.

Because of this its fairly unlikely that a scout will recommend a non-EU player for a conference club unless he's already in the UK (and thus has his permit).

Hope this helps,

Marc

[FrogMan]

Bastards think my wage allowance is high enough to compete.
you know, my bastards wanted me to use only $750k of the newly received TV money $24.5M for transfer budget. Went along with it and then BOOM! Chairman wants to increase the profile of the club and is ready to let me go overbudget. 4 months pass, we're doing pretty well for a side newly promoted to the Premiership. I ask for more transfer money. They reply that they've not yet seen any return on the money spent so far this season, WHAT!?! The guy you "allowed" me to bring in is the star of the team!!! Oh well... bastards, I tell ya (I'm sure Marc will like us talking like that, but I tell you, I feel like I know my chairman pretty well and he's a lot like many of the bosses I've had in the past ;))

FM

[ice4277]

you know, my bastards wanted me to use only $750k of the newly received TV money $24.5M for transfer budget. Went along with it and then BOOM! Chairman wants to increase the profile of the club and is ready to let me go overbudget. 4 months pass, we're doing pretty well for a side newly promoted to the Premiership. I ask for more transfer money. They reply that they've not yet seen any return on the money spent so far this season, WHAT!?! The guy you "allowed" me to bring in is the star of the team!!! Oh well... bastards, I tell ya (I'm sure Marc will like us talking like that, but I tell you, I feel like I know my chairman pretty well and he's a lot like many of the bosses I've had in the past ;))

FM
My chairman at Barnsley is Peter Risdale, aka "The Destroyer of Leeds". I can't wait to see what he gives me when we get up to the Premiership :D

[SunDevil]

Ok, just bought this game last night from Amazon Marketplace. I do not like soccer and do not have any idea how I am suppose to get interested in this game, but I am sick of seeing these threads and all the good reviews without seeing the game for myself. :)

At least in the future I can reply to these threads saying to someone to save their money in the worst case scenario. If I got hooked on this game, this board is to blame. :)

[Ajaxab]

As many have mentioned before, the dark side beckons.

The only advice I might have would be to play through at least a season (if you get sacked, just add a new manager and take over the same team you had before) before coming to a verdict on the game. There will be lots of help from people around here if you have any questions.

[SunDevil]

Do I at least get a black leather right-handed glove? :)

[moriarty]

Do I at least get a black leather right-handed glove? :)

No, but we'll give you a sequined white one to match Michael.

Seriously, if you've never played it before it can be a bit overwhelming at first due to all the options/features available. Just post your questions here though and someone will help.

[FrogMan]

you know, my bastards wanted me to use only $750k of the newly received TV money $24.5M for transfer budget. Went along with it and then BOOM! Chairman wants to increase the profile of the club and is ready to let me go overbudget. 4 months pass, we're doing pretty well for a side newly promoted to the Premiership. I ask for more transfer money. They reply that they've not yet seen any return on the money spent so far this season, WHAT!?! The guy you "allowed" me to bring in is the star of the team!!! Oh well... bastards, I tell ya (I'm sure Marc will like us talking like that, but I tell you, I feel like I know my chairman pretty well and he's a lot like many of the bosses I've had in the past ;))

FM
Quick update: the date is now January 4, 2011, and the transfer window has just reopened. Guess what, with $23.7M in the bank account, my chariman calls me and wants me to bring another high-profile player to Loftus Road!!! WEEHEE!!! Bastards no more! :D

FM

[FrogMan]

Seriously, if you've never played it before it can be a bit overwhelming at first due to all the options/features available. Just post your questions here though and someone will help.
Agreed that it can be a bit overwhelming at first but take it easy, don't try to understand/take over everything at once. I also agree that you can post just about any questions in here and somebody will have an answer...

MF

[illinifan999]

I just enjoy going from league to league. Starting out in Norway with Rosenborg, then moving to France after getting the Marseille job, and now I'm in Spain with Real Madrid. I'm also quite the multi-lingual. English, Norway (Basic), French, and now Spanish (Basic). And I'm starting to see some amazing young US prospects coming up.

[Galaxy]

WHO-HOO!

In my first year, with 24 wins, 17 draws amd 10 losses, we won the playoffs and are promoted to Conference National....Doin the happy dance.

Now, what is your advice for the months of June/July? When does "everything" update, the league tables, player ratings, my ratings, ect. Manchester United fired Sir Alex, after crashing most of the season (yet climbing to sixth), getting knocked out in the CL's first knockout round, getting upsetted early in the FA Cup, and failing to win any silverware, as well as not reaching CL's play (in th UEFA Cup next season).

[Galaxy]

Dola...
Damn board is not giving me any transfer money. Have about E40k in the bank. I lose my staff expect my physco, and I lose just one player, a reserve player with nothing to give us.

[Marc Vaughan]

Dola...
Damn board is not giving me any transfer money. Have about E40k in the bank. I lose my staff expect my physco, and I lose just one player, a reserve player with nothing to give us.
If you're finding it hard to sign staff try giving elderly players player/coach roles in the team ....

[vyshka]

I always wondered why the "TV Sports Football" game didn't go down the management sim route (presume it had the same name in America?) - it was practically a sports-sim already (used to take dashed near 45 minutes to play a game ..) and I personally loved playing it, anyone know what happened to the company?

Not sure what ended up happening to Cinemaware. Some of them got back
together and rereleased Defender of the Crown recently. I lived the TV
Sports Basketball. I never played the football game.

It is too bad Front Page Sports Football died off after the godawful attempt
at a 3d engine.

[Galaxy]

If you're finding it hard to sign staff try giving elderly players player/coach roles in the team ....

Will do. I just begain my search for finding my first AM (didn't have one last year), and a new scout.

[Ajaxab]

WHO-HOO!

In my first year, with 24 wins, 17 draws amd 10 losses, we won the playoffs and are promoted to Conference National....Doin the happy dance.

Now, what is your advice for the months of June/July? When does "everything" update, the league tables, player ratings, my ratings, ect. Manchester United fired Sir Alex, after crashing most of the season (yet climbing to sixth), getting knocked out in the CL's first knockout round, getting upsetted early in the FA Cup, and failing to win any silverware, as well as not reaching CL's play (in th UEFA Cup next season).

The season 'resets' in the middle of June. The best things to do during the summer months would be to try to find some new players who actually want to come to your club, see if you can upgrade your staff and perhaps, most importantly, schedule some friendly matches to get your players in game shape by the beginning of August. I usually try to schedule 5-6 friendlies in July if I can and play my starters' an increasing number of minutes over that set of games. Friendlies also allow you to try out new tactics if you want to experiment a bit.

[Galaxy]

The season 'resets' in the middle of June. The best things to do during the summer months would be to try to find some new players who actually want to come to your club, see if you can upgrade your staff and perhaps, most importantly, schedule some friendly matches to get your players in game shape by the beginning of August. I usually try to schedule 5-6 friendlies in July if I can and play my starters' an increasing number of minutes over that set of games. Friendlies also allow you to try out new tactics if you want to experiment a bit.

Thanks. I got an amazing player, 36 years old, who has over 100 caps for Tringdad & Togo, and he is a player/assistant manager. He is amazing for this level as player, and has strong skills at his age as an AM. I got the top need, a bonafide goalkeeper in Cameron Bell. I don't have any transfer money, depsite the board receiving $150k in tv rights. I got Preston (Premierside) to come in for a friendly. I will have to "re-build" this club to get the wage budget in line, as well are expected to battle regulation. Everyone can become a Bosman player in 6 months, so I will start by re-signing my "core" players.

[Ajaxab]

It would also be good to transfer list some of your Bosman players you don't plan on keeping in the summer just in case someone's interested so that you can cash in on them before they leave for nothing.

[DaddyTorgo]

i just had 36 players promoted to the U19's at Rosenborg. Absolute chaos! Anyone ever seen a similarly high number?

[Desnudo]

Are you using patch 5.05?

[DaddyTorgo]

nope. apparently i had only patched up to 5.0.3 and DLed 5.0.5 but not installed it. whoops. why, was that a known issue in 5.0.3 that I just didn't hear anything about since I rarely check the SI forums anymore (too many fanboys)

[Eaglesfan27]

Yes, that was a known issue in 5.03 and earlier versions. 5.05 fixed that problem.

[DaddyTorgo]

doy. well now I have it patched, so i guess that'll be my one huge youth class.

[Marc Vaughan]

nope. apparently i had only patched up to 5.0.3 and DLed 5.0.5 but not installed it. whoops. why, was that a known issue in 5.0.3 that I just didn't hear anything about since I rarely check the SI forums anymore (too many fanboys)
Apologies for that, slipped through the net initially - only happens to my knowledge if you're playing with a 'huge' database setting (and then only at some teams/occassions).

[illinifan999]

Wish i could use the patch. :(

[Marc Vaughan]

Wish i could use the patch. :(
Why can't you ? ...

[DaddyTorgo]

Apologies for that, slipped through the net initially - only happens to my knowledge if you're playing with a 'huge' database setting (and then only at some teams/occassions).
don't apologize Marc. I quite enjoyed it. And it's not like I can't afford it, at 20 million dollars under the yearly wage budget. I think you may have misread my grammer, I was asking "Why are you asking if I am using 5.0.3 and not 5.0.5" not "why wasn't the bug found earlier." I actually don't mind the "bug" at all, and in fact I actually kind of like it. Given most of the youth teamers are crap, but that's okay, I can just weed through them and cut whoever i want to.

now that i've got the continue-game-timeout thing fixed, I find I can't put FM down again. Which is a bad bad thing for my social life!

[Celeval]

Just had my most dominant game in WWSM... playing an easy game as Scotland 3rd division Gretna (they're 3rd div, but have a crazed board that just throws money at you). In the first round of the Scottish Cup, we drew non-league Buckie Thistle - was planning to play the reserves, but there were a couple starters just off injury and I wanted to get the first team some playing time together. Final score was 9-0 - we had 31 shots, 14 on target; Thistle had one shot and that came in injury time of the second half. We went defensive and slowed the tempo up 4-0 at the 30 minute mark, just to not get anyone hurt. Never seen anything like it.

[illinifan999]

Why can't you ? ...
Tells me I have to insert the CD even though it's already in.

[Northwood_DK]

Tells me I have to insert the CD even though it's already in.
Only get worried if you get almost the same response from your girlfriend in bed.

[SirFozzie]

Tells me I have to insert the CD even though it's already in.

you didn't order from sendit early on did you?

[illinifan999]

you didn't order from sendit early on did you?
Nope.

[Passacaglia]

Another question:

Do you get job offers, or is it necessary to apply for a job to get hired? I managed to get Grays promoted twice in two seasons, but it looks like I'm going to be mid-table in League Two, and I was wondering if some larger team would come calling.

Also, what's the typical wage budget for a League Two team? Mine hasn't been raised at all since I was in Conference South (despite numerous requests), so it's still at $600K.

[FrogMan]

Another question:

Do you get job offers, or is it necessary to apply for a job to get hired? I managed to get Grays promoted twice in two seasons, but it looks like I'm going to be mid-table in League Two, and I was wondering if some larger team would come calling.

I've received many job offers in the last couple seasons, especially after dominating League One with QPR, then doing really well in the Championship. Even before the end of the season (we finished in 3rd and we eventually promoted through the playoffs) I was receiving offers from teams in the Premiership looking for a manager... I rejected them all, one after the other, and we promoted and now I'm winning against them with my QPR club ;)

FM

[FrogMan]

Also, what's the typical wage budget for a League Two team? Mine hasn't been raised at all since I was in Conference South (despite numerous requests), so it's still at $600K.
$600k per what? not year?

I was at 120k per week in League One if I remember correctly, 150k in the Championship (may be wrong though) and now up to 480k per week in the Premiership, which is kinda low, I'd assume, compared to the other teams...

FM

[Bee]

$600k per what? not year?

I was at 120k per week in League One if I remember correctly, 150k in the Championship (may be wrong though) and now up to 480k per week in the Premiership, which is kinda low, I'd assume, compared to the other teams...

FM

It really depends on the size of the club. My Barnet club only has a wage budget of around 20,000 euros a week and we're in the Championship League.

[Bo Jackson's Hip]

Is there a way to delete your emails in FM 2005?

[FrogMan]

the inbox only keeps some 80 to 100 emails, so it's more a matter of not being able to keep older emails...

FM

[Passacaglia]

Yeah, it's 600K per year. I usually have 4-5 starters on loan, and pay no wages for them, so I guess it all works out.

[FrogMan]

wow, that really is not a lot! You may be stuck with a very conservative board, just like EaglesFan27 had when he was at Harrogate Town...

FM

[marshall881]

Is there anyway to keep track of a players value going up or down?

Or is it just something you have to do manually?

[FrogMan]

Is there anyway to keep track of a players value going up or down?

Or is it just something you have to do manually?
I don't know of any way to do that, no. I mean other than writing them down over time, or saving printed screens of your roster every couple of months or so...

FM

[Chas in Cinti]

I'm having tons of trouble with tactics this go around. I've only had the game for a few days, but a bit more robust than the last time I played (00/01). I love the game though, so I just need to find me a tactic that'll work. I'm more into the player and team management aspect anyway, but it's not fun to try to dig yourself out of a wage/transfer deficit with horrid players especially when you can't get a tactic that works (trying a tweaked "Surge" now from Buxton over on the sigames forum). Welcome to The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham returns.....

Ugh...

So, why do I play non-stop????

:)

-Chas

[FrogMan]

welcome to the dark side my friend ;)

FM

[Bee]

I've had tons of success with the default 4-4-2 tactic. I'm sure there are better tactics out there, but since I'm not interested in tactics the default one seems well suited to me.

[Desnudo]

wow, that really is not a lot! You may be stuck with a very conservative board, just like EaglesFan27 had when he was at Harrogate Town...

FM

I think it's more a factor of the combination of squad reputation and stadium size/attendance, rather than a conservative board specifically. Also, the problem with taking lower league teams to high leagues and then being artificially restricted in wage offers still exists in 5.05.

[FrogMan]

Also, the problem with taking lower league teams to high leagues and then being artificially restricted in wage offers still exists in 5.05.
maybe, but never to the same extent it used to be. At least now, your assistant will tell you that a player could be an essential part of your squad, not always tell you that everybody is crap...

FM

[Desnudo]

Yes, but you still can't offer them more than a pittance.

[Passacaglia]

Hmm...so are you guys saying I should go from 503 to 505?

[FrogMan]

Yes, but you still can't offer them more than a pittance.
for me now, they're allowing me to offer a single player up to $48k, which is 10% of my whole $480k weekly wage budget. Is that unreasonable? I don't think so. I simply see it as them being wary of me spending it all on one player... Yeah, that keeps me from signing one superstar, but I still can sign a not so bad starting eleven...

We'll see as I go on in my career, maybe this will limit me a whole lot...

FM

[FrogMan]

Hmm...so are you guys saying I should go from 503 to 505?
Not really, the changes from 5.0.3 to 5.0.5 were minimal. All the big changes happened with 5.0.3...

FM

[Desnudo]

for me now, they're allowing me to offer a single player up to $48k, which is 10% of my whole $480k weekly wage budget. Is that unreasonable? I don't think so. I simply see it as them being wary of me spending it all on one player... Yeah, that keeps me from signing one superstar, but I still can sign a not so bad starting eleven...

We'll see as I go on in my career, maybe this will limit me a whole lot...

FM

Tbh, I don't consider QPR to be a small, lower league team. I'm not sure how much the bug will affect them. It also takes a season or two to really notice it. Wait until you are still restricted to 48K/week, but 3/4 of your team is demanding way more, which will happen if you're successful. Or the next level of player to improve your team costs much more than that. The effect can really be seen when you take a team from the Conference to the Premiership.

[Desnudo]

Dola,

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a wet towel. Hopefully your QPR team won't encounter the problem. I was just very disapointed that SI wasn't able to fix this problem in 05 as taking a lower league team to the premiership has always been my favorite play style. At least they've targeted the cause and it should be fixed for FM06.

[FrogMan]

Tbh, I don't consider QPR to be a small, lower league team. I'm not sure how much the bug will affect them. It also takes a season or two to really notice it. Wait until you are still restricted to 48K/week, but 3/4 of your team is demanding way more, which will happen if you're successful. Or the next level of player to improve your team costs much more than that. The effect can really be seen when you take a team from the Conference to the Premiership.
I agree that QPR is a Championship club irl, so may not suffer as much from the Conference side bias/problem. I already see problems that will happen soon with the way my team is playing this season. See comments in my dynasty regarding Youssouf Hersi, Jeppe Lund Curth, Andrew Johnson, Marcus Kelly, etc...

I also agree that it will take at least one offseason up in the EPL to see how the board reacts and what money they make available to me. We'll see...

FM

[FrogMan]

Dola,

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a wet towel. Hopefully your QPR team won't encounter the problem. I was just very disapointed that SI wasn't able to fix this problem in 05 as taking a lower league team to the premiership has always been my favorite play style. At least they've targeted the cause and it should be fixed for FM06.
oh, don't be sorry, the game, and that career have been the most fun I've had with a game in a loooong time. If they decide to limit what I can offer, then so be it, I was able to find unknown players before getting where I am, I'll try to find some more to keep on growing. I'll take that as a challenge. Sure it could keep me from ever be a challenger in any European competitions, but heck, I'm only happy to be in the EPL right now :)

FM

[Passacaglia]

http://www.sigames.com/downloads.php?type=view&id=240

So is this list the fixes from ALL patches, or JUST 5.0.5? It's really long.

[FrogMan]

http://www.sigames.com/downloads.php?type=view&id=240

So is this list the fixes from ALL patches, or JUST 5.0.5? It's really long.it's the whole list from 5.0.2 to 5.0.5 (edit 5.0.3 to 5.0.5). See this thread where I reported that there was a 5.0.5 patch that came out after 5.0.3...
http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=36898

FM

[Passacaglia]

But it says 5.0.5 at the top!

[FrogMan]

sorry, it's the list of everything that was patched from 5.0.2 to 5.0.5, including everything that was patched from 5.0.2 to 5.0.3..

See my edited post... sorry I confused you...

FM

[Bee]

Why would you not want to update to the latest version?

[finkenst]

$600k per what? not year?

I was at 120k per week in League One if I remember correctly, 150k in the Championship (may be wrong though) and now up to 480k per week in the Premiership, which is kinda low, I'd assume, compared to the other teams...

FM
ah the fun of big clubs...

i've got 975K below my budget line. :)

[FrogMan]

Why would you not want to update to the latest version?
I wouldn't know, I mean if the person has high speed internet. It's another thing when you're stuck with dialup, then it could become a matter of "is it worth it to download only to fix 3 or 4 things that I don'T care about"...

FM

[Passacaglia]

if the person has high speed internet


Ay, there's the rub. I did download it yesterday from work, to my MP3 player. When I get the chance, I'll install it on my laptop. But getting it directly to my laptop using dial-up would have been a pain.