Alright boyz, here we go!!! FM 2006 First Impressions

[daedalus]

FUCK.

My game froze in the middle of saving (I constantly save so as to avoid having problems) and so now it won't load. My only other save game was from 2 weeks ago (real time) and about a half a season ago.

Is there ANYTHING you can do to help me save my game, Marc?

[Marc Vaughan]

FUCK.

My game froze in the middle of saving (I constantly save so as to avoid having problems) and so now it won't load. My only other save game was from 2 weeks ago (real time) and about a half a season ago.

Is there ANYTHING you can do to help me save my game, Marc?

I'm afraid if its an incomplete save there isn't much I can do to repair it- if it was just corrupt then I can normally manage to do so around 60% of the time, but with missing data its near impossible to restore (for someone with my limited brain capacity anyway ;) ).

Sorry to hear this happened - was your system low on virtual memory (ie. was the hard-disk flashing like mad?) ... if people play a long time and then save then it sometimes looks 'locked' if the VM is low because windows gets its knickers in a twist, but it does recover eventually in most cases.

[daedalus]

Fruck. :(

Didn't notice anything specific with the hard-disk. I had, indeed, been playing for awhile but I had been saving in the meanwhile (every couple of days) since I had been afraid of a crash. Who knew that would have been my undoing.

It didn't seem like it was going to be recovering. The status bar on the saving had been filled out for quite awhile and there was zero response on the machine (no cursor movement). Ugh.

I was just getting ready to go kick Bayern's arse in the knockout stage and had JUST taken the lead in the premiership back from Tottenham and Newcastle (I still say it's a bug for them to be that high in January). My Portugal appointment was going well too (they offered me the job after the World Cup), we're undefeated in a fairly weak group in WC Qualification since me taking over. Although, the FA has complaining about my margin of victory being too small. Bugger off.

Meh. Now I must decide between starting from scratch or re-doing the save from 2 weeks (and 2/3 of a season) ago.

-----

Question: Is there any way to make the news display more than 150?

[Marc Vaughan]

Didn't notice anything specific with the hard-disk. I had, indeed, been playing for awhile but I had been saving in the meanwhile (every couple of days) since I had been afraid of a crash. Who knew that would have been my undoing.
If you're worried about that then I'd suggest using the auto-save features in the game, you can configure when it saves (ie. weekly, monthly or whatever).

It also has an option for rotating the saves to ensure that if your game crashes in the middle of saving then you'll have the save game which happened prior to it (because it rotates the save game name).

[daedalus]

I'll do that, then. Thanks. :)

Any thoughts on the news display?

[FrogMan]

FUCK.

My game froze in the middle of saving (I constantly save so as to avoid having problems) and so now it won't load. My only other save game was from 2 weeks ago (real time) and about a half a season ago.

Is there ANYTHING you can do to help me save my game, Marc?
daed, looks like the same thing that happened in my first QPR career. Savegame file was at 240MB or so then one day it saved but it came to about half of that, never was able to open the file again :( I still mourn that day...

Since that day what I do is keep saving my game under new names every couple weeks of gametime using the date as the filename. I keep something like three files live and delete files prior to that, so I'd have something like "080720", "080805", and "080822" live in my savegame folder (based on my current Q.P.R. career)...

Sad to hear your troubles though :(

FM

[FrogMan]

I'm up to mid-November with Luton Town, got them sitting in 5th place of the Championship after 18 games and everyone is happy. Wait, this is eerily close to the real life Hatters of this season :)

Anyway, one thing I've realized while playing last night is that player skills fluctuate much more than what I remembered in '05 and I kind of like that. I mean an injured player in '05 would sometimes lose a point here or there but would never really spiral down, at least I never noticed it all that much. But this time around, get a player injured for a couple of months and booom, his skills go down the drain, well maybe not down the drain but you they drop enough for you to realize they are dropping (16 to 13 is a good drop imo) but then he comes back to training and in a couple of weeks, mayb a month, he gains these skills back. I think it is realistic, at least in a sense that it is mimicking real life and how an athlete gets back from a semi-serious injury (2 months is a pretty good injury if you ask me)...

FM

[MikeVick7]

Hey Marc V -

Would you be able to give us (me) some further insight on on squad status? I, for some anal reason, like to always make sure that a player's squad status emulates his current standing with the team. But it never fails that as soon as I label someone to be in a "rotation system" they don't think I appreciate their contribution to the team. Then if you try and sign a decent player as a "rotation" player then they sometimes don't even want to sign with you.

So here's what I view status to be...

Key Player - Standout player, always a starter
1st Team - Starter, usually can be found in the starting 11 barring injury or fatigue.
Rotation Player - Doesn't normally start but still gets spots starts here and there and comes on as a sub frequently.
Backup - Some poor schlub that's listed on my first team but doesn't get much playing time at all.

Are my above assumption correct? What I'm fearing is that I'm misunderstanding what the label of "1st Team" really is. Does that mean starter, one of the 16 usually picked to dress on gameday, or just someone that is physically on the first team and not on the reserves?

[Marc Vaughan]

Your assumptions are pretty much correct - however your definition of rotation player is a bit harsh.

Generally 'rotation' players are found at large clubs where they have backup for most positions with quality players, these players 'rotate' in and our of the squad sharing playing time generally ... this is the cause of a fair amount of friction in the larger teams at times with few players being truly happy with such a situation (although they're getting more used to it in recent years).

Keeping players squad status reflective of their position in the squad is sensible and done right can help keep people happier than they might be otherwise, however if you have a first team player and drop his squad status down then you can expect a certain amount of fall-out simply because no one likes to find themselves downgraded ...

In such circumstances if the player has a quiet personality then consider leaving it a tad longer so the player himself already 'knows' its the way things are before changing his squad status - he'll be less inclined to argue if its something which has effectively already come to pass naturally than if you tell him up-front (because he's 'quiet' he'll be less inclined to throw a tiss about missing games here and there so you can slowly elbow him towards the door).

If he's a less manageable personality then its likely there will be some fallout however you approach things, you can handle it by lettting things blow over (they will eventually - how long depends on the player, bear in mind that this can actually 'inspire' some players to try extra hard when they get their chance in the team*) or by deciding the players future is with another team ...

As with all manager decisions - the choice is yours.

*Similar thing to note is the same thing happens with players who want contract renewals, I have one player who only ever performs when its time for a new contract ... grrrr ... ;)

[Bee]

*Similar thing to note is the same thing happens with players who want contract renewals, I have one player who only ever performs when its time for a new contract ... grrrr ... ;)

That's cool. I had a player that I noticed this with and just assumed it was my imagination or coincidence.

[vyshka]

For manager profile, what does Loyalty correspond to? (I am at work and don't have my manual handy)

[Pumpy Tudors]

I've just gotten Cheltenham Town promoted to League One after we had a dream season in League Two. We averaged two goals per game, but our defense was terrible. We lost one match 8-5. :eek: Anyway, almost every one of our matches had the potential to be a shootout. There were times when we'd only score one goal or even get shut out, but we'd still get 10-15 shots off during the match, half of them on target. The same would happen for our opponents. There were some exciting matches at Whaddon Road for my team last season. :)

Now I'm learning that I really have to deal with some of the personalities on my team. When I was at Exeter, if a player became unruly, I could generally replace him because there was a lot of comparable talent around. Now I have a couple of players who have the potential to be superstars. One of my players just came off a 31-goal season, and he missed a month with an injury. I had gotten him cheap right before the season, and I had him on a $575/week four-year contract. Of course, by April, he was asking for a new deal. I told him to wait until after the season, and he was pleased with that. He had me listed as one of his favoured personnel, so I figured that I could probably get away with asking him to wait. Of course, I kept my promise and rewarded him with a $3000/week contract after the season.

Now, one of my other strikers wants a new contract. He has a lot of potential and a national reputation, but I've gotten some dud performances out of him. He only has one year left on his contract, so I have three choices: 1) let him play out his contract, 2) sign him to a new deal, 3) transfer him out while I can still get something for him. I'd love to sign him to a new contract, but I'm afraid that he'll get complacent. He has my team listed as a favoured club, and he has me listed as favoured personnel, but I don't know if he really wants to be lowballed just to stay at Cheltenham. I'd like to think that I can replace him (and he's been injury-prone), but we did just get promoted to League One, so I need all of the proven talent that I can get. Here is where I need to assess his personality. If I really think that he wants to stay, I can let him play out the contract and see how his performance goes during the season. If he plays well, I can reward him. If not, I can let him walk. If he gets angry about waiting for the new contract, however, he might not re-sign at the end of the year.

It's hard being a manager. :(

[Passacaglia]

Any help? I can't for the life of me figure out how to declare my interest in someone.

[varacel]

Any help? I can't for the life of me figure out how to declare my interest in someone.
Put them on your shortlist, then you should get a declare your interest option in the player's menu

[Cringer]

Ok, screw doing a dynasty. Looking at some of those I couldn't do it good enough. So here is an update on my Northern Irish run with Portstewart. First off, I am starting to look for a new job, but I don't think I will get one high enough in the Scottish or English leagues right now so it may not happen for another season or two. Hopefully I can make a bigger splash in the the Northen Ireland Premier league over that time.

So, last I left you in season 4 and I had won the Irish League Cup. To cut this short I also ended up being selected later that year for the All-Ireland Cup and got $240,000 for being in it. That almost took my team out of the hole. Then I made good money because the attendence was higher then normal. I ended up finishing the Premier league year in third, and didn't make it out of the All-Ireland Cup (Northern Ireland and Ireland teams facing off) group round, just missing by one point. Still I was happy, and now had my first European competition to look forward to, the Inter-Toto Cup.

Needless to say I didn't play all that well in the Inter-Toto against some team from a country I don't know (eastern european I think). So out in round 1. Still, the money I made this year was enough to get my team completly out of debt and put me $100,000 in the black.

Onto season 5. Start off with a bang again and defend my Irish League Cup, that made me very happy. Started off strong in Premier play too, being in first for a while. Then things started to slip away slowly. I fell down to 5th and figured now was a good time to sell my top player. I got him before season 5 and he played well, making his value go up some. This guys' rating where noticeably better then the rest of my players which is why I was shocked to get him in the first place, oh and he was an Aussie. So much to my surprise and English team bought him for $475,000 and I crapped my pants. I actually had transfer money now!!!

Transfer money didn't matter much though, still doesn't. It's just very hard to get guys to come play for me. One thing that happened that I love is that after being rejected by about a dozen guys in one week, my board finally agreed to improve the training facilities which I figured was because this was a reason given a lot by guys turning us down. (Having them better hasn't helped get players too much, but some I do think).

So on with the season I go and I get my team back up to 3rd again. I finish a ways behind Linfield and Glentoran again, but still about 10 points above the 4th place team. I feel certian I am the leader of the tier two teams, but I just can't get to the level of Glentoran and Linfield. They have the money and prestige so I hope to slowly chip away at that. I was in the ALL-Irish Cup again and once again failed to get out of the Group round. I know my team should be able to do it, but they just seem to fall short in those games. My third place finish got me into the Inter-Toto Cup again too, where I once again was booted out after the first round (lost both legs 2-1).

Now going into season 6 and I am not sure where things are going. I picked up some role players, thats about it. I did grab one strong centre back who should help shore up my defense I hope. The Irish Cup is once again first on the schedule and I am off to a slow start, of course having Glentoran in my group doesn't help. I was all happy being up 1-0 on them for the first 50-60 minutes, only to see my team blow it and I lose 2-1. Still, 3 or 4 games left in the group stage so I hope to bounce back and hopefully get the three-peat.

[AlexB]

Had an intersting little bug last night: as I was concerned over the success of my Leicester career (I watch us play - we're not that good!) I thought I'd start a new game unemployed, and try and get a Welsh/Irish/N.Irish job.

2 years in and no joy, so I added myself as a new manager, took the vacant Enniskillen Rangers job (I had applied a year before, and it had still not been taken) and deleted my original manager.

I was given an £18,000 transfer budget, but the wages allowed were a whopping £83m a week! Despite this I could only offer players £50 a week, so that means the board would have been happy with me signing and paying 166,000 players (if my maths are right) :D

Screenshot
http://photobucket.com/albums/c210/Rufus2/?action=view&current=wages.jpg

Strangely there was no finance menu on the Enniskillen screen either. Oh well, try again.

[MikeVick7]

Your assumptions are pretty much correct - however your definition of rotation player is a bit harsh.

Generally 'rotation' players are found at large clubs where they have backup for most positions with quality players, these players 'rotate' in and our of the squad sharing playing time generally ... this is the cause of a fair amount of friction in the larger teams at times with few players being truly happy with such a situation (although they're getting more used to it in recent years).
So from this, it seems that my idea of a 1st Teamer was a bit too exclusive maybe? Which does make sense, since it seemed like even if a backup of mine who saw a start here and there would not complain too much even if their status was as a First Teamer.

I think I have a better idea of the roles, so thanks for clarification. I think I may have to take the role of "rotation" player off a few of my better backups. :)

[Cringer]

I was given an £18,000 transfer budget, but the wages allowed were a whopping £83m a week! Despite this I could only offer players £50 a week, so that means the board would have been happy with me signing and paying 166,000 players (if my maths are right) :D


Wowsers. Talk about having some depth. :D

[Marc Vaughan]

Consider it looked into ...

[daedalus]

Anyway, one thing I've realized while playing last night is that player skills fluctuate much more than what I remembered in '05 and I kind of like that. I mean an injured player in '05 would sometimes lose a point here or there but would never really spiral down, at least I never noticed it all that much. But this time around, get a player injured for a couple of months and booom, his skills go down the drain, well maybe not down the drain but you they drop enough for you to realize they are dropping (16 to 13 is a good drop imo) but then he comes back to training and in a couple of weeks, mayb a month, he gains these skills back. I think it is realistic, at least in a sense that it is mimicking real life and how an athlete gets back from a semi-serious injury (2 months is a pretty good injury if you ask me)...Yeah, Titi had a 2-month Hip Injury and dropped from World Class/Cultured Striker to "plain" Striker before recovering to Explosive Striker and Cultured once again.

[vyshka]

Whew, it looks like all the iBook needed was a reboot. I started playing again today, and ran into the same issue again, but this time I had to force quit FM. I guess I have only had the laptop in sleep and had not rebooted since the weekend. I rebooted, and started up the game and was able to save and move forward. I managed to draw a game I had won previously :( so I am not 3rd in ECS at the moment. I had to start from a backup savegame as the force quit managed to kill the current savegame.

[Shepp]

Had an intersting little bug last night: as I was concerned over the success of my Leicester career (I watch us play - we're not that good!) I thought I'd start a new game unemployed, and try and get a Welsh/Irish/N.Irish job.

2 years in and no joy, so I added myself as a new manager, took the vacant Enniskillen Rangers job (I had applied a year before, and it had still not been taken) and deleted my original manager.

I was given an £18,000 transfer budget, but the wages allowed were a whopping £83m a week! Despite this I could only offer players £50 a week, so that means the board would have been happy with me signing and paying 166,000 players (if my maths are right) :D

Screenshot
http://photobucket.com/albums/c210/Rufus2/?action=view&current=wages.jpg

Strangely there was no finance menu on the Enniskillen screen either. Oh well, try again.

I saw this same type of thing posted on the bug forum over at SI yesterday. I don't think it was the same team but it reported a huge amount of allowable wages and no budget screen.

I guess it was the same team, here is the post from SI:

http://community.sigames.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/9522026261/m/9492088181

[MrBug708]

I just had a irratating bug. I won in penalties but when it switched over to the news space, it said that I lost, erased the first guys for each team and their shots (both in) and reversed the last shot (6th for each team) so I ended up losing in the semi's instead of winning. Disappointing to say the least.

[Desnudo]

Playing as Lens in French Ligue 1, I received a comment from a relegation battling team that we wouldn't be able to take the title. My options for reply included a category called "Humourous" and I was able to reply that the other coach is a master magician, "watch Amiens disappear from Ligue 1."

I love the little stuff in the game.

[TredWel]

I just had a irratating bug. I won in penalties but when it switched over to the news space, it said that I lost, erased the first guys for each team and their shots (both in) and reversed the last shot (6th for each team) so I ended up losing in the semi's instead of winning. Disappointing to say the least.
That happened to me to. It happens when you change your penalty takers in the middle of the match. It's supposed to be fixed in the latest patch.

[Passacaglia]

So, my copy of the game is on the way. I'm going to play online with a buddy of mine. We figured that we should play in the same country, so we can play each other in League Play, Cup Play, and in Europe. So our thinking was Celtic and Rangers. Anyone have other ideas?

Also, we want to make it easier on ourselves, so we were going to use the Sugar Daddy cheat. I just have to put in the init.cfg file:

"SUGAR_DADDY" "Rangers"
"SUGAR_DADDY" "Celtic"

Right? I've tried that with the demo, but it tells me the init.cfg file is read-only. Is that because it won't let me change stuff in the demo, or am I having some other problem?

[Passacaglia]

Also, are there any other ideas for mods that would help us out? I was thinking that I might want to edit the chairman, since I want to be on the same level in that regard.

[DaddyTorgo]

having a strange error here. i setup a transfer for a 20 y/o Brazillian wonderkid for 12 million dollars and then saved my game and quit for the night. And now when I come back in, even though the news item itself says it's for 12 million, all of the post-deal info and the financials and the detail under the player history all say it's a 24 million dollar deal.

I'm going to save it seperately in case any of our SI friends want to look at it, but it's offseason so I'll just cancel the deal and do a new one and that will hopefully fix it.

[RPI-Fan]

having a strange error here. i setup a transfer for a 20 y/o Brazillian wonderkid for 12 million dollars and then saved my game and quit for the night. And now when I come back in, even though the news item itself says it's for 12 million, all of the post-deal info and the financials and the detail under the player history all say it's a 24 million dollar deal.

I'm going to save it seperately in case any of our SI friends want to look at it, but it's offseason so I'll just cancel the deal and do a new one and that will hopefully fix it.

Did they perhaps sneak in some "future considerations" in a negotation?

[DaddyTorgo]

Did they perhaps sneak in some "future considerations" in a negotation?
doubtful. cuz all the money dissapears right away (all 24 million). no big deal. i'll just restart, cancel the deal (i saved before the transfer happened) and redo it. that's not cheating, cuz i wouldn't pay 24 million for some 20 y/o brazillian DMC/MC

[klayman]

Also, we want to make it easier on ourselves, so we were going to use the Sugar Daddy cheat. I just have to put in the init.cfg file:

"SUGAR_DADDY" "Rangers"
"SUGAR_DADDY" "Celtic"

Right? I've tried that with the demo, but it tells me the init.cfg file is read-only. Is that because it won't let me change stuff in the demo, or am I having some other problem?You have to change the properties of the file. Right click on it, select properties, select the General tab, and un-check the read-only box. That will allow you to save your changes.

[Marc Vaughan]

Hi,

Can you confirm if this is a common problem or a 'one' off - also can you get the same game before the 'confirmation' to me in some fashion so we can check it out and if it is a problem with the game fix it.

Thanks,

Marc

[DaddyTorgo]

Hi,

Can you confirm if this is a common problem or a 'one' off - also can you get the same game before the 'confirmation' to me in some fashion so we can check it out and if it is a problem with the game fix it.

Thanks,

Marc just a one-off apparently Marc. And after I reloaded and redid the transaction it has gone through for 12 million, and all the news items and the budget show it as a 12 million dollar deal. I'll shoot the savegame over to you anyways though. Although you shouldn't be working on the weekend man!

edit: and by "i'll shoot it over" I mean "let me file-transfer it over to someone with an actual e-mail account where they don't restrict file sizes, since all I have is my gmail"

[Marc Vaughan]

just a one-off apparently Marc. And after I reloaded and redid the transaction it has gone through for 12 million, and all the news items and the budget show it as a 12 million dollar deal. I'll shoot the savegame over to you anyways though. Although you shouldn't be working on the weekend man!
Thanks DaddyTorgo (however you want to get it to me would be great).

[Passacaglia]

You have to change the properties of the file. Right click on it, select properties, select the General tab, and un-check the read-only box. That will allow you to save your changes.

Thanks. I did this, but when I tested it out, my transfer budget was the same as before (17 million) and I was still over my wage budget. Any ideas?

[Marc Vaughan]

Thanks. I did this, but when I tested it out, my transfer budget was the same as before (17 million) and I was still over my wage budget. Any ideas?
Sugar Daddy only works 'before' you start a game and won't affect a game once its begun (I'm presuming you've loaded an existing game?) ....

[Passacaglia]

Sugar Daddy only works 'before' you start a game and won't affect a game once its begun (I'm presuming you've loaded an existing game?) ....

It was before the game began. Maybe it's because I'm still using the demo?

[klayman]

Thanks. I did this, but when I tested it out, my transfer budget was the same as before (17 million) and I was still over my wage budget. Any ideas?No, but the game has an editor which will allow you to change all the financials before you start the game.

[Cringer]

My run with Portstewart in the North Irish Premier league....I am at a crossroads.

First off, I finally got my reputation up to 'local.' Woohoo!

This happened because I went on a tear and reach all my goals finally, and then some actually.

After winning two straight Irish League Cups and coming in third in the Premier both those seasons, I was starting to wonder if I could get the team further. (Knocked out in the first round of the Inter-Toto each time I got in too.)

So, going into the next season, 2010/11, I was kind of unsure of what moves to make. It is so hard to find guys who will come play for me. Basically I dig through a million players, make offers to about 100,000 of them, and get 1-3 guys. So I did it once more, and this year I focused on strikers because I was real happy everywhere else.

I grabbed 3 English boys who didn't really impress me much to be honest, but I figured it would improve my depth atleast. Boy was I wrong. After a couple of games a guy who had been one of my regular starters was out for good because he was sucking. In moves a rotation of the three new guys. These three guys were 19, 20, and 25 years old. The 19 year old blew me away right away, and then when he had a bad game and his morale collapsed the 20 year old stepped right in and was even better most of the time. The 25 year old was a darn good guy to spot start.

To cut this short...my team kicked ass. I won my third straight League Cup, then went on to win the Irish Premier League championship. I also won the Countrywide Irish Cup, and for the first time made it out of the All-Irish Cup group round only to lose to my nemisis Glentoran in the quaterfinal.

Then I got a nice surprise, I was inducted into the Northern Irish Coaches Hall of Fame...woohoo. Never even knew there was such a thing until I was inducted.

Then I get to the start of the next year and get to play in to Champions League. Starting off in Qualifying Round 1 of course. I advanced to round 2, played a Greek team who I thought would kill me. I got a 1-1 draw at their place in the first leg, so I was trying to keep myhopes down and not doing a good job at it. They can the Seahaven to play me in leg 2 and I got the 0-0 draw...amazing! I go into Qualifying Round 3 on away goals. In round three I played....I can't remember right now, but they were damn good. Anyways, I lose both legs 2-0...the run came to an end. But I was already beyond happy with how my team did. So then I get kicked over into round 1 of the UEFA Cup where I play Newcastle. haha, they could have hammered me but instead played nice. Beat me 2-0 and then 1-0.

Now I am not sure if I should continue with Portstewart? I am not really going to do any better with them then that, even if I luck out and they go pro in a few seasons like Linfield and Glentoran have over the last few. Hell they went that way and I still won the league over them. I just don't think I will get any decent job offers right now though. I would like to jump into Scottish First Division or English Championship or First Division. Starting at the bottom would suck, I might as well start a new career.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Cringer, I don't suggest starting a new career just because you might be at the bottom of your new league (if you decide to change jobs). You'll bring your reputation with you to your new club, and if you have good players who like you, you might be able to persuade them to follow you. Just keep things going and see what happens. :)

[Cringer]

Cringer, I don't suggest starting a new career just because you might be at the bottom of your new league (if you decide to change jobs). You'll bring your reputation with you to your new club, and if you have good players who like you, you might be able to persuade them to follow you. Just keep things going and see what happens. :)

Well, I did a little test screwing around the other day. Not sure if people consider this cheating but if it is then I am guilty. I don't think it is though.

I saved the game and then got myself fired by giving an ultimatum. I then put it on vacation and had the game apply for jobs. I only let it go a month or so and not many jobs came open, but the only offer I got that was decent was an Eglish National COnference team. Funny thing was I checked and noticed that it was the team that the 'new' Portstewart coach came from.

Anyways, I am thinking I will finish out the current season, see if I can win two titles in a row. Then look to move on.

[Karim]

I've only started with FM, but there's nothing like beating the odds. I'm playing with Vauxhall Motors and the only expectation is to avoid relegation. We're currently sitting 7th to my surprise, and to the thrill of the board and fans.

[DaddyTorgo]

Well, I did a little test screwing around the other day. Not sure if people consider this cheating but if it is then I am guilty. I don't think it is though.

I saved the game and then got myself fired by giving an ultimatum. I then put it on vacation and had the game apply for jobs. I only let it go a month or so and not many jobs came open, but the only offer I got that was decent was an Eglish National COnference team. Funny thing was I checked and noticed that it was the team that the 'new' Portstewart coach came from.

Anyways, I am thinking I will finish out the current season, see if I can win two titles in a row. Then look to move on.
i wouldn't call that cheating. just...curiosity. it'd only be cheating if you somehow used it to your advantage really. you just wanted to see what was out there. and then again, even if it is cheating it's not like it's MP or anything, it's just for your enjoyment. and i would have probably done the same thing. nothing like messing up a good FM universe to find out you have crap for jobs you might get. Too many hours invested that then become useless.

[RPI-Fan]

i wouldn't call that cheating. just...curiosity. it'd only be cheating if you somehow used it to your advantage really. you just wanted to see what was out there. and then again, even if it is cheating it's not like it's MP or anything, it's just for your enjoyment. and i would have probably done the same thing. nothing like messing up a good FM universe to find out you have crap for jobs you might get. Too many hours invested that then become useless.

Exactly... realistically, you'd be able to network a little bit to find out exactly what might be awaiting you if you moved on. FM doesn't have this (yet), so I think it's a fair workaround.

(Note: I'm not complaining about this, necessarily -- there are other things that could get added before this!)

[Godzilla Blitz]

My game arrived during this past week. I'm leaving it basically untouched to keep me motivated to get my current work project finished, but I did install the game and fire up a test game to see how things looked.

I immediately noticed two promising things:

1. The game seems significantly faster. I set some parameters for a new game, then hit the button to let Football Manager set up the game. Based on experiences with previous versions of the game, I figured it would take about 20 minutes to get everything done. I left the computer and started in on some other work. About ten minutes later I looked back and everything was done! Wow. Impressive. If that's any indication of the overall speed increase, I'll be very pleased.

2. Compared with previous versions, the interface seems much cleaner and more intuitive. Each time I've fired up previous versions of the game, it would take me a few minutes to figure out how to do basic things. This time, however, I was able to do everything I wanted to do almost immediately. Very nicely done. Spent only fifteen minutes messing with things, but am already drooling to get started.

[Marc Vaughan]

Well, I did a little test screwing around the other day. Not sure if people consider this cheating but if it is then I am guilty. I don't think it is though.

I saved the game and then got myself fired by giving an ultimatum. I then put it on vacation and had the game apply for jobs. I only let it go a month or so and not many jobs came open, but the only offer I got that was decent was an Eglish National COnference team. Funny thing was I checked and noticed that it was the team that the 'new' Portstewart coach came from.

Anyways, I am thinking I will finish out the current season, see if I can win two titles in a row. Then look to move on.

Not really 'cheating' in my book - cheating for me is replaying matches or similar and to be honest I don't mind too much if people cheat if it helps them have fun .... just if any of your do don't come online afterwards indicating the game is too easy ;)

[AlexB]

Marc, I've noticed that in my Lurgen Celtic NI game I've started, when I offer contracts to people I cannot offer less than £75 per week to any new signings. Is this as planned (minimum wage?) I ask as some of the players in the squad when I took over are on as low as £20 per week - if renegotiating with these the minimum figure is less, but still I can often not offer them the same terms as they are on...

Not a problem as such, as £75 a week is still a pittance, but if I could save a little more, in this scenario I would like to try to. (How tight am I! Even in a PC game!)

[Marc Vaughan]

Marc, I've noticed that in my Lurgen Celtic NI game I've started, when I offer contracts to people I cannot offer less than £75 per week to any new signings. Is this as planned (minimum wage?) I ask as some of the players in the squad when I took over are on as low as £20 per week - if renegotiating with these the minimum figure is less, but still I can often not offer them the same terms as they are on...

Not a problem as such, as £75 a week is still a pittance, but if I could save a little more, in this scenario I would like to try to. (How tight am I! Even in a PC game!)

The game models the 'minimum wage' in countries where this is applicable - in most countries this has two levels a 'youth minimum' (normally U18 but can vary) and an 'adult minimum'.

You'll also probably find that there is a different 'minimum' depending on whether a contract is full or part-time.

There ARE however countries with much more complex wage minimum levels where they can vary quite wildly according to the age of a player or indeed his nationality - generally these are the more obscure minor league though.

Hope this helps,

Marc
PS> If this doesn't seem to explain things then please email me some players/ages and their minimums and I can check if its a bug in the system.

[MikeVick7]

To Marc V or anyone that has experienced this yet in '06...

I started a career with Hinckley in the Conf. North and currently have them up in League Two. I've basically come to the realization that clubs like this have a ceiling as far as how much they can grow and have decided to base my career around not necessarily getting them to the Premiership, but getting myself, as a manager, to the top level.

But to make the game a little more challenging, as far as getting another job, I kinda want to wait until a team comes knocking on my door. Just last night was the first time I had seen my name thrown in the mix as a candidate for a coaching job at Watford but I wasn't the leading candidate and someone else got the job.

So my question is, once my rep gets built up a bit more, will "enough" job offers come my way so that I won't have to thrown my name in the hat whenever some manager's job becomes available?

I know that in past versions, you get job offers here and there without applying for them but I had always been in the Premiership at the time. So I'm kinda clueless at the lower levels.

[Cringer]

So my question is, once my rep gets built up a bit more, will "enough" job offers come my way so that I won't have to thrown my name in the hat whenever some manager's job becomes available?

I would like to hear about this as well, as I also give my 'story' in this area so far. After two seasons with Portstewart in the N. Irish leagues (taking them from Division 2 to Premier in those two seasons) I was then offered a job by a Scottish 2nd Division team on its way down to 3rd division. I turned it down, thinking how I would get more offers down the road. I have not had one since. I have won the Premier League, Countrywide Irish Cup, Irish League Cup 3 times, inducted into the Northern Irish Hall of Fame, reputation is up to Local.....no offers at all. I don't get it at all. I just get no respect I tell you. :)

Also, a question just popped into my head. IS it normal for when you get the Local reputation that the manager type/description goes away. Before I was always Obscure with above it either Talented Manager or Media-Friendly Boss. Since I turned Local nothing else has ever shown up for me.

[AlexB]

The game models the 'minimum wage' in countries where this is applicable - in most countries this has two levels a 'youth minimum' (normally U18 but can vary) and an 'adult minimum'.

You'll also probably find that there is a different 'minimum' depending on whether a contract is full or part-time.

There ARE however countries with much more complex wage minimum levels where they can vary quite wildly according to the age of a player or indeed his nationality - generally these are the more obscure minor league though.

Hope this helps,

Marc
PS> If this doesn't seem to explain things then please email me some players/ages and their minimums and I can check if its a bug in the system.

That's cool - seems to make sense. The players that are on low wages are generally young, and those that I am trying to sign are generally of higher standard anyway. Was just querying whether this was the norm, as I have never played at this level before: it's like a new game :D

[Passacaglia]

No, but the game has an editor which will allow you to change all the financials before you start the game.

Thanks! My copy of the game is expected sometime between today and Wednesday, so once I get it, I'll play around with that!

[Marc Vaughan]

To Marc V or anyone that has experienced this yet in '06...

I started a career with Hinckley in the Conf. North and currently have them up in League Two. I've basically come to the realization that clubs like this have a ceiling as far as how much they can grow and have decided to base my career around not necessarily getting them to the Premiership, but getting myself, as a manager, to the top level.

But to make the game a little more challenging, as far as getting another job, I kinda want to wait until a team comes knocking on my door. Just last night was the first time I had seen my name thrown in the mix as a candidate for a coaching job at Watford but I wasn't the leading candidate and someone else got the job.

So my question is, once my rep gets built up a bit more, will "enough" job offers come my way so that I won't have to thrown my name in the hat whenever some manager's job becomes available?

I know that in past versions, you get job offers here and there without applying for them but I had always been in the Premiership at the time. So I'm kinda clueless at the lower levels.

If you build your reputation high enough then you will get 'dry' approaches from clubs eventually (ie. they'll knock on your door without you having to do a thing) - however you can also apply for other jobs while still being in one, although this can upset your current board so be careful.

PS> You can also 'edge' managers out from their jobs by announcing interest in their position before they've been sacked - if their board like the sound of you then sometimes they'll give them a push ... a lot of fun if you're playing a network game with a friend who's doing poorly ;)

[MikeVick7]

If you build your reputation high enough then you will get 'dry' approaches from clubs eventually (ie. they'll knock on your door without you having to do a thing) - however you can also apply for other jobs while still being in one, although this can upset your current board so be careful.

PS> You can also 'edge' managers out from their jobs by announcing interest in their position before they've been sacked - if their board like the sound of you then sometimes they'll give them a push ... a lot of fun if you're playing a network game with a friend who's doing poorly ;)
Right, I just wanted to make the career a bit more challenging by waiting for the "dry" approaches. Makes a guy feel more wanted. :)

I see the news items about managers on the verge of getting sacked all the time, but for some reason I feel like I'll earn it more if they approach me. I did really enjoy being named as a possible candidate for the first time last night. Made me feel like I was actually doing something right. :)

[daedalus]

Right, I just wanted to make the career a bit more challenging by waiting for the "dry" approaches. Makes a guy feel more wanted. :)

I see the news items about managers on the verge of getting sacked all the time, but for some reason I feel like I'll earn it more if they approach me. I did really enjoy being named as a possible candidate for the first time last night. Made me feel like I was actually doing something right. :)I think you will have a better luck getting "dry" approaches than possibly in past games. This is purely based on one-and-a-half season's worth of playing, of course, so I could be wrong. But I managed to get a "dry" approach (surprised me) from Portugal after a strong first season with the Gunners.

[DaddyTorgo]

I think you will have a better luck getting "dry" approaches than possibly in past games. This is purely based on one-and-a-half season's worth of playing, of course, so I could be wrong. But I managed to get a "dry" approach (surprised me) from Portugal after a strong first season with the Gunners.
portugal came after me too!! wtf!!

[daedalus]

I think it has to do with the fact that they're on the lower end of the upper-tier teams (may have to think about that particular sentence for awhile). They have similar high expectations of the Spains, Italy and England but with, possibly, less abundant amount of talent (especially with their so-called "Golden Generation" passing their prime).

[daedalus]

By the way, Marc and SI . . .

The game seems to not be keeping track of players' statistics after they come back from loan correctly. Let's say, for example, I have a player name Bob Smith who played 3 games for me.

Let's say, he goes on loan to Derby, when he returns, his stats still says he has played 3 games for me (if I go to "History" and click on my team). Cool so far.

But IF he plays another game for me, his stats with me resets and he has now played 1 game for me (instead of the correct 4).

Not necessarily a huge gamebreaker but would be nice to have fixed. :)

[Pumpy Tudors]

For kicks, I nicknamed my top goal scorer "Hammertime" just to see that name in the commentary, news stories, etc. Several of my players are "pleased to be playing alongside Hammertime."

[SirFozzie]

And the Opposition's job is to... "Stop... Hammertime!"

And if the defense finds that U Can't Touch This, do you have to ask him, "Hammer, Please Don't Hurt Em?"

My brain is permanently broke.

[MikeVick7]

Several of my players are "pleased to be playing alongside Hammertime."
I definitely got a good chuckle out of this. :D

[daedalus]

By the way, Marc and SI . . .

The game seems to not be keeping track of players' statistics after they come back from loan correctly. Let's say, for example, I have a player name Bob Smith who played 3 games for me.

Let's say, he goes on loan to Derby, when he returns, his stats still says he has played 3 games for me (if I go to "History" and click on my team). Cool so far.

But IF he plays another game for me, his stats with me resets and he has now played 1 game for me (instead of the correct 4).

Not necessarily a huge gamebreaker but would be nice to have fixed. :)So, uh, no response at all from SI guys?

[Marc Vaughan]

So, uh, no response at all from SI guys? Great.
Please cut us some slack every now and again - The PSP FM game is in full swing for its release next year at the moment so I'm sleeping a maximum of around 4 hours a day and trying to balance a standard 'crunch' release with the fact its xmas and I've got my kids plays etc. to attend .... this means I'm not as active on forums as usual at the moment* ....

Thanks for the information, I'll try and check to ensure that this is rectified in the forthcoming patch.

Marc
*Contrary to popular opinion we do allow people at SI to have lives outside of the company, I think its called 'time off for good behaviour' ;)

[daedalus]

Fair enough. I don't exactly expect every single little error or problem I report to be jumped on as if all of SI staff's lives depend upon it. On the other hand, it's somewhat disconcerting to see problems and comments made by others at the very least be acknowledged and yours be completely ignored over and over again.

[Marc Vaughan]

Fair enough. I don't exactly expect every single little error or problem I report to be jumped on as if all of SI staff's lives depend upon it. On the other hand, it's somewhat disconcerting to see problems and comments made by others at the very least be acknowledged and yours be completely ignored over and over again.

Thats fair enough - I would have got there and replied eventually ... just please bear in mind we are only human (at least until nano-bot technology improves ;) ).

PS> I'm probably more crabby than usual this morning as I was up rather late debugging something last night and then had to get up to get the kids to school at 8am ...

[Desnudo]

Debugging something or debugging 6.02?

[Marc Vaughan]

Debugging something or debugging 6.02?
Was part of the PSP game - next FM PC patch is in test and will hopefully complete its testing cycle and be released before xmas ...

[Pumpy Tudors]

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/1536/ilikehammertime1pb.th.gif (http://img423.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ilikehammertime1pb.gif)

Edit: The important part is the last line. :)

[Pumpy Tudors]

I just noticed that "Hammertime" is favored personnel of my club. I brought this guy in for $6000 two years ago, and now he's like the Cheltenham poster boy. Very, very cool.

[MikeVick7]

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/1536/ilikehammertime1pb.th.gif (http://img423.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ilikehammertime1pb.gif)

Edit: The important part is the last line. :)
Still makes me chuckle. :)

[Cringer]

I just sent a PM to Marc about this, but wondered if anyone else has seen this 'bug' in the game?

I started a new game and in my game previews/news stories, it is always saying the teams are in 0th place.

And anyone played South American countries yet? I am in Columbia, and these bastards seem pretty rough. I get a ton of yellow/red cards. Is a big factor in this the Aggression rating?

[MrBug708]

Wayne Bridge has just informed Chelsea that he would only accept a pay reduction to Barcelona if Chelsea would pay him 22,500K a week til his contract expires in 2010.

Sweet!

[Sweed]

Been playing a lot of ehm but with the new patch out (yes I'm one of the lucky ones with the disc version of wsm) I have started a new game of wsm. This will be my first real career that I will clumsily stagger through to try to keep learning the game.

I started unemployed and have now been hired by Kettering in early April. They are actually doing pretty well, 2nd place in the Conference North. When offered the job I was told they were over budget on players and cuts would have to be made. So I get there and am informed the payroll is at about 220,000 pounds and needs to be trimmed to 130,000 pounds. I'm guessing this is why the guy before me is no longer employed ;)

My question is since it is already about April 10th and the season, according to the rules, ends April 28 or 29th is there enough time this season to actually trim this payroll? If I put some guys up for sale will there be any takers at this stage of the year? Or should I just be finishing out the month and then try to get things in line for the next season?

Thanks in advance for any assistance. Hopefully, late tommorow night, after the Christmas fesitivities tonight and tommorow I'll be able to get in some game time.

[MikeVick7]

I would just finish out the season and look at reducing the payroll in the offseason. Plus, then you can wait and see what the new wage budget will be for next season.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Finally finished my project and related work yesterday and fired up the game today.

I haven't played the series much since CM01/02. I am quite impressed with the improvements. The 2D match engine is neat. The half-time and post-game talks are an interesting twist on things. The level of detail is amazing. After only a couple hours this afternoon, I am totally hooked.

Took over Workington in the Conference North and am attempting to build them into a powerhouse.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Dola...

This is likely very obvious, and I apologize if it's been answered somewhere in this massive thread, but is there a way to see the financial details of my contract offers to potential transfers? I can find the list that has the "transfer in" names, but I don't seem to be able to see what exactly I've offered them. Even when they accept, I can't seem to find out what salary they'll be getting until after I confirm the deal.

[3ric]

Dola...

This is likely very obvious, and I apologize if it's been answered somewhere in this massive thread, but is there a way to see the financial details of my contract offers to potential transfers? I can find the list that has the "transfer in" names, but I don't seem to be able to see what exactly I've offered them. Even when they accept, I can't seem to find out what salary they'll be getting until after I confirm the deal.
From the "future transfers in" page, you right-click the player, and select "change contract offer" to see the details.

[Godzilla Blitz]

From the "future transfers in" page, you right-click the player, and select "change contract offer" to see the details.
I might be wrong, but it seems when I've clicked on that, the resultant details are not from the offer currently on the table. They almost always seem to revert to what the player's demands are.

I'll take another look, though, and see if this is the case.

[Shepp]

I always go to the players profile and look under transfer status tab. It will list all the pending offers for the player. Click the number representing the amount of the offer beside the team name and it should pull up that offer.

[Godzilla Blitz]

I always go to the players profile and look under transfer status tab. It will list all the pending offers for the player. Click the number representing the amount of the offer beside the team name and it should pull up that offer.
Aha! I hadn't thought of that one yet. Thank you!

And on another note, this game totally rocks. I am four games into the 2005 season with Workington (in the Conference North) and the game has totally sucked me in. We are "relegation battlers" and just knocked off the first-place team for our first win. 1 win, 1 loss, and 2 draws so far, but our red-hot goalkeeper just tore a hamstring, so our surprising mediocrity may be short-lived.

My initial impression is that the interaction among the media, players, and your persona really gives the feeling that you are dealing with real people rather than number-crunching. I realize this may change if the media/player/manager events repeat too frequently, but right now it is a lot of fun.

The only complaint I had was that the game seemed fairly unresponsive and was forcing me to click on links two or three times before I'd get a response. Then I found the responsiveness tweak in the preferences and my one complaint vanished.

[Shepp]

Has anyone had any luck creating their own training profiles. I have created some that appear to be getting some decent results. The problem is that several of my better players are complaining that they are unhappy with the intensity of the program. For example the program for my stikers is set up as follows:

Strength: Med
Aerobic: High
Goalkeeping: None
Tactics: Med
Ball Control: High
Defending: Light
Attacking: High
Set Pieces: Med

Workload: Medium

Since the overall workload is medium would it be wise just to ignore the complaints? If its better to make changes where is a good place to start? Since it takes a while for training to have an affect how long should I wait after making changes to tell if they are making a difference? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[BreizhManu]

It might come from the players instead of the program (low workrate) or maybe lowering Aerobics could help (players have a tendency to dislike physical trainings).

Else I've noticed what might be a bug with Vaduz, the club from the Liechtenstein that plays in the Swiss League :

Financially I'm having a never ending season, I am always in 2005-2006 so the sponsor never changes, stadium expansion and training facilities improvement have been approved by the board never materialize etc...But I'm making a huge benefit in one season (10M euros http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif ).

My reputation does not change either but that might not be related.

I still get the new calendar every season and occasionaly have some players promoted to the team (but directly to the first team and sometimes without even getting the info).


So far my solution was to edit the game with mcfm.

[Coffee Warlord]

Has anyone had any luck creating their own training profiles. I have created some that appear to be getting some decent results. The problem is that several of my better players are complaining that they are unhappy with the intensity of the program. For example the program for my stikers is set up as follows:

Weird. I've never had a player complain about my training regimins, and I'm a taskmaster. The overall workload is just a notch or two below high for all my various positions, and everyone gets massive physical training (until they "graduate" to my technical training programs).

Seems to have always worked pretty well for me.

[BreizhManu]

Since it takes a while for training to have an affect how long should I wait after making changes to tell if they are making a difference? In 2-3 months you get the answer.

[daedalus]

I think it has a lot to do with the players. The players that my Assistant Manager praise for their professionalism rarely complains about my training programs which is usually Very Heavy. Then there are others . . . like a certain former Ellen Road favourite . . . who complains about a Medium program. Meh upon them.

[Galaril]

How well does the game model MLS soccer? Does it still feel like European soccer?

[3ric]

Is this a bug? I'm manager of both Cambridge and the Portugal national team and got this warning when going to a Portugal game:
[/url][url="http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clipboard16pq.jpg"]http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9908/clipboard16pq.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

As I'm allowed seven substitutes for the Portugal game, neither of the two reasons given makes any sense.

[Marc Vaughan]

As I'm allowed seven substitutes for the Portugal game, neither of the two reasons given makes any sense.
Not to be silly - but are you sure its a Portugal game (and from their U23 squad) and not a club game next?

The message implies that you've got players selected outside of the main selection (ie. if you had say 4 Subs available then you've got people selected in say Sub6 and Sub7 slots) and two missing from the available slots.

With the squad shown it doesn't make any sense which is why I was asking if the squad matched the upcoming game or not? ...

If you're still concerned its a bug then as always I'd appreciate a save game ...

[Cringer]

Is this a bug? I'm manager of both Cambridge and the Portugal national team and got this warning when going to a Portugal game:


As I'm allowed seven substitutes for the Portugal game, neither of the two reasons given makes any sense.

So how does that 3-1-2-3-1 work for you? I have never tried a formation like that.

And your goalie is about to die. ;)

[daedalus]

Not to be silly - but are you sure its a Portugal game (and from their U23 squad) and not a club game next?

The message implies that you've got players selected outside of the main selection (ie. if you had say 4 Subs available then you've got people selected in say Sub6 and Sub7 slots) and two missing from the available slots.

With the squad shown it doesn't make any sense which is why I was asking if the squad matched the upcoming game or not? ...

If you're still concerned its a bug then as always I'd appreciate a save game ...It happens to me as well.

Basically, this happens whenever I have two games going on at once where the amount of available reserves differs. As in 3ric's case with Portugal (7 reserves) and Cambridge (5), I get the same message with Denmark (7) and Arsenal (5). This also happens when I have a European match (7 reserves) on the same day as a Reserve or a U-18 game. I can't say it's that big a deal or is some kind of show-stopping bug since it works fine once the match starts.

[samifan24]

Is this a bug? I'm manager of both Cambridge and the Portugal national team and got this warning when going to a Portugal game:
[/url][url="http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clipboard16pq.jpg"]http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9908/clipboard16pq.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

As I'm allowed seven substitutes for the Portugal game, neither of the two reasons given makes any sense.

Hey, what skin are you using in that pic?

[Cringer]

Hey, what skin are you using in that pic?

I wanted to know that too. It looks pretty nice.

[FrogMan]

Hey, what skin are you using in that pic?
this looks like aurora to me...

FM

[Cringer]

Ah...MrBug deleted his 'getting recruits to your school' post before I could respond. Damn. :D

[daedalus]

this looks like aurora to me...What Frogger said.

I'm using that one as well. On Frogger's recommendation. :D

[Flasch186]

why change a skin? does it provide any more info. or is it just for looks...if so I like the one that came with the game.

[3ric]

Not to be silly - but are you sure its a Portugal game (and from their U23 squad) and not a club game next?

The message implies that you've got players selected outside of the main selection (ie. if you had say 4 Subs available then you've got people selected in say Sub6 and Sub7 slots) and two missing from the available slots.

With the squad shown it doesn't make any sense which is why I was asking if the squad matched the upcoming game or not? ...

If you're still concerned its a bug then as always I'd appreciate a save game ...It was a game with Cambridge the same day, and the Portugal U23 game was first. The squad shown on the image is for the upcoming game, yes.

[3ric]

this looks like aurora to me...

FMCorrect, Aurora 2006.

[Marc Vaughan]

why change a skin? does it provide any more info. or is it just for looks...if so I like the one that came with the game.
Some rearrange what info is shown where (and a few I think show different info than the default skin on some screens).

Also some allow you to do funky things such as watch the match full-screen more easily than the default one.

Try a few out if you like one then cool - if you don't then Ter'll be very happy as he makes the default one for us ;)

(personally I use the Chameleon skin myself, I like the fact that it changes colour according to the team you're viewing)

[Ajaxab]

The Aurora flow skin also changes color depending on which team you might be viewing for those interested in a combination of the Aurora-Chameleon skin.

[samifan24]

Correct, Aurora 2006.

Thank you! Now will an FM Aurora skin from Sortitoutsi work on my copy of WWSM?

[Marc Vaughan]

Yeah should be fine

(that is presuming its made for the correct version of the game - ie. FM2005 skins will not be guarenteed to work on FM2006 and vice versa)

[daedalus]

I did not know that colours do not change according to teams by default. I had used Chameleon up until Frogger recommended Aurora, then I switched to Aurora Flow (Blue/Left, for what it's worth). I tried Frogger's new favourite style of Swoosh but couldn't deal with the fact that the in-game slider is tiny so I stuck with Aurora.

Swoosh, I believe, has some extra statistics in one of the player's screens.

[Cringer]

Holidays are over. Someone tell me what city Digital River is in. :D

[samifan24]

Yeah should be fine

(that is presuming its made for the correct version of the game - ie. FM2005 skins will not be guarenteed to work on FM2006 and vice versa)

Thanks, Marc.

[Marc Duffy]

Digital River patch now available from www.sigames.com and the check for updates button inside the game. Apologies for the delay

[MikeVick7]

Digital River patch now available from www.sigames.com and the check for updates button inside the game. Apologies for the delay
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!!

[Simms]

w00t!

[Cringer]

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Before I leave for work. Excellent.

[Cringer]

oooooy. I hate one thing about this game, it's too popular. 68 mb d/l for the patch and the thing is crawling. Almost 4 hours left right now.

[Cringer]

double dola- it has slowed down even more. 9 hrs. :(

[McSweeny]

oooooy. I hate one thing about this game, it's too popular. 68 mb d/l for the patch and the thing is crawling. Almost 4 hours left right now.yeah i've been downloading all day

[Pumpy Tudors]

Someone needs to mirror this. Ah, well. I just came home with an XBox 360, so I'll just set that up and play with it until this patch gets downloaded.

[Cringer]

Someone needs to mirror this. Ah, well. I just came home with an XBox 360, so I'll just set that up and play with it until this patch gets downloaded.

Not working must be killing you. :mad:

[FrogMan]

we really need a mirror for that patch... downloading at the blazing speed of 5.36KB/sec, download should be over in 3hr 32 min... sigh...

FM

[Cringer]

we really need a mirror for that patch... downloading at the blazing speed of 5.36KB/sec, download should be over in 3hr 32 min... sigh...

FM

that is blazing, I am at 4.83KB/sec. :thumbsup:

[FrogMan]

that is blazing, I am at 4.83KB/sec. :thumbsup:
that's cause our lines are icy cold up North, bytes slide better :p

FM

[Pumpy Tudors]

I have the file and am now uploading it to my webspace just in case anyone needs a faster mirror (it won't be blindingly fast, but it'll be good enough). The file won't be on my webspace for about half an hour, so at 7pm EST, I'll have someplace for FOFC to download from, if anyone's going to be interested. Anyway, I'll check back here after I'm done uploading the file and see if anyone has any thoughts.

[MikeVick7]

So what differences has everyone noticed with the patch so far? The two things I noticed when playing last night were that...

A) The threading issue is fixed and...

B) Player's stamina has increased greatly. I was able to have my entire team on tight marking and closing down of 20 (except my CD's) for an entire game and I didn't have to sub anyone.

[PraetorianX]

I have the file and am now uploading it to my webspace just in case anyone needs a faster mirror (it won't be blindingly fast, but it'll be good enough). The file won't be on my webspace for about half an hour, so at 7pm EST, I'll have someplace for FOFC to download from, if anyone's going to be interested. Anyway, I'll check back here after I'm done uploading the file and see if anyone has any thoughts.

So...?

[MikeVick7]

So...?
http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=45942

[PraetorianX]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=45942

Damn, I seriously need new glasses or something...:(

[FrogMan]

a couple I noticed after playing some last night:

1) they tweaked the 2d engine some more and while it was doing a good job before, I felt it was even more diverse in events and twists last night.

2) the "sound going off after quick tactics" issue is still there :(

FM

[Flasch186]

whatever happened to the players getting pissed at the Ref's? was that overdone in comparison to real life or something?

[Godzilla Blitz]

whatever happened to the players getting pissed at the Ref's? was that overdone in comparison to real life or something?
I just had one of these the other day, so they are still in the game.

Having a blast with this game, by the way. Was starting to think it was too easy but that was before my team tanked three matches, before my newly acquired defender got stressed out by some comments I made about him, before both my right midfielders went down with injuries, before my goalkeeper forgot how to catch the ball, before I went over the salary budget, and before I ran my lowly semi-pro team over 70,000 pounds into debt.

I'm not sure it's too easy any more.

For what it's worth, I've found a great game speed balance with lower leagues by loading the normal database and then loading all the players from the countries I've activated leagues in. I tried the large database size but the game was sluggish.

[Flasch186]

...so I turned on threading since patching and just had my first CTD. Sucks. off with the threading....grrr

[Flasch186]

great, it wont let me turn off threading....f'n wonderful

[MikeVick7]

...so I turned on threading since patching and just had my first CTD. Sucks. off with the threading....grrr
Oh great. I didn't have any last night. Now you've got me paranoid.

[Flasch186]

i think it did it when it tried to Auto-save. Has anyone found a correlation to the threading and when it "used to" CTD? Is there a workaround, like turning off auto-save?

[path12]

i think it did it when it tried to Auto-save. Has anyone found a correlation to the threading and when it "used to" CTD? Is there a workaround, like turning off auto-save?

I haven't downloaded the patch yet because of getting Civ IV for Christmas, but when I had threading on I tended to get the CTD's the first continue after a game.

[MikeVick7]

Mine would just crash when my cpu got too hot. I noticed that if I tried to continue my game while my fan was running, it would crash. I never noticed anything related to the auto save. I'll be playing for most of the night tonight so I will see what I encounter.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Come on, you big babies. Just suck it up and live without the threading. Mine doesn't even let me select threading as an option, and the game isn't that slow.

(I'm just joking about the "big babies" thing, so please don't get mad)

[Flasch186]

what really sucks is now that Ive checked it I cant uncheck it :(

[Marc Vaughan]

what really sucks is now that Ive checked it I cant uncheck it :(
If you're a brave man jump into the windows registry and find the one marked Sports Interactive / Football Manager 2006 and kill it, when the game restarts it'll write a new one with default settings and it'll be turned off again (although I will try and remember to check whats up with enabling/disabling it - will have to be friday though as my eldest son is ill at the moment so I'm looking after him at home tomorrow).

[MikeVick7]

Marc V - Could you kindly shed some light on the effects of time wasting. I see a lot of tactics over on the SI boards with it on full claiming it helps with ball possession. I haven't seen it yet, so I'm wondering if it has any effect on that at all.

Basically I'm just trying to get a grasp on how to fully use it.

Thanks.

[Marc Vaughan]

Time wasting - its basically a situation where a team attempt to play 'keep ball' more often passing it amongst themselves and away from the opposition.

A player may also 'go to the flag' which involves moving to the corner flag on the pitch (generally the oppositions end, but not always) - this is because its very hard to get a 'clean' non-foul tackle in if you hold the ball in that area and keep your body between your opponents and yourself (they basically have to run around you which requires at least two opposition players really to pull off).

Advantages of this ploy:
* Frustrates the opposition which can mean they push onto you and open up holes for you to exploit and better still will wind up any volitile players on their team.
* If your team is good enough to hold onto the ball for long periods it can effectively kill a game

Disadvantages:
* Your fans and theirs will hate it, this is a very very negative ploy.
* If your team ISNT good enough then you'll find them losing the ball trying to play 'keep me' in the wrong areas and give away a scoring chance ..

Generally safest to use when the opposition is tired and thus not as able to chase down the ball as otherwise (ie. if you go ahead during Extra Time in a cup-game then you can probably safely use this to kill the game off, unless they've just brought on a load of subs).

Hope this helps,

Marc

[MikeVick7]

Thanks Marc, yeah that sheds some definite light on the subject. So since one of the objectives is to keep the ball more, would you say that this is kind of what Chelsea uses to help them "rest" on offense and maintain more ball possession?

[PraetorianX]

I turned Threading back on and had zero crashes with the new patch (I did with the old one, though) However, I also don't have autosaving on, so you may want to look into that. Also, I didn't play as long as normal because Spurs had a game that I needed to listen to (w00t, 2-0 win! CL here we come! :)) I'll report back if I have any crashes tomorrow while playing.

About time wasting...my current normal tactics have this set about at often (about 3/4ths of the way...or around 15). I guess it helps, soon after making some tweaks (that one included) I went from struggling around 14th in November to 3rd at the end of the season, one the Premiership and FA Cup my next year and am doing well again. As well, the tactic has done well in the CL.

But as I said, there were several other changes that were made in addition. Such as a backwards arrow for Carrick (and holding the ball up) and a few other tweaks here and there.

[samifan24]

I am using the Aurora 2006 flow left skin. I am enjoying it except for a small problem. On days when I have a match or right after a match, the game "continues" for me without my pressing anything. After a match I've had 2 seperate e-mails regarding player physio/specialist decisions and the game has "decided" physio for me without my doing anything. On days when I have matches, it takes me to the squad selection page without my pressing "continue" or anything. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Marc Vaughan]

Thanks Marc, yeah that sheds some definite light on the subject. So since one of the objectives is to keep the ball more, would you say that this is kind of what Chelsea uses to help them "rest" on offense and maintain more ball possession?
This is the sort of tactic that a lot of large teams use when they're 1-0 up to kill off a game around mid-way through the second half (I have seen teams try it earlier in a game, but its generally a lot less likely).

Chelsea do this very well - as have Liverpool in past seasons, England* (international team) are generally abysmal at it and often find themselves under excess pressure because they've tried to hold onto the ball in the wrong place and lost it ...

*This I tend to put down to the fact that this tactic relies on knowing your team-mates very well and being able to complement them by moving into open space to recieve a pass when they're under pressure, something which comes more naturally to a club side than an international side (where they might only play together a few weeks of the year).

[Flasch186]

are there any good training files out there. I made a couple but Id like to see some that others created to see if Im missing the boat.

[path12]

are there any good training files out there. I made a couple but Id like to see some that others created to see if Im missing the boat.

What I would suggest is to make sure and always have your tactics and ball control training high for everybody -- I find that stressing the mental aspects of my players training makes for a big difference on the pitch as time progresses.

[Flasch186]

If you're a brave man jump into the windows registry and find the one marked Sports Interactive / Football Manager 2006 and kill it, when the game restarts it'll write a new one with default settings and it'll be turned off again (although I will try and remember to check whats up with enabling/disabling it - will have to be friday though as my eldest son is ill at the moment so I'm looking after him at home tomorrow).

kill the whole thing or just one thing inside of it? under /installs? or the WWSM one? just "enable_threading"?

[PraetorianX]

I turned Threading back on and had zero crashes with the new patch (I did with the old one, though) However, I also don't have autosaving on, so you may want to look into that. Also, I didn't play as long as normal because Spurs had a game that I needed to listen to (w00t, 2-0 win! CL here we come! :)) I'll report back if I have any crashes tomorrow while playing.


Well, I haven't had any crashes with my pre patch game, but my new game started with the new patch, I get that same old crash. :(

[path12]

I downloaded the patch last night and fired up my game, turned off the threading and had a crash within 15 minutes. Guess it's back to threading off for now. :-(

[path12]

Dola, I really regret getting the download version.

[sovereignstar]

Finally got sucked in and managed to take Serie C1B side Napoli to promotion in my first year. Okay, so the season isn't quite done yet, but my record is something like 23w-4d-1 and I believe if I get first in my division it's an automatic promotion (instead of playoffs). I'm still in the Coppa Italia C as well (quarterfinals). These things probably weren't the hardest tasks in the world, but this is the first time I've played the game.

Now to the tricky part. I was just offered a contract extension and it kind of blows. I'm making 2100 euros/week currently and this new 4-year deal will give me 1800 a week. Also, the transfer budget and wage budget are hardly increasing at all, which I can understand. We aren't making huge dollars right now and the team I've got is probably already close to being more of a Serie B side anyways.

Why are they offering me less wage though? They are ecstatic with my current performance, so that can't be it. I ended up delaying the deal and I've got until the end of the season to sign it. I really want to stay at Napoli and get them to Serie A, but not if they are gonna be totaly cheapasses.

Anyone got any advice or thoughts on the matter? Do I dare negotiate with them or do I not have enough bargaining power yet?

[MikeVick7]

A lot of it depends on how much money your team has. I mean no matter how good of a job you're doing, if the balance isn't high, then you're not going to get a raise, nor are they going to increase transfer or wage funds.

[Simms]

I started my career in the Slovakian 2nd Division making $22k per year. I got us promoted the first season and made money fairly steadily. My contract extension offer was for $20k per year, but with a slightly higher transfer budget. I had the same questions as far as why would they offer me less money. I did try to negotiate, but they (very politely, actually) told me they simply accomodate my demands (which was for $24k, iirc) until the club's financial status was more secure. I wanted to stay though, so I ended up taking their last offer.

When that contract was up two years later, they offered me a 3-year deal @ $70k per.

Like MikeVick said, it depends heavily on the club's overall financial status. If they're delighted with your performance, then it's probably a safe bet that they simply can't afford to pay you any more. Shouldn't hurt to ask though, again assuming you're on good terms with the Board.

[MikeVick7]

Whoa, had to put some life back in this thread.

Just had a question about the swap position function this year. Now I know what this does, but what exactly are the advantages of it? I thought I would be cool and have my wingers swap just like Chelsea is famous for but after a couple of seasons of doing this I started to wonder is this even helping me? Then I started getting paranoid about having my LW playing on the right half of the game (especially with the new patch) and wondered if he was even playing up to his full abilities on that side.

Anyway, thoughts?

[Marc Vaughan]

I'd only suggest using the swap positions on wingers if you're very very confident that you have truly world class players in your squad - if you don't then its more likely you'll find them in the wrong place at the wrong time.

More commonly use it on DR/MR or DL/ML combinations to encourage cross-overs ...

[WSUCougar]

Hey Marc, while you're sniffing around in here...;)

Is there an available definition list for player's favorite moves? I am puzzled by several of them.

Thanks in advance!

[MikeVick7]

I'd only suggest using the swap positions on wingers if you're very very confident that you have truly world class players in your squad - if you don't then its more likely you'll find them in the wrong place at the wrong time.

More commonly use it on DR/MR or DL/ML combinations to encourage cross-overs ...
But what exactly are the advantages of players crossing over?

Does it come into play when...let's say my left winger gets dragged over to the right sid due to the nature of the play and then since he and the right winger know to switch positions he will just stay over on that side so the team doesn't leave a big gap on the left side waiting for him to get back over there?

[FrogMan]

But what exactly are the advantages of players crossing over?

Does it come into play when...let's say my left winger gets dragged over to the right sid due to the nature of the play and then since he and the right winger know to switch positions he will just stay over on that side so the team doesn't leave a big gap on the left side waiting for him to get back over there?
I liken it to having an offensive defender in hockey, à la Paul Coffey, a guy who likes to go forward on the wing and effectively switch position for a little while with the winger on his side.

I have a DR on my current Luton Town squad, Kevin Foley, who does this fairly often, without me asking him since he's got the prefered move of "likes to go forward whenever possible" so I wouldn't even think about asking him to switch as I'd almost fear he'd feel like making the switch a permanent one ;)

Seriously, he is amazing at crossing the ball into the box and he does switch with his side winger quite well...

FM

[PraetorianX]

Err, this is odd...

Strang Table... (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b25/AP1558/WackTable.jpg)

That looks really odd to me...Now, I'm will to accept that perhaps Malaga B gets relegated because Malaga A is being relegated from Primera, and that Castilla may not get promoted because Real Madrid is, obviously, in Primera Division.

But I don't get Albecete. Now, I'd love for them to not get promoted if it meant I could nab Mark Gonzalez...but thats a bit odd looking.


Also, Mark, an annoying bug I've had for some time now...when a player makes a fuss about something, sometimes when I answer him, I get two messages about my reply...and this results in two responses from the player...which isn't a problem when they're both the same...but when one is negative and the other positive, it's annoying.

[MikeVick7]

Oh and what's up with this?

Let's say I'm offering a new contract to one of my players and the player/agent will say that he requires $15,000 per week for example. So I offer him a new contract, basically as it's initially laid out on the screen, and then I'll get an email saying how the player will not accept the wage amount. Well he was the one that threw out that amount so why is he not accepting it? Then if I go back in and offer him a new contract, the wage amount requested will be the same. This is something that has always confused me.

[WSUCougar]

Oh and what's up with this?

Let's say I'm offering a new contract to one of my players and the player/agent will say that he requires $15,000 per week for example. So I offer him a new contract, basically as it's initially laid out on the screen, and then I'll get an email saying how the player will not accept the wage amount. Well he was the one that threw out that amount so why is he not accepting it? Then if I go back in and offer him a new contract, the wage amount requested will be the same. This is something that has always confused me.
Ditto. My guy claimed the offered wage was a "pittance" despite it being exactly what he'd asked for.

[Cards4ever]

Anybody get a "array access" error? Do I have to delete and restart my career?

[PraetorianX]

Yeah, I've gotten that bit about wage demands once or twice before too. Strange. Footballers... :rolleyes:


Also, Marc...I'm having some problems with Friendlies. Used to, it was that I'd try to schedule some, and they'd be accepted...but anything over four just...vanished. Now, I've got my AssMan doing it, but lately I've had several cases where like either he or another team will offer a friendly, I'll accept, and then a day or two later...it's cancelled! I was really looking forward to my friendly (at Xerez) with Real Madrid too, :(

Oh, and about the previous thing...I figured out that Albecete didn't have one cuz they were still fighting for the championship. Though, I think they should prolly have been given a P untill it was official that they were champions, oh well.

[PraetorianX]

Wow, now this is awesome SI!

Greedy little... (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b25/AP1558/GreedySoAndSo.jpg)

I just wish I could tell him to either take GAK's deal, or sit on the bench all year at Xerez. Oh well. Still cool. Lucky for him, I'm not in the best financial situation and the good that'll come from his transfer outweighs the bad.

[Sweed]

I"ve been playing, or more accuratly, trying to play this game off and on. As I've said before I'm a complete noob to this type of football both in dealing with strategy on the pitch and roster moves ie transfers, buying, and selling. Not to mention dealing with so many different levels of competition and then throw in promotion and relegation on top of it all, something this Yank has never had to deal with in his professional sports leagues.

I have been thinking of picking up a ps2 game like "Winning 11" (I"ve heard this is the best one) to try to help me out at least on the strategy side of the game. Anyone esle play any of these games? Any opinion whether this would be a waste of time and money or if it might actually help?

I'd prefer to watch games on tv to help me learn about the game. But where I live matches are few and far between unless you count the occasional game shown on one of the two Mexican channels we get on our cable system and I don't speak spanish.

Thanks

[sovereignstar]

I'd prefer to watch games on tv to help me learn about the game. But where I live matches are few and far between unless you count the occasional game shown on one of the two Mexican channels we get on our cable system and I don't speak spanish.

I can point you in the right direction if you want to watch some taped games on the computer. Need a BitTorrent client though.

[Sweed]

I can point you in the right direction if you want to watch some taped games on the computer. Need a BitTorrent client though.

I don't know what a bit torrent client is but if you have links to info on that and the taped matches I'll sure take a look.

Thanks

[Godzilla Blitz]

Anybody get a "array access" error? Do I have to delete and restart my career?

Yes, I've gotten that twice now, when negotiating contracts.

No, you don't have to restart. The game kicked me to Windows when that happened. I just clicked back on the game in the task bar and immediately saved it under a different name. Quit Football Manager and then restarted and the game was fine.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Dola...

I've been playing this game a ton in the past couple of weeks. Played Workington in the Conference North for a bit then decided that my game was too clunky because of how many leagues I selected. Started a new game unemployed then took the first job opening in Northern Ireland's lowest division. Trying to build them up to the top then leverage that job performance into an offer to come to England Conference North or South.

Been writing a small dynasty about the second game:
Lurgan Celtic (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=46080)

[path12]

I"ve been playing, or more accuratly, trying to play this game off and on. As I've said before I'm a complete noob to this type of football both in dealing with strategy on the pitch and roster moves ie transfers, buying, and selling. Not to mention dealing with so many different levels of competition and then throw in promotion and relegation on top of it all, something this Yank has never had to deal with in his professional sports leagues.

I have been thinking of picking up a ps2 game like "Winning 11" (I"ve heard this is the best one) to try to help me out at least on the strategy side of the game. Anyone esle play any of these games? Any opinion whether this would be a waste of time and money or if it might actually help?

I'd prefer to watch games on tv to help me learn about the game. But where I live matches are few and far between unless you count the occasional game shown on one of the two Mexican channels we get on our cable system and I don't speak spanish.

Thanks

I think your best bet is to pick up Marc's tip guide off of the SI website. It was new to me way back when I started playing this game (damn, five years now!) and that was a BIG help for me.

[sovereignstar]

I don't know what a bit torrent client is but if you have links to info on that and the taped matches I'll sure take a look.

Thanks

PM sent. :)

[samifan24]

Dola...

I've been playing this game a ton in the past couple of weeks. Played Workington in the Conference North for a bit then decided that my game was too clunky because of how many leagues I selected. Started a new game unemployed then took the first job opening in Northern Ireland's lowest division. Trying to build them up to the top then leverage that job performance into an offer to come to England Conference North or South.

Been writing a small dynasty about the second game:
Lurgan Celtic (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=46080)

I started a career out unemployed with all of the UK running and was actually offered the Lurgan job but declined because I was "familiar" with that team through your dynasty. I waited and was hired as manager of Burscough in the English Conference North.

[path12]

By the way, since downloading the Digital River patch I've gotten some strange things happen when loading the game, notably the box congratulating me for trying the demo. After that, my game doesn't load but CTD's. Usually rebooting fixes it. Has anyone else noticed this?

[Godzilla Blitz]

I started a career out unemployed with all of the UK running and was actually offered the Lurgan job but declined because I was "familiar" with that team through your dynasty. I waited and was hired as manager of Burscough in the English Conference North.

Neat. How's the game going?

[Sweed]

PM sent. :)

You have a reply, and thanks for the help.

[Cards4ever]

Yes, I've gotten that twice now, when negotiating contracts.

No, you don't have to restart. The game kicked me to Windows when that happened. I just clicked back on the game in the task bar and immediately saved it under a different name. Quit Football Manager and then restarted and the game was fine.


Thanks GB I'll give that a try.

[Karim]

By the way, since downloading the Digital River patch I've gotten some strange things happen when loading the game, notably the box congratulating me for trying the demo. After that, my game doesn't load but CTD's. Usually rebooting fixes it. Has anyone else noticed this?A few people on the SI boards are having the same problem. I basically have to reload the game every time now. So far, that seems to work.

[Godzilla Blitz]

By the way, since downloading the Digital River patch I've gotten some strange things happen when loading the game, notably the box congratulating me for trying the demo. After that, my game doesn't load but CTD's. Usually rebooting fixes it. Has anyone else noticed this?

I feel sorry for everyone that got the digital download from them, but this is too funny. Took them how long to put up the patch? And then they broke it in the process? You're kidding, right?

[Karim]

I feel sorry for everyone that got the digital download from them, but this is too funny. Took them how long to put up the patch? And then they broke it in the process? You're kidding, right?Unfortunately, no. It takes about 2 minutes on my machine to load the saved game (~ 350MB and growing) only to have it crash back to the desktop since it thinks I've using the demo. I then restart the game and it works.

I just hope it continues to work in some fashion...

[FrogMan]

I feel sorry for everyone that got the digital download from them, but this is too funny. Took them how long to put up the patch? And then they broke it in the process? You're kidding, right?
Just the way I feel about the whole thing. It's kinda sad that I have the digidownload version and while it works fine, I consider myself extremely lucky not to have the crashes. It shouldn't be that way...

I sympathise with my FOFC brethren who are having a rough time with it...

FM

[Koryo]

I'm enjoying this game but there are still numerous bugs that need sorted.

[PraetorianX]

By the way, since downloading the Digital River patch I've gotten some strange things happen when loading the game, notably the box congratulating me for trying the demo. After that, my game doesn't load but CTD's. Usually rebooting fixes it. Has anyone else noticed this?

Yup, same deal. Also, if you just start a new game...when you get to 6 months, it'll crash. Strangely, that helped me in my current Xerez game...I had saved and exited to go watch the NFL playoffs, came back played my next game and immediately after losing quite badly got that...since it said it saved I figured I wouldn't have to replay, but apparently it didn't save, so I had to replay...and won. :)

I chalk that one up to God being a fan. :)

But yes, I have to restart my game each day...it's annoying, but oh well. It'd be nice if we could get some sort of fix for that, and for the threading issue, since these are download only problems. :(

[Cards4ever]

I continued getting the array access out of bounds error and ending up doing the check disk, went back in there were no fixtures for my team! So, I ended up deleting the old game :( and starting a new one.

[MrIllini]

I am getting the demo notice, followed by an error (I believe R6025, can't recall off the top).

Restarting the game produces the same result.

This is frustrating to no end.

[Marc Vaughan]

I'm enjoying this game but there are still numerous bugs that need sorted.
Care to elaborate on this?

[Koryo]

Care to elaborate on this?

Off the top of my head:
1. Games where you go in and your team is on a 10 game winning streak and during the match you see the message: XXXX is in control, this will be their 10th win in a row. When in reality it is the 11th win.

2. Messages about playing games at <%stadium> in the news section. Usually see from a game being played between 2 National teams.

3. Telling a player that he will get more time playing in the first team in the coming weeks and he responds that he is delighted with the managers comments and has seen a far greater commitment from the manager to get him into first team action in recent weeks...but you haven't really done this and the player is still unhappy.

4. Players who complain that they aren't getting playing time, but the reason they haven't been is because they are suspended (and have been for the last 2 or 3 games) by the league and you can't play them.

5. "upto" is two words, isn't it?

There's more that caught my eye. Its hard for me to remember not being at home with my notes to look at, but I'll bring them in and post them if you want.

[path12]

Yup, same deal. Also, if you just start a new game...when you get to 6 months, it'll crash. Strangely, that helped me in my current Xerez game...I had saved and exited to go watch the NFL playoffs, came back played my next game and immediately after losing quite badly got that...since it said it saved I figured I wouldn't have to replay, but apparently it didn't save, so I had to replay...and won. :)

I chalk that one up to God being a fan. :)

But yes, I have to restart my game each day...it's annoying, but oh well. It'd be nice if we could get some sort of fix for that, and for the threading issue, since these are download only problems. :(

Crap, I just started a new game because I thought that would help. This really sucks -- I've been playing this game for five years and have never had issues like this. :(

[Koryo]

6. The intermittent sound loss when using the quick changes in games.

[FrogMan]

6. The intermittent sound loss when using the quick changes in games.
That's my main one, very annoying...

FM

[PraetorianX]

Crap, I just started a new game because I thought that would help. This really sucks -- I've been playing this game for five years and have never had issues like this. :(

I've always been able to get it working when I restart immediately afterwards, I've never had it come back with that error again while playing unless I exit out of it for awhile.

[sovereignstar]

That's my main one, very annoying...

FM

Maybe you knew this already, but after you use the quick tactics and the sound "breaks", just pause and unpause real quick. The sound will be back.

[FrogMan]

Maybe you knew this already, but after you use the quick tactics and the sound "breaks", just pause and unpause real quick. The sound will be back.
I know that, but I still find it VERY annoying to have to do that...

FM

[sovereignstar]

I know that, but I still find it VERY annoying to have to do that...

FM

Gotcha. I move so fast during the games now that I never use quick tactics anymore.

[FrogMan]

Gotcha. I move so fast during the games now that I never use quick tactics anymore.
yeah, I'm a slow player during games, tweaking here or there a lot and having the sound go off when I use the simple quick tactic thingie, well, it's annoying. Have I said that before, annoying? ;)

FM

[path12]

I've always been able to get it working when I restart immediately afterwards, I've never had it come back with that error again while playing unless I exit out of it for awhile.

When you say restart you mean reboot the computer, right? That's what I have to do. And I also get the very slow initial load, so all in all it's taking 5-10 minutes to get into the damn game.

[path12]

yeah, I'm a slow player during games, tweaking here or there a lot and having the sound go off when I use the simple quick tactic thingie, well, it's annoying. Have I said that before, annoying? ;)

FM

It's funny how different things bother different people, I've never had a big issue with the sound breaks....

[FrogMan]

It's funny how different things bother different people, I've never had a big issue with the sound breaks....
well, if I had the big issue you are having, the sound thing would also be tiny to me ;)

Oh, even though I don't have any crashes (knock on wood), I do find that the start of the game is v-e-r-y slow. I don't mean loading my game, this was slow in FM2005, I mean before we get to the splash screen. My PC sits there with nothing apparently happening, for at least a good minute...

FM

[PraetorianX]

When you say restart you mean reboot the computer, right? That's what I have to do. And I also get the very slow initial load, so all in all it's taking 5-10 minutes to get into the damn game.

No. I've never had to restart my comp. or anything like that.

What usually happens is I start comp, load up WSM, pick load last game, it loads and then goes to desktop with the "blah blah demo blah" junk, I click ok and then click on WSM icon on the bottom, two more errors come up and then it goes away. I then restart WSM, click on load last game, and it loads perfectly fine.

[Cards4ever]

When you say restart you mean reboot the computer, right? That's what I have to do. And I also get the very slow initial load, so all in all it's taking 5-10 minutes to get into the damn game.

I have had many crashes to blue screen, more so than any other previous version.

[Flasch186]

incredibly..since following MArc's directions of regediting out the threading line, I get no crashes. knock on wood.

[FrogMan]

has any of you bought young players with the mention "touted as the new..."? I find this very cool. I'm at the start of the 2007/08 season with Luton Town and my starting keeper is getting up there in age at 35. I mean he's served me real well in my first two seasons but I was looking to find him a replacement in the offseason. I got a 20yo kid who's touted as the next Shay Given, not too bad, huh. Even better, I signed a 16yo off some League Two team and only realised once he got to my team that he is touted as the next Paul Robinson... Both of them are promising keepers and obviously the 16yo is a long way from the starting eleven, but the 20yo is already a top notch keeper with a couple of 20s in his skill set...

FM

[Koryo]

7. When negotiating co-ownership deals, the other team will respond back with a transfer offer instead of the redone co-ownership deal. If you don't accept the original offer for one of your players to be a co-owned player, then it gets lost.

[path12]

incredibly..since following MArc's directions of regediting out the threading line, I get no crashes. knock on wood.

Actually, other than immediately after downloading, installing and playing the patch without rebooting I got one crash. But since then threading has been on and I haven't had any crashes while actually playing. It's the startup that's the issue now for me.

I do find myself manually saving much more often though, so don't know if that's a factor or not.

[path12]

No. I've never had to restart my comp. or anything like that.

What usually happens is I start comp, load up WSM, pick load last game, it loads and then goes to desktop with the "blah blah demo blah" junk, I click ok and then click on WSM icon on the bottom, two more errors come up and then it goes away. I then restart WSM, click on load last game, and it loads perfectly fine.

Hmmm. I'm at work so I can't remember right now exactly right now but IIRC I get the demo message, click on that and immediately get the crash and the two additional errors. No chance to hit any other icons.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Does anyone know if it's possible to add last names and first names to game's database for when the game generates fictional players?

Although the range of last names and first names isn't bad, there seems to be a rather limited range. When you play with a fictional universe, it'd be a bit easier to keep track of everyone if there were a greater variety.

[MrIllini]

Hmmm. I'm at work so I can't remember right now exactly right now but IIRC I get the demo message, click on that and immediately get the crash and the two additional errors. No chance to hit any other icons.

This is the same case I'm facing.

[PraetorianX]

Hmmm. I'm at work so I can't remember right now exactly right now but IIRC I get the demo message, click on that and immediately get the crash and the two additional errors. No chance to hit any other icons.

Yes, you get an error saying something about we've encountered a serious error blah blah blah making an error report, then right after that something about a virtual function call or somesuch?

After I get that, I just restart WSM and it works fine (not restarting Comp).

[BreizhManu]

has any of you bought young players with the mention "touted as the new..."? I find this very cool. I'm at the start of the 2007/08 season with Luton Town and my starting keeper is getting up there in age at 35. I mean he's served me real well in my first two seasons but I was looking to find him a replacement in the offseason. I got a 20yo kid who's touted as the next Shay Given, not too bad, huh. Even better, I signed a 16yo off some League Two team and only realised once he got to my team that he is touted as the next Paul Robinson... Both of them are promising keepers and obviously the 16yo is a long way from the starting eleven, but the 20yo is already a top notch keeper with a couple of 20s in his skill set...

FMCheck Adailton (new Juan) and Bourillon (new Vieira), both playing for rennes at the beginning of the game.

New Vieira is exagerated for Bourillon since his ratings are nowhere close to those of vieira (he is still a very good player).

[chris3627]

8. When making a transfer offer for a player the team will reraise you. For example player A is valued at $10k, I make a bid of $10k. The other team will come back to me with a counter offer of $50k. I'll make my counter offer of $40k. The other team will give me a second counter offer of $55k and they won't budge off this new higher price. A few months later I can make another 10k bid and I'll accept the first counteroffer of $50k because that's usually what they're worth. This reraising gets annoying after a while.

Don't get wrong, I don't mean to nitpick, this is a wonderful game that was developed, my compliments to your whole crew at SI. But since you seem to be listening :) I wanna throw my 2 cents in. Thanks.

[sovereignstar]

Although the range of last names and first names isn't bad, there seems to be a rather limited range. When you play with a fictional universe, it'd be a bit easier to keep track of everyone if there were a greater variety.

I decided to take a look at what a fictional MLS league would look like and ughhh..

Out of 428 Americans (based in America):

2 Josh Allens
2 David Bells
2 Adam Browns
2 Ryan Clarks
3 Dombrowskis
3 Chris Flores
2 David Flores (10 Flores overall)
2 Jason Gomez
2 David Hall
2 Chris Henderson
2 John Hunt
2 John Miller
3 Kevin Miller
2 Tim Miller

And it just goes on. That's horrible.

[RPI-Fan]

8. When making a transfer offer for a player the team will reraise you. For example player A is valued at $10k, I make a bid of $10k. The other team will come back to me with a counter offer of $50k. I'll make my counter offer of $40k. The other team will give me a second counter offer of $55k and they won't budge off this new higher price. A few months later I can make another 10k bid and I'll accept the first counteroffer of $50k because that's usually what they're worth. This reraising gets annoying after a while.

Don't get wrong, I don't mean to nitpick, this is a wonderful game that was developed, my compliments to your whole crew at SI. But since you seem to be listening :) I wanna throw my 2 cents in. Thanks.

This is one I actually don't consider a bug, and in fact I think it's a good thing. Without it, there would never be ANY punishment for negotiating offers. Fact is, there's isn't always room to manuever, and I think this is a team's way of indicating that.

I know this doesn't happen all the time, so from my view it seems like an intended feature.

[Godzilla Blitz]

I decided to take a look at what a fictional MLS league would look like and ughhh..

Out of 428 Americans (based in America):

2 Josh Allens
2 David Bells
2 Adam Browns
2 Ryan Clarks
3 Dombrowskis
3 Chris Flores
2 David Flores (10 Flores overall)
2 Jason Gomez
2 David Hall
2 Chris Henderson
2 John Hunt
2 John Miller
3 Kevin Miller
2 Tim Miller

And it just goes on. That's horrible.

It's not that bad in England, but it still could use work, IMHO. You think this is bad, though, try a fictional league in EHM. -That- is horrible, and unplayably so.

I'm not finding it to be a huge issue in FM, as the game is perfectly playable in its current state. I do have to admit, though, that the similar names make it challenging to keep track of players in the news and remember which player is which. I've got two Robinsons on my team, and it seems like every team I play has a Robinson on it, and my scout finds a Robinson I should acquire almost every month. Early in one match I saw my defender, by the name of Watson, set up my striker, named Robinson, for a beautiful goal. I pumped my fist...then realized that the two players were from the other team. They had a defender named Watson and a striker named Robinson as well. It's mostly little things like that.

Basically, I just am imagining that in my fictional world there were about 100 families that procreated like bunnies, and the rest were wiped out by Bubonic Plague. It works, and I have fun.

Having said that, it would be great if there were a way to add more names to the database when FM generates a new fictional game start.

[AlexB]

I decided to take a look at what a fictional MLS league would look like and ughhh..

Out of 428 Americans (based in America):

2 Josh Allens
2 David Bells
2 Adam Browns
2 Ryan Clarks
3 Dombrowskis
3 Chris Flores
2 David Flores (10 Flores overall)
2 Jason Gomez
2 David Hall
2 Chris Henderson
2 John Hunt
2 John Miller
3 Kevin Miller
2 Tim Miller

And it just goes on. That's horrible.

And the crowd sing:

There's only 2 Josh Allens, 2 Josh Allens, there's only 2 Josh Allens... :D

[Ajaxab]

"There's only 2 Andy Goram's" has to be one of the cruelest but funniest chants I've heard... :D

[Marc Vaughan]

Names - you can add them using the editor, it uses the names available to players in the game database. This is why the American name range is smaller than the English one (simply put there are a fair few more English players in the game than Americans)

[scooter]

8. When making a transfer offer for a player the team will reraise you. For example player A is valued at $10k, I make a bid of $10k. The other team will come back to me with a counter offer of $50k. I'll make my counter offer of $40k. The other team will give me a second counter offer of $55k and they won't budge off this new higher price. A few months later I can make another 10k bid and I'll accept the first counteroffer of $50k because that's usually what they're worth. This reraising gets annoying after a while.

Don't get wrong, I don't mean to nitpick, this is a wonderful game that was developed, my compliments to your whole crew at SI. But since you seem to be listening :) I wanna throw my 2 cents in. Thanks.

Have you followed the real life transfer dealings of Liverpool trying to get Simao from Portugal? Or any number of other high profile transfers? If a team doesn't want to give up a player, they will continue to negotiate higher, forcing you to decide how important this transfer really is. And value is their "market" value, not their value to the team. That's why, if you know the player is worth more than the "market" value, you've got to increase your bid, sometimes significantly. So no, I don't think this is a bug either :D

[Godzilla Blitz]

Names - you can add them using the editor, it uses the names available to players in the game database. This is why the American name range is smaller than the English one (simply put there are a fair few more English players in the game than Americans)

Aha. Cool. Thanks.

So if I've got this correct, I can go open up the game editor before I start a new game, and open up the main database, then either:

1. Change the last names of some of the existing players from the nations I want to use in my game, or...

2. Create some new players of the desired nationalities?

Would doing this have the effect of creating a greater range of player names for newly generated players in an existing game?

Also, it's the "players" section of the database that I should be looking at, then editing the "names" fields in that section?

[sovereignstar]

Adding enough names to make a difference via the editor = monumental task = laissez faire

[Godzilla Blitz]

Adding enough names to make a difference via the editor = monumental task = laissez faire

You think so? I'm not being facetious here, but I was honestly thinking I could just go in and replace half of the high-frequency names (Robinson, Watson, Kerr, McDonald, etc.) with ones with a little more flavor. Could probably do close to ten names a minute once you get a system down. Ten minutes a day for a week = 700 new names and 700 of the overused names gone. I'd probably pull names off a census list and just cut and paste into the correct fields in FM. I would think that would make a difference. Heck, just cutting the number of Robinsons in half in my game would be great, and I can do that in five minutes tops.

I wouldn't be aiming to get at all the names, mind you, rather the ones from the countries I'm playing (UK and Ireland).

[Koryo]

Another issue: I run the highlights in the game slightly faster than normal. If the game goes to the tactical menu from a pitch highlight, then it repeats all the action that happenend. I only mention this as a bug because it wasn't an issue that was present in the 2005 version and it just seems so odd watching about 10 seconds of highlights while the players on the pitch are standing around waiting for the sub announcements.

[FrogMan]

Another issue: I run the highlights in the game slightly faster than normal. If the game goes to the tactical menu from a pitch highlight, then it repeats all the action that happenend. I only mention this as a bug because it wasn't an issue that was present in the 2005 version and it just seems so odd watching about 10 seconds of highlights while the players on the pitch are standing around waiting for the sub announcements.
this happens to me with the highlights and text commentary speeds set straight in the middle and yes, it is very odd. Reminds me of the one time I officiated in a pee-wee hockey game that was shown on TV locally and we had the kids waiting before a face-off so the TV could come back from its commercial break :)

FM

[Marc Vaughan]

You think so? I'm not being facetious here, but I was honestly thinking I could just go in and replace half of the high-frequency names (Robinson, Watson, Kerr, McDonald, etc.) with ones with a little more flavor. Could probably do close to ten names a minute once you get a system down. Ten minutes a day for a week = 700 new names and 700 of the overused names gone. I'd probably pull names off a census list and just cut and paste into the correct fields in FM. I would think that would make a difference. Heck, just cutting the number of Robinsons in half in my game would be great, and I can do that in five minutes tops.

I wouldn't be aiming to get at all the names, mind you, rather the ones from the countries I'm playing (UK and Ireland).
To get a greater variety - easiest thing is to equalise the 'counts' used in the names, as there is a bias in game to the more common names.

Set all name counts to 0 and you'll find a level bias and more variety.

[WSUCougar]

Anyone?
Is there an available definition list for player's favorite moves? I am puzzled by several of them.

[Cringer]

I would like to know this too WSU.

I would also like some definitions for some of the ratings categories. Pace, natural fitness, and a couple others I am not sure exactly how they impact things or what they are. I have guesses but I am sure they are wrong.

Also, is there any known way to reduce a players Aggression rating?

[scooter]

I would also like some definitions for some of the ratings categories. Pace, natural fitness, and a couple others I am not sure exactly how they impact things or what they are. I have guesses but I am sure they are wrong.

Also, is there any known way to reduce a players Aggression rating?

About every other version of the game this info is in the manual, but I checked FM2006 and it isn't in there. Download Marc's Hints and Tips Guide from SI's site. Appendix A has a detailed description of all the attributes. I think some of the attributes never change or change very little. Aggression seems to be one of them. If you think about it, it makes sense. Maybe as a player gets older they "mellow" a little bit but that's probably about it.

As for the favorite moves, I can't help you there. Maybe if you guys had some questions on some of them, you could post them and we could discuss them. Maybe we could figure them out together.

[MikeVick7]

About every other version of the game this info is in the manual, but I checked FM2006 and it isn't in there. Download Marc's Hints and Tips Guide from SI's site. Appendix A has a detailed description of all the attributes. I think some of the attributes never change or change very little. Aggression seems to be one of them. If you think about it, it makes sense. Maybe as a player gets older they "mellow" a little bit but that's probably about it.

As for the favorite moves, I can't help you there. Maybe if you guys had some questions on some of them, you could post them and we could discuss them. Maybe we could figure them out together.
And here is the link to said document.

http://www.sigames.com/downloads.php?type=view&id=358

[WSUCougar]

As for the favorite moves, I can't help you there. Maybe if you guys had some questions on some of them, you could post them and we could discuss them. Maybe we could figure them out together.
Okay. :cool:

Likes Ones and Twos (or Ones-Twos): This sounds to me like the soccer version of a give-and-go.

Doesn't dive into tackles: Tackles are less violent and thereby less prone to fouls?

Plays tricks: Ummmm...

Sets the tempo: I understand what this is saying, but I'd like to know more of what bearing it has in game terms.

[Cringer]

Thanks guys. Did not know about this tip guide. Only previous version I had was CM 00/01, and right now I have WSM '06 download version, which isn't real big on detailed information in the help area.

[sovereignstar]

Thanks guys. Did not know about this tip guide.

Dufus. :)

[Desnudo]

Okay. :cool:

Likes Ones and Twos (or Ones-Twos): This sounds to me like the soccer version of a give-and-go.

Doesn't dive into tackles: Tackles are less violent and thereby less prone to fouls?

Plays tricks: Ummmm...

Sets the tempo: I understand what this is saying, but I'd like to know more of what bearing it has in game terms.

1. That's correct, player 1 passes to player 2, runs past the defender, and player 2 passes the ball back to him.

2. Means he won't slide tackle. I think it can be taken two ways, less fouls, but also less likely to win the ball back.

3. Likes to try training ground tricks (step overs, etc.) in games. Cristiano Ronaldo is a good example.

4. To me it means someone in the midfield who controls distribution of the ball and dictates how quickly the team is moving the ball forward.

[scooter]

Well, let's give this a try. I haven't heard of some of these, but we can try to figure them out. Who knows, maybe Marc can step in and let us know what they really mean.

Likes Ones and Twos (or Ones-Twos): This sounds to me like the soccer version of a give-and-go.
I'm pretty sure that's what it means. I've never really heard it called that, but those folks across the pond have some strange sayings :)

Doesn't dive into tackles: Tackles are less violent and thereby less prone to fouls?
Less prone to fouls and less prone to red cards. I would call someone that dives into tackles (I've seen this one in the game) as reckless. It sounds like this player probably has a pretty good tackling rating.

Plays tricks: Ummmm...
Ronaldinho. This guy is a flair player that enjoys doing tricks with the ball - stepovers, flicks, juggling (keepy-uppy), etc. The soccer world equivalent of the Sportcenter highlight reel.

Sets the tempo: I understand what this is saying, but I'd like to know more of what bearing it has in game terms.
I've often wondered this too. I've heard announcers talk about someone being the engine-room of the team, or someone that drives the tempo. I'd like to know how that affects the game as well. I would assume that the team looks to that player to create opportunities for their teammates by passing the ball and playing solid defense, but what more is involved? I would also assume that this is probably a midfield player, also probably central.

I haven't played the game far enough to really tell what bearing these labels have on the game. I'm not sure if they are in addition to their attribute ratings or just a description of the ratings themselves (also giving a glimpse into some of their hidden ratings).

Edit: I type too slow.

[Cringer]

Dufus. :)

That's a given. Have you not noticed I have been getting less intelligent as the weeks go bye. :(

edit: there's a good example. I ask a question and put a period at the end. I shall leave it that way though.

[FrogMan]

That's a given. Have you not noticed I have been getting less intelligent as the weeks go bye. :(

edit: there's a good example. I ask a question and put a period at the end. I shall leave it that way though.
then, you're the proof that the "intelligence" skill is one that can go down with time, if not in the game, at least in real life :p :D

FM

[Cringer]

Yes, that rating does go down. :D

[WSUCougar]

Good stuff, thanks for the input.

I would also assume that this is probably a midfield player, also probably central.
My guy is definitely a center-middie.

Another one I recalled is:

Likes to run around the keeper (or something like that). I'm guessing that this is sort of like running the goalie in hockey - sort of an intimidation/disruption tactic?

[Katon]

Nope. It's when the keeper comes out in a one-on-one to narrow the angle, and the striker faces a choice between shooting now, passing if there's a teammate nearby, or trying to dribble 'round the keeper.

[WSUCougar]

It's when the keeper comes out in a one-on-one to narrow the angle, and the striker faces a choice between shooting now, passing if there's a teammate nearby, or trying to dribble 'round the keeper.
*sound of a lightbulb coming on over my head*

[Godzilla Blitz]

To get a greater variety - easiest thing is to equalise the 'counts' used in the names, as there is a bias in game to the more common names.

Set all name counts to 0 and you'll find a level bias and more variety.

Humm. I must be looking in the wrong place for the names information. All I see is a "person" section in the editor, but I don't see anyplace where there is a count value for a name, so I'm starting to think I'm looking in the wrong place to start with.

Sorry to trouble you with this, but could you outline the path to the names' section after I get the editor open and the database loaded?

[Koryo]

"Sets the tempo" to me means that this player will dominate the speed of the game based on his pace attribute and not what you may have established in the team settings. These are typically the guys you would want to see running with the ball or doing forward runs if they have other skills that compliment this.

Guys with slower pace will pick be "compelled" to get moving so that they can support the teammate with the tempo.

You get someone with high pace, acceleration, and dribbling skill that also has this special, then you could really put pressure on opposing defenses.

[sovereignstar]

Humm. I must be looking in the wrong place for the names information. All I see is a "person" section in the editor, but I don't see anyplace where there is a count value for a name, so I'm starting to think I'm looking in the wrong place to start with.

Sorry to trouble you with this, but could you outline the path to the names' section after I get the editor open and the database loaded?

Yeah, I've got no idea as to what Marc is referring to either.

[Blade6119]

What does natural fitness mean...i see a great young wing back im salivating over, and physically has it all(pace, stamina, strength)...but he has a 5 in natural fitness....should this worry me?

[MikeVick7]

What does natural fitness mean...i see a great young wing back im salivating over, and physically has it all(pace, stamina, strength)...but he has a 5 in natural fitness....should this worry me? Natural Fitness is a player's ability to recover his condition between matches. So it may be wise to not go after him if his stamina is also low.

[Blade6119]

he has 17 accel, 18 agil, 17 pace, 17 stam...so the stam can override the natural fitness?...hes 18, so i would love him if its not that big a deal

[MikeVick7]

he has 17 accel, 18 agil, 17 pace, 17 stam...so the stam can override the natural fitness?...hes 18, so i would love him if its not that big a deal I'd say that stamina would even things out enough. But I wouldn't be surprised if he never gets to 100% between matches.

[Blade6119]

thanks for the help buddy!

[Desnudo]

Not to precisely contradict what MikeVick said, but you'll have a lot of trouble keeping a player with a 5 fit between matches.

[MikeVick7]

Not to precisely contradict what MikeVick said, but you'll have a lot of trouble keeping a player with a 5 fit between matches.
If it was before the last patch I would say that you're definitely right, but with the new patch a player's condition is hardly ever a problem anymore. I think he'll be ok, he just won't ever recover to 100%.

[Desnudo]

I think you'll be fine if you have a 6-7 break, but a Sat/Sun and Wed schedule might prove overwhelming.

[Marc Vaughan]

Yeah, I've got no idea as to what Marc is referring to either.
'tis probably my own fault as I'm referrering to game internals and to be honest haven't checked if they're visible in the editor or not*.

If they aren't then add some more players into the game and that will have the desired effect.

*Micheal from SI makes the editor and to be honest its not something I play with myself (as I'm paranoid about finding out information on player potentials etc. and so avoid it like the plague ;) ).

[Sweed]

Could someone give a little rundown on how you set up players to take advantage of which foot they prefer?

Are there generally accepted stategies when it comes to corner or free kick takers?

Thanks

[Karim]

Could someone give a little rundown on how you set up players to take advantage of which foot they prefer?

Are there generally accepted stategies when it comes to corner or free kick takers?

ThanksML and DL have to be able to use their left foot while MR and DR have to be able to use their right foot. If you use a crossing game, then you'll probably want a SC on the left-side who can cross with his left foot (if you use a 4-4-2). I've found that foot proficiency doesn't matter too much for central players.

For corners, I look for players with:
Corners, Flair, Decisions

For free kicks, I look for players with:
Free Kicks, Flair, Long Shots, Decisions

On my Conference National squad, I don't have the luxury of multiple players for set pieces. I have one left-footed midfielder who takes all corners and free kicks.

If you want an out-swinging corner, you place a left-footed player on the left corner, and a right-footed player on the right-corner. Do the opposite for an in-swinging corner.

What I've found helped is when I actually ventured into the set piece instructions. Instead of just having players 'forward', I've given specific instructions to players with the best jumping/heading ability. And make sure to flood the box with players who have good 'off the ball' ratings so they can jump on rebounds.

[RPI-Fan]

Could someone give a little rundown on how you set up players to take advantage of which foot they prefer?

Are there generally accepted stategies when it comes to corner or free kick takers?

Thanks

This is purely my personal opinion from real soccer, and has nothing to do with experiences from FM.


For Corners:

If you have big, tall, relatively immobile guys as your main targets, you want an in-swinging corner. Meaning, a right-footer from the left side, or a left-footer from the right side.

If you have quicker, smaller guys who rely more on motion to make a play in the air, you want an out-swinging corner, or a left-footer from the left side, right-footer from the right side.


For Free Kicks:

If you want to encourage shooting, you want a right-footer from the left, or left-footer from the right.

If you want to encourage crossing/passing, you want a left-footer from the left, or a right-footer from the right.

[Sweed]

ML and DL have to be able to use their left foot while MR and DR have to be able to use their right foot. If you use a crossing game, then you'll probably want a SC on the left-side who can cross with his left foot (if you use a 4-4-2). I've found that foot proficiency doesn't matter too much for central players.

For corners, I look for players with:
Corners, Flair, Decisions

For free kicks, I look for players with:
Free Kicks, Flair, Long Shots, Decisions

On my Conference National squad, I don't have the luxury of multiple players for set pieces. I have one left-footed midfielder who takes all corners and free kicks.

If you want an out-swinging corner, you place a left-footed player on the left corner, and a right-footed player on the right-corner. Do the opposite for an in-swinging corner.

What I've found helped is when I actually ventured into the set piece instructions. Instead of just having players 'forward', I've given specific instructions to players with the best jumping/heading ability. And make sure to flood the box with players who have good 'off the ball' ratings so they can jump on rebounds.


This is purely my personal opinion from real soccer, and has nothing to do with experiences from FM.


For Corners:

If you have big, tall, relatively immobile guys as your main targets, you want an in-swinging corner. Meaning, a right-footer from the left side, or a left-footer from the right side.

If you have quicker, smaller guys who rely more on motion to make a play in the air, you want an out-swinging corner, or a left-footer from the left side, right-footer from the right side.


For Free Kicks:

If you want to encourage shooting, you want a right-footer from the left, or left-footer from the right.

If you want to encourage crossing/passing, you want a left-footer from the left, or a right-footer from the right.

Thanks guys, printed out both posts, very helpful.

[MikeVick7]

Ok, after 10 seasons of playing this game I finally coached my way into the EPL. So when I finally get up to the big time, I am a little confused by the new loan rules as they are different than what is listed from the Championship all the way down to the Conference.

When it says, "Maximum of five domestic based players allowed on loan in a season" and "Maximum of two domestic based players allowed on loan at one time," does this mean England players only or domestic as in players in the EU? I currently have two England players on a full season loans right now and whenever I try to loan another player, whether it be from England, Argentina, Spain or Italy...etc, the loan option is greyed out.

Is this correct? Shouldn't I be able to bring in a player on loan from Brazil or Argentina or some place like that? Also, I don't remember this being the loan rules for the EPL in last year's game. Is this a brand new rule?