A couple of FM/WSM questions...

[Karim]

I finally gave in to FM/WSM now that it is downloadable...

1) On the player/staff search filters, is there a way to set up the 'interested' filter or has that been removed?

2) Re: playmakers and target men. 'Playmaker' is a pretty generic term so I'm assuming it's your 'set up' guy, probably a creative midfielder. Would it ever be a forward or defender? And a target man is the 'sniper', the guy probably with the best finishing? Or is it just the guy who is having a great game, so you want the ball in his hands?

3) For those familiar with English football, what is the Unibond League? Conference North/South is the lowest modelled league but the team I've always played in the past (Telford United) obviously is even below that.

Thanks!

[GoldenEagle]

A target man is someone you would aim your crosses at. Your not really targeting his feet, your targeted his head. Telford probably got relegated and are no longer playable in this version unless they promote on a non-modeled league.

[RPI-Fan]

I finally gave in to FM/WSM now that it is downloadable...

1) On the player/staff search filters, is there a way to set up the 'interested' filter or has that been removed?

2) Re: playmakers and target men. 'Playmaker' is a pretty generic term so I'm assuming it's your 'set up' guy, probably a creative midfielder. Would it ever be a forward or defender? And a target man is the 'sniper', the guy probably with the best finishing? Or is it just the guy who is having a great game, so you want the ball in his hands?

3) For those familiar with English football, what is the Unibond League? Conference North/South is the lowest modelled league but the team I've always played in the past (Telford United) obviously is even below that.

Thanks!

1) Should be right where it always is??? (bottom of the box when you set up the filters)

2) Re: Playmakers... yes usually it would be a midfielder at the top of the diamond. However, I think it could certainly be a winger or a forward. But the center of the park makes the most sense, because there they have the most room and the most options. It would rarely be a defender unless for extraordinary circumstances, I think, because most people don't like their defenders trying cheeky backheels and the like.

See GE's response on target men.

3: See GE

[klayman]

Unibond is one of the feeder leagues below the conference. Used to be three of them, and the winners of each would move to the conference next season. I'm not so sure how it works now though.

As GE said, a target man is the striker you aim for. Generally, he will not be as skilled as your main striker; his job is to receive the pass, hold on to the ball amid opposition pressure, and find a way to get it to his (hopefully open) strike partner. You'll want good strength, heading, passing, and decisions
to maximize the position.

[GoldenEagle]

I have been doing some things with two target strikers lately. I am having some succes with it. I tired it with the USNT and it worked real well on the national team level. But you have to have the right players in place. That is what I like about FM. You can try out so many different systems and combinations. There is no other game like it.

[Karim]

1) Should be right where it always is??? (bottom of the box when you set up the filters)
I must be missing it. I don't see it as one of the fields you can add. The only thing close is asking my assistant to filter out unrealistic targets, but that is greyed out because I don't have an assisant coach/manager.

[RPI-Fan]

I must be missing it. I don't see it as one of the fields you can add. The only thing close is asking my assistant to filter out unrealistic targets, but that is greyed out because I don't have an assisant coach/manager.

Ah, that's what I was referring to, and is the only way I knew of it in the past.

[Karim]

Are coaches' reports in the game? I'm not able to ask my coaches for a report on my players, only physios. I'm guessing this is also a by-product of not having an assistant.

[FrogMan]

Are coaches' reports in the game? I'm not able to ask my coaches for a report on my players, only physios. I'm guessing this is also a by-product of not having an assistant.
go to the player's training section, the coaches reports are in there now. Check the top left corner to switch from which coach you want to see the report. No more asking a coach for a report, they are always available...

FM

[AlexB]

A target man is not only for crosses (there is a specific cross to drop down list on play instructions for this) but also as a general outlet - if you play direct/long ball and have a target man, the defence in particular will lump balls forward in the general direction of the target man. If you have him to short passes and hold up ball, he will shield the ball from the opposition and lay it off simply to a teammate, thus allowing the rest of the players to catch up the attack.

This is especially the case if you are playing a defensive style and counter attack.

And if you use a playmaker, it would normally be a central midfielder. I would imagine (I don;t use one in the game myself, but common sense dictates) that you would want to set him to zonal marking, closing down rarely, free role and high creativity. As soon as the team gets possession they will look to feed him the ball to feet and let him orchestrate the attacking play. The settings should ensure he finds space wherever possible.

But it is very much a luxury player IRL who will not contribute much in defense, and as I like my players to work their socks off and play and as a team, I do not know how effective it might be in FM

[Passacaglia]

go to the player's training section, the coaches reports are in there now. Check the top left corner to switch from which coach you want to see the report. No more asking a coach for a report, they are always available...

FM

Nice. I always thought it was weird to have that clutter up my news.