Bee
04-04-2003, 06:59 AM
I finally received my copy of CM4 last night. Luckily, the in-laws left yesterday as well. :D Sometimes things just work out...
Anyway, I figured I'd post a more detailed "first impression" for anyone interested. I'll just describe my experiences to this point. I have to say, I'm very impressed with the game and I think it's a huge improvement over an already great game.
I started with the Barnet Bees in the English Conference Division. I always select them and it usually takes me around 5 seasons to get them to the Premiership. This version might be a little different...
First thing I notice is the club is in financial ruins. I have absolutely nothing available for transfers. There is now a wage limit (for Barnet it was 12,500 ppw of which 11,300 ppw were spent). From that information I figure I can bring in 1 impact starter on a free transfer and that's about it.
Looking over the club I see a lot of familiar faces with a few new ones as well. Barnet appears to be one of the better Conference teams (probably one of the top 5, but not the best). The Board expect a respectable finish which shouldn't be a problem. A quick review of the team reveals 3 serious injuries (a broken ankle should not take a year to heal!). The only injury that I see to a potential starter was to one of my DCs. He'll be out 3 months or so. Luckily, I have a couple young guys who can fill in so it's not a major concern at this point. One of the nice little features I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else is the revisions to the players ratings. The new layout (skills are now divided into 3 "Groups" - Technical, Mental and Physical) makes it much easier to have a general "feel" for players. The goalkeepers now also have their own technical skills which is also nice IMO.
Based on my limited tactics knowledge (I use the 4-1-3-2 tactic from Marc Vaughn - my knowledge is limited to his guide), I think the biggest weakness of the team is the lack of a dominating MC. I decide that's where I want to bring in a free transfer looking to spend around 1000 ppw. There just doesn't seem to be much out there when I do a search. Out of curiousity I pull up Freddy Adu because of the talk I've seen on this board and he plays AMC! I go ahead and approach him to sign with Barnet (one American to another). After some searching, I find a guy named Guevera from Honduras(?) who definitely would be an upgrade at MC. He also speaks English and is interested in joining the club. I approach to sign him as well.
After I approached these two players, it seems everyone in England and Europe decided to do the same with Adu. :(
It becomes obvious I have no chance with Adu and he signs elsewhere (Inter?). Guervera though agrees to my terms of 1000 ppw. Then I get the dreaded "Guevera is waiting for a work permit" message. In previous versions, this always meant a rejection from my experience.
I go through a few friendlies without a victory. Mostly draws and a loss or two. Not a major concern because I'm trying to get a feel for the new players so I'm cycling players in and out. I'm pretty pleased with my team despite the lack of goals I'm seeing. Another nice little feature I notice is the ability to have the Asst Manager recommend the squad selection. I have him set the lineup and then I review it and make changes. Much faster than having to do everything yourself.
With only 1 friendly still left to play, I get a note concerning Guevera...He was actually granted a work permit! Incredible! He instantly becomes my most valuable player (He's worth over 100,000 pounds with then next most valuable guy being worth 50,000 pounds). Guevera doesn't make it to the club in time to play in the last friendly, but that's ok we'll get him ready early in the season.
With Guevera in place, we really dominate early in the Conference. The biggest benefactor of Guevera seems to be Ben Strevens who didn't even score in any of the friendly matches. He suddenly becomes a goal machine. I play through 5 matches and Strevens scores 9 goals (including a 4 goal game that was just amazing). I only have 1 minor injury (6 days) to one of my part time starters at ML. I know it can't last, but I've won all 5 matches. The boys are flying high. :D As I come out of the 5th match, I'm thinking to myself "this is great, but it's not going to last". Seems I'm not the only one thinking that...I get a report where the media says almost the exact same thing. Something along the lines that our players should enjoy our time in the limelight, because it's not going to last. LOL. That seems to be another improvement in the game. Not just the fact there is "more" interaction in the game, but the interaction also seems more intelligent.
Well, that's my experience so far. I'm thrilled with the game, it really is the best text sports sim available by far IMO. If you actually read through all my ramblings, I'd suggest you go out and buy the game if you haven't already. :D
Anyway, I figured I'd post a more detailed "first impression" for anyone interested. I'll just describe my experiences to this point. I have to say, I'm very impressed with the game and I think it's a huge improvement over an already great game.
I started with the Barnet Bees in the English Conference Division. I always select them and it usually takes me around 5 seasons to get them to the Premiership. This version might be a little different...
First thing I notice is the club is in financial ruins. I have absolutely nothing available for transfers. There is now a wage limit (for Barnet it was 12,500 ppw of which 11,300 ppw were spent). From that information I figure I can bring in 1 impact starter on a free transfer and that's about it.
Looking over the club I see a lot of familiar faces with a few new ones as well. Barnet appears to be one of the better Conference teams (probably one of the top 5, but not the best). The Board expect a respectable finish which shouldn't be a problem. A quick review of the team reveals 3 serious injuries (a broken ankle should not take a year to heal!). The only injury that I see to a potential starter was to one of my DCs. He'll be out 3 months or so. Luckily, I have a couple young guys who can fill in so it's not a major concern at this point. One of the nice little features I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else is the revisions to the players ratings. The new layout (skills are now divided into 3 "Groups" - Technical, Mental and Physical) makes it much easier to have a general "feel" for players. The goalkeepers now also have their own technical skills which is also nice IMO.
Based on my limited tactics knowledge (I use the 4-1-3-2 tactic from Marc Vaughn - my knowledge is limited to his guide), I think the biggest weakness of the team is the lack of a dominating MC. I decide that's where I want to bring in a free transfer looking to spend around 1000 ppw. There just doesn't seem to be much out there when I do a search. Out of curiousity I pull up Freddy Adu because of the talk I've seen on this board and he plays AMC! I go ahead and approach him to sign with Barnet (one American to another). After some searching, I find a guy named Guevera from Honduras(?) who definitely would be an upgrade at MC. He also speaks English and is interested in joining the club. I approach to sign him as well.
After I approached these two players, it seems everyone in England and Europe decided to do the same with Adu. :(
It becomes obvious I have no chance with Adu and he signs elsewhere (Inter?). Guervera though agrees to my terms of 1000 ppw. Then I get the dreaded "Guevera is waiting for a work permit" message. In previous versions, this always meant a rejection from my experience.
I go through a few friendlies without a victory. Mostly draws and a loss or two. Not a major concern because I'm trying to get a feel for the new players so I'm cycling players in and out. I'm pretty pleased with my team despite the lack of goals I'm seeing. Another nice little feature I notice is the ability to have the Asst Manager recommend the squad selection. I have him set the lineup and then I review it and make changes. Much faster than having to do everything yourself.
With only 1 friendly still left to play, I get a note concerning Guevera...He was actually granted a work permit! Incredible! He instantly becomes my most valuable player (He's worth over 100,000 pounds with then next most valuable guy being worth 50,000 pounds). Guevera doesn't make it to the club in time to play in the last friendly, but that's ok we'll get him ready early in the season.
With Guevera in place, we really dominate early in the Conference. The biggest benefactor of Guevera seems to be Ben Strevens who didn't even score in any of the friendly matches. He suddenly becomes a goal machine. I play through 5 matches and Strevens scores 9 goals (including a 4 goal game that was just amazing). I only have 1 minor injury (6 days) to one of my part time starters at ML. I know it can't last, but I've won all 5 matches. The boys are flying high. :D As I come out of the 5th match, I'm thinking to myself "this is great, but it's not going to last". Seems I'm not the only one thinking that...I get a report where the media says almost the exact same thing. Something along the lines that our players should enjoy our time in the limelight, because it's not going to last. LOL. That seems to be another improvement in the game. Not just the fact there is "more" interaction in the game, but the interaction also seems more intelligent.
Well, that's my experience so far. I'm thrilled with the game, it really is the best text sports sim available by far IMO. If you actually read through all my ramblings, I'd suggest you go out and buy the game if you haven't already. :D