Football Manager 2014 - Full Game Out Now!

[kingfc22]

OH YES!!!

Football Manager 2014 (http://www.footballmanager.com/lang/en_GB)

Play it whenever, wherever, however

Play on Linux for the first time, plus the inclusion of ‘cloud-save’ technology which means that managers can now pursue a single career from any computer, anywhere in the world. FM14 also includes integration with Steam Workshop making it easy for managers to create and share customised FM content such as photo/logo packs, new and custom competitions and tailor-made challenges using the new Challenge Editor.



Improved Match Engine

The 3D match engine has seen extensive improvements, including enhanced AI, improved lighting and player animation, individual player character and kit models, more realistic player reaction to on-field incidents and a range of optimisations which combine to make this the best looking and fastest FM Match Engine yet.



Tactical overhaul

There has been a complete redesign of how tactics are created, selected and implemented with player roles and team strategies becoming even more prominent, definable roles for players for multiple positions, new player roles and instructions and improvements to rival managers’ AI so that they’ll adapt their tactics more readily over time.



More realistic transfers and contracts

FM 2014 features a revamped transfer module where opposing clubs and managers adopt a more realistic approach when making or responding to transfer offers. In addition, a number of new ‘real world’ transfer clauses have been added, such as the facility to loan a player back to the club he’s just been bought from and the option to offer a combination of cash and loan players, as well as new contract clauses such as a sub bench appearance fee. On top of this, the old ‘turn-based’ system of transfer negotiations can now be done two ways, the tried and tested system and a new ‘live’ system, similar to that used in FM’s contract negotiations.



More sophisticated board interaction

Contract negotiations are more realistic in FM 2014, as managers and boards can now make demands and lay down their respective visions for the club in both initial job interviews and contract renewal discussions. Managers can also attempt to renegotiate transfer and wage budgets as a reward for staying loyal if they’ve been offered a job by another club, with the outcome helping aid their decision on whether to move or not.



Improved interaction with players, staff and media

There is now better interaction between players, managers, their rivals and the media; for example, members of the coaching staff now offer feedback on how reserve and youth team players are performing. Managers can also ask key players to have a word with unhappy squad members, while the introduction of an end-of-season meeting allows the manager to let the squad know how they have performed and set targets for the coming season.



News system

The news system has been overhauled so managers can now deal with many club matters directly from their inbox. In addition, news is now colour-coded, based on category, and contains more detail – for example, scout reports now appear as a single news item with a top-line report on all players scouted and the facility to shortlist or make an offer for each of these players.



Enhanced user interface

Major changes have been made to FM 2014’s user interface. Key areas have been redesigned – including the training overview page, the transfer centre and the news homepage – while widespread changes have been made across the game’s user interface. The language employed throughout the game has also enjoyed a major overhaul and now corresponds more closely to the language of real world football.



Football Manager Classic evolved

Managers can now choose more than three playable nations in Classic mode for a more immersive experience. In addition, FM’s ‘fast play’ mode now includes Transfer Deadline Day, a Match Plan wizard and new unlockables.

[sovereignstar v2]

thread fail

[Flasch186]

Thread-y fail

[DaddyTorgo]

Of course they fucking announce it on a day where I'm out of town and in meetings all day.

THE NERVE!!!!

HAHA....WOOOO!!!!!

[DaddyTorgo]

CLOUD SAVE MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!

And improvements to tactics, contract negotiations, and of course Match Engine.

Can I plunk down my money on Steam yet for preorder????

[SackAttack]

CLOUD SAVE MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!

And improvements to tactics, contract negotiations, and of course Match Engine.

Can I plunk down my money on Steam yet for preorder????

Yes.

[DaddyTorgo]

Yes.

THANK YOU MV AND SIGAMES - PLUNKING DOWN MY HARD EARNED CASH RIGHT NOW!!!

Yes - without even reading about the new features anymore than what was posted up above in the first post.

[ColtCrazy]

Damn, my Mac isn't powerful enough. Between this and Europa IV, it might be time to check out my old Dell account and get a PC. That's a reasonable excuse, right?

[DaddyTorgo]

Match plans look like they'll be a huge help for in-game tactics micromanagement according to situations.

[WSUCougar]

Damn, my Mac isn't powerful enough. Between this and Europa IV, it might be time to check out my old Dell account and get a PC. That's a reasonable excuse, right?

Oh hell, ya! :devil:

[sovereignstar v2]

Match plans look like they'll be a huge help for in-game tactics micromanagement according to situations.

They were in 2013.

[DaddyTorgo]

They were in 2013.

:confused:

You can't create automatically-applied plans right now that say "If we're up by 1 goal in the 75th-90th minute then play '11 men behind the ball' and time-waste."

You have to manually apply them with shouts and such.

[sovereignstar v2]

http://i40.tinypic.com/71i5fl.png

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Testimonials confirmed: https://twitter.com/milesSI/status/367968651183259648

[DaddyTorgo]

Wait - that's from 2013?

How have I never discovered those in like 1000hrs of playing?!?!?!?!

FML

[sovereignstar v2]

Wait - that's from 2013?

How have I never discovered those in like 1000hrs of playing?!?!?!?!

FML

Do you ever play Classic mode, because it's not available in "full" mode?

[DaddyTorgo]

Do you ever play Classic mode, because it's not available in "full" mode?

Never touched classic mode.

That'd be why I haven't seen it. :D

Nice to see it making its way into "full" mode - I think classic mode has been a great addition if for no other reason then for things like this - allowing a place to try out new ideas that can enhance the game.

[sovereignstar v2]

I can't imagine it's going to be in full mode. It's mentioned under classic mode up above.

[DaddyTorgo]

I can't imagine it's going to be in full mode. It's mentioned under classic mode up above.

It is? I must have missed that distinction.

Booo...put it in full mode!!

[Young Drachma]

I'm happy to see that customization -- in theory -- ought to be easier to implement.

[DaddyTorgo]

You know what would be awesome MV?

Cloud-save game compatibility between desktop-FM (I'd even settle for Classic mode because I assume full-mode would be too difficult), and FMH.

Can you imagine that??

[SirFozzie]

I'll just leave this here and get under cover before DT's head explodes:

We’re excited to officially announce that Football Manager Classic 2014 is coming to PlayStation Vita.

FMC14 for PS Vita is our first game to allow cross-platform play away from home computers, meaning that fans who own both FM14 (and play Classic mode) for PC, Mac or Linux and FMC14 for PS Vita will be able to carry on a single continuous game, whether they’re at home using their computer or out and about with their PlayStation Vita (or vice versa).

It will be the first ever handheld game to feature our 3D Match Engine, alongside a pretty much identical feature set to FMC on home computers. Play the game at home, at work, at Uni, on the bus, on the train – wherever you want to, with the saved game stored in the cloud.

FMC14 for PS Vita will be published by SEGA and will be available as both a physical release and a digital download through the PSN store. Look out for more information, including release date coming soon.

Welcome to the future of FM.

[DaddyTorgo]

I'll just leave this here and get under cover before DT's head explodes:

We’re excited to officially announce that Football Manager Classic 2014 is coming to PlayStation Vita.

FMC14 for PS Vita is our first game to allow cross-platform play away from home computers, meaning that fans who own both FM14 (and play Classic mode) for PC, Mac or Linux and FMC14 for PS Vita will be able to carry on a single continuous game, whether they’re at home using their computer or out and about with their PlayStation Vita (or vice versa).

It will be the first ever handheld game to feature our 3D Match Engine, alongside a pretty much identical feature set to FMC on home computers. Play the game at home, at work, at Uni, on the bus, on the train – wherever you want to, with the saved game stored in the cloud.

FMC14 for PS Vita will be published by SEGA and will be available as both a physical release and a digital download through the PSN store. Look out for more information, including release date coming soon.

Welcome to the future of FM.

Saw on FB earlier - now if we could just get it for iOS/Android and PC I'd officially be in geek heaven.

Saw also that it's something that I guess has been looked at, but it's a memory issue? Is that a storage-memory or RAM-memory issue? I presume RAM...

[SackAttack]

GMG20-KCDKK-H4TPB

Voucher code I received in my email from Green Man Gaming. Good for 20% off a variety of stuff, including preorders for Football Manager 14, bringing the cost down to $39.99.

Fair warning, you may not get your Steam code right at midnight from these folks. I had to wait until about 8 or 9am on release morning to start playing Brave New World.

If saving $10 is worth the potential of a short wait, go get 'em. The code should be usable by anybody, as well.

[SirFozzie]

Yoinked. Thanks, Sack

[Butter]

So, we're just doing "Alright Boyz" threads on games that have been announced at this point rather than released.

What is the world coming to.

[SackAttack]

If saving $10 is worth the potential of a short wait, go get 'em. The code should be usable by anybody, as well.

Yoinked. Thanks, Sack

Just for clarity, usable by anybody means "yes, it'll still work, even though Foz used it." It's not a one-off code. :)

[DaddyTorgo]

So, we're just doing "Alright Boyz" threads on games that have been announced at this point rather than released.

What is the world coming to.

FM is not just "a game." It's a way of life.

[Ryan S]

Fair warning, you may not get your Steam code right at midnight from these folks. I had to wait until about 8 or 9am on release morning to start playing Brave New World.

I would assume that the game will be released at around midnight GMT on a Friday, as that is the usual UK game release day.

I am pretty sure that I got my FM code before the beta release last year when I preordered with GMG, so you might not have to wait.

[SirFozzie]

yeah, they say you get access to the beta by pre-ordering, so I assume that means they're going to send out steam keys pre-beta

[SackAttack]

I would assume that the game will be released at around midnight GMT on a Friday, as that is the usual UK game release day.

I am pretty sure that I got my FM code before the beta release last year when I preordered with GMG, so you might not have to wait.

Possible. Makes sense that there'd be less of a wait with FM14 than with BNW. Just, y'know, a word to the wise.

[sovereignstar v2]

So, we're just doing "Alright Boyz" threads on games that have been announced at this point rather than released.

What is the world coming to.

That's what post #2 was referencing. Pretty lame, but some may not know better.

So the game is up from 40 bucks to 50 bucks this year and the Green Man Gaming voucher has dropped from 35% off to 20% off. Laaaaaaaaaame.

[kingfc22]

Hopefully the FOFC gods are appeased now...

[flere-imsaho]

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130603225716/leagueoflegends/images/6/66/Iffem_shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpg

Seriously, though, I've recently gotten back into FM via the Classic mode in FM13. To me, it definitely strikes the balance between having more immersion (to me) than FMH (sorry Marc, though I did buy 2 iOS versions of FMH and enjoyed it), and the time required to play the full version, which I no longer have.

I expect it would also be easier for newbies to pick up, but that's just me.

[Sublime 2]

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130603225716/leagueoflegends/images/6/66/Iffem_shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpg

Seriously, though, I've recently gotten back into FM via the Classic mode in FM13. To me, it definitely strikes the balance between having more immersion (to me) than FMH (sorry Marc, though I did buy 2 iOS versions of FMH, and the time required to play the full version, which I no longer have.

I expect it would also be easier for newbies to pick up, but that's just me.

100% agreed! On vacation this week, and I've torn through FM13 with classic mode.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'll just leave this here and get under cover before DT's head explodes:

We’re excited to officially announce that Football Manager Classic 2014 is coming to PlayStation Vita.

FMC14 for PS Vita is our first game to allow cross-platform play away from home computers, meaning that fans who own both FM14 (and play Classic mode) for PC, Mac or Linux and FMC14 for PS Vita will be able to carry on a single continuous game, whether they’re at home using their computer or out and about with their PlayStation Vita (or vice versa).

It will be the first ever handheld game to feature our 3D Match Engine, alongside a pretty much identical feature set to FMC on home computers. Play the game at home, at work, at Uni, on the bus, on the train – wherever you want to, with the saved game stored in the cloud.

FMC14 for PS Vita will be published by SEGA and will be available as both a physical release and a digital download through the PSN store. Look out for more information, including release date coming soon.

Welcome to the future of FM.

Wow!! I know I am about to get hooked back into this game. So happy to have a Vita and can't wait to buy both versions and have a long career!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Wow!! I know I am about to get hooked back into this game. So happy to have a Vita and can't wait to buy both versions and have a long career!

How the hell did I miss this? This is absolutely fantastic. Will be a Day 1 purchase with the Vita/PC integration. I'm sure this will be a much bigger deal overseas.

[kingfc22]

October 31st is the release date!

[DaddyTorgo]

HUAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bulletsponge]

woohoo! damn thats still 1 and a half months away

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Includes link to press release. Just saw that Vita version also has 3D.

****mouth waters***

Football Manager 2014 launching October 31, adds Vita cross-save support | Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/13/football-manager-2014-launching-october-31-adds-vita-cross-save/)

[DaddyTorgo]

woohoo! damn thats still 1 and a half months away

1 month to demo...

[flere-imsaho]

SI Games is just as evil (in the good way) as EA is evil (in the bad way).

FMC is a great example of this. Guys everywhere who are now fathers had, by 2012, made peace with the idea that the days of playing FM into the early morning was behind them.

Then SI introduces FMC and is all like "Don't worry, guys, now instead of 'one more match' leading to realizing the sun is rising and you stayed up all night now it'll be 'one more match' and then having to stop because your kid woke up and you just realized it's 2:00 AM."

Pure. Unadulterated. Evil.

Also: Awesome.

[sovereignstar v2]

Miles released some 2014 editor related news. This seems like something significant.

Advanced competition rules are now editable (which means that it’s now possible to edit existing league structures within the FM database)

So if I'm understanding correctly instead of having to re-create entire leagues to make changes, you can just edit the existing leagues now.

[Icy]

Miles released some 2014 editor related news. This seems like something significant.



So if I'm understanding correctly instead of having to re-create entire leagues to make changes, you can just edit the existing leagues now.

That is huge!!

[DaddyTorgo]

That is huge!!

That'll make an "American Premier League" so easy to create...

[Grover]

Can't wait.

Now to decide who my dynasty will be.

[markprior22]

Is the handheld version typically available around the same time as the full game? My laptop won't handle FM anymore. It is only a couple of years old but isn't a gaming machine...video card apparently can't handle the graphics of the full game.

[Marc Vaughan]

Is the handheld version typically available around the same time as the full game? My laptop won't handle FM anymore. It is only a couple of years old but isn't a gaming machine...video card apparently can't handle the graphics of the full game.

Football Manager Handheld will be available before Christmas but I'm not allowed to talk about it yet ... there are a fair few surprises waiting for people in this years version though :D

[markprior22]

Thanks Marc

[DaddyTorgo]

Football Manager Handheld will be available before Christmas but I'm not allowed to talk about it yet ... there are a fair few surprises waiting for people in this years version though :D

You could just accidentally copy/paste some notes into a PM...;)

[SirFozzie]

That'll make an "American Premier League" so easy to create...

What, you didn't like mine? *sighs*

[whomario]

Miles released some 2014 editor related news. This seems like something significant.



So if I'm understanding correctly instead of having to re-create entire leagues to make changes, you can just edit the existing leagues now.

If this really includes things like sub rules, foreign player limits, squad size and the likes, then this might just be the final thing to push me into buying again and not hold onto 13 for 2 years as planned.

Seriously, i´d be so over the moon with that :)

[MizzouRah]

Damn, my Mac isn't powerful enough. Between this and Europa IV, it might be time to check out my old Dell account and get a PC. That's a reasonable excuse, right?

Usually works for me.. ;)

[ColtCrazy]

Well, a new dishwasher has pushed back my ability to get a new computer (as much as I want one, I hate washing dishes by hand more)...so I have a question because I'm not sure. My Mac meets all the requirements but I don't know if it meets the graphics one.

I have this:
Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB

The game needs:
NVidia GeForce FX 5900 Ultra, ATI Radeon 9800, Intel GMA X3100: 128MB VRAM

I have no idea what the 128 VRAM is. Do I have what I need to play the game, or do I just get to put this off for now? Thanks, guys.

[sovereignstar v2]

Yes, that definitely meets the minimum. I'm not sure at what level you'd be able to use the 3D engine, but you could always use the 2D like I do. I have a decent enough video card, but I've never cared for the 3D representation.

[ColtCrazy]

Yes, that definitely meets the minimum. I'm not sure at what level you'd be able to use the 3D engine, but you could always use the 2D like I do. I have a decent enough video card, but I've never cared for the 3D representation.

Thanks! I have no interest in 3D either. I prefer the 2D, seems more tactical to me.

[scooter]

You could always just wait for the demo to come out, load that up, and see if it works on your system. I know I've done that in the past to see if my old machine could handle the new game. And it's free!

[ColtCrazy]

You could always just wait for the demo to come out, load that up, and see if it works on your system. I know I've done that in the past to see if my old machine could handle the new game. And it's free!

Have no idea why I didn't think of that. Thanks!!!

Shame my fall break is the week before this comes out. Thinking a sick day may be in order for Nov. 1. That would lead into a nice, long weekend!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Football Manager Handheld will be available before Christmas but I'm not allowed to talk about it yet ... there are a fair few surprises waiting for people in this years version though :D

Are we talking about the Vita version or tablet/iPhone version?

[Marc Vaughan]

Are we talking about the Vita version or tablet/iPhone version?

FMH is the iPhone/Android/iPad version (and its that which hasn't had any features revealed for it ... yet ;) ) - The Vita one is based on FMC (from the PC/Mac version) and a totally different game.

[Alf]

Linux. Oh noes, I was safe for years and now evil is knocking at my door again (been running linux for years at home now).

Marc, you really are evil ! ;)

[Alf]

Posting for those who did not see computer requirements

PC System Requirements

Minimum:

OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
Processor: Intel Pentium 4, Intel Core AMD, Athlon. Windows XP: 1.6GHz+, Windows Vista/7/8: 2.2GHz+
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: NVidia GeForce FX 5900 Ultra, ATI Radeon 9800, Intel GMA X3100: 128MB VRAM
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space

Mac System Requirements

Minimum:

OS: Mac OS X 10.6, 10.7, 10.8
Processor: Intel Core 1.8GHz+
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: NVidia GeForce 7300 GT, ATI Radeon X1600, Intel GMA X3100: 128MB VRAM
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space
Additional Notes: OpenGL 2.0 compliant

Linux System Requirements

Minimum:

OS: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Linux
Processor: Intel Pentium 4, Intel Core AMD Athlon: 1.8GHz+
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: NVidia GeForce 7300 GT, AMD Radeon HD 2400 Pro, Intel HD 3000/4000: 128MB VRAM
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space
Additional Notes: OpenGL 2.0 compliant

[SirFozzie]

You notice that the debtpocalypse arrives the same day as the beta is supposed to be out? Preorder folks, that way you'll have a new game to play when America comes crashing down around your ears ;)

[Qrusher14242]

i just hope it doesnt crash as much as 12....can never get a game going without some crashdump. Never had that on any of the older ones :(

[DaddyTorgo]

WHY IS IT NOT THURSDAY YET?!?!?!!?

WTF!!??!?!!?!?!?!

[Marc Vaughan]

WHY IS IT NOT THURSDAY YET?!?!?!!?

WTF!!??!?!!?!?!?!

We cannae change the laws of physics ....

(sorry about that ;) )

[Flasch186]

The corner flags in '13 and the ref's inability to trade the flag from hand to hand, beg to differ.

[DaddyTorgo]

We cannae change the laws of physics ....

(sorry about that ;) )

:D

[DaddyTorgo]

It's actually alright.

Usually once I start the demo of the new version I can't really go back and play the prior version and I've got a GREAT game going right now with this amazing group of kids, so maybe I won't even fire up the demo?

[bulletsponge]

It's actually alright.

Usually once I start the demo of the new version I can't really go back and play the prior version and I've got a GREAT game going right now with this amazing group of kids, so maybe I won't even fire up the demo?

if you preordered like all real FMers then you get the open beta the 1st 2 weeks and can carry that over to the real game release

[DaddyTorgo]

if you preordered like all real FMers then you get the open beta the 1st 2 weeks and can carry that over to the real game release

I did preorder.

I'm saying that I'm having a great game in FM13 right now with a team of young world-class guys (66 game league unbeaten streak anyone?), and I don't want to stop playing 13 for that reason. I'd like to see if I can make my 25 y/o AMC surpass Messi in terms of career achievements.

[DaddyTorgo]

DAMNIT!!!

CURSES!!!!

THERE GOES MY EPIC UNBEATEN RUN!!!!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Anyone seen any deals on '14? Think I may wait just before release in the hopes that one of the sites gives a 10% discount at the last minute with a lot of people likely having bought already.

[sovereignstar v2]

Anyone seen any deals on '14? Think I may wait just before release in the hopes that one of the sites gives a 10% discount at the last minute with a lot of people likely having bought already.

25% off voucher from Green Man Gaming -- GMG25-7VBH8-67CAC

GMG is a popular choice that offers the early beta.

[Icy]

While we wait for Thursday, PRE-BETA in game footage, better watch in 1080px

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/qwblqEb0Ss0?version=3&amp;hl=es_ES&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/qwblqEb0Ss0?version=3&amp;hl=es_ES&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

While we wait for Thursday, PRE-BETA in game footage, better watch in 1080px

So I'm an every other year guy. I'm currently playing '12 and I honestly don't see much difference. Not that it's a bad thing, but I didn't know if I was supposed to see some sort of advancement in that video over what I'm currently playing.

[CraigSca]

I think the last year I played was...'09 (?) and I just pre-ordered. Looking forward to it and taking on "classic" as I think the changes between what I'm used to and what's available now will be completely overwhelming.

[Alf]

Is there some sort of playable demo available ?

I've been a Linux user for years (so no gaming for me) and I would like to see if the game can run on my configuration (compatble with above requirements, but sill wondering).

[DaddyTorgo]

Is there some sort of playable demo available ?

I've been a Linux user for years (so no gaming for me) and I would like to see if the game can run on my configuration (compatble with above requirements, but sill wondering).

There will be soon.

[fortheglory]

Are there still ad boards for FM, or were they suddenly banned due to advertising dollars?

[Grover]

So I'm an every other year guy. I'm currently playing '12 and I honestly don't see much difference. Not that it's a bad thing, but I didn't know if I was supposed to see some sort of advancement in that video over what I'm currently playing.

Really? The footage in that video looks miles better than FM12 and even 13.

[sovereignstar v2]

Is there some sort of playable demo available ?

I've been a Linux user for years (so no gaming for me) and I would like to see if the game can run on my configuration (compatble with above requirements, but sill wondering).

I think the demo for FM13 was available a week after the beta was released, so that would make it sometime late next week.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Really? The footage in that video looks miles better than FM12 and even 13.

So what did you see that looks better? I'm not saying that there isn't. I'm just obviously not seeing it.

[MizzouRah]

So what did you see that looks better? I'm not saying that there isn't. I'm just obviously not seeing it.

Me either.. maybe I've been playing FIFA 14 too much. :p

[SirFozzie]

Beta is OUT!

Miles Jacobson ‏@milesSI 1m

If you’ve pre-ordered #FM14 from Steam, the #FM14beta should be available to download from your library.

Miles Jacobson ‏@milesSI 47s

If you’ve pre-ordered #FM14 from a retailer other than Steam, you’ll have a beta key code from the retailer. If not, ask them why- not us :)

[DaddyTorgo]

I THOUGHT IT WAS TOMORROW!!!!

FML!!!! NOW I CAN DL AT WORK AND SNEAK IN SOME BETA TIME THIS AFTERNOON!!!!

[DaddyTorgo]

*Starts download and goes to the gym*

[CraigSca]

Downloading off steam at a pretty good clip - 8 MB/s

[DaddyTorgo]

Grrr - download finished. If I start a game I totally won't go to workout, but I kinda HAVE TO!!!


AARGH!!!!

[bulletsponge]

DL now!

[DaddyTorgo]

Back from the gym to look at the game that I setup before I left.

Will compile a bunch of thoughts into one post instead of stream of consciousness.

[SirFozzie]

Graphics look much better....

I wish the editor was out now (it's out on full release on the 31st), I can't resist making an APL mod.

I like it a lot so far.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Quick question for anyone who may know. I'm planning on using the cross save for PS Vita quite a bit. Does that version also release on October 31st?

[Eaglesfan27]

Downloading now! :)

[SirFozzie]

MBBF: No, the release date is just "later"

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

MBBF: No, the release date is just "later"

Thanks. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.

[DaddyTorgo]

Even on my crap-graphics work PC (no external graphics card) the ME graphics look more detailed. Now to analyze how the game plays...

[SirFozzie]

Ran into my first bug.. in between highlights it will show the home team's condition, even if it's not yours.

Same with the ratings/status overlay.

[CraigSca]

Ok - been a long time for me and, of course, I'm overwhelmed. Playing Classic with Kidderminster of the Skrill Premier (trying to get my feet wet). I noticed it's 6 months until my first match - say what? Is that normal?! I'm starting to set up friendlies with other teams (didn't realize I could do that until February). I guess that's how I get my players into match shape. Still, I see no one else scheduling any friendlies.

Was I really meant to sit around for 6 months before my league actually starts?

[JetsIn06]

Ok - been a long time for me and, of course, I'm overwhelmed. Playing Classic with Kidderminster of the Skrill Premier (trying to get my feet wet). I noticed it's 6 months until my first match - say what? Is that normal?! I'm starting to set up friendlies with other teams (didn't realize I could do that until February). I guess that's how I get my players into match shape. Still, I see no one else scheduling any friendlies.

Was I really meant to sit around for 6 months before my league actually starts?

What's the date in game?

[SirFozzie]

you probably started with an american league active.. when you start the game you get a choice on when to start the game, if (like default if you're american) you choose Jan 2013, then you have to wait till July when the "first" season of England is scheduled.

[DaddyTorgo]

Ok - been a long time for me and, of course, I'm overwhelmed. Playing Classic with Kidderminster of the Skrill Premier (trying to get my feet wet). I noticed it's 6 months until my first match - say what? Is that normal?! I'm starting to set up friendlies with other teams (didn't realize I could do that until February). I guess that's how I get my players into match shape. Still, I see no one else scheduling any friendlies.

Was I really meant to sit around for 6 months before my league actually starts?

You probably didn't change the "Start Date" to match the league you were planning on playing in so it defaulted to another one.

[Balldog]

Anyone know if I preorder now do I still get early access??

[DaddyTorgo]

Anyone know if I preorder now do I still get early access??

I presume so?

[Eaglesfan27]

I pre-ordered late this afternoon and was able to download early access with no problem.

[CraigSca]

you probably started with an american league active.. when you start the game you get a choice on when to start the game, if (like default if you're american) you choose Jan 2013, then you have to wait till July when the "first" season of England is scheduled.

That's exactly it guys, thanks.

[sovereignstar v2]

Took me about 2 seconds to fall in love with the "size of text and images" interface setting in preferences. Just what a lot of people who use full HD resolutions were clamoring for.

[TroyF]

Took me about 2 seconds to fall in love with the "size of text and images" interface setting in preferences. Just what a lot of people who use full HD resolutions were clamoring for.

holy crap, that is sweet. I can actually see. Woo hoo.

[flere-imsaho]

How are the new player roles in tactics?

[DaddyTorgo]

How are the new player roles in tactics?

Liking them. Playing with Pirlo/Marchisio/Pogba as a regista. I also like that when you go to select a player role in the tactics/team selection screen you get a popup telling you how good the player is at various roles. Makes tactical tweaking based on personnel so easy.

I also really like the new way of presenting additional tactical instructions ("play wider" "get stuck in" etc) for both the team as a whole and for individuals (and the ability to customize the tweaks by individuals playing the position). Makes things just so much easier/user friendly.

[DaddyTorgo]

Note that I just figured out (and maybe others are smarter than me?) - there's a little button to click when you go to do "save game" to toggle between local and cloud.

I didn't save my game last night to the cloud, so I'm going to mess around with another save (Athletic Bilbao) today until I get home to save the other game to the cloud.

[DaddyTorgo]

I just crafted a tactic that should be a lot of fun if it works.

4 D - 1 DMC - 2 MC - AML - AMC - AMR

AMC operating as a "Shadow Striker", AML and AMR as Inside Forwards, both MC's on ATTACK, and the DMC as a Regista.

Intended for use in situations where I outclass the opponent and want to pack the midfield and try to score bunches. Could easily adapt to moving the AMC up to ST if necessary too.

Curious to see how many opportunities on goal it gets me in a match though.

[DaddyTorgo]

Well I got 2 quick goals once I realized I should play the AMC with 13 finishing over the AMC with 9 finishing!

This might have potential.

61% - 39% on possession, outshot them 18-6, 3 clear cut chances to 1.

Against a Serie B team (with Athletic Bilbao), but still.

[DaddyTorgo]

Might just be small sample size or refining my tactic for the changes to the match engine, but it feels like I'm having to do a hell of a lot more game-to-game and in-game tactical tweaks. Not formation changes or whatever, but "shouts."

[DaddyTorgo]

5-2 win with 4 goals from my WB/R.

Given it was against the 17th place team in the league, but maybe my tactic is getting a bit more dialed-in.

[scooter]

I think DT is pretty excited about the new game - six posts in a row. You're on a roll man! :)

(I'm living vicariously through you as I always wait for the Holiday Sale on Steam to pick it up. It also makes my wife's Christmas shopping a little easier)

[TroyF]

My favorite feature in the game so far:

Say you have 2 RB. One is terrific at going forward, one is kinda slow and needs to be kept back.

Now in tactics, you can set up their roles so whenever you switch out, rest, sub, etc. one for the other, the roles automatically switch and you don't have to change your tactics every time.

I'll probably spend 1 or 2 hours each preseason setting up my guys in roles for multiple positions. I can't tell you how happy this makes me.

[DaddyTorgo]

My favorite feature in the game so far:

Say you have 2 RB. One is terrific at going forward, one is kinda slow and needs to be kept back.

Now in tactics, you can set up their roles so whenever you switch out, rest, sub, etc. one for the other, the roles automatically switch and you don't have to change your tactics every time.

I'll probably spend 1 or 2 hours each preseason setting up my guys in roles for multiple positions. I can't tell you how happy this makes me.

This. This is so nice.

[DaddyTorgo]

I think DT is pretty excited about the new game - six posts in a row. You're on a roll man! :)

(I'm living vicariously through you as I always wait for the Holiday Sale on Steam to pick it up. It also makes my wife's Christmas shopping a little easier)

I was havin a good time last night, that's for sure!!

[JetsIn06]

My favorite feature in the game so far:

Say you have 2 RB. One is terrific at going forward, one is kinda slow and needs to be kept back.

Now in tactics, you can set up their roles so whenever you switch out, rest, sub, etc. one for the other, the roles automatically switch and you don't have to change your tactics every time.

I'll probably spend 1 or 2 hours each preseason setting up my guys in roles for multiple positions. I can't tell you how happy this makes me.

Where do you set the roles you want them to use? Or do you just set them on the tactics field and it "remembers"?

[NoSkillz]

5-2 win with 4 goals from my WB/R.

Given it was against the 17th place team in the league, but maybe my tactic is getting a bit more dialed-in.

4 goals in one game from a wingback???

I don't think I've had four goals TOTAL from fullbacks in my life playing FM.

You mentioned above your tactic was 4 back, , 1 DMC, 2 center mids, 2 wingers (inside forwards) and an AMC.

Does this mean of the 4 defenders, you're playing 2 center halfbacks and 2 wingbacks?

I'm intrigued by the formation...just wanted to clarify what you're doing, as I get ZERO offense from my fullbacks in every tactic regardless of role and I always figured that the only way to get them to jump up and get more involved was to have no one in front of them - ie: no wingers.

[TroyF]

Where do you set the roles you want them to use? Or do you just set them on the tactics field and it "remembers"?

I'm at work now, but when you go to the "players" instructions on the tactic, there is something on the left that says something like "add other players to this position" or something like that.

As Arsenal, I made the tactic with Sagna. Then I added Jenkinson on that screen and gave him a different role and different set of instructions. When I swap them, it will add the correct instructions as well.

What I do is add players to all of the positions they can play right off. So Sagna is listed as the starting RB, has backup roles assigned to him in both DC and another one for DL. If one of my CB's gets hurt in a game and I need to slide Sagna over, I don't have to spent 5 minutes changing Sagna to specific CB instructions, I don't have to spend 5 minutes moving Jenkinson in and giving him a proper set of instructions and I don't have to worry about spending time changing my tactic if I decide to go with a fast striker instead of Giroud.

(note here, I'll always start with Arsenal and move to the lower leagues in another career later)

This single addition means probably an 30 minutes each offseason (to add new players and youths to the roles) and will save me a minimum 10 minutes a match of altering tactics during a game. If this were the only new addition, I'd be a happy guy.

[DaddyTorgo]

4 goals in one game from a wingback???

I don't think I've had four goals TOTAL from fullbacks in my life playing FM.

You mentioned above your tactic was 4 back, , 1 DMC, 2 center mids, 2 wingers (inside forwards) and an AMC.

Does this mean of the 4 defenders, you're playing 2 center halfbacks and 2 wingbacks?

I'm intrigued by the formation...just wanted to clarify what you're doing, as I get ZERO offense from my fullbacks in every tactic regardless of role and I always figured that the only way to get them to jump up and get more involved was to have no one in front of them - ie: no wingers.

Two different games - I wasn't entirely clear on that.

The 4-1-2-3-0 was what I was screwing around with using Athletic Bilbao here at the office. I can send you that formation if you want to mess around with it.

The 4 goals from a wingback came from my Juventus game at home where I'm playing a 5-3-2/3-5-2 (however you want to look at it).

That formation is

GK
3xDC (Defend)
2xWB (Attack)
DMC - Regista
2xMC (1 Ball Winning, 1 Advanced Playmaker)
2xST (1 Target Man, 1 False 9).

The 4 goals from my WB were from my WB/R (Lichtsteiner), on the side of the False 9 (Tevez).

What seemed to happen (from memory, not looking at the replay/highlights) is that the WB/L (Asamoah) was marauding down the left, so the opposition DL went out after him. The Target Man (Llorente) drew 2 defenders due to the threat of the cross. The False 9 (Tevez) dropped back towards midfield, drawing another defender, leaving the WB/R (Lichtsteiner) free of a defender and unmarked at the back post. If I recall, 2 of the goals happened this way and 1 of them was more a result of him carrying the ball into the box, Tevez dropping off into midfield to open space, and Lichtsteiner blasting in a shot from his run, and then the 4th goal was a total fluke that he scored on the counter after picking up a clearance from a defensive corner and outracing the other team down the field.

[NoSkillz]

Two different games - I wasn't entirely clear on that.

The 4-1-2-3-0 was what I was screwing around with using Athletic Bilbao here at the office. I can send you that formation if you want to mess around with it.

The 4 goals from a wingback came from my Juventus game at home where I'm playing a 5-3-2/3-5-2 (however you want to look at it).

That formation is

GK
3xDC (Defend)
2xWB (Attack)
DMC - Regista
2xMC (1 Ball Winning, 1 Advanced Playmaker)
2xST (1 Target Man, 1 False 9).

The 4 goals from my WB were from my WB/R (Lichtsteiner), on the side of the False 9 (Tevez).

What seemed to happen (from memory, not looking at the replay/highlights) is that the WB/L (Asamoah) was marauding down the left, so the opposition DL went out after him. The Target Man (Llorente) drew 2 defenders due to the threat of the cross. The False 9 (Tevez) dropped back towards midfield, drawing another defender, leaving the WB/R (Lichtsteiner) free of a defender and unmarked at the back post. If I recall, 2 of the goals happened this way and 1 of them was more a result of him carrying the ball into the box, Tevez dropping off into midfield to open space, and Lichtsteiner blasting in a shot from his run, and then the 4th goal was a total fluke that he scored on the counter after picking up a clearance from a defensive corner and outracing the other team down the field.

That's awesome...thanks for the detail - this is even more intriguing to me, as in my long-term Dover save I'm looking for another 2-striker formation other than the flat 442. This 5-3-2/3-5-2 looks to be a great fit for my personnel.

Do you run this formation with different mentalities (ie: Attacking one game...standard/control/counter/etc another) or is this primarily an attacking formation for you?

[DaddyTorgo]

That's awesome...thanks for the detail - this is even more intriguing to me, as in my long-term Dover save I'm looking for another 2-striker formation other than the flat 442. This 5-3-2/3-5-2 looks to be a great fit for my personnel.

Do you run this formation with different mentalities (ie: Attacking one game...standard/control/counter/etc another) or is this primarily an attacking formation for you?

I'll pull together an even more detailed answer for you tonight - I love talking about my tactic.

Simple answer is I tend to run it either control or attacking (with changes to "retain possession" or "more direct passes" shouts accordingly also). Typically "Balanced" in terms of philosophy at this point - although in FM 2013 I had it on "Rigid" (I think that will vary based upon the talent level of your players). The Target Man is sometimes an attacking forward, and the False 9 is sometimes a Deep-Lying Forward depending on if I swap in my backup personnel.

In FM 2013 I ran essentially the same formation with a Deep-Lying Forward and Attacking Forward, and with a Ball-Winning-Midfielder and a Box-to-Box midfielder, but at the moment I haven't tried it with a Box-to-Box CM in FM 2014. Also in FM 2013 I think (if I remember right) my WBs were on Support and not on Attack. I found that putting the non Ball-Winning MC on Advanced Playmaker was necessary to keep a better link between midfield and strikers (or at least when I do that I don't get the message about gaps).

I'm getting better possession domination in FM 2014 with it then I probably did in 2013 (just anecdotally, no evidence to support at the moment), and it's definitely one where if you press high up the pitch with it you can put the opponent under serious pressure and limit their chances.

I'll write up a full explanation later and discuss my experiences with it in FM 2013 and so far in FM 2014 - I'm a bit of a tactics geek!

I'm still refining it for FM 2014 though - I didn't import it and decided to start over and recreate it by hand so that it gave me what I was looking for.

[kingfc22]

How does one reset the game on a mac? The game booted up fine after my initial install but I was messing around with the resolution and text sizes and now the game is unplayable.

I found the answer in the FAQ section online about deleting the cache folder, but I do not see a cache folder located on my hard drive.

[DaddyTorgo]

LMAO

Serie A Goal of the Month for December

WB/R Stephen Lichtsteiner sweeps the award, winning all of the Top 3.

[DaddyTorgo]

Game won't connect to my youtube account - trying to upload highlights...

[kmbgolf]

any good links for the facepacks and logos and stuff

[sovereignstar v2]

All the good stuff can be found here. (http://sortitoutsi.net/forums)

[DaddyTorgo]

Going to finish my first season today. I'm 7 league games (+however far I make it in the CL) from the offseason.

[SirFozzie]

Looks like someone's found a way to generate nearly infinite money (1 Billion in one test) for teams in nations that have the ability to sell % of players to agents.. looks like it's going to be fixed in release so abuse it now while you can...

MONEY HACK issue thas has to be adressed in order to save the integrity of the game. (http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/364760-MONEY-HACK-issue-thas-has-to-be-adressed-in-order-to-save-the-integrity-of-the-game.)

[DaddyTorgo]

See attached my 3-5-2/5-3-2 complete with a couple tweaks I made yesterday in playing.

Changed it to Fluid and ticked the "shorter passing" instruction (do those instructions come thru with the tactic btw? I assume so) in order to attempt to decrease longer shots and increase passing to strikers in better scoring positions (i was noting way too many long shots for my tastes).

Striker roles can be adjusted to suit your players' strengths, as long as you have 1 playing a false 9/deep-lying forward and one more up-front I have found it works equally well. I've played with DLF and Advanced Forward several times with backups, or even with Complete Forwards.

In fact - in the uploaded version I think you'll find one False 9 and the other as an Advanced Forward, where usually I play with a Target Man/False 9 combo.

Just remove the .001 after you download of course.

[DaddyTorgo]

First season down

Scudetto Winner (25W - 10D - 3L) 58 GF (2nd best) - 20 GA (best in league)
Playing in the CL Finals against Real Madrid (thanks to getting a lucky draw against Ajax in the semifinals)
Serie A Player of the Year - Paul Pogba
Serie A Goal of the Year - Stefan Lichtsteiner (one of the ones from his 4 goal game against Genoa)
Serie A Head Coach of the Year
Front Runner for Serie A Managers Manager of the Year Award
5 Players in Serie A Team of the Year First 11: Buffon, Bonucci, Pogba, Vidal, Llorente
Italian Media Foreign Player of the Year: Fernando Llorente
Serie A GK of the Year: Buffon


News of Note in the World:
-Real Madrid fire Ancelotti
-Messi was Spanish League Player of Year & Top Goalscorer

[DaddyTorgo]

da fuq!?!?!

I'm 6-4 favorites in the CL Final.

Gah.

Lost 2-1 in extra time.

[Alan T]

First season down




DT, I thought of you when I ended up grouped up with Juve in the CL group stage (I'm playing as my normal Arsenal).

Ended up splitting the two games with them 1-0 in both games. Ironically enough, both teams won the game away instead of home.

[DaddyTorgo]

DT, I thought of you when I ended up grouped up with Juve in the CL group stage (I'm playing as my normal Arsenal).

Ended up splitting the two games with them 1-0 in both games. Ironically enough, both teams won the game away instead of home.

:D

[DaddyTorgo]

Early results for my Bilbao tactic (4-1-2-3-0) looking very promising.

3-2 over Valladolid in the first league match. 3-1 up at the half over Osasuna in the second. I can only imagine how much better it would be if my most otherwise skilled AMC didn't have a "9" for finishing.

Dropped it from attacking to control and emphasiezd short passing, retaining possession, looking for overlap, playing wider, and working the ball into the box.

Think making it control helps, because basically I envision it as a fluid system that keeps hold of the ball, with the attacks springing from any of the midfield trio making overlapping runs and running onto through balls. AM/R (Markel Susaeta) with a hat-trick in the first half.

Finished 4-1.

60-40 possession edge. 17-3 shot edge (9-2 on target).

Currently sitting second in La Liga (ABOVE BARCA), even on Goal Differential and ahead on Goals For.

[SirFozzie]

One tactic I've been trying to work on is a fairly bogstandard 4-1-3-2 Control/Balanced set up (back four, DMC, ML MC MR, ST, ST). Scoring a bunch of goals (Lewandowski had five in our last Bundesliga game).. tough away games and champions league games I've been dropping to counter.

Thoughts on instructions: Play out of defense is a must call, it stops those random boot upfields that get turned around into another attack quickly. A push higher up seems to help when you have the advantage, it starts things higher up field and seems to do more pressing to turn defense into attack quickly. Play into space seems to be not so useful

[DaddyTorgo]

One tactic I've been trying to work on is a fairly bogstandard 4-1-3-2 Control/Balanced set up (back four, DMC, ML MC MR, ST, ST). Scoring a bunch of goals (Lewandowski had five in our last Bundesliga game).. tough away games and champions league games I've been dropping to counter.

Thoughts on instructions: Play out of defense is a must call, it stops those random boot upfields that get turned around into another attack quickly. A push higher up seems to help when you have the advantage, it starts things higher up field and seems to do more pressing to turn defense into attack quickly. Play into space seems to be not so useful

Who are you playing as? Bayern? Dortmund?

Control - you trying to retain possession then I assume? So retain possession, shorter passing, work ball into box...

[DaddyTorgo]

Aaaak. Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao from San Mames.

*prepares to die*

GOAL FOR BILBAO!!!!!

62nd minute!!!!

Bilbao 1 (Munian '62) - Madrid 0

Flighted in a LONG curling FK that Casillas misjudged and it snuck under the bar.

Gah...and 72nd minute CR7 nudges in a goal off a corner.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


Madrid score in injury time to win it 2-1. Karim Benzema nudges in another goal off a corner.

Note - this was with my default tactic, no changes. So pretty good IMO.

[SirFozzie]

Here's a link to the alternate tactic I'm working on:

4-4-2 Wombat (http://www.mediafire.com/?t9u3drs78qeqp6q)

[The Jackal]

I'll probably wait until this is out of beta to buy, as I already have too many games I've recently purchased that I'm not playing, haha.

[flere-imsaho]

Anyone know off the top of your head whether you can transition from beta right into the full game once released? By which I mean you continue playing where you were (team & date), just with an updated game / db?

Edit: I seem to recall in the past you could do this with the demo, which is why I'm asking. You'd play for 6 months (in game time), it would tell you the demo was done, but then you could upgrade and continue.

[SirFozzie]

yes (updated game, some things require a restart, you won't have the updated db in save game)

[DaddyTorgo]

My cloud saves didn't save up to the cloud last night so no poking at my teams while I'm at work today.

[DaddyTorgo]

Over 600 bugfixes in today's patch of the beta.

[Shepp]

First season down

Scudetto Winner (25W - 10D - 3L) 58 GF (2nd best) - 20 GA (best in league)
Playing in the CL Finals against Real Madrid (thanks to getting a lucky draw against Ajax in the semifinals)
Serie A Player of the Year - Paul Pogba
Serie A Goal of the Year - Stefan Lichtsteiner (one of the ones from his 4 goal game against Genoa)
Serie A Head Coach of the Year
Front Runner for Serie A Managers Manager of the Year Award
5 Players in Serie A Team of the Year First 11: Buffon, Bonucci, Pogba, Vidal, Llorente
Italian Media Foreign Player of the Year: Fernando Llorente
Serie A GK of the Year: Buffon


News of Note in the World:
-Real Madrid fire Ancelotti
-Messi was Spanish League Player of Year & Top Goalscorer

How do you get through a season so fast? Do you use the Classic Mode? One of the biggest issues I've had with FM over the last couple of years is how I can only get through a handful of seasons during a real time year.

[DaddyTorgo]

How do you get through a season so fast? Do you use the Classic Mode? One of the biggest issues I've had with FM over the last couple of years is how I can only get through a handful of seasons during a real time year.

Nope - not classic mode.

Just powering through...playing far too much. Given I've dabbled a little with a Bilbao savegame that's a few matches into the season, and fallen asleep in front of it a couple times (maybe that added 8 hours?) but have primarily been playing with my Juve squad, I've put in 69 hours on the beta so far. And that includes the offseason and the first couple games of Season 2. So maybe...40 or so hours a season at this point? Which should realistically go down a bit as I get deeper into the game and squad/tactics/etc. get more "settled."

-I delegate out training and youth team management to my AssMan
-I don't mind subscribing to a lot of news, but have learned to really only read the relevant stuff, unless I want to dip my toes in and see what's up in the world occasionally
-Scouting reports on players - I won't look at them unless my Scout comes back with a rating that's either 4* or 5* or it's a position I'm looking actively to improve and I've temporarily set a lower bar
-I've actually probably been going slower than usual so far this game because I've been handling the press conferences myself
-I tend to stick within a relatively narrow tactics band once I get something that works for my squad
-

[JetsIn06]

How do you get through a season so fast? Do you use the Classic Mode? One of the biggest issues I've had with FM over the last couple of years is how I can only get through a handful of seasons during a real time year.

Don't sleep :)

[DaddyTorgo]

Don't sleep :)

This too. It helps that I don't sleep and I'm single. I can usually get in at least 6 good hours a night of gameplay. ;)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Nope - not classic mode.

Just powering through...playing far too much. Given I've dabbled a little with a Bilbao savegame that's a few matches into the season, and fallen asleep in front of it a couple times (maybe that added 8 hours?) but have primarily been playing with my Juve squad, I've put in 69 hours on the beta so far. And that includes the offseason and the first couple games of Season 2. So maybe...40 or so hours a season at this point? Which should realistically go down a bit as I get deeper into the game and squad/tactics/etc. get more "settled."

-I delegate out training and youth team management to my AssMan
-I don't mind subscribing to a lot of news, but have learned to really only read the relevant stuff, unless I want to dip my toes in and see what's up in the world occasionally
-Scouting reports on players - I won't look at them unless my Scout comes back with a rating that's either 4* or 5* or it's a position I'm looking actively to improve and I've temporarily set a lower bar
-I've actually probably been going slower than usual so far this game because I've been handling the press conferences myself
-I tend to stick within a relatively narrow tactics band once I get something that works for my squad

I've got a bit of a quandary on my hands. I'm very excited about the cross play between the Vita and the PC version. One problem: after around 40 hours of play in Classic mode (never played it before because I previously was FM12), I'm not sure I like it. It's a bit too neutered for my taste. I like to have a bit more involvement than it allows.

So now I'm faced with doing two different careers (one PC, one Vita) or having to stick with what I feel is only a so-so version of FM. I think I'm going to play a season in regular mode during the second half of the beta just to get a feel for how much I'm missing or not missing.

[DaddyTorgo]

I've got a bit of a quandary on my hands. I'm very excited about the cross play between the Vita and the PC version. One problem: after around 40 hours of play in Classic mode (never played it before because I previously was FM12), I'm not sure I like it. It's a bit too neutered for my taste. I like to have a bit more involvement than it allows.

So now I'm faced with doing two different careers (one PC, one Vita) or having to stick with what I feel is only a so-so version of FM. I think I'm going to play a season in regular mode during the second half of the beta just to get a feel for how much I'm missing or not missing.

Yeah - that's tricky. I dunno.

If FMH had a bit more involvement in some aspects and was cross-platform with PC regular-mode I could see myself spiraling down that rabbit hole myself.

I don't have a Vita though.

[JetsIn06]

Well fuck. Game ran PERFECTLY, just updated the game, and now it crashed. UGH.

[JetsIn06]

Anddddd crashed again. Same spot both times. :banghead:

[DaddyTorgo]

Anddddd crashed again. Same spot both times. :banghead:

That's not good!!

[JetsIn06]

That's not good!!

Yea, I loaded, went ahead like 2 days, and then crashed. Trying to reinstall from a clean slate, deleted all of the logos and graphics etc

[JetsIn06]

Yea, not working. Based on all of the crash reports on SI's site, I'd recommend turning off auto updates on Steam for a bit until it's sorted out.

[MrBug708]

Did you try going on vacation to get past the buggy spot?

[DaddyTorgo]

Yea, not working. Based on all of the crash reports on SI's site, I'd recommend turning off auto updates on Steam for a bit until it's sorted out.

Really? Yuck.

[JetsIn06]

Did you try going on vacation to get past the buggy spot?

Yea.

There's definitely a major, major bug somewhere. Think it's different dates for everyone, but there's literally an entire page worth of bugs all similar to what happened to me on the SI boards.

Back to my FM13 save for now, I guess :(

Edit: For anyone interested, I got a response from SI Tech Support, they're aware of the issue, and they're looking into it for fix by release. Somehow that doesn't inspire confidence and I'm sorta bummed that I can't play until then. I even tried starting a new game, same issue.

[flere-imsaho]

Hey, that's why it's a beta! :D

[JetsIn06]

Hey, that's why it's a beta! :D

I know! I understand it, just wish I could play!

[DaddyTorgo]

My Bilbao squad with my crazy 4-1-5-0 tactic just drew 1-1 with Barca!!!

And I was a wrongly-disallowed for offside goal away from a 2-1 win! Outshot them in shots on goal 5-3 despite being outpossessed 59-41.

The only adjustments I made were switching from control or attacking to defensive, and dropping it from a "much higher pace" to a "much lower pace"

[PilotMan]

Hey, FM might be great but if it can't duplicate this they need to go back to the drawing board for more realism.

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/1948jf89rosq7jpg/ku-bigpic.jpg

[jbergey22]

Hey, FM might be great but if it can't duplicate this they need to go back to the drawing board for more realism.

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/1948jf89rosq7jpg/ku-bigpic.jpg

Yikes, The road teams might as well stay home. This years beta version?

[PilotMan]

No, if you saw my post in the soccer forum, it's from the real life Nigerian league this year. Lol.

[jbergey22]

No, if you saw my post in the soccer forum, it's from the real life Nigerian league this year. Lol.

Haha! That is amazing.

[PilotMan]

Haha! That is amazing.

I think shenanigans are being called.

[DaddyTorgo]

0-0 draw with Real Madrid after being drawn against them in the Quarter Finals of the Spanish Cup.

I actually outshot them 16-5 (despite being outpossessed 44% to 56%), and 7-1 in shots on target, so it was just luck (crossbar, corner cleared off the line) that kept me from an unlikely victory.

Frustrating!!

[DaddyTorgo]

3rd place in La Liga after 20 matches (I have 1 game in hand against 2 teams that are 2 points behind, Granada & Valencia). Fortunately Granada face Madrid in their match to draw even on games played (Madrid obviously ahead of me), so they ought to lose.

And Valencia lost to Espanyol, which means I'm securely in 3rd/4th (even on points with Atletico Madrid).

Next up - Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup Quarterfinals, 2nd (away) leg. Time to see if I can steal an improbable win!

[DaddyTorgo]

Fixture weirdness bug in Spain.

I had a Spanish Cup draw against Almeria with a La Liga game against them in the middle of it (3 games in 7 days against them). Now I just finished my 2nd leg of the Spanish Cup against Real Madrid and immediately after I have my 2nd La Liga game against THEM.

[Alan T]

I had that happen in fm2013 once. Playing as arsenal I ended up having three games in a row vs Chelsea and four out of six games. Had them in the league play, champions cup and the fa cup all at the same time.

[bhlloy]

Not sure why that would be a bug - league scheduling is completely independent of cup draws. I'm pretty sure it's happened semi-regularly IRL in the UK

[DaddyTorgo]

Not sure why that would be a bug - league scheduling is completely independent of cup draws. I'm pretty sure it's happened semi-regularly IRL in the UK

True - not a bug I suppose. Just thought it was interesting and amusing.

[Marc Vaughan]

I remember a real-life interview when I was a kid where a team had played the same opposition 4 times in succession - I think it was 2 FA Cup matches (1 normal, 1 replay), 1 league cup match and a league match .... the interview mentioned the manager indicating he was looking forward to playing a different team for a change :D

[DaddyTorgo]

LMAO - match engine bug.

opposing GK just took a backpass and slowly rolled the ball back into his own goal as he had one foot on top of it.

was winning 2-0 in the 88th minute already, so not going to replay it.

As a side effect of that win (over Atletico Madrid) I know how Athletic Bilbao in 3rd place in La Liga by 5pts with 7 matches to go.

[DaddyTorgo]

Assuming the Patriots game is going to either be (a) boring, or (b) frustrating, I'm planning on typing up a "Season in Review" type dynasty post later where I can go into my tactic, transfers, notable results, player performance, etc.

[JetsIn06]

New patch is out and my game works again! No sleep tonight!

[TroyF]

For those who tweak the graphics, try this one:

Sports Interactive Community (http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/366315-FM2014-Better-Than-Default-Panels)

that's a link to the forum. It's new panels and they look really sharp.

[korme]

I need a new laptop man. FM runs so slow.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Big old crash last night. First time I've been in a beta phase with FM before. Really hope the game gets cleaned up in a hurry given that the official release is just a couple of days away.

[Marc Vaughan]

Big old crash last night. First time I've been in a beta phase with FM before. Really hope the game gets cleaned up in a hurry given that the official release is just a couple of days away.

Bear in mind that the 'beta' runs a fair bit behind the in-house builds.

(simply put any beta put out for public has always had some 'pre-testing' if you got a beta which simply crashed or corrupted saves then you'd be far less than happy - so the 'beta' which is public is great for mass testing and obviously compatibility testing but please don't think its an indication of the 'current state' of the product at present)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Bear in mind that the 'beta' runs a fair bit behind the in-house builds.

(simply put any beta put out for public has always had some 'pre-testing' if you got a beta which simply crashed or corrupted saves then you'd be far less than happy - so the 'beta' which is public is great for mass testing and obviously compatibility testing but please don't think its an indication of the 'current state' of the product at present)

Fair enough. I'll probably just wait until release at this point. :)

[Grover]

I absolutely love that Arsene Wenger has contacted me because he's upset his on-loan player isn't getting the playing time we had agreed to. Excellent little addition to the game.

[DaddyTorgo]

I absolutely love that Arsene Wenger has contacted me because he's upset his on-loan player isn't getting the playing time we had agreed to. Excellent little addition to the game.

This.

[DaddyTorgo]

Cloud-sync is imperfect. I don't blame SI, but Valve really needs to step up and make it more reliable. I saved my game last night and watched it "sync" then went to look at it on my lunch break and it wasn't updated.

[NoSkillz]

I absolutely love that Arsene Wenger has contacted me because he's upset his on-loan player isn't getting the playing time we had agreed to. Excellent little addition to the game.

Love this.

[TroyF]

So many things are in previous versions that I missed, but another thing I like this year is the ability to congratulate a player for scoring his first international goal. It's a nice touch.

I'm still loving the ability to have a list of 8 players who play a position and set up their specific roles and instructions individually. It's a very nice touch.

[kmbgolf]

Playing Blackpool I sold my house and everything else to get eden hazards lil bro from chelsea and a wingback from chelsea...saved before the end of transfer it said on there profile moving to blackpool on jan 7.........well jan 7 has passed and no players and my money is gone.Never been so bummed in a game in my 40 yrs of playing games.Cant even get myself to star again.

[Northwood_DK]

Playing Blackpool I sold my house and everything else to get eden hazards lil bro from chelsea and a wingback from chelsea...saved before the end of transfer it said on there profile moving to blackpool on jan 7.........well jan 7 has passed and no players and my money is gone.Never been so bummed in a game in my 40 yrs of playing games.Cant even get myself to star again.

Check that you don't have them hidden because of some filter.

[McLovin]

How is the game going? Is it safe to start a career save on release or should I wait a few weeks for the first patch?

[JetsIn06]

How is the game going? Is it safe to start a career save on release or should I wait a few weeks for the first patch?

The regular release is out in 50 mins, so it's a little early to say. People have reported a few whacky things but from what I've seen it's not bad at all. There will be more fixes in the release coming out tonight according to some SI people on the twitter

[kmbgolf]

there not hidden

[DaddyTorgo]

there not hidden

They didn't sneak a loan-back provision in there, did they?

If not - that's pretty worrisome...yikes.

[SirFozzie]

Full game is out. If you ordered from GMG, you will have to enter a fresh code from Greenmangaming (check your user account)

[DaddyTorgo]

My damn AssMan isn't controlling my training right. He's supposed to be doing it, and yet everybody is unhappy their training levels are too light.

[JetsIn06]

Full game is out. If you ordered from GMG, you will have to enter a fresh code from Greenmangaming (check your user account)

Thanks for this info....was going crazy when it wasn't updating.

[sovereignstar v2]

Strange. I ordered from GMG and my game updated without having to enter any new code. None too pleased that the game cache and all my views were deleted, but maybe there was a good reason for that.

[SirFozzie]

That's probably the last beta patch. Do you have network play etcetera? Can you download the editor?

[sovereignstar v2]

You are correct sir. I went to the SI boards and noticed my version was one off. :)

[JetsIn06]

Playing Blackpool I sold my house and everything else to get eden hazards lil bro from chelsea and a wingback from chelsea...saved before the end of transfer it said on there profile moving to blackpool on jan 7.........well jan 7 has passed and no players and my money is gone.Never been so bummed in a game in my 40 yrs of playing games.Cant even get myself to star again.

Does it say they're moving on the year you are in? I know sometimes if I went after really young dudes in FM13 they didn't sign with me until like 2 years later. No idea why, but check and make sure.

[sovereignstar v2]

If you have freezing issues when first trying to access the Steam Workshop temporarily move your graphics folder then launch it. Just spent the last 15 minutes trying to get the dark skin downloaded.

[kmbgolf]

nope on there player pic it says joining blackpool on jan 7

[Shepp]

Playing Blackpool I sold my house and everything else to get eden hazards lil bro from chelsea and a wingback from chelsea...saved before the end of transfer it said on there profile moving to blackpool on jan 7.........well jan 7 has passed and no players and my money is gone.Never been so bummed in a game in my 40 yrs of playing games.Cant even get myself to star again.

How old are these guys? I had seen this happen once in FM10 I think. The transfer ended up going through the January of the following year. I can't remember exactly why it happened because its been so long ago but it may be because of their age.

[DaddyTorgo]

How old are these guys? I had seen this happen once in FM10 I think. The transfer ended up going through the January of the following year. I can't remember exactly why it happened because its been so long ago but it may be because of their age.

Yeah - could be that. U18 players or something.

[Johnny93g]

I'm thinking of picking this up, I've played 2 versions, but not for years, and I have found memories.

1. Can I take over a country, oh, say Canada, and by having better then expected results, improve the level of players being generated for Canada. Gradual, and realistic improvement is what I'm hoping for.....

2. What would the essential downloads be to accompany the game... Logos, uniforms, faces? Where's the best place to get them. Doing a quick google search, I was overwhelmed, and was hoping to use what the consensus thinks is best.

Thanks

[McLovin]

I'm thinking of picking this up, I've played 2 versions, but not for years, and I have found memories.

1. Can I take over a country, oh, say Canada, and by having better then expected results, improve the level of players being generated for Canada. Gradual, and realistic improvement is what I'm hoping for.....

2. What would the essential downloads be to accompany the game... Logos, uniforms, faces? Where's the best place to get them. Doing a quick google search, I was overwhelmed, and was hoping to use what the consensus thinks is best.

Thanks
1.- I don't know

2.- Sortitouts.

sortitoutsi - Update Football Manager with Graphics, Player Faces, Kits, Logos and Data Updates (http://sortitoutsi.net/)

[flere-imsaho]

1. Can I take over a country, oh, say Canada, and by having better then expected results, improve the level of players being generated for Canada. Gradual, and realistic improvement is what I'm hoping for.....

Yes, but it will be gradual, as in real life.

[Johnny93g]

Yes, but it will be gradual, as in real life.

Great, thank you, that's really impressive!

[kmbgolf]

there in ther 20 s

[MrBug708]

When is the transfer date?

[TroyF]

So I start up a new Arsenal career post patch. I sign a CB for the future and Honda on a free and play with 4 in the back, 1 DMC to the left of center and one MC to the right of center along with the three attacking mids and striker.

Similar to the real Arsenal team, my early season schedule has been weak with my only two difficult games coming at home. I sit at 12 wins, 1 draw, no losses right now.

I just finished playing ManU at home. They started with a Van Persie goal in the first 2 minutes of the game. I outshoot them 39-12 the rest of the way and get the game winner from Walcott in extra time. I hadn't paid a ton of attention to the table because of so many easy ones.

Well, ManU sit 13th in the table with 16 points from 13 games. 3 wins, 7 draws, 3 losses. After the game, they decide they had enough of Moyes and fire him. Villa-Boras states to the press he wants the job and the Tottenham board get royally pissed at him. They sit in third place right now. Suddenly the entire EPL is in major flux. Crazy start to the career.

[bhlloy]

Funnily enough, if Moyes wasn't going to get a couple of seasons as Ferguson's protege no matter what, I could absolutely see that happening IRL after Christmas.

[Flasch186]

After the game, they decide they had enough of Moyes and fire him. Villa-Boras states to the press he wants the job and the Tottenham board get royally pissed at him. They sit in third place right now. Suddenly the entire EPL is in major flux. Crazy start to the career.

FWIW its one of my biggest complaints about the game to myself, the whole management system seems jacked wherein everyone is close to being fired or fired all of the time.

[sovereignstar v2]

FWIW its one of my biggest complaints about the game to myself, the whole management system seems jacked wherein everyone is close to being fired or fired all of the time.

List of English Football League managers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_Football_League_managers)

[Flasch186]

Wow, guess I didnt know. Thats pretty frickin enlightening.

[DaddyTorgo]

I pressed "pause" on my Juventus game with the beta after hearing about the Italian-staff-signing bug, but restarted it with the full version once that was fixed.

Just finished the 2nd season. Again, Scudetto (this time with like 5 games to go), although I didn't lead post-to-post, and actually was as far down as 4th after matchday 13 and didn't lead until after matchday 24. Inter were right on my heels virtually the whole way and moved up into 2nd place as Fiorentina (who went unbeaten in the league until I beat them 2-0 on February 11th to swing the race) faded to ultimately end up 4th.

Also won the Italian Cup with a 3-2 victory (sounds closer than it was - they scored twice late) over Sampdoria, who finished in 3rd place in Serie A.

Knocked out of the CL in the QFs after a tough 3-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich where they scored the last goal in the 102nd minute of extra time. David fucking Alaba.


Players brought in:
Doria (DC from Benfica) - $9.75m. Was supposed to be a backup, and as a 19 year-old, a long-term project, but he wonderkidded and turned into a starter.
Alvaro Negredo (ST from Man City) - Free. Rotation option at striker.
Victor Valdes (GK from Barca) - Free. Short-term solution (3-4 years) to replace Buffon, who I felt was slipping.
Tin Jedvaj (DC from Roma) - $10.75m. Loaned back to Roma for the year. Future DC stud, at 19 is already 13/15/15 on marking/tackling/positioning, with a 15/15 on teamwork/workrate, and solid mid-double-digits across all physical and mental (bar creativity).
Omar Kebbabi (DR from PSG) - $6m. Yes I paid $6m for a 16 year old defender from PSG. Why? Because he's already a 10 on crossing, 11 on dribbling, 15 on passing, a 10 on tackling, an 11 on positioning, a 19 on work rate, an 18 on determination, and a 17/16 on Pace/Stamina. Future 5-star wingback in the making! The beginnings of my "youth movement."
Ignacio Scocco (ST from Internacional) - $750k. Backup option at striker in the midyear window.
Giliano Wijnaldum (WB from Groningen) - $850k. Backup at both WB spots in the midyear transfer window.
Jonathan (WB from Inter) - $1.6m. Another backup option at WB.
Samuel Eto'o (ST) - Free. Added in late March on a relatively cheap multiyear deal to provide backup/rotation option at ST.

Coming in July
Ignacio Camacho (MC from Malaga) - Free. Backup/fringe rotation option in MC/DMC.
Lorenzo Pezzi (ST from Fiorentina) - $7m. Probably overpaid a bit for this 17 year old Italian striker from Fiorentina, but he does have a 13 on finishing and a 12 on composure already, with an 18 in determination and 11 in off the ball. Projects to be a 4-star prospect. Normally I wouldn't have paid this much, and I'm already regretting it a bit, but Fiorentina were ahead of me in the table at the time so it was an anger-purchase in part too.

Players Out
Giovinco (ST/AMC to Zenit) - $10.75m. Just couldn't bust into the team ahead of Cardozo and with Negrado coming in on a free I wanted the money to outright buy Isla and bring in Doria.
Mirko Vucinic (ST to Atletico) - $4.3m. This was almost more about clearing payroll space (his $7m) so I could bring in Victor Valdes then it was about getting rid of Mirko.
Simone Padoin (MC to Inter) - $1.5m. Surplus to requirements.
Jelle Vossen (ST to Atalanta) - $4.8m. Never cracked the rotation, though I'm always seduced by his apparent skill.
Osvaldo (ST to Catania) - $14m. Never managed to beat out Negrado for a strong rotation spot (also probably my fault as manager to be really honest), and requested a transfer. I ended up paying $2.25m in transfer costs, plus his salary, for 1 goal and 3 assists over 5 matches. Definitely a failure of a transfer - particularly considering he put up 8 goals and 5 assists for Catania in 20 matches after being sold.
Federico Peluso (WB to Atalanta) - $1.5m. Surplus to requirements as Wijnaldum played well in his limited appearances, was playing well, but felt he deserved a shot at more playing time.

Yes I'm carrying $17m in goalie salaries. Yes, that's absurd. One of those two has to go.
On the plus side, doing my season review:

Of all players owned by me, two who did not play for me last year Gabbiadini (co-owned by Sampdoria) and Tomer Hemed (bought for $1.8m and loaned right back to Lazio for the year), outscored all of my strikers. A third, Simone Zaza (co-owned by Sassuolo) equaled Llorente for 4th place. So I think there's some pruning that can be done in my striking ranks, where Tevez and Llorente together make $18m/yr also. In contrast, the other 3 who outscored the two of them by like 2-1 make a combined $7m or so. Negrado also makes $7m as a rotation option.

I'd like to cut down my payroll to give me added flexability, so this is perhaps an area that's ripe for trimming.

[Blackadar]

FWIW its one of my biggest complaints about the game to myself, the whole management system seems jacked wherein everyone is close to being fired or fired all of the time.

/agree

I'm not playing 2014 (I'm still playing 2012), but even wildly successful managers seem perpetually on the edge.

I took Birmingham from the relegation league back up to Premiership - no small task. Due to some very fortunate young pickups who matured into great players, I won the Premiership three years later. I also won virtually everything else and topped 90% on the board approval. Yet for some reason they waited until a month before my contract was up to offer me a new one. Weird...

...but given this Birmingham dynasty I have going on, I can't imagine picking up 2014 anyway. I have so many very good and very young players it's scary. I'm in the process of winning the Premiership for the third year in a row. Give that up to start again? HELL NO!!!

:D

[Young Drachma]

Someday when I can play and keep my league structures from year to year...it'll be nice. I've had less and less fun playing because I want to tweak things so heavily. I'll eventually upgrade, as I tend to, but...not for a while. I barely played 13 at all.

[TroyF]

So I finished the year out. Hiddik took the ManU job, Villas Boras is hanging on by a thread after getting 4th. Chelsea was neck and neck with me all season before losing their last 5 games and handing me the title. (I would have won it anyway, but it'd have been a lot closer)

I ended up going out in the first knockout round to Bayren. I beat them 1-0 at home, they beat me 2-0 away, with the goal coming in the 89th minute.

I made it to the semi's of the FA cup only to be smacked hard by Newcastle. They beat my first team like a drum 4-1. Here is my transfer round up thus far:

IN:

Shaw LB - 26 million (dollars, not pounds)
Bender DMC - 30 million
Akeenfiv GK - free (contract ran out)

56 million total

OUT:

Monreal LB - 13.75 million
Diaby - MC - 4 million
Poldoski - 4 million (he just doesn't fit with what I want to do and he's signed for 8 million a year)
Djourou - 2.5 million
Flamini - 3.5 million

27.75 million



I still have over 50 million in transfer money left, but I'm happy with where I am now. My current lineup:

GK - Sczezny - Akeenfiv - Fabianski
DC - Kociensky - Mertesacker - Vermalean - Balata
DR - Sagna - Jenkinson
DL - Gibbs - Shaw
DMC - Bender - Arteta
MC - Ramsey - Honda
AMR - Walcott - Chamberlain
AMC - Ozil - Wilshire
AML - Cazorla - Vela
ST - Giroud - Sanago

A few kids filling out the roster and I'll probably sign a backup striker or MC/AMC type guy and move Vela to backup striker.

[SirFozzie]

Just added a beta version of my American Premier League file to Steam Workshop.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=192516075

Description:

This is a first version of the American Premier League file: (make sure to start in January 2013 if you want to start as an American Team:

Features:

A 20 team American Premier League (featuring 19 MLS clubs, and a fictional New York City FC, based on the Expansion team coming to MLS in 2015)

A 20 team American First Division, featuring 20 of the 21 USL Pro and NASL teams (Phoenix FC dropped to the 2nd division, as they were denied a license to compete in USL Pro next year)

A 24 team American Second Division, featuring 24 lower American Divsion teams.

A 64 team US Open Cup.

In the APL, there's guaranteed TV money and prize money, in the first and second division, it's all based on wins and losses (you receive a guaranteed amount even if you lose, but you earn more if you win)

Click "Add players to playable teams" when starting a game.

[DaddyTorgo]

draft + FA, or just FA?

[SirFozzie]

FA, there's no way to do a draft in a modified league, unfortunately.

[DaddyTorgo]

FA, there's no way to do a draft in a modified league, unfortunately.

Cool.

[SirFozzie]

Note the updated file, I accidentally deleted the file when I wanted to update it.

(fixed a bug with NYC FC's reputation)

[ColtCrazy]

Excited to get this tomorrow after reading all this. Definitely going to battle bravely against relegation with Crystal Palace.

[Young Drachma]

Just added a beta version of my American Premier League file to Steam Workshop.

Steam Workshop :: American Premier League 0.1 (http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=192516075)

Description:

This is a first version of the American Premier League file: (make sure to start in January 2013 if you want to start as an American Team:

Features:

A 20 team American Premier League (featuring 19 MLS clubs, and a fictional New York City FC, based on the Expansion team coming to MLS in 2015)

A 20 team American First Division, featuring 20 of the 21 USL Pro and NASL teams (Phoenix FC dropped to the 2nd division, as they were denied a license to compete in USL Pro next year)

A 24 team American Second Division, featuring 24 lower American Divsion teams.

A 64 team US Open Cup.

In the APL, there's guaranteed TV money and prize money, in the first and second division, it's all based on wins and losses (you receive a guaranteed amount even if you lose, but you earn more if you win)

Click "Add players to playable teams" when starting a game.

Hmm..

[DaddyTorgo]

The conundrum I'm facing.

31 year old Carlos Tevez wants a 3 year contract (carrying him thru age 34) at $10.75m/yr. He's still my second best striker, but only by a hair, and I have a huge transfer kitty (in the neighborhood of $90m this offseason, with which I need to replace him and find an heir for Buffon).

Do i want to be paying a 34 year old Tevez almost $11m/yr? Or do I try to find a younger replacement who is 85-90% of him?

Man - when I type it out it seems obvious that I should let him walk when his contract is up.

Also - letting Victor Valdes go is going to save me some nice $ that I can put towards Buffon's eventual heir as well (once I identify who the hell that is. I've used ter Stegen and Neuer in past games, but we'll see this time around - ter Stegen is already @ Barca having replaced Valdes).

[NoSkillz]

The conundrum I'm facing.

31 year old Carlos Tevez wants a 3 year contract (carrying him thru age 34) at $10.75m/yr. He's still my second best striker, but only by a hair, and I have a huge transfer kitty (in the neighborhood of $90m this offseason, with which I need to replace him and find an heir for Buffon).

Do i want to be paying a 34 year old Tevez almost $11m/yr? Or do I try to find a younger replacement who is 85-90% of him?

Man - when I type it out it seems obvious that I should let him walk when his contract is up.

Also - letting Victor Valdes go is going to save me some nice $ that I can put towards Buffon's eventual heir as well (once I identify who the hell that is. I've used ter Stegen and Neuer in past games, but we'll see this time around - ter Stegen is already @ Barca having replaced Valdes).

Tough one. Do you have enough wage budget to sign him, utilize your transfer budget to find his eventual replacement then move Tevez later? That way, you may be able to get something out of the deal rather than letting him walk for nothing.

Just a thought.

[DaddyTorgo]

Tough one. Do you have enough wage budget to sign him, utilize your transfer budget to find his eventual replacement then move Tevez later? That way, you may be able to get something out of the deal rather than letting him walk for nothing.

Just a thought.

Oh yeah, I have something like $100m in combined room between wage + transfer budgets for the coming year (although to be true to myself I should allocate at least 25% of that to buying youth players to begin my long-term planning to dominate the world). It's more just trying to be frugal/realistic in not wanting to give that kind of money to a striker at that age - and also not to "block" talented younger players.

But he's got 1 year left on his contract anyways, so I'm sort of leaning towards a "let him play it out while I look for his replacement this year" type of thing. He's not leaving in this offseason in other words, if I do nothing he'll leave NEXT offseason. I just generally have a policy of not letting players I want to keep go into the last year of their deal, but in this case it makes sense to let him do that I think.

Gabbiadini is a serviceable in-house replacement, and actually Luis Suarez may be viable for < $30m from Liverpool. Or I can keep looking for some amazing 19 and 20 year olds (always my preferred solution).

I don't like to throw my financial muscle around to sign in-prime stars, I prefer to use it to scoop up promising young players and groom them for career-long relationships with me.

[DaddyTorgo]

Hmmmm - trying to decide if Luis Suarez is worth it. $38m, but that's only a $4.5m premium over his "value."

He's a better and more prolific dribbler than Tevez, which should theoretically make him a better fit for the Trequartista/False 9 type role in my system.

[DaddyTorgo]

What's the most you'd pay for a 16 year old 5-star prospect?

I think I'm crazy. Barca have this kid who I want (despite already having a 5-star striker prospect), and I'm seriously considering plunking down $17m for him.

[bulletsponge]

What's the most you'd pay for a 16 year old 5-star prospect?

I think I'm crazy. Barca have this kid who I want (despite already having a 5-star striker prospect), and I'm seriously considering plunking down $17m for him.

that isnt crazy if hes good right now and will get better. for that much though he better not have any flaws in his game. personally i wouldnt pay it but thats because im a cheap tight ass and no kid that good would ever come to me from Barca (little twirp)

can you post a pic?

[DaddyTorgo]

that isnt crazy if hes good right now and will get better. for that much though he better not have any flaws in his game. personally i wouldnt pay it but thats because im a cheap tight ass and no kid that good would ever come to me from Barca (little twirp)

can you post a pic?

He's not the best I've ever seen - he's got a couple holes in his game, that I guess hopefully I could train up. I'm probably better off holding onto the money and waiting till I find someone with fewer current flaws. In fact...yeah...I'm definitely better off waiting. Don't know what I was almost thinking...guess I just wanted to make a splash maybe. Got caught up in the moment. Pays to take a breath and think things through.

I like building through youth, so I'm willing to pay up for youth, but even that is a ton for me - particularly when I have a guy who is better - LOL. I'd rather spread that sort of money over say 3 guys or more, not ONE.

"Capture" is the Barca kid..."Capture 2" is the guy I have already (who was only $1.6m too...hehe)

Nothing better to me then finding the "next Messi" newgen. I've got a team full of 5-star newgens in FM13...I kind of want to go back and keep playing the career with them, because they just ROMP over everyone.

[DaddyTorgo]

Something I think I just discovered as a solution to my offensive woes while fiddling with team and player instructions.

It's greatly beneficial (especially in a possession-oriented system but I imagine in any, although maybe not to the same degree) to go in and give your strikers (and or other finishers) the individual instruction to shoot often.

I hadn't and was a bit offensively stymied, now I have and I've erupted for 4 goals in the first half already, with 10 shots (6 on target) and 2 goals for one of my strikers (the poacher).

Interestingly the other (the Complete Forward) has no shots on target and 2 assists, which might indicate having both set to "shoot often" doesn't work SO well, but we'll see.

[fortheglory]

How is Football Manager shaping up this year? Has anybody spent a significant amount of time with it? Is it worth the purchase?

[SirFozzie]

Something I think I just discovered as a solution to my offensive woes while fiddling with team and player instructions.

It's greatly beneficial (especially in a possession-oriented system but I imagine in any, although maybe not to the same degree) to go in and give your strikers (and or other finishers) the individual instruction to shoot often.

I hadn't and was a bit offensively stymied, now I have and I've erupted for 4 goals in the first half already, with 10 shots (6 on target) and 2 goals for one of my strikers (the poacher).

Interestingly the other (the Complete Forward) has no shots on target and 2 assists, which might indicate having both set to "shoot often" doesn't work SO well, but we'll see.

There's only enough shots to go around.. and I would expect the Poacher to shoot more per his role then a "complete" forward (which indicates his job is also to make attacking passes)

[DaddyTorgo]

There's only enough shots to go around.. and I would expect the Poacher to shoot more per his role then a "complete" forward (which indicates his job is also to make attacking passes)

Yeah - but I'd like my complete forward to get at least a shot or two on target!

[DaddyTorgo]

Sweet sweet loving with my Athletic Bilbao squad.

Inter Milan finished 2nd in Serie A last year. They got drawn into my CL group along with Chelski (yes I got Bilbao into the CL).

So of course - I get Inter in the first game of the group stage.

I just laid a 3-1 beating on them. Dominated possession 60%-40%. 8 shots on target to their 2. Mikel Arteta finished with 1 goal and 2 assists. They suffered because they were playing a 3-3-2-1-1, so lacked the width in midfield to counter the field-stretching that I brought on them in the middle of the park (as reflected by my 10% possession advantage in the middle third of the pitch).

Inter picked up a cheap PK-goal early, and then I got a makeup-PK goal. Scored my second in the 66th minute off a corner, and tucked away the third on a beautiful flowing team move to one of my overlapping wingers in the 94th minute.

[bulletsponge]

He's not the best I've ever seen - he's got a couple holes in his game, that I guess hopefully I could train up. I'm probably better off holding onto the money and waiting till I find someone with fewer current flaws. In fact...yeah...I'm definitely better off waiting. Don't know what I was almost thinking...guess I just wanted to make a splash maybe. Got caught up in the moment. Pays to take a breath and think things through.

I like building through youth, so I'm willing to pay up for youth, but even that is a ton for me - particularly when I have a guy who is better - LOL. I'd rather spread that sort of money over say 3 guys or more, not ONE.

"Capture" is the Barca kid..."Capture 2" is the guy I have already (who was only $1.6m too...hehe)

Nothing better to me then finding the "next Messi" newgen. I've got a team full of 5-star newgens in FM13...I kind of want to go back and keep playing the career with them, because they just ROMP over everyone.

8 pace! and they wanted 17 mill for a striker with 8 pace! even if you specifically train up speed he will at best be 13 if he has lots of potential. yes dont buy him

[DaddyTorgo]

8 pace! and they wanted 17 mill for a striker with 8 pace! even if you specifically train up speed he will at best be 13 if he has lots of potential. yes dont buy him

Yeah - I held off. :)

He's tearing it up for Barca's B-team though.

[DaddyTorgo]

8 games into the season - tied for first place on points, behind Barca thanks to their massive goal differential (they're a +26 already).

6pts clear of Madrid with the same number of matches played.

[TroyF]

In my fourth year with Arsenal now and having the most successful stretch I have ever had. 30 competitive games without conceding more than one goal. Lost one game in the stretch (obviously 1-0) Still, I'm only up a point in the EPL over Chelsea and ManCity and have a tough CL draw in the quarters.

It's about time to start managing a lower league club.

[jbergey22]

I am pretty much awful at this game. So I decided to challenge myself and start with DC United and maybe work into a European job.

My season starts 0-3-1 and my untalented roster is dropping like flies. I am getting outshot around 28-12 per game so obviously my tactics arent clicking either.

I figured since I see so many success stories with people and their teams I would throw out what would appear to be an unsuccessful one:) I actually see not much hope for this season anyway. I have decent defenders but my forwards and midfielders arent even MLS level. Losing Pontius for 2-3 months makes this an even larger problem.

Atleast my team is young.

[bulletsponge]

I am pretty much awful at this game. So I decided to challenge myself and start with DC United and maybe work into a European job.

My season starts 0-3-1 and my untalented roster is dropping like flies. I am getting outshot around 28-12 per game so obviously my tactics arent clicking either.

I figured since I see so many success stories with people and their teams I would throw out what would appear to be an unsuccessful one:) I actually see not much hope for this season anyway. I have decent defenders but my forwards and midfielders arent even MLS level. Losing Pontius for 2-3 months makes this an even larger problem.

Atleast my team is young.

thats nothing! i took over NY Redbulls and had a subpar roster, young and talented, but not great. they finished dead last the season before so you know what i was getting into, and they had 2 DP goalkeepers. i started the season i think 1-1-16 and got fired. that was like 4 seasons ago, and they still havnt made the playoffs since i left.

[britrock88]

I am pretty much awful at this game. So I decided to challenge myself and start with DC United and maybe work into a European job.

My season starts 0-3-1 and my untalented roster is dropping like flies. I am getting outshot around 28-12 per game so obviously my tactics arent clicking either.

I figured since I see so many success stories with people and their teams I would throw out what would appear to be an unsuccessful one:) I actually see not much hope for this season anyway. I have decent defenders but my forwards and midfielders arent even MLS level. Losing Pontius for 2-3 months makes this an even larger problem.

Atleast my team is young.

I failed miserably trying to save Hinckley from dropping out of the BSN with their 3-point penalty and $465/wk TOTAL wage budget (FM 13). Fired with ~10 matches left in the season after clinching relegation with fewer than 20 points in 30+ matches.

[MrBug708]

The learning curve is a steep but fun challenge. I'm waiting for the half off discount before moving on this edition

[scooter]

I'm waiting for the half off discount before moving on this edition

Holiday Sale FTW! (me too)