Anyone still bother with the FM series?

Just finished my second season with Burnley - finished 15th.

Finished 11th in my first season, got to the quarters of the Europa League losing 3-1 on aggregate to Sporting. Thumped Ajax 4-1 along the way.

Vyrda was a machine in the first season, netted 19 league goals!

Yes - sacked in the first season with Burnley.

Started a game with united and finished 5th, Burnley were relegated.

You must be a genius

Sold most the players, stayed up last game of the season in the first. Won the league in the 3rd and fa cup somehow. Signed loads of youngsters

I’m playing. Don’t get much time with two kids though.

In my second season with Dortmund. Won the Bundesliga, but got hammered 3-0 in the Europa League Final by Dinamo Kiev.

I’m enjoying 2019 far more than 2017 or 2018, but 97/98 was peak for me.

Steam have just stopped supporting Windows XP so sadly that's the end of my 2012 game
(this PC was only used for playing this)

So, in the process of getting another computer so will move on to 2019

fanzone wrote:Yes - sacked in the first season with Burnley.

Started a game with united and finished 5th, Burnley were relegated.

You must be a genius

Not at all!

This is about my third restart with Burnley (got a new pc after swearing I wouldn’t bother playing it again).

Looks like I’m going down in my third season.

In my third season with Chester City in the Conference. Got promoted in my first season from the National league north.

Board and fans think I'm ace for being mid table, but its hard to attract players despite swimming in cash

According to Steam, the last one I played was 2013 and i spent 611 hours on it. But I swear most of that was just getting through one pre-season which is why I packed it in.
The move from CM to FM seemed to add loads of time (more realistic no doubt) but (hyperbole) I remember getting Hartlepool I think it was promoted from bottom division to top in a weekend on Champ Manager. Now it seems like it takes a season to play a season. (or at least in 2013 it did). Either that or my attention span has dwindled!

I'm still playing a physical version of '08. Which was the last before they went to dvd rom I think. It says I've been playing it for 92 actual days of my life

Go for the touch version on ipad, it gets the balance well.

Wokingclaret wrote:Steam have just stopped supporting Windows XP so sadly that's the end of my 2012 game
(this PC was only used for playing this)

So, in the process of getting another computer so will move on to 2019

How far were you into the save? I still play fm12 now and again, winning everything with Burnley in the 'Dobson Arena'. I don't get much time these days. I actually started the game in 2012 in real life. Im in 2029 now (not real life though of course )

gandhisflipflop wrote:How far were you into the save? I still play fm12 now and again, winning everything with Burnley in the 'Dobson Arena'. I don't get much time these days. I actually started the game in 2012 in real life. Im in 2029 now (not real life though of course )

Got to around 2065. I still think you can play 2012 if you have Windows 7

Inspired me to get champ man 01/02 back going...

Valentine’s Day is one minute old and I’m already in trouble

Oh how I miss this game played it religiously until 2014 I had every years version from when it started as FM. since then I don’t have the time or in fact now the Laptop ( since my kids destroyed it by being kids). If I ever get a new Laptop and gain a bit more time to myself I will start again I won’t hold my breath for either at the moment though.

Wokingclaret wrote:Got to around 2065. I still think you can play 2012 if you have Windows 7

Interesting. How did you stop it becoming repetitive? I've found it harder to win the European cup for example because the regens are brilliant for a lot of sides.

Well I was sacked in February after dropping to 19th, losing 5 on the spin.

Managed to get the Everton job in the summer though which I certainly wasn’t expecting.

CM 01/02 for peak for me, spent days at a time on it, skived so much sixth form back then. A few years ago I got a copy of it on eBay with all updated squads etc, but it just didn’t cut it after playing the football manager series for a few years.

Champ 97/98 is the best game EVER realeased. The amount of my life i wasted on that is frightening.

Since then its become TOO detailed and too consuming. I even managed a few good multiplayer games on the old version.

Can you play the new one online vs mates... actually stupid question. I think heroin would be better for me than reintroducing this!

97/98 was THAT addictive, no word of a lie my mate walked out of school in year 10 to concentrate on his champ man career

Spent far too much time on Champ Manager 2001/2002 on the xbox.

You could do a season in about 4/5 hours.

We played 97/98 at uni. Proper amazing game. Organising deals with the lads to try and move your team on. Missed lectures because of it. I haven't bought one for a few years because it just takes so long and I'm terrible at tactics. I keep waiting for it to come on sale before I commit.

xxmunkyennuixx wrote:We played 97/98 at uni. Proper amazing game. Organising deals with the lads to try and move your team on. Missed lectures because of it. I haven't bought one for a few years because it just takes so long and I'm terrible at tactics. I keep waiting for it to come on sale before I commit.

I bought 97 98 online a few years back on ebay. You get a code to install it on whatever windows version you have. It was about 4quid.

The thing i missed most about 97 98 was the stadium backgrounds. When playing Inter Milan it had the san siro. Or all the old eastern bloc stadia etc. Turf with the longside.

Bought the new 1 on the back of his thread last nite

Signed zinchenko che adams and sisoko immediately for burnley and won the first europa legs comfortably

Absolutely love the FM series, FM19 best by far. Started another Burnley save last week, went on amazing FA cup run, losing to Man city 4-2 in the final, finished 11th.
Just had a clear out of the backroom staff, and looking to spend the £52,000,000 I've been given in transfer budget
Had a bid of £65,000,000 for Tarks from West Ham.

Aye second season in with Stirling Albion...
I've had two consecutive promotions and now in the Scottish Championship.

Getting hard now as the team won't turn pro! So I have a semi-pro team, max earner on £275/week

FM2008 was THE perfect mix of realism and playability. My only wish was that they would retrofit the 3d match engine so i can see my boys play like that. (im in the top 3 all time worldwide Hall of Fame spots by some distance on that game on my install)

cricketfieldclarets wrote:I bought 97 98 online a few years back on ebay. You get a code to install it on whatever windows version you have. It was about 4quid.

The thing i missed most about 97 98 was the stadium backgrounds. When playing Inter Milan it had the san siro. Or all the old eastern bloc stadia etc. Turf with the longside.

YES!

I completely forgot about this. People used to wonder how my football knowledge was so good, but it was just years of being glued to a computer screen.

I was always Juve on 97/98. Just thinking of the players takes me back. Peruzzi, Montero, Pesotto, Ferrara, Di Livio, Inzaghi..

I used to always buy Philip Cocu too. £4M from PSV.

Fantastic memories. I’d do it all again if I could.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Champ 97/98 is the best game EVER realeased. The amount of my life i wasted on that is frightening.

Since then its become TOO detailed and too consuming. I even managed a few good multiplayer games on the old version.

Can you play the new one online vs mates... actually stupid question. I think heroin would be better for me than reintroducing this!

They've made it available for free now or alternatively play it in your browser.

TsarBomba wrote:YES!

I completely forgot about this. People used to wonder how my football knowledge was so good, but it was just years of being glued to a computer screen.

I was always Juve on 97/98. Just thinking of the players takes me back. Peruzzi, Montero, Pesotto, Ferrara, Di Livio, Inzaghi..

I used to always buy Philip Cocu too. £4M from PSV.

Fantastic memories. I’d do it all again if I could.

Robert Pires, Ibrahim Bakayoko and Denilson forst signings?

What a ******* it was waiting for shearer to get over his injury

I also bought the new one due to this thread. I'm useless so far, maybe I'm not getting involved in the tactics deeply which is my downfall.

Keep losing in the Euro final qualifying round after spanking earlier clubs and restarting it. Even gave Rangers a good thrashing on one attempt.

In the 1st few Prem games I get pasted and been bottom on all attempts.

Any tips?

My love affair with Football Manager ended when I head-butted my laptop and cracked the screen following a particularly heavy defeat back in 2007.

Walt wrote:I also bought the new one due to this thread. I'm useless so far, maybe I'm not getting involved in the tactics deeply which is my downfall.

Keep losing in the Euro final qualifying round after spanking earlier clubs and restarting it. Even gave Rangers a good thrashing on one attempt.

In the 1st few Prem games I get pasted and been bottom on all attempts.

Any tips?

I played

Hart (Heaton when fit)

Lowton Mee Tark Taylor

Maitland Niles, Cork, Hendrick

Snodgrass Gudmundsson (on the wings)

Vydra

That formation (to an extent) Did me wonders in the first season.
Always set to positive as well.
Cork bagged about 5 from outside the area. Snodgrass chipped in with a fair few.
Picked up Victor Fischer as well, he scored a few and got a load of assists.

GK

CB CB

DML DMC DMR

CM

AM AM AM

ST

The only formation you’ll ever need

Walt wrote:I also bought the new one due to this thread. I'm useless so far, maybe I'm not getting involved in the tactics deeply which is my downfall.

Keep losing in the Euro final qualifying round after spanking earlier clubs and restarting it. Even gave Rangers a good thrashing on one attempt.

In the 1st few Prem games I get pasted and been bottom on all attempts.

Any tips?

Save ur game before u play that leg and keep reloading with different tactics till u win

4-1-3-2

Always

Still my favourite ever FM clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWLQeZViOgM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

theroyaldyche wrote:Save ur game before u play that leg and keep reloading with different tactics till u win

Sounds fun

Did anyone else dress up in a suit and play abide with me before an FA Cup final?

Lads........

Lads?

theroyaldyche wrote:Save ur game before u play that leg and keep reloading with different tactics till u win

I've always had a rule that no matter what I don't quit and restart as there are no do overs in life and I want it to be as realistic as possible. It's not always easy but I feel much better when I do get some success as I feel I've earned it more

Somehow managed to sign Rafinha from Barca in my second season as well.

Right signing.

My formation on 2012 has always been...

Gk
Sw
Lcb Lcb
Wb wb
Dlp avp (Both support)
Avp
CF P

I call it the 5 3 2 sweeper formation, although others say 3 5 2. Depends on how you view your wing backs.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Sounds fun

Dont say uv neva cheated

theroyaldyche wrote:Dont say uv neva cheated

Youre only cheating yourself!

gandhisflipflop wrote:My formation on 2012 has always been...

Gk
Sw
Lcb Lcb
Wb wb
Dlp avp (Both support)
Avp
CF P

I call it the 5 3 2 sweeper formation, although others say 3 5 2. Depends on how you view your wing backs.

You've lost me now. 2 Left Centre backs? Also what are DLP & AVP and P?

limited centre back
deep lying playmaker
advanced playmaker
p - not a scooby

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Youre only cheating yourself!

But you will have cheated at least once

Goobs wrote:You've lost me now. 2 Left Centre backs? Also what are DLP & AVP and P?

Limited centre backs (no nonsense type)
Advanced playmaker
Deep lying playmaker
Goal poacher.

Feite Arp is a very good signing. I used him as a sub and starting cup games in the first season then he has been a regular ever since.

Chris Mepham from Brentford is another good
One for the future.

If you're in one of the top European Leagues - or lower in some cases - you can sign the lot of these and have change left from twenty million.

Birger Meling, left back, Rosenborg

Rasmus Falk, left winger/number 10, Kobenhavn

Moez Ben Cherifia, goalkeeper, Espérance Sportive de Tunis

Muhammed Kiprit, striker, Hertha Berlin

Auston Trusty, centre back, Philadelphia Union

Sebastian Szymański, left wing/right wing, Legia Warsaw

Perhaps not Kiprit but it depends on how used he is at Hertha, sometimes he's still lingering in the youth squads if Hertha bring a new striker in for the senior squad. Meling can become, in a couple of seasons, the best left back in Europe and you can sign him for less than three million. Falk might not be a starter for Premier League sides but is a really useful utility option.

Oh, I really suggest playing with the Scandinavian/Nordic leagues. There are some good players there and a lot of them aren't even on contracts so you can swoop in for nowt. This is especially good if you're managing a lower league side like Grimsby, Solihull Moors or Blackburn Rovers for example.

Off the top of my head, there's a striker called David Tavakoli, twenty-five years old, playing for Oslo City. You can sign him for free and he'll bag you twenty in the right league.

Robin Rasch at KFUM Oslo is absolutely ridiculous too - central midfield, sits deep and pings passes about for fun. Will grab you maybe double figures a season from the edge of the box and free kicks.

And there's a player called Jonathan Bagger at Midtjylland who's a sixteen or seventeen, winger, immediately class and can be one of the best wingers in Europe. You can sign him for free too at the beginning of the game, before Midtjylland offer him a pro contract.

Look out for Achraf Hakimi at Real Madrid. Moroccan right back. For some reason Real sometimes release him about two seasons into the game without him playing much at all for them. (In real life he's at Dortmund, on loan from Real.) You can sign him for nothing and after a season flog him on for about thirty million, maybe more.

I took over KFUM Oslo (an amateur side in the third division), made them professional, changed the name to Fotballklub Oslo (FKO), changed the shirts from red and white to green and blue, new stadium, three promotions on the trot, Norwegian champions three years running, won the FA Cup twice. Next stage is to try and get out of the Champions League group. It's very tricky because Norway isnt a seeded league so we keep being put in groups with at least two of the eventual semi-finalists, and getting hammered.

Pickles wrote:If you're in one of the top European Leagues - or lower in some cases - you can sign the lot of these and have change left from twenty million.

Birger Meling, left back, Rosenborg

Rasmus Falk, left winger/number 10, Kobenhavn

Moez Ben Cherifia, goalkeeper, Espérance Sportive de Tunis

Muhammed Kiprit, striker, Hertha Berlin

Auston Trusty, centre back, Philadelphia Union

Sebastian Szymański, left wing/right wing, Legia Warsaw

Perhaps not Kiprit but it depends on how used he is at Hertha, sometimes he's still lingering in the youth squads if Hertha bring a new striker in for the senior squad. Meling can become, in a couple of seasons, the best left back in Europe and you can sign him for less than three million. Falk might not be a starter for Premier League sides but is a really useful utility option.

Oh, I really suggest playing with the Scandinavian leagues. There are some good players there and a lot of them aren't even on contracts so you can swoop in for nowt. This is especially good if you're managing a lower league side like Grimsby, Solihull Moors or Blackburn Rovers for example. Off the top of my head, there's a striker called David Tavakoli, twenty-five years old, playing for Oslo City. You can sign him for free and he'll bag you twenty in the right league. Robin Rasch at KFUM Oslo is absolutely ridiculous too - central midfield, sits deep and pings passes about for fun. Will grab you maybe double figures a season from the edge of the box and free kicks.

I took over KFUM Oslo (an amateur side in the third division), made them professional, changed the name to Fotballklub Oslo (FKO), changed the shirts from red and white to green and blue, new stadium, three promotions on the trot, Norwegian champions three years running, won the FA Cup twice. Next stage is to try and get out of the Champions League group. It's very tricky because Norway isnt a seeded league so we keep being put in groups with at least two of the eventual semi-finalists, and getting hammered.

I have started with Notts county so.will have a look at these!

There's a class player for rb salzburg. Can't remember the name but is an attacking midfielder teenager. Something like wolf or ralf or something. Also radjkovic from Jerusalem is a great keeper.

gandhisflipflop wrote:I have started with Notts county so.will have a look at these!

There's a class player for rb salzburg. Can't remember the name but is an attacking midfielder teenager. Something like wolf or ralf or something. Also radjkovic from Jerusalem is a great keeper.

Tavakoli will be great at Notts County! In my game he eventually went to Accy in League One and was top scorer for them. Seriously, check out the Norwegian lower leagues, that's where he came from. And yeah - RB Salzburg have loads of incredible players on the game.

(Made a mistake, Tavakoli begins at a side called Skeid - another Oslo side.)