Football Manager 2008

[edyzmedieval]

So my copy is waiting for me back at my school (vacation momentarily), and I can't wait to get it and install it, but before that, I want to ask your opinion about you Orgahs which are FM fans.

Good? Worse? Same as 2007?

NOTE: I am a hardcore FM player.

[professorspatula]

They should ban that football themed spreadsheet. Games like that are horribly addictive and relationship breakers.

From the brief stuff I've heard of the new version, it's still excellent but not really adding that much new stuff. Well there's a 100 new features apparently, but still feels like it's not that different. Obviously the teams are more up to date, but I sometimes think they should be charging less until a bigger revamped version is released. If I recall they used to do that for a bit back in the old days when it was still Championship Manager.

Then again if you're a massive fan, you're guaranteed to get your money's worth when you consider how long you can play the game for so there's no real need to worry if the game has improved or not since the last one. It certainly isn't some 8 hour and it's over game like Max Payne. Pre-season takes that long for a starter before you even worry about your title hopes!

[scotchedpommes]

Ah, Football Manager.

There is so much I could say, edyz, but I'm not sure I should. As for the latest
version, I've been playing the demo and it seems very much the same, although
doubtless that will be enough.

Don't know if I will take the plunge and get the full version - not sure where it
would end. My strange relationship with the last game ended shortly after the
fourth season. The disgust of coming from nowhere to possibly snatch the title
on the last day, and then just have the team bottle it completely, it was just
unacceptable.

[Yes, ban the things.]

[edyzmedieval]

Ban the things. I spent 6h today playing FM08!

On another note, with Ajax, I owned Toulouse 4-0, PSV Eindhoven 4-2 and got a draw with Liverpool.

[scotchedpommes]

See, to me, there is next to no enjoyment to be had in playing the game with an
established top-level team. Regardless of my own sympathies, I will take charge
of a little-known team and attempt to briing them up.

[Although admittedly I am now naturally an honorary supporter of the club which
caused me so much gaming pain.]

[professorspatula]

Yea I don't usually play these games any more, but my brother who does, usually starts with a struggling low division team, then gets rid of as many of the high wage earners as possible, brings in some youngsters and tries to turn things around, before leaving to join another struggling side, albeit a slightly better one. It's harder to buy youngsters and make millions than it used to be apparently but usually you can stockpile a large amount of dough within a few seasons. Only thing is the chairman and board of directors never want you to have your hands on the money. They'd rather it went on expensive tea parties or something instead of on signing some star striker. I think the last time I played Football Manager I started with Doncaster Rovers or someone. I didn't do well though. It had been about 5 years since I last played one of these games and I was quickly overwhelmed with the sheer depth of the thing.

[scotchedpommes]

My own real success just about came to me when I decided to buy the
stand-out players from teams either just newly promoted into my division,
or those that were struggling. The problem then became that I didn't have
many youngsters coming through, and when I did buy one real prospect
[quite by accident] it disrupted the team chemistry completely. Add to that
the main problem that if you have even a hint of success, the players are
either poached by the more prominent clubs in the region, or the champions
in the same league.

[Lorenzo_H]

Will this game be better than the Fifa Manager 08?

[LeftEyeNine]

Will this game be better than the Fifa Manager 08?

I'd really not compare the two. No one would, Lorenzo. It's an insult, to be honest.

[edyzmedieval]

Actually, it's a matter of taste. I find the tactical part of FIFAM to be a bit lacking, but it makes up for more management issues, so you are a real manager, and also a coach. FM is concentrated on more coaching, less managing.

I have no favourites. I bought one, will buy FIFAM 08 too.

[Lorenzo_H]

I'd really not compare the two. No one would, Lorenzo. It's an insult, to be honest.

Yes, but an insult to whom?

Actually, it's a matter of taste. I find the tactical part of FIFAM to be a bit lacking, but it makes up for more management issues, so you are a real manager, and also a coach. FM is concentrated on more coaching, less managing.

I have no favourites. I bought one, will buy FIFAM 08 too.

So which would you reccommend to someone new to the genre? It seems that Fifa M08 has 3d games, which seems like a nice little addition (although I would be the last to complain in it's absence).

[Marius Dynamite]

I cant play Football Manager or Champy since I realised its all just programming code :'( Its all I think about when I play it.

[scotchedpommes]

And what did you think it was previously? The Gods of Football working in your
favour, or against you, as they see fit?

[AntiochusIII]

And what did you think it was previously? The Gods of Football working in your
favour, or against you, as they see fit?

You know that might explain my luck in championships.

I'm still scarred from the countless tormented days and nights I spent screaming at the monitor over the original CM series and this one. I swear these are worse stuff than the most addictive of MMO's.

[naut]

Always bargains amongst the free agents.

[edyzmedieval]

Sometimes, but only after the first season. You can sign some good guys in the January Transfer Market, but most great guys will want for you to wait time so they can see if they get any other offers.

My grief?

AI Managers want almost the double price on players. One guy valued at 1.3 million - the club wants 2.9 million for him. I have the cash, but I need to be 100% sure he will contribute. Scout reports are useful, but sometimes they can be a bust.

[scotchedpommes]

I caved in.

[edyzmedieval]

This means you're playing it?
Good boy!! Now you'll forget that women do actually exist and some of them are meant to be loved.

[scotchedpommes]

It means I've got it, but it's been sitting in its box taunting me, because I should
be doing some work. [Haven't though, so it will come out soon.] As for the
women... well, you couldn't be more right there.

[edyzmedieval]

I find FM 2008 a bit harder than FM 2007. First of all, when you try to transfer some players, the bad thing is that they actually ask for the player almost double the price! And also, hot prospects and other good players...forget it, the club will dismiss your enquiry from the start.

[edyzmedieval]

I can't help it. I arrived in campus at 11, I stayed til 3 a.m. to play FM08. Woke up at 10:30, went for a serious breakfast, then returned and played from 11 to 3:30.

Interesting things? Andy van der Meyde returned to Ajax, I bought Kerlon and his seal dribble, and I payed 7 million euros for Michael Woods, a 18 year old MC from Chelsea. Oh, and 5-2 vs AZ Alkmaar.

[Lorenzo_H]

I'm getting this and/or FIFA Mananger 08 as soon as I get a computer...

[scotchedpommes]

For those of you who do already play the game, which leagues
do you have simulated [fully or otherwise] outside the one your
team is playing in?

[edyzmedieval]

I find "hard" games much easier now. I did an experiment in my Champions League - Ajax, I got to the semi-finals against a full side Man Utd. Did it 10 times, I won 5 out of 10 times. Out of 20 times in FM07, just one victory was possible.

Now, I passed with Ajax almost everything. Except Arsenal. Arsenal is ridiculously good. My first try of the ECC final ended in a shocking match - 8-5 loss!!! And some players, which actually suck completely, are incredibly good. Ballack, Shevchenko... They sucked for Chelsea, but they caused havoc in my defence. Fortunately for me, Klaas Jan Huntelaar saved me again. The guy scored 49 goals in 54 matches.

[edyzmedieval]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrMIC7u-J5A

[scotchedpommes]

I find "hard" games much easier now.

Stop playing as Ajax.


Edit: Just listened to the start of the video, and surprise surprise,
where's the user from?

[Rhyfelwyr]

FIFA Soccer Manager 97 is the best soccer manager game of all time! I remember playing English 3rd division sides, selling all my players, and replacing them with new ones of similar quality, who I realised would all happily play on no wages for the limit of 60 month contracts. So with all the income I was soon able to sign players like Laudrup, Romario, Bebeto, Cantona, Giggs (he was the best in the game, 90 at Free Role) etc. Every time I played as some team I would win each division each season until I finally won the Premiership. Then the season after that I would usually win the Champions League.

Not like when I downloaded the FM2008 Demo and played as Dumbarton. I lost every pre-season game, including a defeat to Glasgow University. Then I lost 7-2 to Forfar in the first game of the season, and then I stopped playing.

I just had no idea what tactics to use, playing that game made me feel like I stepped into the Matrix, all I could see was code.

[scotchedpommes]

Dear God, man! Glasgow Uni?

In fairness, they scraped a win against Partick or something in my demo
pre-season with Elgin. 7-2 to Forfar, though? What were you doing? I
take it you were down a man?

Forfar are whipping boys, are they not?

[IrishArmenian]

Fortunately for me, Klaas Jan Huntelaar saved me again. The guy scored 49 goals in 54 matches.

Now that's real world simulation right there! (I'm not joking, he's amazing)
How does this game work, it seems interesting! Any chance of my leading Ararat to victory*?
Who the hell am I joking?

[edyzmedieval]

Stop playing as Ajax.


Edit: Just listened to the start of the video, and surprise surprise,
where's the user from?

Ajax is probably one of the lowest teams which the chance of winning the Champions League. My most expensive transfer was Nicolae Dica from Steaua Bucharest, who cost me about 2.7 million euros. I got Ivan Ergic from Basel for a free transfer, Didy from CFR Cluj for 650.000 euros and in the January transfer window, I got Andy Van Der Meyde from Everton for 2.2 million euros. That's all the big transfers I made and I owned Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal...

He's from Scotland.

@IrishArmenian

If you do a lot of save/reload, and you make a new user with Chelsea, and you buy your really bad players for 50 million euros, then it's guaranteed you'll get the Champions League.

KJH - 51 goals in 55 matches (that's a bit too much...)

Oh oh, and guess what?
Edgar Manucharyan won Best Player of the Year. He made 19 appearances for me, and scored 14 goals.