Football Manager 2009

[Rhyfelwyr]

I just got the demo for this last night, I've been playing it all day.

I'm really getting addicted. I went as Dumbarton, and managed to lose 8 of my 9 first games, incuding all the pre-season friendlies. At least in the league I've now won three and lost three. And I signed Paddy Flannery!

On the game itself, I love the new 3D engine. It makes it feel so much more realistic. The one thing that annoys me though is the stands, couldn't there at least be some basic crowd graphics?

Still its looking good, although I am a little concerned about the balance. In the World Cup Qualifiers, Andorra are currently top of their group, having beaten Kazakhstan, drawn with England, and beaten Belarus.

I don't know how I'm going to resist using up the 6-months gametime before the full version comes out...

[Craterus]

6 months of a season? Can you do lots of seasons?

Anyhow, I'll be buying it on the 14th or soon after. Even though I'm still quite attached to my current game on FM08.

[naut]

Sounds good.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I've been getting ridiculous amounts of injuries though, and every team in my division has got at least 4 players out and that was only after 2 games into the season!

Hopefully this will get sorted with a Patch...

[edyzmedieval]

Oh man why did you have to tell me about the demo? From now on I wont be able to do my homework for the next weeks!

[Ferret]

I seem to be just as useless at this as I was at FM08

I think I signed too many young foreign players, that I'm not actually sure are any good, the stats confuse me, because as Newcastle I'm losing to Romanian and League 1 teams...

Going to try again as los beticos on the strawberry demo.

[Craterus]

What kind of tactics are you using? Are you making any changes to the team instructions etc. ?

[Ferret]

team instruction?

I've got a lot left to learn yet, I'm using hardly any of the availible options. I'll start my Betis one today or tomorrow and try a lot more experimenting.

[Sarmatian]

Don't sign many new players, especially young and foreign. New players need time to fit in the team, and it's harder if they're young and inexperienced, and especially if they're foreign (they need to learn the language first).

When starting in a new club, identify weakest positions and buy a couple of players for those positions. Don't try to change to whole team, unless it's really, really bad.

Also, word of advice - if you're new to the game, try to keep it simple. If you try to change too many things without really understanding them, like tactics, team instruction, specific player instruction and so on, it will more than likely end in disaster.

FM is very complex. Don't feel bad if you don't get it all at once.

One more thing, very important - if you by any chance start with a team from Serbia, be sure to choose Vojvodina Novi Sad

[LittleGrizzly]

because as Newcastle I'm losing to Romanian and League 1 teams...

Thats because of FM realism.... not your fault

Keep it simple and basic then work your way from there... big strong centre backs, speed on the wings, ball winners and good passers in the centre...

[Rhyfelwyr]

I lost all my pre-season friendlies, it takes time to find a formation that works well for your team.

Now, I've won 4 and lost 3 in the league, so things are definetely improving, just be patient.

Now I think about it, I've not had a singly draw in 13 games...

[Sarmatian]

I've played several matches with Juventus. Won all my friendlies (against inferior teams, to be honest) and managed to knock out Galatasaray in Champions League (0:0, 1:3). I like it so far, although it seems there are a bit more injuries than there should be. Also, even if I set my players to close down on opposition, they seem to allow them a great deal of space.

But in general, I think I'll get this one. I didn't like 2007 or 2008.

[Ferret]

Thanks for the advice, things are going a lot better as Betis, I only bought two new players, one that was highly recommended and has set up a lot of my goals and the other was recommended and speaks the right language. We still managed to throw away a 3-1 lead though which was dissapointing but at least I'm not last. Definately agree about the injuries though, I'm having to use a lot of the reserve squad because everyone is injured.

[Craterus]

Are these knocks or full-blown injuries? I could deal with players missing the odd week but lots of broken legs would be annoying.

Other than that, can't wait. First game: Fiorentina.

[Sarmatian]

Are these knocks or full-blown injuries? I could deal with players missing the odd week but lots of broken legs would be annoying.

Other than that, can't wait. First game: Fiorentina.

Usually it ranges from couple of days to couple of weeks. The longest for me was Arshavin, whom I bought - 4 weeks.

But it still seems over the top. There pretty much wasn't a match where I didn't have at least two or three players injured. Also, physical condition needs tuning. Almost none of my players can play two games a week. I understand that no player can play like that for the entire season but they should be able to play several weeks like that, especially players from top teams. So, often I have to select players with 85-90% match fitness for the match. That might also be why there are so many injuries.

One particular flaw that won't probably interest you so much, but it's very important to me, is that Serbian teams are totally messed up. I'm not talking attributes, that's easily tweaked in the editor but major errors, like players still playing in some club although they left it 5 years ago, goalkeepers are attacking midfielders, 30-year old player is 20-year old and so on. Even quality of the players is totally wrong. Vukobratovic, a nobody from Partizan is made like he's supposed to be new Davids, while 17-year old Aleksic from Vojvodina, who is touted as the most talented player in Serbia and is drawing interest from teams like Barcelona is a total fluke. I can just hope that they used older database for the demo and that it will be corrected in the final version...

[Pannonian]

One particular flaw that won't probably interest you so much, but it's very important to me, is that Serbian teams are totally messed up. I'm not talking attributes, that's easily tweaked in the editor but major errors, like players still playing in some club although they left it 5 years ago, goalkeepers are attacking midfielders, 30-year old player is 20-year old and so on. Even quality of the players is totally wrong. Vukobratovic, a nobody from Partizan is made like he's supposed to be new Davids, while 17-year old Aleksic from Vojvodina, who is touted as the most talented player in Serbia and is drawing interest from teams like Barcelona is a total fluke. I can just hope that they used older database for the demo and that it will be corrected in the final version...

You can always write to them with more accurate and up-to-date information. Their databases rely on reports from volunteers all over the world - a friend contributed in this way to one of their earlier games.

[Sarmatian]

You can always write to them with more accurate and up-to-date information. Their databases rely on reports from volunteers all over the world - a friend contributed in this way to one of their earlier games.

There's a pretty decent FM community in Serbia and they provided most of the research, but from a quick glance at their forums, they're very angry because SI didn't use their research, so they're hoping it's a demo thing.

[Ferret]

I had five of my first team out for over a month each. My top striker is expected back in 4 months, can't remember what the injuries were called though. So yeah, I'm stuck at the bottom of the table with two points after about 10 games...

[Pannonian]

I had five of my first team out for over a month each. My top striker is expected back in 4 months, can't remember what the injuries were called though. So yeah, I'm stuck at the bottom of the table with two points after about 10 games...

Is your name Juande?

[LeftEyeNine]

Well, as long as there are no AI "handicaps" like "corner/cross+header=goal" pattern this time which enforces you to do the same "trick" against AI, I'm def'ly getting it again.

Nothing like cold beer, snacks and Sporting Gijon

[Ferret]

Gijon!? Eurgh....

And no, my name is Ramos

[LeftEyeNine]

Welcome to the world of hardcore managerism, kid.

[Pannonian]

For those who complain about the inaccuracy of players' stats, here's this week's Guardian's Joy of Six, on the subject of Championship Manager legends. Reminisce about all-time greats like Ibrahima Babayoko, Michael Duff and Tonton Zola Moukoko.

[LittleGrizzly]

Bakayoko was an absolute classic of the 97/98 version, he was perfect 'in the hole' behind the strikers

Edit

Mcevely and Agahowa, cheap genuises in the 99/00 or 00/01 cm... Hofland too... as good a left back or centre back as mcevely

Edit 2

I have gone out and got cm 97/98 havent played yet but im going to have a big session tonight!

Edit 3

I heard about someone buying Klinsman but did anyone ever have Maradonna ?

with a bit of editing Wolves could afford his wages and he was a beast in D1!

50 odd goals i think he got that season... stamina is crap though...

[Sarmatian]

Bakayoko was an absolute classic of the 97/98 version, he was perfect 'in the hole' behind the strikers

Oh, yeah. In my game as Marseille, I've had Bakayoko as AM C, and Trezegue and Henry as strikers (back then they were just young talents, but man, were they good!). I was unstoppable. Actually, I think the 97/98 version was the best of all (considering the times of course). Straightforward and to the point,with just the right amount of details. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the amount of things to worry about in the new versions. Player A doesn't like player B and they play bad together. Or it is because the pitch is wet, or because another manager declared interest in one of them, or because one doesn't understand the language or because it's a bug and whatever you do, you can't change anything.

In the first CM, my favourite player was Cantona...

[johnhughthom]

I've gotten into it this year for the first time in a few versions, fired up a game this morning and only just come off after 6 hours-haven't had a session like that in years. The 3D engine has potential, a few occasions where it seems to do odd things to make the onscreen action match up with the stats but it hasn't made me throw my tea across the room yet. Even when I conceded in the eighth minute of injury time in a match that should have had four. Currently 13th in the Conference North with Hyde after 10 league matches, only lost twice-too many draws.

[LittleGrizzly]

Oh, yeah. In my game as Marseille, I've had Bakayoko as AM C, and Trezegue and Henry as strikers (back then they were just young talents, but man, were they good!).

In my current Monaco game i have those 3 as my attacking players, damn scoring machines!... a little dissapointed in bakayoko actually... not performing to his usual standards...

Edit: Into the qauters in europe, beat newcastle 3-1 away in the first leg and top of the league.. its going smoothly...

In the first CM, my favourite player was Cantona...

This is the first one i played, am tempted to get older cm just so i can have my favourite ever player!

[Sarmatian]

Oh, yeah. In my game as Marseille, I've had Bakayoko as AM C, and Trezegue and Henry as strikers (back then they were just young talents, but man, were they good!).

In my current Monaco game i have those 3 as my attacking players, damn scoring machines!... a little dissapointed in bakayoko actually... not performing to his usual standards...

Edit: Into the qauters in europe, beat newcastle 3-1 away in the first leg and top of the league.. its going smoothly...

In the first CM, my favourite player was Cantona...

This is the first one i played, am tempted to get older cm just so i can have my favourite ever player!

That means that his average rating is below 7.75 or 8.00?

Considering older CMs, well, I don't want to put you off, but compared to 97/98, they're really simple. The biggest progress was between those two iterations. All versions after that were mostly evolution of the game, while 97/98 was the revolution.

But, if that doesn't bother you, go ahead. It was still very fun - how can combining Baggio, Cantona, Gullit and Zola in one team be boring?

Back on topic, my copy is on its way, so expect a review of FM 2009 within a couple of days.

[naut]

Quick question, does it have DRM. I know 08 did have a version of SecuROM, but I only realised it did after buying it. I'd rather not make the same mistake twice.

Edit: Looks like it's got Uniloc, anyone heard of this form of DRM? Any negative side affects, or is it safe (unlikely). I'd rather not buy it only to have my computer fried by SecuROM 7 style DRM, like what happened to my machine when I bought F.E.A.R. Man was that a painful and unnecessary experience.

Edit 2: Quick Google search. Uniloc requires me to activate it via their servers. Strike 1. What if I want to reinstall it a couple years down the line and Uniloc no longer exists? Limited to five installs. Strike 2. Sure five is more reasonable than three like EA provides and you at least get an install back when you uninstall, but still I'm against such measures on principle. Strike 3. This article explains alot. Although not as draconian has SecuROM, and a lot smarter than SecuROM it still utilises aspects such as identifying your computer's hardware to verify activations, so if I upgrade hardware it'll assume I've installed it on another machine, thus eating another activation. Also it seems the developers have access to my copy and could lock me out or turn my game into a trial version. This seems like a gaping security hole, one I'm sure an experienced hacker could no doubt exploit. Another question for those of you that have it already, on the install does it inform you that DRM will be installed on your computer? I know 08 didn't which annoyed me no end, if 09 doesn't then I'm staying well clear of SI for the foreseeable future. Pity, since I like their games, and was considering buying this one. And I bet you, if you did a Google search right now you'd find that the game has already been hacked. Sigh.

Edit 3: Also it uses a "Hardware Insight" feature that sends information back to the developers regarding the hardware inside your computer without asking, to "check" your using the same computer as before. No. Thank. You.

Any way what's the 3D engine like? I've heard it's quite buggy, any truth to that?