In the series where discuss the usefulness – or uselessness – of roles, we’ve already theorised that role suitability is just an opinion given to you by the scouts. Truly, what difference do these roles make? This is the quest we’ve set ourselves up for. Through thick and thin, rough and smooth, Leroy Sané’s insane pace and John Stones’ twisted knickers, this is: Roles, do they matter? Part 3!
Show of hands. Who hires scouts based on purely the judging current and potential ability attributes? Until last week, my hand would have been raised. I’m not ashamed to admit it. They are the attributes that define a scout. No one wants scouts that think a 37 year old striker with 6 finishing would be a perfect fit for your Champions League semi final squad (specific, but it happened to me). There is more to scouts and scouting networks in…
How would a team with players of below-the-league average quickness perform in the Premier League? Would they cope against the likes of Adama Traore and Raheem Sterling? Or manage to penetrate through defensive monsters like Virgil van Dijk and Aymeric Laporte? In this Football Manager 2020 Experiment, let’s see if I can surpass expectations using players with limited pace and acceleration within a league known for its end-to-end action.
What is the English Way? A rather wholesome moniker, suggestive of hot tea and delicious hobnobs on a chilly autumn morning. It’s also a good name to encompass the bygone football style of the time and place that was 1970s England. It is not as poetic a term as “Total Football”, mainly because some might easily confuse it with the Hoofball “anti-football” that predominated the latter period of 1980s and 90s. But to me the “English Way”, evokes the great…
“Alright, lads, it’s that time. We’re up against the top team in the league. So have some fun out there, no pressure, and also, I’d like to individually say that I have faith in each of you.” Sound inspiring? It doesn’t to me. Yet that’s how many people introduce their team to a game, with the ritual of “let the Assistant Manager do it” and then the Three Invocations: Defense, I have faith; Midfield, I have faith; Attackers, I have…
To play or not to play, that is the question for many FM20 managers. Especially when it comes to developing young players. U18 players highly value training, while older players need playing time to keep developing. Playing time alone isn’t enough though, as a manager you need to provide your player with games at the right level. The level needs to be challenging, but not too difficult. The optimal level will vary based on age, current ability and potential ability….
In this unsung heroes article, I focus on the complete wing back role in Football Manager. A role which is commonly used around football, especially in recent times. The complete wing back in FM has been influential in my side’s success, offering offensive outlets and defensive stability. I will be applying everything to my Uruguay save, which has given me a lot of success.
Offence wins matches, defence wins titles. OK, so that isnt verbatim, but we’ve all heard it. I see so many tactics that focus heavily on attack; wing backs with an attack duty, a playmaker, a mezzala on attack, inside forwards and a pressing forward. And watching those 11 dots all plough forward, hell bent on attacking, looks fantastic, doesn’t it? And if it works, great. But wouldn’t you like to understand defensive tactics and become a master in the art…
In this new series, I am going to highlight a much-loved and talented footballer from the past. I’ll tell you a little bit about what I think their key qualities were that made them so special. We’ll go on to look at how best to re-live that legend in Football Manager, by naming a few current players who may be able to ‘mirror the magic’ of the superstar and potentially become your new FM20 hero.
Whether you want to manage your local team or childhood dream, to create the world’s most dominant club or simply test out your wildest football ideas, Football Manager offers you endless opportunities. In this FM20 Experiment, we take a look at two different Assistant Manager, one is a high quality, the other being a low quality. Having recently watched the ‘All or Nothing: Manchester City’ sports documentary, the sheer complexity around the day-to-day operations of a football club blew my…