Poll: The official Football Manager 2008 thread

[The Running Man]

dang, formatted and thought id backed my saved game up. turns out i didnt..(3rd season in, about to win CL Semi finals..with the might BVB)

So......................

im after a game suggestion, can be league 1, championship, foreign, Not germany, and not Italy as i find them boring now...any ideas guys?

also, is the patch out, yesterday SIGAMES website was down AND every time i go there and click downloads, it tells me; download server down for maintinence yet i can still click through to links held in the download area from external websites?!

 

[Twinblade]

dang, formatted and thought id backed my saved game up. turns out i didnt..(3rd season in, about to win CL Semi finals..with the might BVB)

So......................

im after a game suggestion, can be league 1, championship, foreign, Not germany, and not Italy as i find them boring now...any ideas guys?

also, is the patch out, yesterday SIGAMES website was down AND every time i go there and click downloads, it tells me; download server down for maintinence yet i can still click through to links held in the download area from external websites?!

I know there is a Beta Patch out, and I think I read somewhere that they had actually released the first patch, it would explain why the server was down/busy etc...

As for your question in relation to a game. It depends on what type of challenge you are after, and how many league you want to run. I had a few challenges I set myself on FM07 that I will implement into FM08 once I have exhausted my Spurs save. These include:

Load all the English/Scottish/Irish/N.Irish and Welsh leagues and select a random side from outside the English/Scottish Premiership and work your way into a Premier League job and win everything. (I failed this one, started with TNS in Wales and didn't manage to land a Premier League job in 10 seasons. Did make the Champions League group stages a few times though)

Take over one of the bottom sides in Sweden, that is very difficult, and you often start with no players at all. Trying to build a team is almost impossible to start, avoiding relegation in season 1 is an achievement.

Take over any team you like outside the countries top flight and try and win the Premiership (or equivalent) with a team of all home nationals. (I liked this one.)

They should keep you entertained for a while. If you decide to take up a challenge, please keep us updated on your progress, maybe we can get everyone doing one of the challenges so we can see how well we are do against each other.

 

[zytok]

macca, make sure you download the default Ss08 kits from sortitout or wherever if you want to get rid of the white shadow behind your kits.

 

[SCM]

Ok as promised in earlier post here is my revised tactic with a leaning towards a more defensive outlook and also training schedules for the senior/youth teams. These aren't fully tested yet so any feedback if people use them would be appreciated especially for

1. Does the playing tactic work well for defensive needs in a match or if not what areas are performing poorly

2. For the training tactics are there any increase in injuries from training compared to what you are using at moment? As i have tweaked a few of the sliders to try to suit the positions better i.e. for defenders higher set piece training which has raised the intensity of the training schedule up a bit so not sure of long term results yet so any feedback on this would be much appreciated.

If you let me know of any issues will go back and have another tweak and upload a MK2 version in a few days. I will be testing these myself at the same time so will add all feedback to anything i find during the course of my first season using these.

http://www.stonecoldmicks.co.uk/Downloads/4-4-2SCM2.tac More defensive version of the first tactic with midfielders instructions set to more defensive and reduced attacking

http://www.stonecoldmicks.co.uk/Downloads/SCMSeniorTeam.tsh

http://www.stonecoldmicks.co.uk/Downloads/SCMYouthTeam.tsh

SCM

 

[memphisto]

got to say yer tactic has turned this game around for me SCM, although my strikers still couldnt hit a barn door with a shovel the rest of the team are chipping in and the team is playing all round far better

my team as it stands is
GK: Foster
GK: Vander Sar ( 38 out of contract end of season not to be renewed)

RB: Neville (out of contract 33 years old will not be renewed)
RB: Rafinha
CB: Brown
CB: Vidic
CB: Oshea
CB: Ferdinand
LB: Silvestre
LB: Bale

LM: D'Allesandro
LM: Giggs (34 contract up end of season not to be renewed)
CM: Mascherano
CM: Hargreaves
CM: Vand Der Vaart
CM: Anderson
CM: Gibson
RM: Ronaldo
RM: Nani

AMC: Giovinco
AMC: Aguero

CF: Rooney
CF: Crespo (33 Contract not to be renewed)

I am currently top of the PL with 10 points on second place, in the quarters of the CL and through to the semis of the FA Cup.

My Stadium has been upgraded to 92'000 seater but by god am i leaking money however i am just staying afloat as it stands.

Can anyone suggest any squad improvements that they can see especially for the players whose contracts will not be renewed.

 

[SCM]

Glad to hear that memphisto and as to your striker issue what training schedule if any are they set on? Just that training this time round seems to play a part in the end product on the pitch and using tactics that are set to suit the type of player is a vast improvement over the general training the game has as a default.

SCM

edit have had a look at the tactic i uploaded the other day and will give it a bit of a tweak for you, as with playing as a LLM the creative freedom of the team is a bit lower but it can be tweaked a bit higher which might suit your team more than my current one. Will make a newer version and add link in this post to be added to the main list on front page of this post.

More attack minded version for you and tweaked the tempo up a bit higher, as with Man Utd will suit the players a bit more than the slower tempo in the first version

http://www.stonecoldmicks.co.uk/Downloads/4-4-2SCM3.tac higher tempo and more creative freedom from first version, more suited to Premiership teams where player stats are higher so they can play more freely than at LLM level where players aren't as good.

 

[memphisto]

i was using matts training i think was reccomneded on the si forums, however have dloaded yours now so will give them a blast, my strikers just seem to hit it at the keeper or over thee bar fluffing one on ones etc all the time.

Anderson for example though scores 30 yard screamers ?

drives me insane

 

[SCM]

I was using Tugs training schedules while i learnt the game and saw what the end result was, have ended up making my own now which will be tweaked when needed depending on the results they give. So good luck with them memphisto and even at the LLM level i can have games where my strikers couldn't hit a barn door yet my midfielders are godlike with long range shooting lol

The 30 yard screamers from midfielders has been noticed on the main SI forums and even people who have set them so they don't do it as much still say it happens. One of those quirks which hopefully is addressed in the full patch.

SCM

 

[bailey12856]

In order to counteract the morale issue and the lack of match fitness for my fringe players is to make them available for all reserve team games. If you right click them on the first team playing squad and select the make available for reserve team option they are picked to play for the reserves each week.

You need to remember to do this every week though, as each request only lasts for 5 days. It generally keeps them happy, unless it is someone who thinks they should be a first team regular.

Currently have the best reserve team in the league due to some of the players I make available each week, shame my first team cannot perform as well.

I usually take control of all 3 of my sides, but havent done so yet in FM08.

I know you can do that in the Premier/English leagues, but with German Bundesliga it doesnt work. I because my HSV II team is actually the under 23s, which is a shame because ive got a good set of players who dont get in the first squad all pretty unhappy

 

[Twinblade]

I know you can do that in the Premier/English leagues, but with German Bundesliga it doesnt work. I because my HSV II team is actually the under 23s, which is a shame because ive got a good set of players who dont get in the first squad all pretty unhappy

In that case, the friendly game idea appears to be the best option.

I uninstalled and reinstalled FM last night to get rid of the poxy Beta Patch last night and started a game with The Cobblers of Northampton. I have loaded all the English/Scottish/Welsh/N.Irish and Irish leagues in the hope of unearthing some right gems to help me out of League 1.

Firstly, I was gutted that the board felt that a Parent Club wasn't necessary, so I am left with a struggle to obtain quality players. Have managed to bring in Bryan Hodge on loan from Blackburn, Sean Evans on loan from Man United and have secure Peter Lomaski (Finish) on a free from January (signed from Mika Aaritalo's club). I did also signed Kieran McKenna from Spurs, but the fans didn't approve of this, so his loan deal was terminated quickly.

I have so far played 8 League Games and 1 League Cup and Johnstones Paint game and I am doing rather well. Only lost once in the League, away to Port Vale 3-0 and out of the League Cup losing 2-1 at home to Coventry City.

Despite this, and being 5th in the League the board feel we should be performing better, strange considering we are only required to avoid the drop this season. Scoring is proving a problem though, with Andy Kirk my top scorer with 4. So I am hoping Lomaski solves this problem when he arrives in January.

 

[Slinwagh]

Im really struggling in League 1 with Crewe. I don't want to download tactics as I would prefer to learn what I am doing!!

I suffer from probably two of the worst problems, shipping goals and not scoring.

I am really lost with training and tactics to be honest. I am playing 4-4-2 with two attacking midfielders on the wing and a holding me midfielder.

I have also set the focussed passing down the wings as this seems to be the best I have come acrross so far.

All tips greatfully received!!!!

 

[timmymagic]

Just wondering if you guys could let me know how well this runs on a Q6600 with 2/4GB ram?
I've been playing it on an AMD 3200+ with 1GB ram in Vista and while it's not really slow I don't normally run too many leagues (normally 5 playable).

Was wondering how many leagues you run with a decent system and how it performs?

cheers

 

[memphisto]

ok then guys i need yer reccomendations for players in the following positions

Goal Keeper
Right Back
Left Midfield
Striker

not sure what my budget for next seaosn will be however i think it should be in excess of 40-50 million if last season is anything to go by.

Im looking at possibly trying to sign

Akineef from CSKA
Dos Santos from Barcalona (hes on a free at the end of the season but currently not interested in signing)

but other than that im not too sure so all reccomendations taken onboard

 

[memphisto]

damn im all excited

finally got dos santos after a six month chase 4 year contract and 54k a week however looks like he will be a class player and all the better as he was on a free

For the goalkeeper position ive plumped £10.75million uyp for Oscar Ustari who is a 22 year old italian keeper, mainly as when i scouted the spanish league he came back highly rated. He will be the replacement for Van Der Sar, with Santos replacing the 35 year old Giggs. Still got 50 million to spend and need a right back and a striker

bearing in mind all well my only striker is rooney (aguero and giovinco are kind of AMC in the SCM formation) do you think it would be worhtwhile buying another rooney type player or going for the target man type ? I've noticed i hardly ever win headers and maybe having the targetman as a different option might be the way to go ?

 

[Noni Juice]

damn im all excited

finally got dos santos after a six month chase 4 year contract and 54k a week however looks like he will be a class player and all the better as he was on a free

For the goalkeeper position ive plumped £10.75million uyp for Oscar Ustari who is a 22 year old italian keeper, mainly as when i scouted the spanish league he came back highly rated. He will be the replacement for Van Der Sar, with Santos replacing the 35 year old Giggs. Still got 50 million to spend and need a right back and a striker

bearing in mind all well my only striker is rooney (aguero and giovinco are kind of AMC in the SCM formation) do you think it would be worhtwhile buying another rooney type player or going for the target man type ? I've noticed i hardly ever win headers and maybe having the targetman as a different option might be the way to go ?

Nice to have variation and a target man would do good.

Look at Dani Alves, Valon Behrami or Micah Richards for a RB

Strikers hmm Goran Pandev or Rodrigo Palacio are my faves. Micheal Owen is good also, but you could try for Luca Toni

 

[memphisto]

well trying to sign gyan i think his name is looks great in the air and on the ground.

As for right back i think im going to wait another season as I have Brown, Oshea and Rafina who can play there with bardsley in the reserves.

going to save up my money for the next window when i may splash the cash

 

[Twinblade]

For RB there are a few good options. Marcelo at Real Madrid has a £5.5m release clause at the start of the game, so it may still be active. Richards is an awesome choice, but I have known Man City to want £50m+ for his services.

Vanden Borre is another decent alternative, as is Daniel Alves. For the striker role, Pandev and Palacio are excellent prospects, and well worth getting, Palacio usually costs around £6m at the start, but Pandev usually ends up at Chelski.

-----
Update on my game, played a month more with the mighty Cobblers and the wheels appear to have fallen off. I slumped to a few defeats, but have reached the Semi's of the JPT. I am really struggling with goals now, and if I win, its usually 1-0. Currently lying 12th, and have scored 12 and conceeded 21 in 14 games in all competitions.

Not really the form I want to be in, luckily I am only supposed to avoid the drop this season, but the bored are not happy with my performance, which is odd.

Can anyone suggest any cheapish buys for League 1? Northampton only have £10,000 to spend, although I have balanced the books raising the coffers from £200,000 to almost £800,000 so far, and I haven't had to sell anyone.

 

[bailey12856]

damn im all excited

finally got dos santos after a six month chase 4 year contract and 54k a week however looks like he will be a class player and all the better as he was on a free

For the goalkeeper position ive plumped £10.75million uyp for Oscar Ustari who is a 22 year old italian keeper, mainly as when i scouted the spanish league he came back highly rated. He will be the replacement for Van Der Sar, with Santos replacing the 35 year old Giggs. Still got 50 million to spend and need a right back and a striker

bearing in mind all well my only striker is rooney (aguero and giovinco are kind of AMC in the SCM formation) do you think it would be worhtwhile buying another rooney type player or going for the target man type ? I've noticed i hardly ever win headers and maybe having the targetman as a different option might be the way to go ?

for RB easily gotta be Dani Alves like people have been saying. Striker, id go for a Target Man good in the air etc, best I have came across against me yet is Klose. Superb in the air, quick player too and scores goal for fun on my game, He is still with Bayern though so im not sure how much he would go for.

 

[nikebee]

Well thank god for that...

My Swansea City game has been completely turned around...

A couple of 0-0 draws moving to 1-0 wins took me from bottom of the table to around 18th in the Championship.

I haven't lost a game in 16 matches and I'm on a 7 game winning streak.
The team have turned it around completely, and I'm actually sitting 2nd in the Championship thanks to the fantastic run of games I've had.

I'm just 9 points behind league leaders Reading, who have only lost one game all season.

I face Derby in my next game in the 5th round of the FA Cup as well, I'm confident I can snatch a win from them if all things go to plan... and I will be in the Quarter Finals! I don't expect to progress further than that though, the big teams are still left in it (Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs).

4th Round of the League Cup saw me get knocked out with a 1-0 defeat at home to Spurs... it was closer than I expected, and I just couldn't believe it when my strikers missed some of the shots they did

The problem I'm facing is that I know that if I get promoted this season to the Premiership... I'm going to really, really struggle next year.

I don't have a huge transfer budget, or wage budget for that matter... and I'd be being optimistic if I said I think we'd come second to last in the Premiership next year.

Do I attempt to gain automatic promotion from the Championship and face almost certain doom next year?

Or drop out of the promotion spots in the hope that next year I can build a bigger and better squad. Get promoted next season... and I should be able to cope with the Premiership...

Decisions, decisions

 

[Twinblade]

Nice going. What tactic did you revert to in order for the change in form?

As for the dilemma of chasing promotion, or effectively fixing things so you don't go up. I am not sure on what would be the best policy. Obviously there is the huge cash windfall that you can generate with gaining promotion, so that could be a deciding factor, but then you may feel you need to spend big in order to stay there.

I would either follow your lead, and not get promoted, but the lure of winning the league against all odds is a big temptation to turn down. If it was via the play offs then it wouldn't bother me too much, as I could rake in the extra cash, and ensure I throw the final if we made it.

However, I would probably want to go up regardless. You get the prize money for gaining promotion to the top flight, plus all the new income being in the Premiership generates. There are plenty of players you can bring in to assist you in the league, and your board wont expect anything less than relegation anyway.

You can bank the cash, and bring in free transfers in order to keep the books balanced should you go down. Also, you can still raid the top clubs for their youth team or reserves that have fallen out of favour. Final option would be to raid Scandinavian sides for their players, always cheap, and some quality to be had.

You never know, you may even stay up.