Getting into Football Manager.

[Chris]

I have recently seen quite a few people saying that they struggle to get into Football Manager. I myself have had the same problem up until recently and I thought people may want some tips that I found useful. If you have found anything else that helps you, please feel free to comment.

A huge part to Football Manager is tactics. Without good tactics, it is almost impossible to win lots of games, which can lead to frustration and ultimately, quitting the game. I recommend starting of with a simple 4-4-2 formation. If you need more help then go through the 'backroom advice' screen at the start of the game where the ideal formation will be recommended to you. If you want to try something else, look through the tactics page where you can find the right tactics for your team.

Secondly, don't just give up because you have lost a few games. Everyone goes through this and a good idea would be to stop and check your tactics and then tweak them slightly. The reason for this could be because other teams have worked your tactics out. Once you have done this, hopefully you should start winning games again you should start enjoying the game more.

Thirdly, my favourite part to the game is signing a big player. If you are getting bored of your game you need something to liven it up and make it more exciting. Signing someone with a huge reputation may be useful as you get their full potential now and not years later into the game. You should feel like you want to carry on as there is something to look forward to.

Finally, get other people involved! Start a story which you know you are going to stick to because now there is a reason to carry on the game.*** Making a good story means that in future, more and more people will want to follow as you have a good reputation. Because other people are following, you will want to aspire to do better and that means a more enjoyable game for you.

*** For the sake of the moderators and the administrators, please only start a story if you know that you are committed to updating it. Story bans are handed out to people who start more than 2 stories at once.

I hope some of this advice helps and feel free to ask questions.

[Ultimate FM Fan]

normally if im bored of FM then i just go onto the ps3 and then when i get inspired like reading 1-1 liverpoo then i will continue for a while

[Dunc]

Good advice Chris. I'm thinking of starting a new story after my last ones save file corrupted.

[pokerjoker_num10]

main thing is silly injurys ad when ur3.0 u lose 4.3 bugs the life out of me

[Aannddyy]

I go through stages of not really wanting to play Football Manager, but watching Match of the Day always makes want to start a game.. Does anyone else get that?

[MH96]

yeah same here mate

[bcfc]

Nice thread Chris, Good advice aswell!

[Mike]

Excellent thread, sound advice for those who are getting bored and frustrated.

I had this just before my Espanyol story, so I thought making a story would push me more to get it up-to-date and consistently post on the site, and it worked. Back into the game and playing it everyday.

Cheers Chris!

[Max]

I go through stages of not really wanting to play Football Manager, but watching Match of the Day always makes want to start a game.. Does anyone else get that?

Originally Posted by Aannddyy

Yeah same mate. Although I get really up for playing the game then suddenly realise it was just a spur of the moment thing and not a game I can get into

Nice thread btw Chris.

[pokerjoker_num10]

takayuki morimoto 12m zapata 25m polomobo 29.5m

my team is chelsea so best win lol usin new formation won every pre season

[Lewis]

Good thread, maybe this should be stickied....

[Rollsie]

brilliant mate, personaly i barely ever stuck to a game or played FM 09 due to bieng bored but this really help's I also find if you really get into the game, like seeing things from a fans way and really belief that it's real can (not in a freaky way) help you out alot.

[TrueGooner]

I will go through s stage of no fm2010 and then when I notice a team not doing very well inrl or a talented youngster comes along, I go on 2 fm2010 and try and imrpove. But these days im generally intrested in fm2010

[mattioso]

I never get into a game.
Except one or two.
TIP! Start a story, keeps you involved

[Chris]

Thanks for the feedback guys. If you know any other ways to get into games, I'll add them in.

[Pompey_Dan]

Great thread Chris,

To be honest, no matter how frustrated I get with the game I always come back for more... and it's been the same ever since the first Champ' Man' game!

But gotta agree, joining this site and starting a story has been a great way to get into the game (but be warned it can be time consuming!) I also think that if you are getting bored trying managing a club in a far flung part of the world and get to learn about that league, it's clubs and players... after all familiarity breeds contempt.

Happy managing everyone!

[Chris]

Thanks for the feedback. It seems that a lot of people agree that a story helps. There is that extra bit of pressure on you to keep going with the game. When I watched the Leeds v Man Utd match, after the game I got up and thought; I am going to take Leeds to the Premiership in three years. 10 minutes later I quit the game.

[milla020]

its quite annoying, i will read a story and then think this will be great if io start as them and then i get bored after 1 hour

[DRPEPPER]

i cant get into stories or games as my game always crashes, but its fixed now so i will be able to, if you lose who cares? my brother used to pretend that losses were wins, it actually works for him, not for me though

[Pompey_Dan]

A lot of people (myself included!) have suggested creating a story as a way of rekindling lost interest, but this is only part of it... Every good story needs an audience, so getting involved in other people's stories is also a good way to get inspired. So next time you read a story be a part of it, interact and leave a post.

[milla020]

i would write a story but i have a feeling that i would end up just giving up coz im not very good at fm

[SotK]

I tend to go through stages of not being too into it, and then when I watch something like Match of the Day or the Football League Show, or even if I play a manager mode on Fifa I start to want to play it. Individual games are different though. Sometimes I can get really into a game, like my Leigh Genesis save on 09 and my Reading save on 09, and other times I get a few months in and lose interest.

[RobsonMusgrave]

I mostly finish end the game after the transfer market

[DRPEPPER]

i agree on the story audience take max for example, he has an amazing story so he gets an audience, i didnt get audiences on any, not that i care but i do lose some motivation

[Div_Muzza]

Football Manager is a fantastic game and highly adictive. However it does take work. But personally when I get it a muck about till the patches then start a game a stick to that game till the next one comes out the following year.

[timmsy123]

i'm having major problems with this at the moment, really cant get into a game i must have started 5 saves today and just ended up quitting them, got a week off uni now and really want to get into a good save but have no idea who to play as or anything, i'm just sat here staring at the add manager screen and can't decide on a team that i actually want to manage. need some major help people :/

[Tobe2k10]

As these guys have said start a story, honestly it will keep you involved. My story is different to a normal story. I have aded humour and included things that don't happen in the game but may do in real life and boy has that kept me involved. I also enjoy reading other stories as they inspire me to change something or buy a player thats done well for them.

[Chris]

Thanks for your input guys. I am sure this helps a lot of people.

[timmsy123]

yeah i might do mate, but ive started a few stories in the past and not continued with most of them, the only one ive done properly was my Espanyol one, need to find a challenge that interests me that i can write about :/

[Chris]

Just make interesting to others. Include Pictures using PhotoShop or Paint and make your updates interesting and detailed but not too long. Add one or two vital screenshots but don't clog up your thread with them.