What I like about FM but dislike about the ME (only sometimes)

[7zamar]

I'm new so I'm not sure the best place to post this. These are some of my thoughts, would be cool to know what you guys think.

[FONT=&quot]I love football manager!! Ever since the CM days, its just so satisfying to jump into the managers seat and give it your best shot. I am especially fond of FM 2007 as the first one I played multiple longer term saves. I also played a lot of FM 2011. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The game has gone through man changes and dynamic improvements that has added beautiful depth to FM. I must admit I struggled a lot to adapt and even quit playing between 2013 and 2016 because some of the changes were difficult for me to figure out.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I picked up 16 determined to learn everything I missed over the years. I read a lot of the forums and the different tactical ideas that everyone had, but the main thing was that I needed to understand for myself how the game actually works and how to bring a team together with my ideas[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]After many trail and error saves in FM 16 and a lot of reading, I finally got it. I recently got FM 17 and I am enjoying it a lot. The tactics are deeper and more dynamic, the AI managers are smarter than I remember in the old FM, so now I actually have to do my research and preparation or else things won't go well.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]So far I have been able to win promotion with Leeds by finishing 2nd in the Championship, and also having a great cup run in the EFL, reaching the semi-finals and beating teams like Liverpool on the way there.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]On another save I have taken Southampton and so far things are going really well, challenging for a top 4 spot and also doing pretty well in the Europa League in the first season.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Despite all that, there are still some RARE but annoying things that on occasion tend to make the game feel imbalanced or unrealistic. Like on one occasion when I only drew in a tough game. My tactics were sound, and I managed to shut out the opposition (they had very few shots, and none on target), but I conceded an own goal when my GK failed to pick up a slow awkward shot/cross from like 35 yards out, and somehow fumbled it in for an own goal. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I obviously don't have many examples like this because the game is very solid, and I have learned how to see when a bad result was because of my own tactical error.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]But I still think there are few occasions/scenarios that are a little unrealistic. Like with Leeds United on my very first season, they are not a great team, but I worked with what I had, played to their strengths and had a good unit that could fight for a result. Imagine my shock when I came up against an in-form Liverpool in the EFL and smashed them 4-0. Sure my tactics were good, and I prepared well to face them,but it was a little weird. I could have imagined scrapping it 1-0 or 2-1, but not 4-0, especially with the quality they had on their side.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It seems sometimes as a lower rep team, the bigger teams are more likely to roll over against you despite having world class players and tactical masterminds as the head coach.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]But as a slightly higher rep team, you are more prone to the random out of the blue mistake that will cost you, despite building a great tactic, great morale, and having great form. Maybe its the AI's way of attempting to balance the scales a little bit? Idk, maybe it could be done more realistically? I don't actually know whats going on under the hood with all the numbers and algorithms.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Again I don't think this stuff happens frequently enough to be a real issue, but its enough to be surprising and slightly annoying.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It would be nice to feel more balance, to see that I didn't get a result because I was tactically out-classed or had a neck n neck battle. But not because my otherwise solid and consistent team decided to give the opposition a gift.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]And on the flip it would be nice to see that the presence of certain world class players can have a stronger impact on the game. Sure this game requires that you do your homework and are tactically prepare for the opposition. But I would think that world class players would be able to apply a set of instructions better than the average player? Or even if your opposition isn't tactically up to par, that the presence of top tier players should carry a little more weight?! I just don't think that Leeds should beat Liverpool 4-0 with the different lineups both teams have to offer. LOL[/FONT]|)

[FONT=&quot]I also think there could be a better way for the AI to calculate chances created vs chances scored. I used to have many shots but hardly any on target. Then after I learned the tactics more, and about creating spaces, then the numbers started changing. My players were getting into better positions and creating more higher potential shots.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]But I don't think its realistic to have 15 plus chances created per game. Unless you are playing against a team that has far better players. but when facing teams on an a similar level, its usually a battle, and maybe 7 chances are created (on the higher side). And if you have a good day then probably 5 shots are on target, and maybe you score 2 or 3. That would feel a lot more like real life. Idk if I explained that well?? lol[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]But all in all, I really love FM. I am proud that I actually took the time to learn how to play the game because it is so much fun and really deep.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Btw I still love the 2D classic match view, the 3d just feels a little off..(am i just weird?)LOL[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]After that very long read I would appreciate any feedback or thoughts. Also please let me know if I posted this in the wrong place.... [/FONT]|)

 

[neon76]

I think the only problem is that the good fortune doesnt usually go your way, it only goes the computers way.
But for a realistic and hard experience, like it should be, Football Manager cannot be surpassed and no other game compares to it except maybe Sports Interactives other titles!
The 3D is great on better computers, if you dont have that then 2d is great too, like you said.

 

[Death Ball]

Liked for being the first post in this way that it's actually presented in a reasonable and measured way. Not to mean you're right or wrong. I for sure agree about those silly mistakes by the goalkeepers. As you say they're rare, but when they do happen they're quite annoying. Like "Reaaaallly? a 2mph shot from the side and the keeper has no better idea than to push it towards corner when he's not even tight to the post so a small error makes it this own goal?" Luckily the random cross ending in goal has gone down from previous versions.
That about beating Liverpool 4-0... I don't know. In my save I'm playing very slowly and haven't had chances to play huge teams with small ones, only once I did when I was deciding nationality of my manager and beat Rangers 3-1 with Stirling in a cup match. So perhaps you're right and smashing huge teams is too easy. It's about how often, though, IIRC Manchester United got beaten 4-0 early in one of the cups past season by a lower division club. So it can happen, but wouldn't feel right if it did often.
As for the poster above of luck being always in favour of the AI I strongly disagree. I've had plenty of lucky results in my favour. Of course, I can't rule out thatneon76 is having a case of luck in which luck is more often had by his opponents and that may well be true in his game, but it's not in mine, so I don't think that's a statement with general validity about FM, just particular to his games.

 

[neon76]

I think maybe your moral sometimes gives you more luck and i just might have poorer morale players maybe?

 

[7zamar]

Thanks for the likes and the responses.

I think I have found luck to go both ways for me, although at some points in the season it can feel like nothing ever swings your way... always conceding penalties, or their direct free kick taker is always on fire.

All in all i feel like its quite balanced after playing a little longer, the main two things I really want to figure out are

1. How to actually defend against those killer crosses by full backs who can magically cross better than wingers
2. How best to manage morale, because that thing is a killer!!

Tips?

 

[Death Ball]

I think maybe your moral sometimes gives you more luck and i just might have poorer morale players maybe?

Maybe. My teams tend to have medium to positive morale and in this version so far I think I've never had a morale crisis in my hands. And from my past experience, I don't remember anything like that. Though I don't use to worry much about talks and such, when I see it declining I tend to get team meetings just right to raise it.

 

[djs1]

Thanks for the likes and the responses.

I think I have found luck to go both ways for me, although at some points in the season it can feel like nothing ever swings your way... always conceding penalties, or their direct free kick taker is always on fire.

All in all i feel like its quite balanced after playing a little longer, the main two things I really want to figure out are

1. How to actually defend against those killer crosses by full backs who can magically cross better than wingers
2. How best to manage morale, because that thing is a killer!!

Tips?

give mothly team talks to boost morale.for me this a key aspect of the game

 

[WJ]

Thanks for the likes and the responses.

I think I have found luck to go both ways for me, although at some points in the season it can feel like nothing ever swings your way... always conceding penalties, or their direct free kick taker is always on fire.

All in all i feel like its quite balanced after playing a little longer, the main two things I really want to figure out are

1. How to actually defend against those killer crosses by full backs who can magically cross better than wingers
2. How best to manage morale, because that thing is a killer!!

Tips?

1.They don't magically cross better. If the fullbacks are crossing, it means they've moved up that far, so either putting your own FB in a 2 v 1, which is difficult to defend or he's overlapping (still 2 v 1) and so you need to do something against that, surely? Get a wide midfielder to track him back etc.

2. Not sure what you're after here? Games you expect to lose - tell them that ahead of the game, so that WHEN you lose, the morale drop is small, if anything. There are team meetings you can hold if things are really bad. etc

It will also help having better personalities. The more professional and determined players will fight more when challenged.

 

[7zamar]

Thanks, I never really thought of doing the team meetings monthly. I'll start to do that!

And about the defenders crossing, you are right. My full back often finds himself tracking the opposition winger, leaving the opposition full back with plenty of time to cross. I have tried on occasion asking my wingers to drop and specifically mark the full backs, and it helps, although my assistant keeps saying the player is being dragged out of position by marking said full back. I suppose that's expected.

Could you let me know if there is a better way to do that? Or do I have to consider changing formation altogether ?

All this feedback is really cool. Thanks guys ^^)