Author: Chris Fuller

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 20

Published on by Chris Fuller1 Comment

The matches keep coming thick and fast for my Fiorentina team. We’re still fighting on three fronts, but is it possible to reach the Coppa Italia Final, progress to the latter stages of the Europa League AND maintain a top-six placing in Serie A? With a squad that’s perhaps lacking depth?

The next few weeks will tell us a lot about whether we’ve got what it takes. Join me on this eight-game trek through what is literally THE biggest chapter of “Shades of Deep Purple” so far. (Nearly 3,800 words long at the last count.)

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 20” →

Football Manager and Me: Part 1

Published on by Chris Fuller

It’s hard to believe that I have been playing Football Manager (or Championship Manager, as it was) for nearly two decades. I was eight years old when I first set out to prove myself as a virtual Arsène Wenger, and I’m still going now as I near my thirties.

My love affair with CM/FM, like any relationship, has had its peaks and troughs. I’ll go through some of the trials and tribulations I’ve had on this game since I was introduced to Championship Manager 3 during the 1998/1999 season.

I should note that I have retrospectively played the original Championship Manager (released way back in 1992), CM2, and CM97/98 since I started out with CM3. I shall not be recounting those earlier games in this article, though I may look back at them in the future.

In this first part, I will chronicle my experiences from the Championship Manager 3 demo to Football Manager 2008 – a game so buggy that it almost killed my enthusiasm for this franchise completely. Continue reading “Football Manager and Me: Part 1” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 19

Published on by Chris Fuller

January 2020 was a truly incredible month for Fiorentina – and we only played four competitive matches. We’ve now got NINE to look forward to in a fun-packed February! I don’t think I have it in me to cover them all in one mega-chapter, but I’ll be sure to cover both legs of our Europa League first knockout round match at least.

Also on the horizon in this chapter is the first leg of our Coppa Italia Semi Final, along with a bunch of league matches against lowly opponents. I might have some very encouraging news on the contract front as well… Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 19” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 18

Published on by Chris Fuller2 Comments

2019 was a year of immense promise but substantial disappointment for Fiorentina. As I enter the second half of my second campaign with the Viola, I’m hoping the new year will bring new fortune.

Our vision for 2020 is to retain a top-six finish in Serie A and win a cup competition, ending a club hoodoo that has gone on for close to two decades. The Coppa Italia looks like our most likely source of silverware, and it’s our Quarter Final which kicks off an eventful January. After that, it’ll be time to delve into the transfer market… Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 18” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 17

Published on by Chris Fuller2 Comments

My worst run as Fiorentina manager appears to be over – and with Christmas fast approaching, it’s just as well.

This chapter will feature our remaining six games in December 2019, including our last Europa League group fixture, and our first match in this season’s Coppa Italia. Before all that, though, we need to talk tactics…

P.S. If you’re still new to this story, you can now catch up on any parts you might’ve missed by visiting the “Shades of Deep Purple” page, which has a list of every chapter published so far. (You can also access this page by hovering over the FM19 tab on the menu bar.)
Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 17” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 16

Published on by Chris Fuller1 Comment

After a short interlude, my second season at Fiorentina continues with plenty of match action. In this chapter, I’ll take you through the whole of November, plus the first two matches in a packed December schedule.

Can Fiorentina bounce back after a recent downturn in form and secure a place in the Europa League knockout rounds, or is there more agony to come for the Viola? If it’s the latter, I fear this story might not continue for much longer… Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 16” →

Remembering the Prima Games strategy guides

Published on by Chris Fuller
prima
My Prima strategy guides for CM00/01 and CM4. I might have read them once or twice.

I was browsing the Sports Interactive forums on Friday afternoon when I came across some rather sad, if not surprising news.

Prima Games – who had published video game strategy guides for the best part of 30 years – would be shutting down in the second quarter of 2019. The closure was announced in an internal memo from its parent company DK (formerly known as Dorling Kindersley).

These days, if you need help on a particular game, there’s no need to buy a bulky book when you can find all the tips and hints you need online without paying. Back in the days before the Internet was massive, though, Prima guides were almost essential reading for strategy gamers such as yours truly… Continue reading “Remembering the Prima Games strategy guides” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 15

Published on by Chris Fuller2 Comments

There have been quite a few rainy days in Florence of late – both literally and metaphorically. Second-season syndrome has affected my boys early on, and we’re already playing catch-up in both Serie A and the Europa League. To make matters worse, I’ve accidentally killed team morale, risking the wrath of my captain and the club’s fans.

October could be more of a struggle. Not only do we have to dance with the devil (aka Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus), we must also plunge into the depths of ‘Hell’ (aka Istanbul). If things continue to go horribly wrong, I might even be tempted to sell my soul for a donut three points. Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 15” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 14

Published on by Chris Fuller3 Comments

Welcome back to “Shades of Deep Purple” – the story where I lead Fiorentina to domestic and continental glory on Football Manager 2019. Okay, maybe I’m getting carried away, but surely you can excuse my excitement after the start we’ve had?

Four more Serie A matches await us in September, during which we’ll also open up our Europa League campaign. Speaking of that, the group draw has just taken place, so let’s get right down to it… Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 14” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 13

Published on by Chris Fuller

Can you believe it? It’s been three weeks since the Football Manager 2019 beta was released, and I’m already into my second season as Fiorentina manager. That is exceptionally quick by my standards, believe me, but it’s clear that I am thoroughly enjoying this maiden career on the new game.

Back in Part 12, I wrote about my new summer signings and all the pre-season goings-on. In today’s chapter, I will take you through my full senior squad, along with the updated tactics I will mainly be using.

Oh yes, and as a special treat, I’ll round things off with the first two matches of the 2019/2020 Serie A season. We will kick off by facing Coppa Italia holders Lazio in Rome before opening our home campaign against Inter. To be honest, I was hoping things would start off a little easier than that… Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 13” →