Author: Chris Fuller

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 25

Published on by Chris Fuller

And they said it wouldn’t last! “Shades of Deep Purple” today celebrates its 25th birthday (of sorts), which means it can now theoretically run for the US House of Representatives, as well as say hello from the other side.

This story has already had more tales of heartbreak than your average Adele album, but things are now looking up. Today’s chapter sees us attempt to continue an encouraging start to the new Serie A season as we roll into September 2020 (which, coincidentally, is when Adele’s next LP “29” will be released. Probably). Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 25” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 24

Published on by Chris Fuller

A new season is about to begin at Fiorentina. After some significant improvements in the transfer market, and some very positive results in pre-season, I feel like we’re ready to launch a strong – and sustained – push for those Champions League places.

Today’s post will include an updated squad and tactics report, as well as the opening three matches of our 2020/2021 Serie A season. The Europa League Group Stage draw is also due to take place, so we’ll soon find out who we’ll share our Thursday nights with for the foreseeable future. Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 24” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 23

Published on by Chris Fuller5 Comments

After a short break from Football Manager 2019, I’m now back in the swing of things with Fiorentina. After two 6th-place finishes in a row, my third season at the Artemio Franchi really is make-or-break. Either we end our long wait to return to the Champions League, or I end my Viola tenure in disappointment and return to England.

The summer of 2020 has seen plenty of upheaval with regards to the playing and backroom staff. I’ve not left a single stone unturned as I look to take this great club back where it truly belongs. Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 23” →

Keeping your save files safe in Football Manager

Published on by Chris Fuller2 Comments

Those are the seven words every Football Manager player dreads reading. We’ve all been there. You’re 20 seasons into your FM career and are about to lead Blyth Spartans into their first Champions League Final when you realise – to your horror – that the save file has been corrupted.

My worst experiences with this date back to Football Manager 2007. A career with Millwall in League One corrupted within a few in-game months, and I also lost an Arsenal save shortly after winning the League Cup with them. On both occasions, I didn’t have any backups to – pardon the pun – fall back on.

Once bitten, twice shy. Twice bitten, third time determined to never let it happen ever again. I have always taken precautions from FM11 onwards, and I haven’t had a single save game corrupt on me since.

I hope this guide helps you to back up your own Football Manager careers and protect them against corruption (that’s the data file kind, not the Manchester City kind):

Continue reading “Keeping your save files safe in Football Manager” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Season Review 2019/2020

Published on by Chris Fuller

My second season with Fiorentina is done and dusted. It was a campaign that started with so much promise, but we were ultimately left disappointed and with bitter tastes in our mouths. Even so, there were a few green shoots of optimism that suggests things might be looking up for the Viola in 2020/2021.

This post will round up our domestic and European campaigns in 2019/2020. There’ll also be some awards and statistics before I detail my plans for the future.

Put it this way: I am going to have a very busy summer. With Harry Redknapp currently enjoying the company of Noel Edmonds and Charlotte from ‘The Inbetweeners’ in the Australian jungle, I’m taking up his mantle as football’s top wheeling-dealing Londoner. Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Season Review 2019/2020” →

Football Manager and Me: Part 2

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 Arsene 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 second part, I will chronicle my experiences from Football Manager 2011 – which got me back into the series after an anger-induced break – to the recently-released FM19. You can read Part 1 here. Continue reading “Football Manager and Me: Part 2” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 22

Published on by Chris Fuller

2019/2020 has been a season of disappointment for Fiorentina. Inter outclassed us in the Quarter Finals of the Europa League, and with four games to go in Serie A, we’re already guaranteed to fall short of last season’s points tally.

However, this campaign could yet end in glory. The Viola’s long wait for a first trophy since reforming will be over if we can overcome Napoli in the Coppa Italia Final. That would also guarantee us a return to the Europa League Group Stage. Otherwise, we’ll need another top-six league finish to make sure we’re contending for European honours next season.

Whatever happens in May, you can be sure it’ll be nail-bitingly tense… Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 22” →

Shades of Deep Purple: Part 21

Published on by Chris Fuller1 Comment

Welcome back to the second season of my Fiorentina career on FM19. It’s been a frustrating campaign in Serie A, but we head into April still chasing silverware domestically and further afield.

Today’s chapter includes both legs of the Europa League Quarter Final with Internazionale, and perhaps even the first leg of the Semi if we come through that. Wish us luck! Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 21” →

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” →