Author: Chris Fuller

CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 7

Published on by Chris Fuller

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I’m now into season 3 of my Championship Manager 3 series with Napoli. Where does the time fly?

After storming through Serie B in my first season, the Partenopei didn’t take long to establish themselves back in Serie A. Sadly, a woeful run-in meant that we missed out on Europe and could only finish in 10th place. Unless you’re one of the three people who’ve already read Part 6 (thanks, Twitter), I’d suggest you do that now.

Bringing continental football back to the San Paolo has to be our main goal for the 2000/2001 season. Can some quality summer reinforcements bring that dream closer to reality? Continue reading “CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 7” →

CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 6

Published on by Chris Fuller

I’m coming to the end of the second season of my Championship Manager 3 series. It hasn’t been the most thrilling campaign, but thanks to the second-greatest Argentine striker ever to play for Napoli, the Partenopei are all but certain to survive their first season back in Serie A.

Can it get even better, though? Please join me for the last few games of the 1999/2000 season, as Napoli bid to secure a place in European competition! Continue reading “CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 6” →

CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 5

Published on by Chris Fuller

Welcome back to my Championship Manager 3 story, where I will be aiming to take Napoli back to the top of Italian football.

After securing promotion in 1998/1999, the previous chapter saw us kick off the 1999/2000 season in Serie A. Results haven’t been too bad, but our supporters are perhaps getting frustrated with our pragmatic tactics. And to be honest, so am I.

Will things get any better over the next few months? Read on… Continue reading “CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 5” →

Review: We Are Football 2024

Published on by Chris Fuller

Some people in the Football Manager community like to lament that FM “has no competition”. But while it has indeed been a long time since Sports Interactive have had a serious rival to their crown, perhaps that might be about to change?

Having recently become disillusioned with FM, I’m now hoping that this title from Germany will win me over with its slim-lined, strategic and less serious approach to football management. Three years after making a promising debut, is it now ready for the first-team?

We Are Football 2024, this will be your day. Continue reading “Review: We Are Football 2024” →

CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 4

Published on by Chris Fuller

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My Championship Manager 3 series with Napoli is now in full swing, as I’m about to kick off my second season at the San Paolo!

In the previous chapter, the Partenopei secured promotion from Serie B as champions. We will now kick off the 1999/2000 season back in Serie A, where this once-great club belongs.

Today’s installment will take us through the summer of 1999, as several new faces arrive in Naples before we begin our quest for top-flight consolidation. Will that be easier said than done? Continue reading “CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 4” →

FM Mythbusting: More Common Misconceptions

Published on by Chris Fuller

Three years ago, I wrote an article that explained nine common misconceptions with Football Manager. For example, I stated the ‘wonderkid’ tag has much more to do with a youngster’s current ability than their potential, and that having a higher xG than the opposition doesn’t mean your team played better.

Of course, there are still some things about FM and football that many players – particularly new ones to the series – don’t fully understand. So I think it’s time to look at a few more of these… Continue reading “FM Mythbusting: More Common Misconceptions” →

CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 3

Published on by Chris Fuller

I’m glad that you’ve joined me for the latest installment of my new Championship Manager 3 series. I’m now well into my first season at Napoli, who are flying high in Serie B after averaging nearly two goals per game!

It is now March 1999. CM3 is about to hit store shelves, and the Partenopei look like they are about to celebrate promotion back to Serie A at the first time of asking. Can they finish the job… or will this season reach a nail-biting, perhaps even a heartbreaking conclusion? Continue reading “CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 3” →

CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 2

Published on by Chris Fuller

This is the second chapter of my new Championship Manager 3 series. The year is 1998 – and while Cher is asking us if we believe in life after love, I’m making Napoli fans believe in life after relegation.

In last week’s opener, I took over a Partenopei side who had just slid down into Serie B after years of steady decline. Our season so far is off to a strong start, thanks in no small part to a young Argentinian striker who could become the next Diego Maradona… or at least the first Ezequiel Lavezzi.

We pick up this story in November, where Napoli are looking to consolidate their position in the promotion places. And after knocking out Parma in Round 2, we are aiming to complete another Serie A scalping in the Coppa Italia… Continue reading “CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 2” →

Retro Review: Ally McCoist’s Director of Football

Published on by Chris Fuller

I’ve been feeling in a nostalgic mood lately… so I reckon it’s time for another Retro Review of a football management game from years gone by.

Today, I’m taking you to the 2001/2002 season – a time when Liverpool were challenging Arsenal for the title, and an English midfielder was firing Real Madrid towards continental glory. It was also a time when Championship Manager still had plenty of competition to contend with, even if some of their early rivals had fallen by the wayside.

So what happened when German developers joined forces with a Scottish footballing legend to try and challenge England’s top dogs? Let’s take a closer look at Ally McCoist’s Director of Football. Continue reading “Retro Review: Ally McCoist’s Director of Football” →

CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 1

Published on by Chris Fuller

Welcome to a brand new story on Fuller FM! This week marked the 25th anniversary of the release of Championship Manager 3, and I’ve been thinking for some time about how best to mark the occasion.

My first thought was to recreate my first ever CM save – with Shrewsbury Town, down in Division 3. Maybe I will revisit them on CM3 one day, but I’m still feeling sore about how my FM19 Shrews story ended.

Another idea was to load the Brazilian leagues, start the game in December 1998, and then take over a struggling team in a top European league midway through the season. Unfortunately, this can lead to some very strange scenarios, such as Liverpool or Chelsea fighting relegation, or Piacenza challenging for the Serie A title.

Instead, I have decided to take on a fallen giant in Serie B – at a time when Italian football was coming to the end of its 1990s heyday. Yes, folks, it’s time for some GOLLLLLLLLLAZOOOO! Continue reading “CM3 Revisited: Canzone Napoletana – Part 1” →