Category: Discussions

The State of Football Manager 26

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It’s time to discuss the state of Football Manager 26 – and the series as a whole.

After a launch period that was nothing short of a PR disaster, and a full release that alienated much of its core audience, Sports Interactive’s long-running franchise is at its lowest ebb for over 20 years. The community has been firmly split on FM26 – with many players pointing their fingers at SI or SEGA for producing a pile of rubbish, and other players putting their fingers in their ears and insisting that everything is fine.

How did this happen? Can SI turn their fortunes around? And what does the future potentially hold for FM? Questions, questions, questions… Continue reading “The State of Football Manager 26” →

Alternatives to Football Manager 26

Published on by Chris FullerLeave a comment
For God’s sake, Sports Interactive…

Football Manager 26 has been out for a few weeks, and… mmm, yeah. It’s still a mess, isn’t it?

While many FMers are still wrestling with the new interface or complaining that their favourite franchise has been turned into a mobile game, some will be looking for something else to play. But I know what you’re gonna say: “FM has no competition.”

Yes, it’s true that Sports Interactive don’t have as much direct competition as they did in the 1990s and early 2000s. FIFA Manager, LMA Manager, Ultimate Soccer Manager, Premier Manager and even Ally McCoist’s Director of Football have all fallen by the wayside – emphatically beaten by FM’s superior game engine and extensive database.

These days, if you’re looking for a non-FM football management game on PC, you will likely have to scrape the bottom of the Steam barrel for low-budget indie titles that don’t have anywhere near as much depth.

But there are still some good FM26 alternatives that allow you to play through the 2025/2026 season (or 2024/2025, at least) with a reasonable amount of realism. In this post, I will look at seven of those games – each with their pros and cons – and tell you how you can update them with all the latest data. Continue reading “Alternatives to Football Manager 26” →

Women’s football – What to expect on FM26

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In 2021, Sports Interactive announced that they were planning to incorporate women’s football into the Football Manager series.

After four years of extensive research and development, those plans will finally become reality on Football Manager 26. Last week saw SI reveal the first major details of what we can expect from women’s football on FM26, including which leagues will be playable.

Having first discussed this topic after SI’s original announcement, I think it’s time for me to jump back in and discuss what we know so far. I will also try to answer any other questions the FM community might have – some of which are sincere, some of which are… less so. Continue reading “Women’s football – What to expect on FM26” →

My FM Content Creator Pet Peeves

Published on by Chris FullerLeave a comment

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While we have been waiting for the next Football Manager to be announced (any time now, Sports Interactive…), I’ve been trying to think of some fresh new ideas for FM content.

So… why don’t we have a little discussion about FM content?

Alongside writing my own Football Manager stories, I’ve watched hundreds of YouTube videos and streams, and read goodness knows how many blogs from other FM aficionados. While I appreciate that nobody is perfect (though MaddFM comes pretty damn close), I have developed some pet peeves that have been bugging me for a while.

And that’s what this is all about – discussing some of those little annoyances I have when it comes to FM content.

To be clear, this article isn’t supposed to be entirely serious. Think of this as some constructive but light-hearted advice from a long-time FM blogger whose website gets literally TENS of page views every day. I also won’t be critiquing how other FMers play the game – just how they present or write about it. Continue reading “My FM Content Creator Pet Peeves” →

FM Logic: Managerial Movements

Published on by Chris FullerLeave a comment

Football Manager is the most realistic sports simulation video game out there. We all know that. But it’s not perfect.

Welcome back to another edition of this Fuller FM series… wait, can I call this a series? It’s is the third part now… so yeah. I think I can call it a series.

Anyway, it’s time to take a look at some more weird ‘FM Logic’. We’ve previously discussed bizarre media interactions and press interviews that make a White House news conference look like a place of sanity… and we’ve also touched on the game’s issues with transfers and player development.

Now it’s time to focus on managers – specifically, the logic that the game uses when moving AI managers between jobs. Whether they’re swapping jobs with another coach, taking over a hated rival, or being parachuted into a Championship club without any previous coaching experience, football managers in Football Manager are definitely known to make some peculiar moves. Continue reading “FM Logic: Managerial Movements” →

FM Logic: Media & Press Interactions

Published on by Chris FullerLeave a comment

Football Manager is the most realistic sports simulation video game out there. We all know that. But it’s not perfect.

A couple of months ago, I discussed some of the flawed logic that FM uses when it comes to transferring and developing players. For example, I talked about proven lower-league goal machines being ignored by AI clubs for years before retiring unemployed. I also discussed a born-and-bred Swedish player being transferred to a club in Guinea just because he also happened to have Guinean nationality.

This second installment is all about one of the most criticised aspects of FM – the media. Whether it’s over-investigative reporters, unimportant questions, or social media posts that even Grimes’ ex-boyfriend would find too inflammatory, there is a lot of weird ‘FM Logic’ to be found here. Continue reading “FM Logic: Media & Press Interactions” →

FM Logic: Transfers & Development

Published on by Chris FullerLeave a comment

Football Manager is the most realistic sports simulation video game out there. We all know that. But it’s not perfect.

In recent versions of FM, and especially on Football Manager 2024, there have been some wonky game mechanics that often lead to unrealistic player development and transfers. Whether it’s talented players being stuck in the job centre for ages, or their clubs refusing to send them out on loan, you can find loads of weird cases of ‘FM Logic’ on your saves.

Here are just some of the examples I’ve found on my current save with Nacka FC. Continue reading “FM Logic: Transfers & Development” →

FM24: The ‘Regen Bug’

Published on by Chris Fuller

Let’s talk about a potential newgen bug I’ve found on Football Manager 2024.

In most cases, any players that FM generates – also known as ‘newgens’ – are entirely separate from and unrelated to any other player in the database. When Cristiano Ronaldo retires, he isn’t instantly replaced with another skilful Portuguese forward who has his same elite potential.

On FM24, though, some of these newly-generated players can develop… let’s call it an identity complex. Allow me to explain… Continue reading “FM24: The ‘Regen Bug’” →

Football Manager 25: International Blues

Published on by Chris Fuller

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Let’s talk about Football Manager 25. Again.

Last week, Sports Interactive’s studio director Miles Jacobson released another Development Update for the next Football Manager game. He also patted everyone on the back after the recent FM World Cup in Liverpool, but who honestly cares about that now?

Anyway, this update is a big one, and Jacobson has some major news about how international management will work in FM25… or, more specifically, how it won’t. Continue reading “Football Manager 25: International Blues” →

Football Manager 25: What We Know So Far

Published on by Chris Fuller

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Hello again. I’m glad you’ve come. You’ve obviously heard there’s a new Football Manager game on the way.

As a new club football season draws closer, the excitement about the next installment of FM is ramping up. Last week, Sports Interactive’s studio director Miles Jacobson wrote a lengthy Development Update in which he gave us an early look at FM25’s revamped user interface – and explained some big changes coming to the game.

This is a follow-up to last year’s “The Future of Football Manager” update, where Jacobson first announced that SI were planning big changes on FM25. If you want to read my thoughts on that, you can read them here.

But now that the dragonfly is out of the bag, let’s talk a bit more about Football Manager 2025… or, should I say, Football Manager 25. Continue reading “Football Manager 25: What We Know So Far” →