Category: FM21

FM Mythbusting: Are English Teams Overrated?

Published on by Chris Fuller

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It’s time to resolve a debate that has been raging across the Football Manager for years. Are English teams – and English players, for that matter – too overpowered?

Some people argue that Premier League players are rated too highly compared to their counterparts in La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga. They often see PL clubs winning more Champions Leagues than anyone else, England competing for major international trophies… and Callum Wilson becoming the best non-Norwegian striker in world football.

Sports Interactive are based in London, and a large portion of their research team is English. So is there any substance behind these claims that they overrate English teams and players? Are there some valid explanations for their success in FM? Or this simply a myth that has been blown out of proportion?

I’ll be using Football Manager 2021 to try and answer these questions. This article’s gonna be quite a long one… but if you love data and charts, you’re in for a treat. Continue reading “FM Mythbusting: Are English Teams Overrated?” →

Blog Update #5

Published on by Chris Fuller2 Comments

FM21-end

Ladies and gentlemen… this is blog update number 5.

Yes, it’s time for my annual post where I update you on what I’ve been up to over the past 12 months. With my long-term Football Manager 2021 save now completed, I’m ready to give my final thoughts on what has perhaps been the most divisive game in the series’ history.

And at the end of a “make or break” year for Fuller FM, I’ll also discuss my long-term plans for this blog. Have we managed to outdo José Mourinho by surviving beyond the third season? Continue reading “Blog Update #5” →

Journey of a Deadman: #46 (Basel) – Finale

Published on by Chris Fuller

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It’s May 2031, and everything has come down to these final five matches for Shama Deadman and his Basel team.

In case you missed the previous chapter, Basel are still leading the Swiss Super League as they check back-to-back titles. They have also made it through to the Swiss Cup Final.

Can Shama end his Swiss sojourn with a domestic double? And what does the long-term future hold for our journeyman coach? Let’s read on… Continue reading “Journey of a Deadman: #46 (Basel) – Finale” →

Journey of a Deadman: #45 (Basel) – Swiss Brutality

Published on by Chris Fuller

It’s time for another installment of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series, as Shama Deadman’s quest for another league title with Basel continues.

In the previous chapter, Basel’s defence of their Super League crown encountered a few problems, not least when it came to scoring. But a mid-season epiphany has led Shama to a tactical revamp, which he hopes will get ‘Die Bebbi’ firing again in the new year.

And as you’re about to find out, Shama has also been fairly busy in the January transfer market. He is leaving no stone unturned as he tries to keep those pesky Young Boys away from his silverware… Continue reading “Journey of a Deadman: #45 (Basel) – Swiss Brutality” →

Journey of a Deadman: #44 (Basel) – Second Season Syndrome

Published on by Chris Fuller

We’re into the last full month of Football Manager 2021‘s life cycle… but my journeyman series is still going strong. For now.

Shama Deadman has already won the Swiss Super League title with Basel – and now he’s out to defend it. Today’s chapter will take us through the first half of the 2030/2031 season (you can find the season preview here if you haven’t read it yet).

But can ‘Die Bebbi’ will also have to juggle increased expectations back home with some tough battles in the Champions League. With all that in mind, Shama’s second season in Switzerland could be an even bigger challenge than his first… Continue reading “Journey of a Deadman: #44 (Basel) – Second Season Syndrome” →

Journey of a Deadman: #43 (Basel) – Die Besten!

Published on by Chris Fuller

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Against all the odds, Shama Deadman has completed his first decade in football management – and he’s finally added a trophy to his CV!

After taking over at Basel in the summer of 2029, Shama led ‘Die Bebbi’ to Swiss Super League glory in his first season. You can read about that first season in full by going back to Part 39, Part 40, Part 41 and Part 42.

But now it’s time to find out if Basel can do it again. Today’s post is the 2030/2031 season review, where we will see how Shama sets about taking his Swiss champions up to the next level. Continue reading “Journey of a Deadman: #43 (Basel) – Die Besten!” →

Journey of a Deadman: #42 (Basel) – Ten Years Later

Published on by Chris Fuller

It’s been a long time coming… but after a decade in management, in which he has managed four teams in as many countries, Shama Deadman has finally won a trophy.

If you haven’t yet read about how Basel secured the Swiss Super League title, or even if you just want to relive Shama’s crowning moment, you can find Part 41 right here.

In today’s chapter, we will quickly go through some awards and statistics from the 2029/2030 season. We’ll also see how the wider footballing world looks after the first 10 years of this save. (Spoiler alert: Not much has changed, and nobody lives underwater. Apart from Pep Guardiola, who lost his mind and retired after being sacked as Spain manager.) Continue reading “Journey of a Deadman: #42 (Basel) – Ten Years Later” →

Journey of a Deadman: #41 (Basel) – One And Done?

Published on by Chris Fuller

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Shama Deadman is about to complete his first season as Basel manager… but will it be one to celebrate?

In the previous chapter, he began his tenure by giving ‘Die Bebbi’ a slender lead at the halfway stage of the Swiss Super League. They are also still competing in the Swiss Cup, but have dropped into the Europa Conference League after finishing 3rd in their Europa League group.

Today’s chapter will take us through the second half of the 2029/2030 campaign. Can Basel bring an end to Young Boys’ dominance of Swiss football? And after nearly 10 years in management, can Shama finally deliver some silverware? Continue reading “Journey of a Deadman: #41 (Basel) – One And Done?” →

Journey of a Deadman: #40 (Basel) – St Jakob’s Ladder

Published on by Chris Fuller

Guten tag, bonjour, ciao, nuqneH – and welcome to the latest chapter of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series, now coming to you from multi-lingual Switzerland!

The 2029/2030 season is about to kick off, as is Shama Deadman’s tenure as Basel manager. In the last chapter, we met his new squad for the first time and looked at the challenge awaiting them in the Swiss Super League.

Today’s installment will take us through the first half of the new season, as ‘Die Bebbi’ look to end Young Boys’ recent dominance of Swiss football. Can Shama lead them back to the summit, or has the former Győr man taken a step too far? Continue reading “Journey of a Deadman: #40 (Basel) – St Jakob’s Ladder” →

Journey of a Deadman: #39 (Basel) – The Swiss System

Published on by Chris Fuller

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“I got my first real Swiss team! Took the offer just in time! Now I’m with the blue and red! Twas the summer of ’29!”

Welcome back to my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series with Shama Deadman! In the last chapter, we saw Shama lead his Győr team into the final stages of an epic battle for the Hungarian league title.

Now, he’s decided to leave Hungary behind (which is probably a wise decision given recent events) and pursue a new challenge in Switzerland! Today, we’ll have our first look at the challenge awaiting him at Basel. Is he in heaven… or has he been reckless? Continue reading “Journey of a Deadman: #39 (Basel) – The Swiss System” →