Category: Guides

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” →

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Being successful in Football Manager isn’t just about signing the right players and building tactics that best suit their skills. You also need to show good people management to keep squad morale high, while also ensuring that your players are motivated and confident.

Player interactions are becoming increasingly important in FM. It’s vital know how to praise your players when they’re doing well, encourage them when they need picking up, and even discipline them when they deserve it.

Any top manager knows how to strike a good balance between punishment and reward. Being too harsh on your squad can create discontent and destroy team confidence, while constantly showering your players with praise can make them complacent and maybe even see you as a soft touch.

If you are struggling to handle player interactions, I’m here to help. Today, I have some tips for building up player relationships through interactions, including quick chats and promises. I also have a word of warning for those of you who like to reach for the water bottles after a defeat! Continue reading “Player interactions in Football Manager” →

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One of the most exciting aspects of any Football Manager career is when you develop young prospects to reach their full potential. Bringing through an academy wonderkid into the senior team and on the road to superstardom is one thing… but what about developing your coaches?

When starting a new save, many FMers like to overhaul their backroom staff, bringing in the very best coaches, scouts and physios they can afford. But hey, what’s the fun in that when you can reap the benefits from growing your own coaches?

In this guide, I will give you some advice to help you successfully move your veteran players from the pitch to the touchline – and even educate a new crop of managers to take football by storm. Continue reading “Developing your own coaches in Football Manager” →

If you’ve been playing Football Manager for a while, you might have a good idea of what works and why. But there are always a few gaps in our knowledge – a few areas where we can still learn. Hey, I’ve been playing since Championship Manager 3 in 1999, but I couldn’t tell you what a carrilero does!

If you are rather newer to the series, though, there are some things about FM you might believe are true when they actually aren’t. A player with 6 Finishing isn’t necessarily a bad striker. Three minutes of injury time doesn’t always mean three minutes. And of course, having more shots doesn’t mean you should score more goals.

In today’s post, I’ll be discussing nine common Football Manager misconceptions and misunderstandings. Most of these are specifically about FM, but there are also a few rules and regulations from real-life football that some FMers may not fully understand.

Just to be clear, I’ve not written about anything related to tactics. One of the tactical gurus on the Sports Interactive forums has already written about 20 common misconceptions when building tactics in FM, so please give that a read as well. Continue reading “FM Mythbusting: Common Misconceptions” →