More detail-oriented players than I may scoff at such a revelation, having made such painstaking intervention in games past. But they should be delighted that their own deep level of tinkering should now reap more rewards and find more satisfaction in watching plans unfold on the pitch. There is a slew of new stuff on hand to help too; with a new data hub giving far more detailed visualisations and match graphics than I would know what to do with. But it is granular and customisable enough that I can drill down into areas that I am particularly concerned with, requesting specific reports from my analysts or ‘pinning’ particularly useful graphics. It is, to put it in simple terms, a football nerd’s nirvana.
Other changes are more subtle. Player agents are now a trickier mob to deal with. Should you ask about a client’s availability, rather than giving you all the details you could possibly want to make a transfer bid, agents now expect a commitment to putting in an offer lest their noses get put out of joint. Transfer deadline day has been given a bit more swizz to add excitement to football’s most ludicrous day (complete with Sky Sports inspired yellow makeover), while asking prices are more accurately marked if you have done your scouting right.
Less impressive is, again, the interaction with the media. The dialogue is long overdue an overhaul, particularly given the high frequency of press conferences and phone calls, while this year it seems very easy to annoy journalists. I understand we can be a sensitive type, but I found I was the subject of ‘fierce dislike’ from a local hack quite early on in my career, presumably because he didn’t much enjoy my cheerful platitudes about my out-of-form players. It’s all rather obtuse, which is at odds with a game that is at pains to offer you more feedback and data than ever.
Still, it is not the most consequential part of the game (and you can always fob off media duties to your assistant if you trust them enough not to say something dumb). The bulk of the work in this year’s edition is focussed on what is most consequential: the work on the pitch. More casual players may need forewarning that hitting ‘gegenpress’ on game day and nipping off for a cup of tea isn’t going to get you very far this year, as Sports Interactive strive to further replicate the pressure of being a football manager.
But each year should offer something slightly different. Partway through my Watford season, having somewhat steadied the ship and learnt more intricacies than I had in previous editions, I had the overwhelming urge to try something different. I began a new game, made myself unemployed, and got a job to start a root-and-branch revolution at Carlisle United; revamping the backroom staff as much as my miniscule budget would allow, building a squad around youth and poring over lesser known opponent’s stats in order to figure out the week’s gameplan. Plenty of other players would have taken a similar path in previous games, for sure. But I think that’s the point with Football Manager. And that it can still inspire different approaches from different players each year is impressive, even if it might not look hugely different on the surface.
I’m currently knocking on the door of the playoffs. You can’t keep a good gaffer down.
