Football Manager: What's your method for playing?

I play Football Manager as much as time permits me, and have done for many years. Now, I come across people on these forums who are already 5, 10, 15 seasons into to their latest save using the 10.2 patch and everytime the first thing that crosses my mind is: How? How are these people so far into a save?

I don't really mess around between games, but do like to watch full games as I see this as the best way of seeing whats going right / wrong, however 2 - 4 seasons is generally my maximum before the next release. And I can't help but think that I'm missing out on the full indepth features of this game as a result.

So i'm just curious really, how far do you tend to get before your next save? How much of your games do you watch? Do you watch them at all? How long does it take you to complete a game year?

I'd like to hear from all points of view, so whether you manage one game season or one hundred, how do you play Football Manager?

dont worry mate

I only watch the first few when I'm making a new tactic, or when thing start going badly.

Most of the time I just watch the goal replays to figure what went wrong.

I have my games on ONLY COMMENTARY and the game speed on high. Games go quick enough, haven;t the patience for watching the games in full

I watch key highlights at a very high speed.

Can usually do a season in a few days of serious playing.

I watch key highlights at a very high speed.

Yeah, I thought this may be the case, I used to play like this but personally as releases have progressed I've found I need to watch more and more of any game to gain any success.

Most of the time I just watch the goal replays to figure what went wrong.

Do you make use of the touch line shouts etc or have you remained on the side of sliders in the sliders vs. creator battle?!

holiday a lot of games, put the emphasis on my squad, training and tactics.

when i do play a game (20% of the time) i put it on fastest speed and key highlights only.

High speed key or even holiday for a day.

I'm a slow player as well, I guess, even though I'm in 2017/8 at the moment. Started my save the week FM came out and still going strong!

I watch key highlights in a normal speed.

i find key highlights only no replays and 3/4 speed normally does it for me used this method every version of fm so far.

Never holiday, always 2 below fastest in game, highlights only, no replays. Like to be in full control of what im doing so holidays dont work for me.

Normaly play with the speed in between max and half way, after a while of watching it at this speed it seems to slow its self down and you can get a good idea of whats happening.

Takes me about 12 hours to complete a season

i run on 2d highlights only and i dont spend much time on the season itself. most of my time goes on getting hte the right transfers in.

I normal play through a season or two with highlights and no replays then when i have a steady squad where only 2 or 3 new players come in a season then i holiday apart from the hard games. Unless its a challenge save then i pay alot of attention otherwise i just put all my effort into tactics, squad and training as bigdanio.

Mainly due to the match engine making me laugh alot and i can't take that much laughter in 90 mins.

I am in 3rd season,normally i can play 2 or 3 matches in a day and i watch full match with normal speed.

Yeah, I thought this may be the case, I used to play like this but personally as releases have progressed I've found I need to watch more and more of any game to gain any success.

Do you make use of the touch line shouts etc or have you remained on the side of sliders in the sliders vs. creator battle?!

Never used the touch line shouts.

For me the games are the important part so I don't race through them.

Extended highlights, speed about halfway gets me through approx 3-4 matches an hour.

Currently in my third season after starting a save just before Xmas.