Squad number realism

Probably been done to the death, but would it be possible to see some squad number realism in FM11? Things such as giving the 2 shirt to a right back etc.

Of course you'd have it as a settable option in the editor as different clubs and countries have different roles for each number, for instance the 10 shirt is seen as a centre forward (usually playing behind 9) in England, but as a midfield playmaker's shirt in other parts of the world.

I also think, as many others have suggested that the preferred number thing could be expanded beyond being a cosmetic feature - speculation often happens based on shirt number - imagine if you have two equal GKs, whichever one gets the 1 shirt would probably be touted in the media as your first choice.

I always do it myself. Make sure they get the right numbers.

I also never give anyone the 13 shirt. I'm not supersticious but maybe the player I chose as 13 might be.

Edit: Ah, the AI managers? Yeah, I see what you mean.

I assume you mean squad numbers for AI personnel?

I wouldn't really worry about it too much. As long as you sort your own team out - then who cares. I've never even taken much notice of an opponent's surname, never mind his number.

nor me, AI can give his starting keeper 63 for all i care!

Well i dont know how walcott is assigned his fav number as 8 in the editor of FM when everyone knows 14 shirt on his back is his fav because his idol is Theirry Henry?

The big question is will the EPL squad number issue be fixed so that U21 players can be allocated a number without using a player registration place up?

The only problem with squad number realism, is that this "realism" doesn't really exist any more. People like Gallas wearing 10, Boularhouz had 9 at Chelsea, Baros had 5 at Liverpool - the old 1-11 doesn't really get followed by many teams any more.

I was glad to see Konchesky got 3 for Liverpool, as he is the first DL to get that number in years at Anfield as it seems to have been dominated by DRs.

The only issue I have with squad numbers is not being able to assign numbers to players off your 25 man list. SI have confirmed that for FM11 these squads will be split so you register your league squads in the same way as European competitions. Ie. 'In'

Im all for realism but I dont think this area needs a tuning. Irl squad numbers for positions are going out of fashion quickly. I can think of Gallas wearing 10 for Arsenal despite being a defender, Boulahrouz 9 for Chelsea and numbers in the 60's and 80's seem to be appearing more and more regularly in Europe

Honestly didn't see Kenco's post above before I used Gallas and Boularhouz as example! Great minds think alike

The big question is will the EPL squad number issue be fixed so that U21 players can be allocated a number without using a player registration place up?

Yes. It has been confirmed that it will follow a similar system to European registration.

would also be great to not see 15/16/17yr olds getting 1-11 numbers at clubs. Dunno why, it really irks me when I see that. If they're first teamers then yeah no problem, but when it's random reserves/U18s who sit on the bench for one game it's annoying because there is no way in hell it would be done IRL. They'd get usually 30+

Yes. It has been confirmed that it will follow a similar system to European registration.

Good stuff, hadn't read that, thanks.

As for numbers, well as a Doncaster fan it's annoyed me for ages. Adam Lockwood our centre back has worn 11 for about 5 years now, really annoys me, his choice I guess. Billy Sharp wore number 5 last season, now he's switched to our jinxed number 10 shirt and hasn't scored many, I'd ban the number 10 to be honest.

I always do it myself. Make sure they get the right numbers.

I also never give anyone the 13 shirt. I'm not supersticious but maybe the player I chose as 13 might be.

On a side note, if you manage Reading then you cant assign the #13 shirt to anyone, as we (the club) have that number set aside for the fans to have on the back of their shirts......

Surely you'd want your favourite player's number on your shirt?

We had '12 - The Blue and White Army' for the last few years but we've got rid of it now

You'll find that most clubs still use the following system, even if some top clubs seem to have abandoned it.

1 - GK

2 - DR

3 - DL

4 - MC/DMC

5 - DC

6 - DC

7 - AMR

8 - MC

9 - ST

10 - AMC/ST

11 - AML

Surely you'd want your favourite player's number on your shirt?

People use a mixture of 13 and players. I think that's more or less the same everywhere, but at other clubs, people would choose random numbers.

would also be great to not see 15/16/17yr olds getting 1-11 numbers at clubs. Dunno why, it really irks me when I see that. If they're first teamers then yeah no problem, but when it's random reserves/U18s who sit on the bench for one game it's annoying because there is no way in hell it would be done IRL. They'd get usually 30+

It does happen, didnt di santo have #7 at chelsea once? even though he didn't play that season. Or was it was anthony grant? Whatever, it happens anyway.

The only problem with squad number realism, is that this "realism" doesn't really exist any more. People like Gallas wearing 10, Boularhouz had 9 at Chelsea, Baros had 5 at Liverpool - the old 1-11 doesn't really get followed by many teams any more.

I was glad to see Konchesky got 3 for Liverpool, as he is the first DL to get that number in years at Anfield as it seems to have been dominated by DRs.

true, the numbers are a bit fluid but that's largely because of players having favoured numbers, like they do on the game. However, most managers like to give out numbers that make sense where possible. as for Gallas, that was so there was no pressure on a striker getting given Bergkamp's boots to fill

I agree that countries should have numbering preferences, so that the #10 in Argentinian teams always goes to the playmaking dead-ball specialist captain type player, etc...

And clubs could have a list of Legendary squad numbers, i.e. Arsenal would have #14 and 10, Liverpool and Celtic would have 7 and Newcastle would have 9 listed so if a manager gives a one of those numbers to a player, there's a little bit more pressure on them from the fans and they get compared to Henry, Bergkamp, Shearer etc... Other significant numbers like the last two digits of the year the club was founded could be given significance so at Sheffield Wednesday a new signing who is a Wednesday fan might ask for number 67 if their favoured number was gone. Or 67 at Celtic because of the Lisbon Lions etc... or in Italy players choosing 88 might get a bit of stick from fans because of the number's connections with facism (like Gigi Buffon at Parma or wherever it was), although the game might not want to mention the facism bit, just let the player's popularity slip slightly. Managers could also have lists of numbers they like/ don't like to give out under their tendencies.

Also, there's been all sorts of weird numbers in the past, e.g. Hicham Zerouali wore 0 at Aberdeen in the 1999/2000 season, Derek Riordan wore 01 at Hibs in the 2008/09 season and Clinton Morrison and some Inter Milan player were given 1+9 cos 10 was gone and i'd like to see more of these weird numbers in the game, although of course they'd have to be rare and you'd need to apply for dispensation for special numbers or occasions (Didn't Rogerio Ceni wear 618 once in 2005, on his 618th match?)

I think that assigning numbers should have more of an effect. It'd make squad numbers more important, what happens if you take the number 25 away from Reina or 39 off of Anelka? There should be some effect there obviously depending on the character of the player. It'd help if players had lists of prefferred numbers (i.e. Beckham's 7, 23, 32) and obviously there'd have to be some sort of concession so that Reina couldn't complain at not having 25 for Spain when National squad numbers only go to 23 etc...

We had '12 - The Blue and White Army' for the last few years but we've got rid of it now

You'll find that most clubs still use the following system, even if some top clubs seem to have abandoned it.

1 - GK

2 - DR

3 - DL

4 - MC/DMC

5 - DC

6 - DC

7 - AMR

8 - MC

9 - ST

10 - AMC/ST

11 - AML

This is how it should be IMO.

We had '12 - The Blue and White Army' for the last few years but we've got rid of it now

You'll find that most clubs still use the following system, even if some top clubs seem to have abandoned it.

1 - GK

2 - DR

3 - DL

4 - MC/DMC

5 - DC

6 - DC

7 - AMR

8 - MC

9 - ST

10 - AMC/ST

11 - AML

I read in Inverting the pyramid that this is a UK method for numbering based on the old style 2-3-5 we used but that because other nations didnt adopt the formation it meant that they had the same numbers allocated to different positions, and so it might not be as universal as we think - though I must point out it's the system I've grown up knowing

The current system is fine, its such a cosmetic feature and if it annoys you that your players arent numbered as you want then you can spend a few minutes sorting it out.

The numbering system you've pointed out doesn't really exist in any rigid fashion in real life, some clubs will keep a number for special players some players will love the number that they've always been using etc... its such a fluid thing theres no need to change it to force something like this.

what i dont like about numbers is when players like ronaldinho, have the number 80, i think its silly having first teamers with numbers like that, i always change it when i play in italy!

I'm never realistic (as you people with coin it) with squad numbers. I just set the next available free number...13 is my lucky number, so no one can that number. That's the only restriction I have.

I do the 1-11 system above, I also do 13, usually keeper but sometimes striker.

But similarly, my Sunday League team will be giving me a shirt with 71 on the back.

People use a mixture of 13 and players. I think that's more or less the same everywhere, but at other clubs, people would choose random numbers.

Just out of interest, can I ask why 13?

We went with 12, because we think of the fans as the Twelfth Man, so number 12. Surely 13 would be looked at as unlucky (I'm not supersticious at all, but I still never give out number 13 to anyone!)

Just out of interest, can I ask why 13?

We went with 12, because we think of the fans as the Twelfth Man, so number 12. Surely 13 would be looked at as unlucky (I'm not supersticious at all, but I still never give out number 13 to anyone!)

Better for the fans to be unlucky than one of the players!

Better for the fans to be unlucky than one of the players!

Or no-one at all?

This is how it should be IMO.

We had '12 - The Blue and White Army' for the last few years but we've got rid of it now

You'll find that most clubs still use the following system, even if some top clubs seem to have abandoned it.

1 - GK

2 - DR

3 - DL

4 - MC/DMC

5 - DC

6 - DC

7 - AMR

8 - MC

9 - ST

10 - AMC/ST

11 - AML

it changes from country to country.

in argentina, for instance, this has been the standard for years:

---------------1--------------

4----------2----- 6--------- 3

8-------------5--------------11

--------------10-------------

----------7--------9---------

in brazil, however, is a bit different.

11 in brazil is usually a striker, 2 is a DR, 8 is a MC or an AMC...

You'll find that most clubs still use the following system, even if some top clubs seem to have abandoned it.

1 - GK

2 - DR

3 - DL

4 - MC/DMC

5 - DC

6 - DC

7 - AMR

8 - MC

9 - ST

10 - AMC/ST

11 - AML

Big Clubs do still use this, but it's mainly not there best 11.

Man utd's 1-11 etc.

1- Van Der Sar

2- Neville

3- Evra

4- Hargreaves

5- Ferdinand

6- Brown

7- Owen (being the exception)

8- Anderson

9- Berbatov

10- Rooney

11- Giggs

Even though they have these numbers, O'shea or Rafael are the preferred RB, Vidic and Evans play CB, Fletcher and Scholes play CM, And its usually Nani and Valencia on either wing.

When i manage a team i always sort out the squad numbers, trying to give each player position 1-11 but mainly give 7 to my preferred player, and 10 to the most creative.

I always use 13 as my back up goalies shirt & 1-12 for the rest of the main squad with the others being allocated randomly.