Just give a new gamer one tip?

If someone was just starting to play this game what one tip would you give them that would help them through in their first experiences?

Me, I would warn them of the need to form a small, versatile squad where players can be switched easily & consequently, avoid the dreaded "wants first team football" syndrome. The advice:

When signing new players, wherever possible go for those players who can cover a number of different positions, e.g. DLRC, ALRC, DC/DM/MC. Avoid those players that are specialists in just one position.

It works for me. I can cover all the positions when only 5 reserves are allowed. Helps me keep the squad numbers down, etc.

What would be your advice?

Watch the games as if you were a manager and not as a fan.

Don't put any stock in the 3D whatsoever.

Don't buy into the conspiracy theories that the AI cheats

On a more serious note: Take a long time to look through your squad when you first start the game and try and figure out who is good at what, so that you can play to your strengths and decide where you need strengthening. Don't just click Continue.

Take your time & don't rush.

There is much to the game and lots to learn.

Watch the games as if you were a manager and not as a fan.

Can you elaborate...

Don't buy into the conspiracy theories that the AI cheats

On a more serious note: Take a long time to look through your squad when you first start the game and try and figure out who is good at what, so that you can play to your strengths and decide where you need strengthening. Don't just click Continue.

What do you consider the best way to do this? A brief team report from the assistant and then wade through the players attributes?

Learn the trade. Pick a high reputation for yourself, then pick a team without high expectations of it, a team that is neither expected to compete for league win/promotion, nor a struggle to survive in it's league.

Ignore most of the advice you hear and play the game the way you want. Try to have fun.

Also, figure out a good corner routine.

Ignore most of the advice you hear and play the game the way you want. Try to have fun.

Also, figure out a good corner routine.

this. although i cant resist to say "dont play with big clubs, they are awfully boring after 2-3 seasons"

Spend at least an hour after starting a new game and before hitting continue: evaluating the squad and staff, working out strengths and weaknesses, who plays where, deciding which tactic will suit the players you have, setting up the scouts and training, reallocating coaches, identifying possible signings.

Then you hit continue.

Take a journey into the unknown, this may be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have. Managing in a country that you are unfamiliar with can be very enjoyable, I remember on FM11 I had a brilliant save where I managed in some of the Scandinavian countries and I know I'll try something similar in the summer.

Jump in at the deep end and don't give up if you lose.

You'll understand the game eventually.

Learn the newgen creation dates! When your own team gets in a joblot of trailists, remember, that the other teams in your country's leagues are experiencing the same too.

Get yourself a couple of good scouts (high judge of player ability and potential) and use them to try and find some hidden gems.

Money is the most important thing. Buy low, sell high, and avoid injury prone players.

Learn what team talks work with which players and in what situations they have the best effect. Do what you can to keep morale high even if you're losing.

Evolution not revolution. (When it comes to transfers and squad building)

First worry about the next 5 years, in terms of your transfers, once that is taken care of start recruiting the youth that will make up the next gen, when your current lot of players start to hit 30-32. What I mean is, buy players who can contribute something to the team right away, but also have a good couple years in front of them, players who are 22-26 in other words. A 19 year old isn't going to contribute very much to the first team, and so don't spend a big sum of money who is 3 or 4 years away from contributing.

You can find a lot of good players that have just stagnated a little in their development and aren't getting first team football, and if their contract expires in 1 or 2 years they should be expendable to their current club.

Don't be afraid to give your team some identity. Like recently I brought up a group of three young defenders, all of whom are on the road to becoming world class, but more specifically taller than 1.90m and great in the air. Safe to say they will play a big part in ALL set pieces both offensive and defensive, the next couple of years! The opposition will be demoralized before they even leave the tunnel, by my reckoning

For midfielders I like players who can pass, have good first touch, good creativity and decision-making, and good technique (helps with first time shots and passes, and volleys). Of course they should be able to tackle a bit and be quick as well, but being a great passer comes first. Players on the flank have to be able to cover a lot of ground, so pace and stamina are crucial, with a bit of dribbling or crossing thrown in for good measure.

Lastly, I like a pacy forward line, with a couple players who are more oriented to teamwork, passing and creativity, whereas a couple are more strictly pace and finishing oriented. Won the last 5 Champions Leagues, so there must be something to my philosophy!

What do you consider the best way to do this? A brief team report from the assistant and then wade through the players attributes?

More or less what FrazT says. The team report can give you a quick lowdown, but really I think you want to look at every player's attributes. The easiest way to do this is in the squad screen. Display all players and choose to view the attributes in all categories. I find it makes sense to sort players by key attributes as you go through them - who can pass the ball; who can tackle; who is creative; who's a candidate for captain etc.

I normally go through all the players once like this, getting a rough idea of the squad and pick a formation I think that might work. If you've only got one decent striker, a 4-5-1 might be the way to go; if you're wingers are poor you probably want a narrow formation; that kind of thing.

Then I go through all the players again and assign the players to positions based on who I think the best players are. Gives me an idea of my first 11 for the friendlies. The odd player will tend to shine and a few will underperform, so things can still change, but you have to start somewhere.

btw, it's a lot easier if you're playing Man Utd and know all the players than if you've just taken control of some BSN hopefuls.

Use individual training to improve a players ratings at their specific positions.

....this may be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have.

Lets not get carried away...

Lets not get carried away...

Signing older players on non-contracts at the start of the season (if your club allows them) is the best training option available for young players. Always have a tutor for hot prospects if starting in the lower leagues. It offsets the crappy facilities and part-time status. They are basically free if you don't play them and come in handy if there's an injury crisis.

:)Just one tip?,,,keep it simple,use one tactic 4-4-2,check in tactics your players are not set to"hard tackling",if they are they will most probably get sent off!

Play left footers on the left&right footers on the right,,,balance,sorry thats 2!

Win... What?

You need patience. Lots of patience.

Make your own tactics, you will get a lot more fun out the game if you resist the urge to download and use other peoples tactics and actually engage with the whole matchday strategy part of the game.

While forums are typical, the FM enviroment(interface) is friendly to users. Try and find the changes being made over the many years of FM releases.

My advice would be not to get complacent. So many players of this game just download a tactic, buy in all the usual players, and just speed through the game. These are usually the same people that whinge about the game being 'scripted', 'bugged', 'cheating' etc.

When you're playing the game, try things out, explore all aspects of the game (training, scouting, staff, etc.) try playing at various different clubs at different levels, try all sorts of different tactics, approaches, and philosophies, and just try and learn as much about the game as possible.

Scout as wide a range of players as possible, you'd be surprised how much talent there is among relatively low value players for whatever your level is.

Don't believe everything your scouts tell you regarding work permits. I've just signed Emilio Izaguirre for my Leeds team even though the scout report said he wouldn't get a work permit. It doesn't hurt to take a chance.

On the same note it can be worthwhile to ignore the 'Ask assistant to filter out unrealistic targets' option when searching for players, especially when looking for transfer listed players.