is this cheating???

Ok, am I cheating or cunningly using my resources to my ability??

I was manager of Roma, I had loads of money thanks to a new chinese director, so I bought Micah Richards for 50m and Aguero for 41m. After winning the league title I decided I wanted to return to England for a career job. When the Man City job came available I jumped at the chance.

My rep was very strong as I had been promoted with Brighton and had won the league and cup with Palermo and then with Roma . I was pretty sure the city job was mine. SO........

I renewed Aguero, Aquillani, De Rossi and Richards' contracts making sure they included 10m minimum fee clauses.

I got the city job and took all the above players with me for 40m, leaving me another 100m to play with!!!

Did I cheat or just use the rules to my advantage???

Yes it's cheating, a manager wouldn't get away with this in a million years in real life.

But that being said it's your game and you should play it in whatever way gives you the most enjoyment.

Cheat.... but it dont really matter what we think, it's your game mate so just enjoy.

In my opinion you didnt technically cheat... although you would have been scuppered if you hadnt got the City job!!

IRL though I couldnt see contracts like that slipping through. Maybe FM should have something that trips when a contract is offered with a minimum fee release clause ridiculously below their value?

this is true but now i feel a bit dirty

If you have to ask...

You didn't break any rules, but it's knowingly exploiting the game in a way that wouldn't happen in real life.

It's cheating, but you can play the game how you like.

Edit: note the first paragraph is talking about real life rather than in FM.

I think it's something that could technically happen in real life, but any manager that did something so blatantly unprofessional would never be trusted in management again. The Man City board may well get rid of you as soon as possible. How can they be assured you're not going to screw them over?

Wouldn't happen in real life - same for releasing players on a free then moving clubs.

Not cheating however. bad programming???

Shouldn't the board block stupid contact offers? In fact shouldn't the board be negotiating players contracts - not managers?

Basically the board say "this is the contract we'll be offering player x". Then the manger can have options of "accept", "don't offer" or "negotiate lower offer".

this is true but now i feel a bit dirty

Ha ha, you feel dirty! At least you don't feel used and abused like Roma no doubt do!

If you think you are cheating, then most likely you are...

But, it is you game and you can play how you want.

as everyone else says its your game and if your happy with it then carry on.

Not cheating however. bad programming???

Shouldn't the board block stupid contact offers? In fact shouldn't the board be negotiating players contracts - not managers?

Basically the board say "this is the contract we'll be offering player x". Then the manger can have options of "accept"' date=' "don't offer" or "negotiate lower offer".[/quote']

This is so true, Would make the game so much better.

Excellent idea

IRL the manager wouldn't be the one offering the players terms and conditions, he would just tell the board to renew player x's contract and the board of directors would negotiate with the player.

Blame the board, you have can have a clear conscience!

I think it's something that could technically happen in real life, but any manager that did something so blatantly unprofessional would never be trusted in management again. The Man City board may well get rid of you as soon as possible. How can they be assured you're not going to screw them over?

Wouldn't happen in real life - same for releasing players on a free then moving clubs.

I don't think it could technically happen in real life since managers don't have unequivocal power over transfers. Never mind that Roma probably has a General Manager or some such, the chairman/board would have final say on contracts.

To be pedantic, I'd say it's not a 'cheat' but an 'exploit'. Cheat involves using an editor or downloading something to change the game. By 'exploit' I mean you took advantage in a lapse in the coding of FM to gain an unrealistic advantage.

As everyone is saying, you're not playing a network game and gaining an unfair advantage over anyone else - it's just you and your conscience!

you should have tried out other players really... i would say its a cheat.

cheating but like everyone else has said you paid your money you play the game anyway you want. in saying this i have informed special branch and it appears that the government are considering reintroducing the death penalty as a one of for this most heinous of crimes

It is seen like cheating as that never and will never happen IRL... However as someone suggested SI can fix this by having the release clause greater or equal to the player value at the time the contract is offered.

I do not believe that is cheating if you hadn't planned to do it.

I do not believe that is cheating if you hadn't planned to do it.

I doubt he'd give his top players such low release clauses unless he'd planned to do it.

I do not believe that is cheating if you hadn't planned to do it.

It was most definitely planned. It was cold and calculated

In my defence I put the clauses at 10m and not 500k - don't know why really, it just made me feel a little better!!!

In my defence I put the clauses at 10m and not 500k - don't know why really, it just made me feel a little better!!!

Whatever helps you sleep at night

Cheating, and you should be punished with death by firing squad.

Oh, I didn't read the minimum fee release clause part.

Guess it's cheating then, aye.

Cheating, and you should be punished with death by firing squad.

That's far too painless, some form of nipple related torture would be more appropriate for this crime.

Not cheating however. bad programming???

Shouldn't the board block stupid contact offers? In fact shouldn't the board be negotiating players contracts - not managers?

Basically the board say "this is the contract we'll be offering player x". Then the manger can have options of "accept"' date=' "don't offer" or "negotiate lower offer".[/quote']

Precisely. You could also recommend when to re-sign players, how long for etc. Giving the board control over this would have to be sensible though, for example the board might play hard-ball on minimum fees requested by players, and always try to have a release equal to or higher than current value.

Ultimately we'd still get the same control, albeit indirectly, and we wouldn't be able to exploit the game...

Something similar to this (allegedly) happened a few years ago IRL, although at a much lower level of football.

The contracts of 3 very promising players at Cambridge City were apparently changed not long before their mentor left the club. He then joined local rivals Cambridge United, and United were able to sign all 3 players on free transfers, allegedly because of these recent changes to their contracts.

The man in question was accused of adding the clauses to the player's contracts purely to allow them to move clubs for significantly less than their market value...sound familiar?

I still say it's cheating and dishonest in-game, but thought that may interest people.

Managers have a say in how much players are offered in board meetings.

Ha ha, you feel dirty! At least you don't feel used and abused like Roma no doubt do!

We do.

It's cheating. He betrayed us. :(:(

is this cheating???

Usually just asking that question means you did cheat.

Technically this may not be cheating but is certainly exploiting the game.

Also, I find it strange that people do this sort of stuff with teams that have so much money anyway. Managing one of the rich teams or a team in the top half of the top leagues you shouldn't need to cheat or exploit the game.

Something similar to this (allegedly) happened a few years ago IRL, although at a much lower level of football.

The contracts of 3 very promising players at Cambridge City were apparently changed not long before their mentor left the club. He then joined local rivals Cambridge United, and United were able to sign all 3 players on free transfers, allegedly because of these recent changes to their contracts.

The man in question was accused of adding the clauses to the player's contracts purely to allow them to move clubs for significantly less than their market value...sound familiar?

I still say it's cheating and dishonest in-game, but thought that may interest people.

Do we know what happened to the man in question? Could he be convicted of fraud (defined as "a deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual")?

You pay your money and play how you want to.... If you want to be able to BEND (exploit) the rules so you win without much effort, then you are cheating yourself.

Take on every new task with the grit and determination and a will to win regardless. Remember you will have good days and bad days - thats life.

So in fact your just cheating yourself.

No it's not cheating, I used to give good players release clauses in the editor, and have the best squad at my dispence within ten game days.

No it's not cheating, I used to give good players release clauses in the editor, and have the best squad at my dispence within ten game days.

That really doesn't sound like my idea of fun, but each to their own I suppose.

Using the editor to add them is and then get players on the cheap is definitely cheating!!

As for the OP im really not sure if its cheating or damned clever but hey!!

No it's not cheating, I used to give good players release clauses in the editor, and have the best squad at my dispence within ten game days.

that is cheating

It would've been hilarious if in the course of moving to Man City they got sold to United

Do we know what happened to the man in question? Could he be convicted of fraud (defined as "a deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual")?

Since you asked; the man in question is now manager of Cambridge United's un-official U-18 team (Cambridge Regional College), currently 7th in the Ridgeons Football League Premier division.

There was talk of a high court case against him and a number of ex-board members at Cambridge City about various "accusations of financial impropriety", but I don't know of any case coming to court yet.

Apologies for dragging this a bit off topic

This is cheating, but also brilliant. I once thought about the same thing, but I never had to opportunity to try it. Might give it a go if opportunity arises.

By the way, it is no bigger cheating then using FM08's Kimz tactic or corner routine

If it can be done in the game then i wouldn't call it cheating. Just an exploit. It's like using a loophole in laws and regulations. Not very popular but still possible.

Cheating or no cheating. Bloody brilliant lol

It's not cheating. It's player loyalty. And bugger off anyone who says that it is cheating, if Roma had any sense they would have offered new contracts as soon as the OP left the job. Bad lawyering that is.

Cheating.

A manager who did this IRL would be sued to high hell.

Haha, I love that so many people are getting on their high horses.

Whether or not it's cheating? It's definitely bending the rules to your gaming advantage....

IRL it is immoral and I think you're now on Santa's naughty list!

Cheat.... but it dont really matter what we think, it's your game mate so just enjoy.

exactly.

Although, I wouldn't personally call it a "cheat"

Bending the rules, perhaps. But, as you said, you are using the games resources to your advantage.

Don't think it's cheating, managers in the lower leagues IRL have probably done this.

Exploit not cheat.

Ferengi rule of acquisition 132: -

Exploitation begins in Football Manager.

What is a minimum fee release clause? I have seen this in the game, but ignored it because I don't know what it is.

Can someone explain to an American who is still learning about football?

Thanks in advance

im undecided in this matter as its up to you. however, if you are feeling guilty about it and you fear your game will become unplayable after this, i suggest you quit man city (and no dodgey deals this time) and then re-apply for the job. if you get it then you deserve to be let off this once if you dont then that is your punishment.

What is a minimum fee release clause? I have seen this in the game, but ignored it because I don't know what it is.

Can someone explain to an American who is still learning about football?

Thanks in advance

if say a player has a minimum fee release clause in their contract with Club Aof £10million. then if Club B bids £10million for that player it has to be accepted by Club A.

could be worse, he could be saving game before every match like a real fool xD