Have I mastered this game now (FM08)?

[IbrahimAliMaher]

I just dropped my first points of the season away to Fabio Capello's relegation threatened Livorno, had to happen sooner or later. Up until then I had won every single game this season (CL, Coppa italia, super cup) apart from three - I lost to away to Arsenal in the CL thanks to a last minute Downing freekick, and I lost one and drew one in the Coppa Italia having fielded a reserve/youth side in the second leg as I was 3-4 goals up from the first leg. I just seem to have the knack of grinding out wins now, and I won every single home league last season bar one and was unbeaten at home for 3.5 seasons.

[ndebergerac]

Good for you.

Come back at the end of the season if you win everything....... and try playing as a team without world class superstars. Winning Serie A on FM08 was easy.

Sorry to deflate your head, but you've yet to show any achievements.

[kopsy101]

you won the league with juventus, one of the best teams in italy and you think you've mastered the game?

jesus man!

[DrEdwierd]

Christ alive give him some credit... Hes dropped 1 point ffs!!!

Nice one mate sounds like good going to me even with a big team! keep it up

[ndebergerac]

Christ alive give him some credit... Hes dropped 1 point ffs!!!

Nice one mate sounds like good going to me even with a big team! keep it up

That's true ... but as has been said, he has yet to win anything and is one of the best sides in the game, nothing worth gloating about really.

Winning Serie A without losing and win the Champions League, that's worth a mention.

And quite frankly, not many people will care, though some might want to know what tactic was used.

[IbrahimAliMaher]

To be fair I have won the league for the past couple of seasons, and did the Serie A and CL double the season before last, last season I did the Coppa Italia and Serie A double. I'm still on for the treble this season and I reckon 19 straight league wins is pretty good in anybodies book? And FYI Juventus don't start out with all world class superstars, they have them now because I brought them there or developed them.

[ndebergerac]

To be fair I have won the league for the past couple of seasons, and did the Serie A and CL double the season before last, last season I did the Coppa Italia and Serie A double. I'm still on for the treble this season and I reckon 19 straight league wins is pretty good in anybodies book? And FYI Juventus don't start out with all world class superstars, they have them now because I brought them there or developed them.

My mistake, you're winning Serie A with Juventus, you tactical genius you.

An FM master indeed.

To answer your question, no, you haven't mastered the game, not based off of what you've said so far at least.

[gw79]

Christ alive give him some credit... Hes dropped 1 point ffs!!!

Nice one mate sounds like good going to me even with a big team! keep it up

He has dropped 2 points - its impossible to drop 1 point when its three for a win!

[small Mac]

You've had a great first half to the season but would be interesting to see how you've done at the end. Well done for the good start though.

[Dirty_ACE]

To be honest, FM08 was rather simple. I managed to win the EPL with Arsenal without dropping a single point, in fact, I also won every single match in CL that same year, plus went on a 200+ game unbeaten streak during the same career.

FM09 has been a whole different story though.

[Suttface]

What have we become my fellow gamers?

A simple man appears in front of us, proud of his achievements, and what do we do? We flame him, like a piece of Australian bush. Shame on us, SHAME ON US.

Quite a good achievement OP, follow it up by winning the FA Cup with Juve. Now that would be something... Failing that, I'll settle for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Or the Sinod Cup. Ahh, memories...

[dudeface]

shut up that was a really bad joke you jackass. Why would you take the **** out of a fire that killed 180 people and destroyed many people's homes?

[Stevicus]

Well done OP, maybe you should get 09 and try and win everything with arsenal? A greater challenge im sure!

[NepentheZ]

I'm the master of FM08.

[Stevicus]

I'm the master of FM08.

I back him up

[ndebergerac]

What have we become my fellow gamers?

A simple man appears in front of us, proud of his achievements, and what do we do? We flame him, like a piece of Australian bush. Shame on us, SHAME ON US.

Quite a good achievement OP, follow it up by winning the FA Cup with Juve. Now that would be something... Failing that, I'll settle for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Or the Sinod Cup. Ahh, memories...

No one likes a gloater, especially one who hasn't achieved above what would be expected.

An unbeaten league season would be impressive though. I await the end of season standings.

[GillsMan]

What have we become my fellow gamers?

A simple man appears in front of us, proud of his achievements, and what do we do? We flame him, like a piece of Australian bush. Shame on us, SHAME ON US.

Quite a good achievement OP, follow it up by winning the FA Cup with Juve. Now that would be something... Failing that, I'll settle for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Or the Sinod Cup. Ahh, memories...

That's not appropriate at all. Please think before posting in future.

[eXistenZ]

All those people who take a big club on should start with a club thaat is not even playing in the top league of the country. than they have achieved someting.

[peter-evo]

Try taking Marine FC to champions league glory, then you have mastered the game.

[Orion Dean]

Your achievements are exceptional and legendary, you truely have mastered football manager 2008.

Congratultions, may many wanna-be managers bow down at your glorious feet.

[santy001]

I got 22 consecutive league wins on FM09, does that mean I'm an FM09 master? lol I do know Keirrison is the master of goalscoring lol.

[NepentheZ]

I got 22 consecutive league wins on FM09, does that mean I'm an FM09 master? lol I do know Keirrison is the master of goalscoring lol.

22 is pathetic. my match stats for fm08 :

Played - 1756
Won - 1404
Drew - 153
Lost - 199

GS - 6632
GC - 1489

League Wins - 26
Cup Wins - 77

I also went 14 league seasons unbeaten. Who can test me? Seriously

[schweddy]

22 is pathetic. my match stats for fm08 :

Played - 1756
Won - 1404
Drew - 153
Lost - 199

GS - 6632
GC - 1489

League Wins - 26
Cup Wins - 77

I also went 14 league seasons unbeaten. Who can test me? Seriously

You seemed to have played the game too long haha. But congrats on your success.

[santy001]

I said on FM09 lol, not FM08 lol.

My match stats
Played - 496
Won - 315
Drawn - 82
Lost - 99

GS - 1389 (2.8 p/m)
GC - 757 (1.5 p/m)

63 league games unbeaten.

It is now my personal goal to beat your FM08 record, I'll be back in 10 years lol.

[NepentheZ]

Looking forward to it

[santy001]

At around 65 games a season you must have done a good 25 - 30 seasons depending on international jobs etc. Here's me thinking my 8 years was pretty impressive lol.

Oh yea, Keirrison 149 goals in a season, did you beat that one lol. Probably did but I have to try and play something in my favour lol.

[NepentheZ]

I'm in my 31st season now. And as for the goals :

Bite me

[santy001]

If Keirrison was in Northern Ireland he'd beat that, he's scoring in a 'real' league lol. (I need some consolation lol) I had thought the delay in posting had actually put me in with a glimmer of hope, but when I saw the goals scored and thought it through I knew it was less likely 149 would be enough lol.

My main consolation is you haven't done it to me on FM09 yet so I still hold the record there lol. You can keep your FM08 masterdom I'm doing it on 09 lol.

There is a good chance Keirrison will break 149 this season, but he won't get anywhere near 228 lol.

[NepentheZ]

If I played smylie in every game last season, he would have got around 250

I'm going to start a N. Ireland save for FM09 tonight, so yea, I'm coming for that FM09 master title too

[santy001]

Lol, it'll be interesting, if/when you manage to get a better goalscorer you can enjoy the 'obviously a cheat' lines again lol. My problem is by the time my team is in its prime, Keirrison will be 32/33 so he won't be scoring as much then and I don't hold out much hope of adequately replacing him, theres no good pacey strikers any more, but thousands of targetmen lol.

[NepentheZ]

Ha. I don't mind the cheat claims. I'll happily upload my save game for anyone to look at. You'll see I've never cheated, and the fact that I'm on a Mac means there aren't any In-Game editing or Scouting tools for me to use.

[santy001]

I did upload my game for someone to try to prove the same but apparently it expired after so many hours, waste of time lol, but yea if push came to shove and someone needed me to upload it for whatever reason I'd have no qualms (are mac saves compatible with vista/xp btw? I'd imagine they are but can't be certain lol) but I got lucky and built up a massive scouting network although I suck at international management at the moment. Dragging my goal to game ratios down and win stats lol.

But I've had a few outlandish claims, one was that I took charge of each opponent and set them up for me to win lol, like anyone would take that much time I put up a few screenshots to quell that accusation lol.

[NepentheZ]

Yea, some people just can't accept that you can get that good at this game. I'm pretty sure the saves are compatible. My best mate has a Mac and P.C (Home and work) - and I'm certain he transfers the save between the two. You can even prove that you haven't taken over teams. Just show the previous manager history

[santy001]

I took screen-shots of several clubs landmarks to show there was no managerial changes lol. I will struggle to get another Keirrison type goalscorer once he's gone but I think a 50 - 60 goal normal striker will suffice lol. Back to the days of FM08 goalscorers lol.

[NepentheZ]

I'm sure if you can do it with Keirrison, you'll find a regen just as good to do it with

[santy001]

I can't breed pacey strikers I'm a stoke city fan all my players are hybridised with rugby players lol... oh wait that's just the way lazy journo's portray it lol.

But yea, in my game I've not seen any ideal pacey strikers coming through on the game, I've seen tons of targetmen type players but they all have reasonable pace so I may end up with two targetmen upfront lol.

[JDownie]

Kimz tactic mastered this game AGES ago. =\

On FM08, I used Man City, and went until April, before losing a game. It just happened to be away, at Old Trafford. I got beaten 1-0...

With Kimz tactic, it wasn't difficult. It was simply unbeatable, to be perfectly honest.
I tried using it with Chelsea, and got until February, without losing a game.
Then I bought FM09...

[Indi75]

I'm still playing FM08... blah blah blah, thinly veiled protest at FM09, etc etc etc..

Nothing to see here, not least because I'm not convinced that this post was anything other than a long line of reminders that FM09 is unplayable until the next patch.

[Serdar]

Winning Seria A and CL with Juve is not a unique success but still it is a major achievement in FM. Doing it in mutliple seasons in a row just makes it better. Also winning 19 out of 20 matches is not something one can do easily even with a mighty team. If this was done without cheating I personally think you are a Class A FM player. Now You should continue that career by resigning from Juve and taking another team from relagation zone and make them beat your old good Juve in three seasons, then I think your glory chain will be complete.

[Jase1982]

I would argue that it is easier to experience a higher degree of success once a league title has been won and are now considered "the team to beat".

The match odds come into play and every team plays cautiously against you, so you can stick any tactic out there and win multiple games in a row.

[santy001]

160 goals in a season Nepenthenz, he's getting closer, if all my youngsters develop well over the summer and into early next season Keirrison may just beat it. Be great if he could but its still unlikely, I need to export him to the NI leagues see how he does there.

[FuSS]

na easy, it's like i went on a 164 game winning streak with man utd, fm08 was easy peasy, 09 is a little tougher but can still go undefeated with any of the big teams easily enough

[NepentheZ]

160 goals in a season Nepenthenz, he's getting closer, if all my youngsters develop well over the summer and into early next season Keirrison may just beat it. Be great if he could but its still unlikely, I need to export him to the NI leagues see how he does there.

He will NEVER beat it

And if he does, I'll just make sure Smylie beats it.

[santy001]

I'll invade your house and sabotage Smylie with a cunning plan of publicly berating him and on dodgy training schedules whilst you sleep if Keirrison beats it lol. And Keirrison managed more man of the match awards!

[IbrahimAliMaher]

Nothing to see here, not least because I'm not convinced that this post was anything other than a long line of reminders that FM09 is unplayable until the next patch.

I haven't got FM09, I don't need it, FM08 is still going strong. i'm sure Fm09 is pretty unplayable though...

[IbrahimAliMaher]

Winning Seria A and CL with Juve is not a unique success but still it is a major achievement in FM. Doing it in mutliple seasons in a row just makes it better. Also winning 19 out of 20 matches is not something one can do easily even with a mighty team. If this was done without cheating I personally think you are a Class A FM player. Now You should continue that career by resigning from Juve and taking another team from relagation zone and make them beat your old good Juve in three seasons, then I think your glory chain will be complete.

No cheating. I could post some amazing stats too but my laptop is so slow it takes me 3 months to do one season. I'm really starting to get bored with this game now, I will either take a new challenge or start a new game at the end of this season. This was the first game I started on FM08 right at release day, after the first season it was messed up though so I had to start a new career game in league 2. After some moderate success in getting to the championship play off final I got bored with that game and so decided to fix this one. Maybe I will start a Blue Square game with most things turned off to speed things up soon...

[NepentheZ]

You don't even have 100 league goals with Keirrison. And you play more games ..!! Shocking.

[santy001]

Lol, he's edging closer, and I think the only reason he hasn't scored so many is because look at his stats, he got fouled a 100 times more, probably when he was close to breaking through etc and he was robbed. With a rapidly improving set of wingers, full backs and centre mids he will get more service lol.

[NepentheZ]

Smylie is just too good to get fouled

[santy001]

Out of curiosity (I doubt Smylie is your best because he's too young unless you're several years on from there) whats your all-time top scorer lol. Keirrison has 844 goals in 398 games for the club.

[NepentheZ]

Smylie is the top scorer with

1170 Club goals and 12 International goals. (and yes, he's only 23)

I also have Paul Wallace who scored 1069 Club goals and 4 International goals.

So yea, I rock

[santy001]

Well I'm beginning to look for my next gen Keirrison, if I get someone young enough about 16/17 capable of stepping in then I'll be able to have a player who can match Smylie in the long run lol, I might have to move to a backwater league after getting scout updates of the best talent around from my stoke scouts lol. Either that or use my 400m to move Stoke into the said country and enter them there lol. Keirrison will match that before he retires, but obviously Smylie has 5-6 years before he becomes woeful - thats at least one curse of FM08 lol, you'll be lucky to have a decent player by the time hes 31.

Although seeing how I kept Beckham on in the first team until he was 40 with good performances, who knows maybe I can get the same from Keirrison lol.

[NepentheZ]

Ha. Paul Wallace played until he was 37. Sure, it was a struggle, but he did it. So long as smylie can walk, he'll get on the pitch, no matter how old

[santy001]

Keirrison is going to leave Wallace in the dust though, Smylie is the only one who'll be his competition lol, 18 months and he's ahead of Wallace, Smylie's natural fitness is only 13 so he's unlikely to be playable at those ages lol. Suppose it being NI means you don't need as high a quality of player, Sergio Aguero had to be dropped when he was 30 for me on FM08 he went into massive decline at 28 lol.

[NepentheZ]

Let me find Wallace's last ever screen shot. It was terrible, I warn you

[NepentheZ]

Here we go...



And STILL managed to bag 38 goals

[ahmufcwafc]

Screenshot isn't working NepentheZ.

[NepentheZ]

Apparently so. However, thats good, because he actually played another season : and here it is - Paul Wallace @ 39 years of age

[9inarowhoops]

Here we go...



And STILL managed to bag 38 goals

What tactics you using mate

[santy001]

27 goals lol, Keirrison if he's still playing should be capable than more of that at the same age, all he will need to do is just stand there and finish it when someone puts it on his foot for him, with midfielders hitting 30+ assists a season anyone could turn them in if they had decent finishing lol. Must have been like watching a pensioner on the pitch though with Wallace on the ball lol.

Put in a herculean shift though in that game, I'm only 14 years behind lol, now to start a 14 year unbeaten run in the league lol.

[NepentheZ]

What tactics you using mate

This.

Feel free to use it. Its my own tactic

[NepentheZ]

27 goals lol, Keirrison if he's still playing should be capable than more of that at the same age, all he will need to do is just stand there and finish it when someone puts it on his foot for him, with midfielders hitting 30+ assists a season anyone could turn them in if they had decent finishing lol. Must have been like watching a pensioner on the pitch though with Wallace on the ball lol.

Put in a herculean shift though in that game, I'm only 14 years behind lol, now to start a 14 year unbeaten run in the league lol.

Only 30 assists. lmao - You have a long way to go my man. A long way.



It feels good to be great

[9inarowhoops]

This.

Feel free to use it. Its my own tactic

Take it,s for fm2008 mate

[NepentheZ]

Yes mate, sorry

[santy001]

I used to get 60 - 70 assists on FM08 but the assists are more spread through the team with the tactic I use now, basically its 10 men supporting the one goalscorer. Rather than there being one main creative outlet and a couple of goalscorers etc. Basically it means my team can afford to lose more or less any player and still play very well. Keirrison will hopefully beat 200 goals this season though.

[santy001]

Here goes the season of truth, I've spent about 3 hours working on this pre-season to try and maximise my team, read through the tactic guides, and looked to pick up as much insight as I can lol. Knockbreda won't hold a candle to stoke after this year! (I hope)

[NepentheZ]

Haha, Good luck. It may ake me break trend and actually start scouting the world, rather than relying on my YOUTH TEAM to set up smylies goals. (Currently have 10 players of the Line up (+ Bench) from my youth team)

If I tried to get better players, then He'll smash anything you can ever do.

I should really try too. I won the Champions League 2 years ago, (for the first time ever) - and haven't come close since. Also, I will do something similar in FM09. Watch this space.

Oh, just 1 other thing. I looked at your Tactic thread, to see whats going on there, and noticed you rarely keep a clean sheet. Smylie gets all his goals AND my GK has an excellent CS record. Just to rub it in a little, here are the key league only stats.

Games Played : 275
Goals Conceded : 102
Clean Sheets : 198

With his best single season reading

Games Played : 29
Goals Conceded : 6
Clean Sheets : 25

Who can match me

[9inarowhoops]

Haha, Good luck. It may ake me break trend and actually start scouting the world, rather than relying on my YOUTH TEAM to set up smylies goals. (Currently have 10 players of the Line up (+ Bench) from my youth team)

If I tried to get better players, then He'll smash anything you can ever do.

I should really try too. I won the Champions League 2 years ago, (for the first time ever) - and haven't come close since. Also, I will do something similar in FM09. Watch this space.

Oh, just 1 other thing. I looked at your Tactic thread, to see whats going on there, and noticed you rarely keep a clean sheet. Smylie gets all his goals AND my GK has an excellent CS record. Just to rub it in a little, here are the key league only stats.

Games Played : 275
Goals Conceded : 102
Clean Sheets : 198

With his best single season reading

Games Played : 29
Goals Conceded : 6
Clean Sheets : 25

Who can match me

Are you making tac for FM09

[santy001]

I'm never a fan of a solid defence, I prefer to score loads even if I concede loads - and despite my dodgy defence I've only lost 1 league game in about 80 or so league games, and now I've just brought in a veteran Sebastien Frey in to Stoke to sure up the back line, the defence is also getting older which means they're improving (18 year old full backs are only so good lol) and I would rely on my youth system but despite being at full rating for 4 years its never produced a player with more than 2 star potential which isn't good enough lol.

But if I have to push you to get more out of Smylie it will just get me to push my team harder, if I had the patience I'd start over with Knockbreda to see who could get them performing better but I don't have NI active on this save and don't fancy going back to 2008 lol.

[Lisandro Lopez]

Lloris had 33 clean sheets for me in one season, that’s only in the league.

Much luv NepentheZ.

[santy001]

Lloris had 33 clean sheets for me in one season, that’s only in the league.

Much luv NepentheZ.

No doubt Nepen is now scouring his game for the season where his keeper got more lol.

[NepentheZ]

Are you making tac for FM09

I'm trying. But its quite apparent that I suck at FM09

Lloris had 33 clean sheets for me in one season, that’s only in the league.

Much luv NepentheZ.

Haha. I only play 30 league games per season. Overall Clean Sheets in a season is 43

No doubt Nepen is now scouring his game for the season where his keeper got more lol.

I'm not saying I'm the greatest in all areas. But god damn I'm close..!!

I'll just throw out another stupid record for you all to wish you could do.

Most goals in a match by 1 player.

Andrew Smylie. 15 goals.

Thank you and good night

[Lisandro Lopez]

Haha. I only play 30 league games per season. Overall Clean Sheets in a season is 43

49 clean sheets overall for me in that season.

[santy001]

Keirrison has 8 (against Villa) so far, but I've not been fortunate enough to get a really bad team in the league or FA cup for years. If I do then I think he could beat it lol. My 20 year old keeper got 16 clean sheets last season, considering he doesnt hit his peak for another 11 years I think he can get close to 30 lol.

[Wijnand fens]

I won the treble with Salernitana (when you start fm 08 they play in the serie C)
I won it in season 60 and 61 . so................. I mastered the game

[santy001]

Quite amusing, this thread has been sustained from my tongue in cheek remark that I must be an FM09 master for winning 22 league games without losing lol. But still, I doubt I'll beat Lloris' clean sheets but I can beat Smylies' goals I reckon.

[Scath]

Great ****ing contest here, respect. :P

Truly wish I was this good, haven't had any such joy til 07 or 05. ^^

[NepentheZ]

49 clean sheets overall for me in that season.

Then the gauntlet has been layed down. I'll now play my better defenders, and increase my GK's cleansheets.

49. Easy.

[santy001]

2 goals down, 220 to go for me lol

[Lisandro Lopez]

Then the gauntlet has been layed down. I'll now play my better defenders, and increase my GK's cleansheets.

49. Easy.

Haha, but I'm not sure of the standard of opposition you face compared to what I face. I know how you roll Nep, you play dirty.

[NepentheZ]

I DO. NOT

Currently, there are 4 or 5 other teams that cause me a threat in the league and cups. Outside of that, I'm open to concede in every European game I play, and infact, currently have conceded 13 goals in 4 Group E games

[santy001]

What kind of master of FM08 concedes 13 goals in the group stages!?!?! I'm heartbroken Nepenthez, its all been lies and deception! Lol.

There isn't even that many teams in my league that causes me problems anymore, now all the good managers have retired lol.

[santy001]

Nepenthez your record with Smylie is safe for now... Real Madrid have just hijacked Keirrison from me. Well in January they will (and I'm fuming because its only 6m upfront).

I will rebuild, and I will come back stronger in a season or so lol. I've signed 10 more scouts and got them searching the world for young strikers lol. My new chairman is ******** though seriously, last one gave me the say in a 167m bid, this one accepted a 140m bid and I'm 200m richer than the time since the last one came in.

[Stevicus]

Nepenthez your record with Smylie is safe for now... Real Madrid have just hijacked Keirrison from me. Well in January they will (and I'm fuming because its only 6m upfront).

I will rebuild, and I will come back stronger in a season or so lol. I've signed 10 more scouts and got them searching the world for young strikers lol. My new chairman is ******** though seriously, last one gave me the say in a 167m bid, this one accepted a 140m bid and I'm 200m richer than the time since the last one came in.

Dude, face it, you wont beat little Andy S's record, if your playing in a major european league, it will be extremely difficult to get a 1000 or so goals out of one player in his playing career. Nepen is playing in a poor standard of league, where goals can come aplenty, its a league where sloppy football is the main style of play.

And to be honest, you could maybe get that record, if you used the corner bug, but that would be plain cheating

[santy001]

When Keirrison leaves in January, he will have over 900 goals (844 at the start of the season, already got 50 in November) to his name, at the age of 28 when he leaves, only having 7 and a half years at the club. No use of corner bugs etc, just a tactic that sets one man up to score all the goals lol. If I can find another good striker, there is every chance I will beat it, Smylie's record is 228 or something, Keirrison managed 160 and according to the threads I've read his PA isn't a 180 - 200 one, so providing I can cultivate another striker Keirrison may be on borrowed time as my best ever goalscorer lol.

[Ryknow]

I think everyone master FM08, t'was the easiest version.
Have a decent side, say "I expect a win", one or two of your strikers has "Shoots with power", its 7-0 at half time.