Is FM12 one of the best CM/FMs of all time?

[The_SouL]

Hi,

Being a long time fan of the series, I have seen the best and the worst during the years of the series. From the magnificient CM 00/01, followed by CM 01/02, passing by CM 03/04 and FM06 to the horribly buggy CM4, the rather bad FM09.

Anyway talking to a friend yesterday during our FM game, he said that FM12 is one of the best that has come out during recent years and placing itself as one of the best CM/FM. I agree with him as in recent years I have seen a decline in my fm playing. This is also because of more responsabilities coming along as you grow up, but this fm I have really enjoyed playing it.

I wouldn't say it is the number 1 of them all, also having in mind that the cm is also part of my childhood and therefore i'm biased because of that, but this fm deserves praising.

So is FM12 one the best of the series?

[Padders]

FM12 is the best, closely follows by FM08

[Chris Ritchie]

I'm still playing FM11, which I think is great. CM03/04 would be my favourite if I could get it to run at a reasonable speed.

[Blidly]

Im going to sound really naive ( I've played FM08,09,11,12 ) I have to say I've never been dissapointed but from a nostaglia point of view of being my first my fav one is FM08

[CityAndColour]

FM07 for me, from the perspective of how many hours I got out of it and the level of addiction.

More aspects of FM12 have disappointed me than excited me. Kind of like a really hot girl, but when you get to know her you realise her personality is lacking and she is clumsy in bed. But you keep going back in hope because she looks pretty.

[ilCuoreDiRoma]

hate FM12

FM10 is the best in terms of gameplay and tactics

FM09 has the best database and stats

[slipknot67]

hate FM12

I'm tempted to go with that response as well tbh, I maybe wouldn't quite go so far to say I actually hate it but it has without doubt been easily the least enjoyable and most frustrating version of the series I've ever played.

I fear SI are losing sight of what makes the game actually fun to play in their relentless pursuit of 'realism', despite the fact that as soon as 'Joe Bloggs' takes control of X F.C ousting the previous manager who'd held the position for 10 + years and presses continue realism is gone right there.

Then there's the fact that every player in the game is constantly on the verge of a complete mental breakdown, the horrendous click and hope for the best nature of all the in game ai interaction, the mind numbing press conferences which I still wouldn't use if the game had true ai and infinite questions, utterly infuriating squad registration rules that mean by 2020 if you've bought more than half a dozen players over 18 yrs old your left having to register a squad of 19 players + a bunch of horribly underdeveloped newgens, which have absolutely no hope of ever making it into my first team squad since even though he's a 19 year old rated as 1 gold star for Manchester City by my Assistant, not one single football club on the planet is remotely interested in taking him on loan for 0 fee and 0 wages.

Finally, if this reads like an "I can't win so the game is rubbish" rant, I can honestly say it's not. I have a world class squad, money to burn and 7 trophies in two seasons at Man City, but some of these issues caused by the strive for realism only serve to break my immersion in the game itself and make it harder to enjoy the successes when they do come along.

[ljwjones]

I have played since I think 06, or could be 07. But the year on year progression has never failed to impress, but this years game has held me like no other. Normally after 5 or 6 seasons i start a fresh, I am currently into 2020 for the second time. That is 8 season, last time went 10 then only stopped as had to have time away from it and felt like a new one.
FM12 best yet, can't wait for 13 though!

[Apos]

Better than FM11,which in my opinion was the worst FM so far. Doesn't beat FM10 certainly.

Like slinpknot said,it's getting tiresome having to take care of little whiny babies that may stop playing well because a polar bear yawned in the north pole or whatever.
The focus on what to improve has been a bit bad as well, the ability to remove leagues is nice,but team talks aren't anything special, match preparation was the worst idea ever and agents are ruining the game really often as well. While on the meantime the FM11 match engine is as horrendous as ever for the sake of "realistic results", the transfer system hasn't improved a single bit and selling players is close to impossible for years now.

But at least they removed the AI press conferences that caused your players to have their morale drop to abysmal overnight. I guess one step forward is something.

It's "good",but certainly not the best.

[redhillunited]

CM 03/04 is the best ever!

[Coentrao]

I like it a lot the best of the latest FM's to me.

Nostalgia will always dictate that the old CM2 is still the best of all the time for me!

[STFCDP1990]

FM11 is my favourite. FM12 looks brilliant but the player search is annoying, maybe if 12 had 11's player search it would be better.

[Welsh Wizard]

Likely best in recent years with the main things coming together but for it's time 07 and 08 are right up there. Needs a big revolution on the tactical side(defensive and attacking shapes) and the continuation improvements to the match engine for it to reach the next level as seems like it been similar the last 3 years as the main changes have been fully put in place.

[Fabio MVP]

Football Manager 12.2.2 is the best football management simulation ever IMO.

[dafuge]

FM11 is my favourite. FM12 looks brilliant but the player search is annoying, maybe if 12 had 11's player search it would be better.

FM12 has the scouting pool though, which is one of my favourite additions to the game.

[omaroo]

Where is the scouting pool located, bloody heck i still dont even know if some of the new features or small things in the games.

FM12 is good, but 07-11 are my favourite. But FM11 was great as i had my longest save on it and had the best success.

[dafuge]

Scouting - Pool

If you right click on a player and choose 'get report card' it gets assigned to whichever scout is available, which is particularly useful if you have a list of players to scout.

[omaroo]

Oh that is what i do usually, wasnt "get report Card" in previous versions.

Also i usually work out from that how good the player is, do you and others mostly get scout reports from matches over a period of time, i just try to get their general perspective of the player and everything from the "get report card".

[wally13]

Not really sure why these threads get started to be fair, and no im not having a pop at you the soul all i mean is you'll never get a definitive out come as obviously every one as different views, some will say yes some will say no some will say not sure, just best to judge for yourself

[Macharius]

That damn Domestic Cup bug has ruined FM12 for me. I mean, it has nice features and a nice new look, but FM07/08 I adored. FM11 has a special place because I had my best save on it in a long time. *Sobs* I miss it.

[dafuge]

That damn Domestic Cup bug has ruined FM12 for me.

What's that?

[Macharius]

What's that?

The big clubs in the majority of countries aren't fielding proper teams in domestic cups, just untried under 18's and reserves. For me, that's a deal breaker. Man Utd got destroyed 7 - nil in the FA Cup by QPR because they had no first-team players.

[RBKalle]

FM12 could go down in history as the most disappointing installment in the glorious history of the franchise...

For starters the Steam-only fiasco [not gonna to reopen the debate about the choice itself, which I still feel was debatable at best, but surely it should have handled better by SEGA/SI when announcing and promoting the game].

Then the game is still plagued by the long-term flaws we've been experiencing and reporting for years... Mediocre AI squad building, absurd managerial appointments, horrid media interaction, players acting like bratty kids, erratic match engine...

And the icing on the cake, the long-awaited, potentially game-changing, "Add/Remove Leagues" feature that could have finally made long-term games interesting and worth playing even with all the aforementioned AI shortcomings... well, that feature turned out to be as buggy as the rest.

Not only it causes the DB to expand itself beyond the point of playability, but it also a neverending source of crashes and savegame corruption [as shown by the insane amout of reports in the Bugs section].


FM12 had potential, but the old idiosyncrasies of SI/SEGA/FM just killed all the promises and left us with yet another "kinda ok if you're forgiving and lucky enough not to get many save-killing crashes" version.


A better questions could be: is FM12 the straw that breaks the camel's back and we'll finally get something truly NEW next year instead of a glorified data update "with a new hat"?

[CaptainPlanet]

Whole franchise headed downhill for me from 09 onwards, with the introduction of new "fun" features without addressing so many of the important core gameplay problems that people complained about regularly.

Investing development time and money in to press conferences and 3D mode just makes me sick to my stomach.

SI are so badly aiming current versions at the console gamer kiddie market, it's starting to make EA look like a responsible developer.

[grade]

The best one in terms of fun and addictness is CM97-98 and in close second FM07 and long distant third FM06. The bottom of the list was FM09, it was worse then CM4.

[The_SouL]

Yes, I know that obviously people will have different views but I felt i'd like to know what younger and older players of this game felt about it.
I mean speaking for myself I always have played with some kind of graphics enhancement going from background pack in cm to facepack, kits etc.. but thats my why of enhancing my playing and adding realism. Anyway speaking of fm12 i feel personally feel the game has taken good step but that many things could be made better.

For example the biggest setback for me is the CA/PA question. The system in itself is good, but i would like sometimes that attributes would change more dramatically. What I am trying to say is that in real life you see some young player pop up from nowhere, Oxlade-Chamberlain being one for example. Not just him but sometimes players that maybe have been so-so for some time then have one season where they really explode.
I would sometimes like to see a young player get a boost in CA and maybe PA, because they are so many young players existing in the database that just end up nowwhere, staying too static.

[deltablue]

Not quite, happier being back on FM11.

[daddyrichie]

I would say it's right up there as 1 of the best FM/CM games but my favorite is still FM07, I spent many hours playing it which also coincided with moving in with my missus who was at college at the time so I had loads of hours on my own which was spent turning Saints into a force in world football!

[milnerpoint]

Football Manager 12.2.2 is the best football management simulation ever IMO.

That man speaks the truth, i had a great long term save on 11 i never thought id beat, but 12 has completely surpassed that for me, no crashes or anything else in 25 seasons so far, apart from team meetings taking longer than John Terry trying to get back i dont really see the issue and with Steam they have fixed things quicker than ever. Bring on 13!

[bumchin]

http://s1243.photobucket.com/albums/...rrent=1551.jpg hoping this works.i like them all

[milnerpoint]

http://s1243.photobucket.com/albums/...iew¤t=1551.jpg hoping this works.i like them all

Brilliant!!

[billyboyeden]

Its funny how one man's meat is another mans poison. I am currently having my second longest save of all time so am loving it and believe FM12 to be the best so far. The last time I enjoyed it so much was FM09 which seem to have gotten a bit of stick.
I think the game is progressing really well and find it so much better the the old click and win games although I lost my childhood to those lol

[BiggusD]

The overall product FM12 is likely the best ever. There are still many things that are annoying and which could possibly ruin a gaming experience. For instance, the add/remove leagues feature ruins savegames, the football itself is too open and slow (caused by the ME only "activating" two players at any one time), the AI is still too weak and that is the core feature of a game like this. The worst thing of all is the decision to lump even more importance to the faulty Reputation system by adding "difficulty" to the choice of managing experience. I mean, why didn't SI take a good look at the four choices and realize that none of them would let any of their customers have a go at the morale/team talk feature the first couple of seasons (if ever)?

[Abz Khan]

FM 07 for me, I got to 2050 with Ambramovich's dollars

[daylight]

The best one in terms of fun and addictness is CM97-98 and in close second FM07 and long distant third FM06. The bottom of the list was FM09, it was worse then CM4.

^^This.

FM12 makes me feel like I am a damn shrink trying to make my players feel better about themselves and God forbid you should change a player from "key player" too "important player",all hell breaks loose.

[andrjam]

http://s1243.photobucket.com/albums/...iew¤t=1551.jpg hoping this works.i like them all

Old pc games in HUGE cardboard boxes

Miss those days.....

[makie1874]

I like this one the best but it is closely followed by 06+08

[Erimus1876]

FM12 could go down in history as the most disappointing installment in the glorious history of the franchise...

For starters the Steam-only fiasco [not gonna to reopen the debate about the choice itself, which I still feel was debatable at best, but surely it should have handled better by SEGA/SI when announcing and promoting the game].

Then the game is still plagued by the long-term flaws we've been experiencing and reporting for years... Mediocre AI squad building, absurd managerial appointments, horrid media interaction, players acting like bratty kids, erratic match engine...

And the icing on the cake, the long-awaited, potentially game-changing, "Add/Remove Leagues" feature that could have finally made long-term games interesting and worth playing even with all the aforementioned AI shortcomings... well, that feature turned out to be as buggy as the rest.

Not only it causes the DB to expand itself beyond the point of playability, but it also a neverending source of crashes and savegame corruption [as shown by the insane amout of reports in the Bugs section].


FM12 had potential, but the old idiosyncrasies of SI/SEGA/FM just killed all the promises and left us with yet another "kinda ok if you're forgiving and lucky enough not to get many save-killing crashes" version.


A better questions could be: is FM12 the straw that breaks the camel's back and we'll finally get something truly NEW next year instead of a glorified data update "with a new hat"?

Sadly got to agree with this.

After spending the first 2 months after the games release trying to convince SI the game had easiness issues. To finally get them looked at and fixed (somewhat), then spent the next 3 months working within a buggy editor to make an indepth database with expanded league structure, then finally as of last month starting my long over due save, I find out the add/remove leagues feature has effectively destroyed my save game after just 9 seasons, and many other players' saves too. What a complete waste of time the last 6 months have been with FM12 for me.

FM12 had the potential to be the best, but I really do think SI should stop adding features for a year or two and just concentrate on the ones that we already have.

[jesusismyairbag]

cm 01/02 i still play. that is still the best for me. this game is excellent though.

[Ratonbox]

01/02, 03/04 and 2012 are the best in my opinion. But for me, the most fun I had was in CM4, which is touted as one of the worst.

[dogs]

i have had alot of enjoyment out of the whole series, each version for me has pros and cons, doesn't stop me like a sheep buying the next installment in line, i would be lying if i said i don't get enjoyment out of each version and i suppose that's what a game is all about. My bug bear is probably the fact that this year FM12 was obviously unfinished when released although subsequent patches have brought things up to speed, i think when your big corps like Sega demand that deadlines are made no matter what stage the game is at is the main failing for me.

[Unknown Hacker]

I honestly think so. The new feature is one that people have been crying out for for years. Although it still has teething problems for me it is a brilliant game.

[arminio]

I must agree FM 12 is the best through all series. But playing it long hours, you can notice that although many improvements 3D match i very schematic. For me the worst thing is so many CORNERS shown during match! It's very annoying. I think SI should make 3D matches more spectacular, just look in real football. Yes, yes I know it's not that easy but they really improved 3D and they should focus on this, in my opinon of course.

[GeordieG1971]

I think it's one of the best version to date. This is just my opinion.
The 3d match engine gets better with every version. And i'm looking forward to FM2013...especially if it does have the new match engine they are "rumoured" to be working on.
I wish they would improve the sounds though, they seem to have been overlooked in the last few versions.
I guess i just want a bit more atmosphere when watching the 3d matches.

[avine]

FM2012 is a world class version once again.Well done SI

[Super Bladesman]

FM12 definitely the best yet for me.

[Krald]

I went back to FM2011. I didn't feel the interface changes in Fm2012 really made things more efficient, it at least felt like I needed more clicks to get what I wanted, and sometimes it could have displayed some information but didnt for some reason. Also I know it's little, and petty, but I didn't like the whole assistant manager getting awards thing, if I want to be lazy and speed through games I'd like to. I'm not suggesting that change be reverted for Fm2013 though, just that they add a better way to go quickly through matches, like clicking on a timer, and it skipping to that point (assuming no injuries or red cards happen inbetween) So I can still "manage the side" but skip great portions of it should I want to.

And before people say, no, changing it to commentary only and super-fast isnt an option because then it'll start the next game with those options *and* it's fiddly and slower than I'd like.

Either way, I want a way to speed up the game without it crediting my assistant with manager of the month/year if I holiday some easy matches.

[chesterfan2]

FM12 is certainly the best one for years, probably on a par for me with FM08. Having said that my absolute favourite remains CM3, that was simply mind-blowing when it came out.

[onecockygeezer]

Aside the mental frailties and the danger of certain morale taking away teamtalks, I really enjoy FM12, and am having one of my more fun career games this year.

[crouchaldinho]

http://s1243.photobucket.com/albums/...iew¤t=1551.jpg hoping this works.i like them all

What on earth is Horse Racing Manager doing in there?

Other than that, I also have bought and played all of those CMs and FMs! Started off with CM2 and never looked back! Many happy hours in virtual football management!

Looking back, I think CM2, CM03/04, FM07 and FM10 have been the best versions for me in terms of hours played and levels of addiction. In fact, I can state categorically that this is the case. Those four versions, more than any others, saw me really addicted and putting a ton of hours into the games! Out of the more recent versions, I think FM10 was great and was a real return to form in my opinion.

As for FM12, I'm playing it and somewhat enjoying it. There are a few disappointments though and it won't knock FM10 off its throne for me personally. I have to say that there are a number of decisions and features included on FM12 that I don't really enjoy and I don't understand why some of them were added! But that's just my opinion. It's still a good game but not the best of all time in my list of my favourite virtual football management experiences.

[BuryBlade]

For me, CM2 was and still is my favourite. I have spent hundreds of hours on that game over the years and still play it via Dosbox.

In terms of recent FMs, I did enjoy FM11 and have to say I'm enjoying FM12 just as much. I never normally get very far in the game (play a few seasons then start a new game etc) but I am into season 9 in my only save so far and having a lot of fun with it.

[kevhamster]

I'm literally starting with FM12 but have been impressed so far. I'm yet to see whether or not it tops FM10, which I think is the best of the lot. I didn't get as much enjoyment from FM09 as I did the others and it nearly made me give up on FM altogether.

[FMtillidie]

FM08 then FM12 then FM07

[Robsy1990]

I like FM12, but it's certainly got it's flaws. I've only played for three years, but for me: FM10, FM12, FM11. Hated FM11, I only played three saves and only completed a season on one of them (Dortmund).

[SkaldfraNorden]

FM12 is the best, closely follows by FM08

Exactly my thoughts.

[Motherlover]

It's up there with 07, but not quite as great as 08 in my opinion. The less said about 09 and 10 the better. For me:

1. FM08
2. FM07
3. FM12
4. FM11
5. CM00/01
6. CM04

Below those it's more or less even.

[leavingtrain]

CM2 and 01/02.

FM12 is good, but the endless mouse-clicking for media conferences and team talks is absurd.

[Chicha_14]

FM08 for me, and as others say FM09 was the worst by a mile.

[ndebergerac]

FM 2012 is probably my favorite of the series. I liked FM 2005-2008, but from 2009-2011 I thought the game regressed. I was considering packing it in, but FM 12 brought me back. I still dislike some of the features, like press conferences, but they are easy to skip so it's no big deal.

There is something to be said about being able to knock out 1 season in a few hours on the old CM games, now that was truly addictive. It'd be difficult to go back to something that basic now, but it was CM 03/04 that gave me the most fun over the years, so that would get my vote.

EDIT: Post 666

[gmcker]

CM 03/04 is the best.

I like FM12, but the player sale glitch is annoying. Even with the game set prices, I don't think I've ever had an unsolicited bid for one of my players. That might be great for keeping the gang together, but I build up a squad so youngsters can take over if a good player is tempted away, only for no one to leave. And I hope they are able to release a hot fix for the Add/Remove League bug.

Basically, CM4 aside, they have all been pretty good fun.

[Chris22]

My Top Five CM/FM

1.FM07
2.FM10 Still Playing
3.CM01/02
4.CM00/01
5.CM99/00

[metlika]

Slight bump, FM12 has been a major disappointment for me, just can't get into. Find it hard to sell players. Players get unsettled after about a month and their squad status says backup or hot prospect. Transfer system has been a major bug for me in most versions of the game, amongst many other thing mentioned by other people in the thread.

So in that sense FM11 was probably the best version for me, then FM07.

[ArranoBeltza]

I have only been playing FM since FM09, so I can't speak for "all time", but it's certainly the best out of the games since then (FM09 being the worst). FM10 was great too, closely followed by FM11. So of what I have played:

1. FM12
2. FM10
3. FM11
4. FM09 (which is behind by miles)

[ilCuoreDiRoma]

FM09, only because of the balanced stats and database. all the other FM's have very biased stats

[crouchaldinho]

And I hope they are able to release a hot fix for the Add/Remove League bug.

I doubt we'll see a hotfix at this stage. Won't they have already started work on FM13 by now?

[crouchaldinho]

For what it's worth, my top five of the CM/FM series made by SI would be:

1. FM10
2. FM07
3. CM03/04
4. CM2
5. FM08

That's basically the versions that have captured my imagination the most and the versions that I have put the most amount of time into playing.

Personally, from the recent versions, I thought FM10 was fantastic and was a real return to form in my opinion. I still have FM10 installed and I will still be playing it for a while to come. The all round feel of the game is excellent and although I know it has its flaws (like any game) it is my favourite.

I've put some time in FM12 and got some enjoyment out of it. I'll continue to play it as I have a save going which I am enjoying. Without being too harsh, I think FM12 is pretty ugly and there are some questionable UI choices in my humble opinion. Also there are some features which frustrate me and, in general, I feel as if I have to put more 'work' into the game to enjoy it as much as I have done with previous versions. Therefore, I think it is a good game rather than a fantastic one.

[rich10]

CM 03/04 was evolutionary for me (despite its many bugs), FM 12 is the best release-day experience though, so far.

I remember seeing Championship Manager Italia in the shops back in the day, it was incredibly exciting to finally be able to manage one of those mythical Italian giants and discover Christian Vieri as a 17 year old

[g00n]

We're doing lists? I'm in.

1. FM07
2. CM 01/02
3. CM2

From FM10 and onwards, I haven't really been able to get into it, mainly because I think it's getting a bit too overcomplicated with fiddly stuff instead of fixing issues that have been in the game almost from the start. FM12 is the first game in the CM/FM series I haven't purchased based on this, and also being forced to use Steam.

FM07 is by far the game that has had me the most immersed, although my long term save games have been halted by crash dumps twice. Because of this I am currently playing FM08, which is also fairly enjoyable.

[ComeontheArsenal]

Been thinking about purchasing 12 for a little while, but currently have a great save on 11, although my enthusiasm for it is waning slightly. I'm getting to the point where I feel I have won everything, and want a new challenge.

What exactly makes 12 better than 11, I know it will be a matter of opinion, but what is good about the new features?

[Tactikzz]

While FM 2012 is brilliant, having clocked up over a 1,000 hours on it, the one game that stands out for me in the past decade has to be FM 2006. I spent a very long time playing that game and loved everything about it, even the community custom skins that were made for it. Hellenic kicked butt!

[Fausto]

ok my list is:
top 5
Cm 01/02 was when I started playing i still remember buying ronaldo for my man U.
Fm7 was good
Cm 03/04 2d was very cool.
Fm 10 3d match engine nice.
Fm12 have a few things that can do better but i like

[Shake Appeal]

Football Manager 12.2.2 is the best football management simulation ever IMO.

Yep.

Flawed, of course, and still far short of what it could be, but still the best we've yet seen.

[kingjericho]

Hellenic kicked butt!

Yes it did! FM06 and 07 were good versions indeed.

[Clarky323]

I haven't played FM12 as my computer isn't good enough but I am soon getting a new pc so will get it then, as for the rest, I like FM07, FM09 & FM10, I also liked (and still play on amazingly) CM 01/02.

FM06 was one of my faves too but the disk I have doesn't work atm and I keep forgetting to get a new one, I didn't like FM05, it was annoying when it kept stopping to simulate games, I thought FM08 was rather more difficult than the rest of the games and I'm currently playing on FM11, its ok but is a little slow on my computer!

[PaulHartman71]

easily FM10 for me, still playing it and the only game I have had lengthy saves with. I bought FM11 soon after it came out but just couldn't get into it and subsequently didn't bother with FM12, one of the main reasons behind this was the added agent stuff, just didn't like that side of it being added in really even if it does make things more realistic. I don't know if I will change my mind as the starting FM10 squads get more and more out-dated, but most of the time I end up playing long term saves anyway so eventually it doesn't matter as everyone is a regen.

[CiMB0M]

CM 01/02 - Legend!

[Crazy Billy-Jay Jones]

easily FM10 for me, still playing it and the only game I have had lengthy saves with. I bought FM11 soon after it came out but just couldn't get into it and subsequently didn't bother with FM12, one of the main reasons behind this was the added agent stuff, just didn't like that side of it being added in really even if it does make things more realistic. I don't know if I will change my mind as the starting FM10 squads get more and more out-dated, but most of the time I end up playing long term saves anyway so eventually it doesn't matter as everyone is a regen.

This is me down to a tee.

I've got a lengthy save going right now on FM10, one that's entering its 13th season. And i'm still really enjoying it.

[Soccer]

I am still playing FM11.

Thought of buying FM12, but didn't like the following:

1). Its font
2). Absurd scorelines seemed to be more frequent, as do large point gaps between teams in the league table

Although I do like some of the FM12 features, such as the freedom to switch between different leagues and the 'historical positions' chart.

[Svenc]

Out of the three versions I own from FM 2008 onwards, FM 2012 comes out on top. I also suspect that players tend pick their favourite iteration based on the save games and memories they have on those saves, rather than the specific games. It doesn't make sense that somebody'd absolutely ADORE FM 2006/2007 and completely thrash any version thereafter or before, for that matter. As at their core they're the same game, and everything that was added later on is either a) largely optional or b) cosmetic adjustments meant to better usability and "immersion". Some of that stuff I couldn't live without, such as the time line that lets you fast-forward and rewind a match seamlessly or the improvements that have been made to getting your head around player lists (short lists, detailed scouting reports, etc.).

Funnily enough, I downloaded the FM 2007 demo just to have the comparison to an even earlier iteration from where I started out. The first thing I noticed that no matter how defensively I set up my team, they'd always push for the final third of the pitch regardless, if with lesser urgency -- certainly the match engine back then still had some time to mature from where it is now, an engine that lets you pick between "just try to not concede" or "keep the ball" style of play to "push up and grab that equalizer!" tactics alike.