DP

The whole easy/hard thing is completely dependent on how far down the line you are. First 10 seasons can be a challenge for sure. After that though the mask slips and the game world crumbles due to a poor AI. If you manage a big team in, say, 2035 it becomes a procession very quickly. You can see this easily by looking at how many points are needed to win leagues (full detail on).

This is absurd ffs This petty stuff runs throughout the interaction module and is completely broken. The entire code needs ripping out and starting again with regards to promises etc.

I think it’s probably quite straight forward; the AI will look predominately at CA, if there’s a great prospect with 120 and 200 PA, they possibly don’t see PA as something that’s worth developing by playing the player. They’ll also go out and buy a striker with 150 ca and 150 pa (finished article) and this player will block the young player. It’s the simplest explanation. A human will be more inclined to play Moukoko, knowing that there’s a chance he’ll be excellent, and happily suck up taking the CA hit in the short term. It’s no doubt a tricky fix but a player with a high PA should be played more, ignoring the low CA whilst they develop.

Should stamina be an attribute for goalkeepers? Is there any goalkeeper around irl who is judged on stamina? Or known to have poor stamina? Sounds like it should be reviewed as an attribute if it’s not useful or used in any way.

I have no idea why percentages were not stuck with. This is even common vernacular in football, 50%, 90% fit etc. I would have used percentages but only limited numbers, 5 or 6 options ie 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 100. Unnecessary change imo.

If a goalkeeper does this it’s more of a personal trait though. This is where traits and roles collide and the whole system has some flaws. Either way I don’t think the goalkeeper conversation above - about an on loan keeper - has ever happened. It needs toning down.

That’s very different than a player playing in a certain role though. Goalkeeper v sweeper keeper for example. That’s just silly.

It just seems a bit too much don’t you think? I can’t think of any recent examples in real life where this is an actual thing and it’s too sensitive in the game. Goalkeeper vs sweeper keeper 🥴 Given the game already has some bloat around conversations it’s a good contender to be removed. There are a few other things like ‘recommend a staff member’. A feature put in with good intentions but I think it’s important to remove things that may not be as relevant anymore - for the good of the game and to keep it streamlined. It was great to see the sweeper position removed a few years ago as something that wasn’t as relevant anymore and this is similar imo. If the player is playing completely out of position, fine, but not a role specific to a formation. It’s too restricting and bloaty.

Just remove the code. I very much doubt there are many instances in real life of managers wanting a loan player played in a specific role. My guess is that it’s a conversation that rarely happens - FM has taken this into overdrive. Generally as long as a loan player is playing it’s fine. Why we have to complicate it in FM I have no idea - if this part was removed they’d be no issues.

You’re making it more difficult for yourself, which is fine. But the challenge will be less as the top teams end up winning the league on 70 and 80+ points regularly. Compared to the start of the game and real life.

But after time it ceases to be a challenge. It’s the same in your universe too. If you ever got to the top, you’d stay there.

A shame because I’d actually like the challenge Pep and Klopp have in real life which FM has a tough job of replicating.

Detail level will have a bearing on this too you’d imagine.

Has anyone holidayed for 10/15 years and seen what the points total is to win the top leagues? This is often a good indicator of how easy the game will get. Usually teams are winning the PL with 90+ points in the first 5 years but this tends to go down to around 80 on average. Would be nice to see a team dominating consistently and winning the PL with 95 points plus.

Ever seen a goalkeeper get sent off?

What would be the point? 🥴 If I’m not going to get this achievement realistically I’d rather not bother. It doesn’t really count as an achievement otherwise does it.

There’s different levels of difficulty at different times in the game. At the start of the game it’s a lot harder as the AI teams are properly set. 15/20 years down the line if you are a top side it will be very easy for you, regardless of what you do. You just need a settled side with good players and you’ll achieve your goals.

Is anyone doing simulations with full detail? Can you see how the top teams winning the leagues perform after many seasons? Are there any unbeaten AI seasons, for example?

Is anyone able to talk through how this effects long term saves? Specifically the AI being more competent at the top levels as the years progress. Basically does it help with the challenge of me being, say, Man City in 2035 and not easily being able to win the league in consecutive seasons.

Does it address anything to do with the long term challenge at all? For example once you are an established team winning leagues. Are there any changes that gives you an actual competitive rival?

Can only think that it’s by design at this point to help players ‘win’ and get small teams up the league. If this is addressed it will make long term saves more challenging and hence you’ll get fewer ‘fm stories’ of players taking teams from the conference to the champions league. That’s the essence of FM and I can see why they may not want to harm that. This is currently the sole reason stopping me buying modern FMs but the lack of communication on it means maybe it’s intentional.

Wonder if it was full simulation?

So an even easier game then

Does that mean Guardiola and Klopp don’t see their job as a challenge? It should be more of a challenge at the top.

In real life you’d have a high line if you dominate possession and want to squeeze the pitch to play in the opposition half. You then have to make sure you don’t get caught on the break with balls over the top. A low block is beneficial for defensive teams who want to protect their penalty area. Simplistically it’s attacking vs defensive football - FM doesn’t do a particularly great job of tying them together from the mentality.