[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

Oh i'm sure there's someone somewhere saying that!  

I think my main point really is that it may not actually be the through balls that are the issue - more the tactics used against us? It almost feels like the inverse of the super attacking tactics the guru's kick out each year - you know how many dismiss them/won't use them because they exploit attacking flaws? It's almost like the bottom feeding AI teams have downloaded one that exploits the defensive side of the game and closes out any through ball-esque shenanigans!

EDIT: Should have waited actually before I posted - hadn't spotted I have the all-conquering Man Utd (away) next in my save - I ordered a bus to take with me but my chairman is such a useless waste of space that instead of the requested double decker he got this;

I'll let you know how many glorious through balls they rip through my team!  

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

It's a good question, "what does the game class as a through ball?", lord knows a similar discussion has been had regarding 'clear cut chances' for years!

Stats only tell us so much so we have to be careful on relying on them too much - just from my save, it would appear there is absolutely no issue with through balls;

 

Now i'm not saying there isn't an issue at all (more on that in a second) but to flip it on it's head, what does each of us class as a through ball, and more pertinently how many of those actually happen consistently in a real game (good few posts above this discussing this too)? Perception is a powerful influence when analysing this stuff remember, and for every person unhappy there's another who seems to be generally ok with how things are; doesn't mean that either side is 'right' - just as the game itself is all about opinions, so too will a simulation of said game be, but one thing that we can surely all agree on is that improvements can be made.

Back to the issue at hand, obviously striker movement has been/is  a problem but that aside, central play actually looks ok (admittedly not perfect, but ok ) but it's often only visible when playing against equal/bigger sides that don't see you as such a big threat - the problem is, when most people play in those games, they're either at an ability mis-match and thus tend not to see much in the way of attacking play from their own team, or the AI plays conservatively in order to not get beaten. Quick and easy example, we played Chelsea last night; as my team has overachieved so much, the game continually mis-ranks me (finished 2nd, 1st and 2nd in the EPL for the past 3 years, yet again i'm predicted to finish 6th this year) and teams like Chelsea (a team i'd argue we're not far behind first 11 wise) come and try to smash us, ignoring recent games and how they went down.

Early on, Chelsea actually take the lead with a quick counter resulting in a lovely little dinked through ball to their STC;

Luckily my guys know by now that the hairdryer would have been instantly set to 'gentle warm-up' if they didn't react and proceeded to play the sort of football some think isn't possible, the highlight being this interception and drive through the centre, culminating in a through ball to my grateful young STC who buries into the far corner;

Now I know many of you aren't claiming that this sort of thing isn't possible (although some definitely are), more that it seems far too difficult and infrequent? I'd argue it's a combination of the nature of teams the majority of people play as (namely high ability and - more importantly - high reputation), the players proclivity to choose high mentality/high tempo tactics and ultra conservative opponents whose urge to 'smash n grab' is overshadowed only by the human players desire to 'attack, attack, attack'! Turn it around; how many times is your side carved open by through balls? The AI is utilising exactly the same ME/instructions as we are and it seems perfectly able to play them (far too well in terms of the DCL/DCR over the top to pacy striker)...? I think we're all analysing/bashing/hating on the ME (and it's not unfair to say it definitely needs some improvement in the attacking sense - odd decision to improve defensive play and leave attacking for later) when (and not exactly a sherlock-esque deduction) it's more likely a combination of ME+reputation+tactics - there's a reason a fair few of us now fear the bottom 5 sides in a division more than the top teams!

We actually beat Chelsea 5-1 in the end, which would suggest that the forthcoming game against West Ham should be a walk in the park - unfortunately not in the world of FM! Whilst Chelsea (and the other big teams) come and try to play with their expansive version of the 4-2-3-1, West Ham (18th) turn up with this monstrosity;

Now we actually managed to creak through and win 1-0, but the performance was so abject and horrific that we probably should have drawn or even lost (they even missed a great chance in the last minute). Compare this to the same fixture in the season before - although my team had just won the league, our reputation was just 3.5 stars compared to the 4 we're now at, so West Ham turn up rocking a Chelsea-esque 4-2-3-1 (also scary to note how different their lineup is in the space of 6 months?);

The result? We win 5-0! It's easy to write this off as a one-off, but I - and i'm sure many - know it's anything but.

This issue/problem has only really become an issue for me in the last season or two, now I'm at the top table challenging for the top honours. I'd wager that the people happiest/less concerned with the issues this year are people who're managing all over the world/leagues like I've been until now, who aren't playing against packed defences every week and can mitigate the attacking shortcomings to a certain extent - in that situation, when you'd likely be coming up against buses you get promoted and are re-ranked as a bottom feeder again etc. I'm not suggesting the bus can't be negated at the top level too, but even the AI can have a hard time - Man Utd have an insanely good team (undoubtedly the best overall) on my save (as i've enviously waxed lyrical about previously) - they're the premier league and european champions so they beat me, thump City & Liverpool 4-0 each, but then batter Bournmeouth and only win with a penalty and own goal (look at the possession!), draw with Brighton and scrape past Stoke again with a penalty and 95th minute second;

 

 

It correlates perfectly with my own experience;

I won't post any more as I'm sure you get the idea? I'm not for a minute suggesting these type of results don't happen in real life - we all know they do, but that's a different conversation, what i'm highlighting here is the prevalence of the defensive game and the correlation with the human players perception that attacking is borked/through balls/central play isn't possible - as I mentioned before, the way the ME is set right now has created something of an inverse - at least at the top level - where playing against the top sides is often easier (within limits) than playing the teams down the bottom.

Sweeping statement time; a 'high number' is obviously relative to the small number actually posting (of course) so take with adequate salt, but in terms of people posting on the forum/other FM forums/chatting in Discord;

• A high number of players take control of a big club whose reputation is naturally sky-high
• A fair number of people take a decent/mid level club and have success (leading to their reputation increasing)
• The 'second-season-syndrome' continues to be discussed/mentioned as though it's coded to be an actual thing/their tactics have been found out
• One of the most consistently asked questions regarding tactics is how to 'beat the bus' that defensive teams bring along with them

Stands to reason based on these (frivolous) assumptions that a high number of players are using a high level, high reputation team, which correlates nicely with the oft-spoken theory that "the majority of players" are having these issues?

[Favorite FM game and age Poll]

Irritating as it is, just ignore him dude - guy seriously needs to learn some humility...

People wonder why the forums are deserted compared to a few years back? Not really all that difficult to explain when you have the people - or at least a person - you'd expect to be setting the example choosing condescension and sanctimoniousness as their tools of choice, instead of things such as positivity and candour.

I enjoyed the poll fwiw, just a bit of fun even if nothing else! 

[The Mentality Masterplan and some FM basics revisited...]

Awesome, glad you've been able to work through it  - good luck for the season ahead!!  

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

Yeah it's pretty nuts - I can imagine them trying it on Ed Woodward, he'd just 'release the hounds' and have done!  

 

Edit: yet another example of the craziness;

He's on 14k p/w, just offered to see what he wants, he wants 42k. After 3 appearances on loan.

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

The constant contract demands are definitely annoying and my biggest issue with the game at time of writing - I didn't mention it in my post about my end of the saeson above, but one of the main reasons for the dip in form was being hammered by 6 contract requests at once which we couldn't afford due to FFP/low wage bill. Every season having to spend 10-15 million on agent fees (expect it to be more this season) for renewals of players less than 12 months into their previous contract is insane and annoying (agent fees from players signed last year was ~4 million);

There's a thread over in the bugs/feedback forum with an ongoing conversation about this very issue - the more voices/examples the better so please feel free to join in. From what the SI guys there are saying, the problem is exacerbated by rapid improvements in player reputation; I understand the logic (completely) - Rashford being offered a new deal now at United is a good example - but if he scores 15 goals by November this year I don't expect him to want/them to have to offer him another new one that soon?

For people who like to buy young players and train them up - which let's face it is a lot of us - the issue is obviously worse/more exaggerated.

 

[The Football Manager Youth Academy Challenge]

Thanks everyone! I was directed to/found this thread for the first time this morning and have spent almost an hour reading through - this is amazing and some great write-ups!!

Have just taken FC United from bottom to top using full xfers and was wondering what's next/itching for another challenge and i think i've found it!

A couple of questions if I may?

1.) There was a full brexit in my current save which made the game both easier AND more irritating; meant i could sign high potential foreign players that would never have previously gained a permit, but with the foreign player limit it was a nightmare and there was/is a real dearth of english top quality talent. With it being academy only I can't see it having anywhere near as much/any real impact (except maybe the big clubs becoming more aggressive if I do get a top level player) - can anyone speak from experience as to whether it makes a difference? Is it worth disabling it? Is that allowed?

2.) FC United have awful facilities and the player development/recruitment was TERRIBLE as a result - that's part and parcel of this challenge of course, but when it comes to picking a side, is it encouraged to go for the side with the best/worst facilities, or is it largely down to preference/how masochistic you're feeling that day?

3.) I can see people are playing leagues all over the world, but if playing in England, is it generally the done thing to start in Vanarama North/South, or do people load the lower leagues too and start down there?

Thanks all, sorry to ask such basic questions but I feel reinvigorated again after reading! Only other question is whether to wait for the final 19.3 before starting but that's a coin toss for later!

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

Have to give credit where it's due, people were talking several pages back about the AI's inability to build a decent squad and how easy the game is overall; now i'm not about to counter that and say there isn't some truth in the accusation - I took FC United to the Prem in back to back seasons and won it in only my third campaign after all - but whilst Chelsea and Arsenal have fallen away and are shadows of their starting teams, the other 3 - United especially - have rebuilt their teams pretty impressively. Yes, there are way too many transfers between them, yes I feel the amount of top level xfers is unrealistic, but it's a game at the end of the day and the fact that I'm facing a real challenge this season is an extremely welcome one - I can wipe the floor with everyone domestically except for the team of footballing gods assembled at Old Trafford. Alongside names such as De Ligt, Tierney, Milinkovic-Savic & Dembele, they're also rocking 5 of the most ridiculous newgens and they've beaten me - pretty convincingly - 3 times this season, the only other team to do so being spurs 2 days after a champions league QF with half of my first XI injured.

I had an insanely good run of form in the second half of the season, going unbeaten for 25 or so games, only to find (to my great surprise) at the end of it that United - who ended my run - had not only kept pace with, but also outscored my guys. It't turned into the most tense ending to a season I can remember for a long long time;

With two games to go I had Chelsea away and Utd had Stoke at home (fair right?) and both teams won leaving the table like this;

I'll go and play the final game in a minute - to be fair, United are away to a Palace team already relegated and their form is insane so i'm not expecting much - but whilst i'm sad that this season is about to end with only a Carabao cup to show for our efforts, I'm really glad that there's such a big challenge. Looking at how far behind Liverpool are there isn't much of one coming from anyone else! Over 95 points to win a league seems pretty tough to me in comparison to other screens i've seen (not saying it's the highest ever of course) - I actually got 95 last season and Liverpool were second with 90 - which is definitely the sort of challenge people have been craving right? Best/worst part is that their newgens are only 22/younger so they're going to be around for a while yet (unless PSG buy them). Noticed Barcelona & Real are very ineffective xfer wise this year, possibly due to financial disparity?

I'll save you all screens of their entire team (i have a bit of envy) but this is the jewel in their crown, a striker signed at the start of the season - my best scout rates him as a 98 'sign at any cost', shame he didn't see the memo about the fact we're FC United and he alone would probably take up our wage budget!!  

(NB: Realise that this United team are a bit of a one-off - if the AI squad building was fixed i'd expect all of the top 6 to be within touching distance - concern then would be that they may start beating each other and open the door for the human team. I wasn't the best team in the league last year, I'm not this, I haven't been in any of my seasons really, I've just been winning the leagues through consistency of results, like i suspect many people do)

EDIT: OMG - I couldn't look at the screen for the last few minutes!! I'd (somewhat stupidly) gone way too gung-ho to try and storm the goal difference and only let Watford sneak a goal (from a free kick unsurprisingly) which turned the momentum towards them and we were hanging on at the end, all the while knowing it was 1-1 in the United game - the deflation when i didn't get the little trophy lifting screen and i saw they'd scored a winner in the 86th minute!   

Final standings;

 

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

1 hour ago, Bluebird123 said:

half back role still massively useless 

Your opinion is no less valid than mine, but for me half back works really well in the right system - it's a staple now for me (thanks Mr Rosler!);

Don't get too hung up on the roles in any case, they're only really a UI mask for stuff under the hood and helping you to play/help players play a certain way - if your half back is struggling he could well be overrun or isolated in trying to cover too much ground. Lots of other tactical possibilities the guys in the tactics forum will surely help you with if you need it.

[Favorite FM game and age Poll]

Shouldn't have stated that as fact, more my own opinion - there are more in 17 but i find it very hard to settle on one i actually like, they all try to be too dynamic - has always given me the grump. Not enough to be bothered to find a fix for it, but enough to know that when people say 'FM17' i immediately think 'great game, dodgy camera'if that makes sense?

I'd take the dodgy camera right now though - FM19 with 17's engine (or indeed 12's) would do me very nicely i think!

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

Anyone know how all of the FFP calcs/projections tie together in-game as I'm currently getting mixed messages and would like to know whether to stay at 'code brown'?

Exhibit A - monthly update reveals we're projected to fail premier league FFP due to wage increases (what do they expect when every player demands a new contract every ten minutes!);

 

Exhibit B - very next mail, hmmm;

 

FFP screen reveals this which suggests brown will indeed hit fan;

 

Current budget etc - if we stay as-is then we'll come in under the projection but likely still above the 88m allowance;

 

It makes sense that we're in trouble - i believe rules say that you can be 7m higher wage wise year on year (unless revenue increases by a certain amount too?), and we're almost certainly going to break that, we're only 12m short of last years total expenditure and it's 1st Dec;

 

So why are the board the only ones - based on that mail - who think that we'll pass? I've loaned out everyone not playing to get the wage bill down but it hasn't affected the forecast any - might that be affecting one of them? One forecast based on player wages total, and the other looking at what we're actually spending etc? We're paying roughly 150-200k less p/w in wages than committed through contracts due to players on loan etc. Was reluctantly considering selling my best ML/AML in January as Barcelona are sniffing around and he wants a new contract I can't give him at stupid money - be good to know if I actually need to sell him or not...

The real kicker is I have 150m in transfer funds and can't spend it as I can't increase the wage bill (also seems weird the board don't limit me when offering contracts like they do if you're over the wage budget)?

 

@Seb Wassell Thanks you and my apologies, I haven't been on/playing since then and just saw your reply to my message about players taking big stat hits - only played a little since then (the lure of the beta patch proved too strong to stay away!) and it hasn't happened again, I am however trying to upload the save for an issue I found with the beta (and it's failing miserably), details are here so you can find it if we ever get the upload to work! My friend did take a look at it with the in-game editor but didn't see anything and promises on the pain of death he didn't change anything - guessing you have much more advanced toys with which to probe though!  

[Favorite FM game and age Poll]

G2A have it (17) if you can tolerate them. I'm playing 17 alongside 19 right now and it still holds up well, though be warned that the UI/interface, heck even the in-game camera feels way behind 19 in a lot of ways, but the ME is better imo, at least it feels far more rewarding/fun to tackle in any case.

[The Mentality Masterplan and some FM basics revisited...]

Hope they help - good luck!  

[The Mentality Masterplan and some FM basics revisited...]

@djpdavey No worries, glad it helps!

To answer your questions;

1.) Yes, kind of. I don't like playing almost an entire half on cautious/starting mentality but i will if i don't feel comfortable enough to change up. What i'm finding with a lot of people using the plan is that possession isn't maybe the best indicator with some tactics (more direct/higher through balls) so you can use the shot counter to better gauge (although keep possession in mind). If the AI has 2-3 shots in succession I hear alarm bells and change down/up accordingly. I am very much from the school of "don't change unless you need to" but this can bite you if you don't change soon enough - the longer you adopt the approach though the better you get at judging (although inevitably you will still mess it up now and then!).

2.) I assume this is if you're drawing/losing late on? Let me know which particular part of the masterplan it's on if it's vague and i'll see if i can tighten it up - what my general rule of thumb is assessing whether i'm on top or the opposition is (shot counter method as mentioned above). If it's me and i'm significantly on top i may well change back up to BASE, but then that's quite a jump from CTRL/Cautious so i'd have to assume if you were that far down the mentality scale you were/had been under the pump a little (unless i've got a logic step massively wrong) in which case i'd consider going very attacking on CTRL - it's less attacking overall than BASE, but should still be effective and keep FB's back a little to prevent leakage.

Absolutely no need to download/use the tactics - this methodology should work for any tactics etc - but i wrote a thread with the tactic sets I use and (more pertinent for you) examples/test cases of when I change up/down. I also introduced another step (I call it CTRLCNTR) in between BASE and CTRL as I sometimes find the gulf too big and it means my BASE can be really offensive to get me a couple of goals lead and then I have two control variants - one more tailored to attack, one more to defense. Link below - hope it's of some use!

 

Lastly, anyone playing the beta may be interested to note that the AI actually seems a little less aggressive in terms of comebacks (although i've only played 13 matches so far so a small sample size). Still assessing what that means in terms of the masterplan but i'm finding I don't have to be quite so cautious, although i'm still observing the checkpoints/timing strictly as they're still business as usual.

 

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

Boom - there goes another one, this time his professionalism;

Another youngster who looked like he wouldn't make it - but it's the 'why is this happening?' part that is bothering me... I can't find any mention of anyone being unhappy or having a problem with a coach/another player or anything like that. I can't see his professionalism so not sure how many points it's lost but it's not looking good in his coach report and his personality is now just casual so looks pretty terminal;

@Seb Wassell - sorry to call out to you directly but this seems very 'up your street' with regard to player development/training; does this look normal/something you'd consider just unlucky; 3 players now (other posts are a few above) in just 6 in-game weeks (start of 8th season, never happened before then) have had one of their core development stats destroyed? Happy to raise a bug report/upload saves and all that stuff if you think it looks wonky - or is this part of some lovely under the hood feature and i'm about get a news item that half of my squad are bankrupt as part of a big gambling ring? Or something. 

 

EDIT: Actually, on reflection it doesn't matter; with a bit of time to take stock I think i'll just leave the FC United story there and walk off into the sunset! After 8 long seasons we made it to the promised land, survived against all odds and - an inspired Liverpool team aside - we weren't far away from taking the title, so much so i'm convinced it would have been ours next year! 

Save has that weird 'tarnished' feel now (some of you will know what i mean!) as if i had let someone edit it so the motivation has just gone & maybe I'll take it on the chin and assume it's the worlds way of telling me to take some time away from FM - I'll just throw up a special tribute to this legend who was with me the entire time and never complained - the PL was just a step too far!

Their legacy will be the Mentality Masterplan which we hope will inspire other FC United's to great success - good luck all with your managerial futures! 

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

There's nothing that I can see which is why it's so annoying/mystifying/frustrating - overall happiness is really good (contract is the blip);

He's very high up the hierarchy still;

A lot of the other players like him/mention he's an important player. Ability to handle pressure was suggested as a potential cause but neither of the players have it listed as a con/would have expected that to be mentioned during numerous scout reports.

Am offering the guy a new contract to cure his only (slight) unhappy and going to leave him for a few months to see if the stat recovers - maybe it'll recover gradually like bravery after a leg break? Got no choice but to buy someone else now anyway (not playing a guy with 5 determination) - i'd never give up that easily on someone IRL (which is why this irritates me because there's nothing I can seemingly even try and do) but can't hang around waiting for him, if no quick improvement I'll just have to sell him and see if i can make some profit on him before his value tanks.

It's one of those weird things; it doesn't feel like a bug, more a 'good idea poorly implemented' perhaps? Players are only human and have issues in real life so got no problem with this sort of thing being in game - there's no saying a model pro couldn't have a spectacular fall from grace either so can't hide behind this guys apparently strong mental stats - but i'd at least like some sort of recourse/further info to at least try and help remedy the situation?

Weird, but just as in life, FM goes on! 

 

EDIT: Friend has just offered to edit my file using the IG editor (does it work on other peoples saves?) - have politely declined, not sure if it's because it would offend my probably misplaced sense of FM sensibilities, or if because I suspect my game would likely be overcome with inappropriate nicknames/awkward references. Friends >sigh< 

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

Well that... sucks? Something super rare happens to my team twice in the space of a few weeks? Booooo! Fact they both dropped by a seemingly arbitrary ‘10’ points seemed to needle me more! 

At least it’s in the xfer window; i have a nice big war chest I wasn’t planning on spending at all; the GK was already going, afraid my future superstar will have to now too - a central midfielder with low determination? Sure Arsenal will be falling over themselves to add him to their collection! 

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

So i've been playing a long old time and have never come across this before - taken me by complete surprise;

His determination basically dropped by 10 (from 15 to 5) overnight;

I was super irritated when it happened, but the guy is 21 and was starting to think this season that maybe he won't quite make it so chalked it up as one of those things. Except it happened again, just 23 in game days later, this time to one of my best players/best defensive midfielders;

Exact same drop, down to 5 from 15;

I put a lot of effort bringing youth players through, mentoring and only buying guys of the right mentality; if it happens as a one-off I guess i can kind of wear it, but twice like this? With no real explanation/way of me talking to the player - do they need compassionate leave? Time off from football etc? Is this a permanent change or will it revert when they're better? 10 points in mentoring will take maybe 7 years and likely never happen for Thales because he's highly influential?!

Both players are reasonably happy if you look at them, Thales typically wants another new contract because of course he does, but otherwise super happy with lots of playing time;

Anyone got any experience of what may cause it/how to avoid it/how to overcome it? It's left a really unpleasant taste tbh; there aren't a lot of ready made super awesome DM replacements in the first place that are interested in coming to FC United & a player with 5 for determination is just a no for me, especially in his position;

I'll live with it, but am now super frustrated and want to know if it's a 2 in a million thing or something I'm causing (played about 20 seasons in 19 and goodness knows how many in previous years) and the first time i've ever seen this? 

[Favorite FM game and age Poll]

FM12 for me for in-game/match engine stuffs - it just seemed a better compromise of realism vs fun vs overall experience.

FM19 for all other stuffs - I love this years edition outside of the ME. Yes there are a few quirks but none that stop me enjoying the bottom off it.

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

Thank you sir! 

 

Aaaaaand done. Sadly when i dug a bit more into my save to provide more info it seems there's another 4 -5 players about to come at me with pitchforks!! 

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

3 minutes ago, HUNT3R said:

Didn't want to quote the entire post. It was reported before and an adjustment was made. If you're still finding cases of players asking for new deals too soon, please report it. I suspect a save from just before the complaint will be very handy as well.

Hadn't realised it had already been adjusted - wonder if the changes affected all saves or only new ones etc?

Irrespective, if improved, it hasn't made too much of a difference to my save, had another five requests since I wrote my post across maybe 90 minutes of playing - this one takes the biscuit; signed in the summer as a rotation player - actually paid in the top 25% of my guys - waited for him to learn basic English before playing him (hence U23 games) but got injured and been out for the last 3 months, 2 days after regaining fitness? A new contract for what - healing well?! 

Will head on across to the report-y forum and see what occurs over there unless Seb/Jack can give a heads up in the interim. If it's for specific weird cases of regular promotions/rapid rep rises like my situation then may be isolated, but I asked on one of the FM discords this morning and others said it was still a bit high etc.

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

Hello lovely SI people, another one of my feedback nuggets for you to consider if you get a sec!

Been mentioned more than a few times in this thread but adding my voice to the crowd asking for players requesting new contracts to be toned down just a little?

Last season was my first in the prem so i expect players to ask for new deals to reflect the new status, I think it's natural that a few of them/my new signings asked for new deals at the end of that season too as we survived and they'd improved (some significantly) over the course of the season not to mention I expect the best few players to expect parity etc, what I don't expect is that - now in November in 2nd Prem season - my ML to AGAIN be 'starting to feel he deserves a new contract' as this will now be his FIFTH since we've been in the Premier League for less than two years?! He has improved tremendously so definitely justifies a higher wage than I signed him on, but it's the frequency that maybe needs adjusting, maybe if they wait a little longer/ask for a bit more it'd be more realistic? Would a player really go to a club so often irl with his hand out? Or would he sack his agent for not having the foresight to get him a better deal in the first place (and i know I can ask him to sack his agent but that's not the point). Bear in mind he's not the only one in the team consistently expecting new deals; he's by far the most frequent but - and yes i am keeping score on a notepad here on my desk - he's far from the only one with 3 other guys on 4 deals each too so sure they won't be far behind.

I'm happy to accept the realism vs fun argument, but atm I think we're just coming down on the side of unrealistic to the point it's a little frustrating - don't mind paying the money, just the 2-3 times a season across ten players negotiations etc that takes it's toll - actually think it may be down to rapidly changing player reps and my team's own rapidly changing rep? New training facilities may be to blame/help explain the players rapid improvement (along with the higher standard of football) too?

Thanks all! 

 

[Football Manager 2019 Official Feedback Thread]

I'm acutely aware I have an utter, utter git of a chairman (roll on the elections FC United have/are due this year - although with the success I expect he'll win again!), having watched him sell 7 of my players from under me during our promotion charge up to the Premier League and giving me little in return, but curious if the maths - possibly because I'm such a small team that's been promoted so quickly - are perhaps a little bit wonky, or if it all really is just down to this monkey clown channelling his inner 'Mike Ashley'?

We're making money hand over fist due to the wonderful TV rights and our pitiful wage bill (it was only 115k in the championship so they probably felt generous increasing it by so much!), yet they continue to to do things such as this (2nd time this season);

Now I'm quite a fan of instalments - who isn't when you're working on such a tiny budget (I got 22 million following promotion - amazing for them but obviously doesn't go too far in the Prem) - so I went ahead and looked at my obligations over the next 12 months to ensure there isn't a timebomb sat there and nope, my obligations are 'just' 7 million with relegation mathematically impossible too;

We're well within FFP;

And overall (in April of current season);

We do have youth/training facilities upgrades in the works, but they cost a colossal 750k/1.6 million respectively so do I just have the most ass-hatteriest of chairman or is there something more amiss? I thought the prudence made sense before we avoided relegation, but that was achieved a few weeks back and now they're reducing funding etc - seems weird? The only other thing I can think of is that we had to rent a stadium this season as out lovely 8900 capacity home wasn't up to the task and (presumably) would have cost too much to upgrade (annoying as we'd just taken out a loan/finished the work to increase it to that capacity from 6000!) - are they perhaps saving up to improve our ground? Would they not perhaps feel the need to share that - not that they have to - and ask me to cut costs wherever possible (a la Levy/Poch)?

None of this is rant-y or "aaaargh, why!?" - I'm grinning as I write it as it's just part and parcel of my save (and adds character!), just curious to see if this is the norm or if it is purely down to the stats of the guy who we call chairman, the man who eats prawn crisp sandwiches to save on the cost of real prawns?

 

EDIT: Two weeks later - as if to prove my point further - we get this through;

Not bad for a team with dreadful sponsorship/commercial income, stadium capacity & overall matchday revenue!

[The Mentality Masterplan and some FM basics revisited...]

Some of you may have already seen this but just found this 'personality' guide by @gossy7 - right here on these very forums -  which compliments the 'buying' sheet perfectly for anyone interested in that sort of thing!

Forum thread is here, or if you'd like to skip the middle man, the direct link (leaves SI and goes to Steam forums) is here.

[FM 19 Time 424, 442 Beowulf 4420 Knap]

@Phil_NUFC Nope, no ME changes that we're aware of between 2.2 & 2.3.

For United, anything should work pretty much, but you're best going with something attacking - not sure what the overall best is, but Knap's Beowulf tactics usually do well for elite teams, the 424 in particular has been generating a fair bit of buzz? For lower league, I've gotten FC United promoted to the PL in consecutive seasons using a combination of Knap's TIME 4411/442 (the one's in this very thread) - only difference is it's much harder (read: not impossible) to go 'plug and play' with lower league teams and be ultra successful, so you may want to adopt a more 'hands-on' style with regard to management and having multiple tactics up your sleeve...? If that interests then you may want to have a squiz at the link below for more info on how to go about it;