\'Appy \'Ammer

So choosing Referee and Remote review would be what we see in the likes of the Champions League, and the Premier League then? In my 20 odd years of playing this game I have very rarely managed in the top flight, and since VAR was introduced I've not managed in a league that has it! On this basis I've not really seen it action in my game environment!!

I've often wondered what all these options mean. Can anyone explain what each option does? No VAR is self explanatory. I'm confused by the others.

I will bring version 3.15 into fm24. I'll want to do a fair bit of testing with it though first.

😎

Yes it works now if you create a save in fm23 and transfer the save over to fm24. But I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be able to load it into the fm24 editor and expect it to verify without correcting database errors that would arise.

Why don't you just continue your save into fm24? I'm assuming you've qualified for the conference league, if so you will be in it in fm24 in the year you left fm23. Or have I misunderstood what you want to do?

I find my attention span wains after an hour, especially after a day's work. That's probably due to my age now, as I find my eyes can't concentrate on the screen after a while. The tedious part for me are the recruitment meetings, but I feel as the manager I really should attend!!! The Continue Game Timeout button is a handy thing that cuts back on the clicking. On average I only play 1 game world week per sitting, and that's based on having one match per game week. I also don't play every day like I used to, but that's also down to my age and life getting in the way, or I've found I've got too damn comfortable on the sofa that my body refuses to move over to the pc! It takes me a super long time to get through a season. That's why I am pleased I can continue my fm23 save into fm24.

I am using edited files ( @Daveincid's realism files), that amongst other things alter transfer preferences of clubs (eg more activity from Saudi Arabia). In transferring over a save file to fm24 will these files negate the transfer activity of Saudi Arabia that SI have introduced into the new game?

Check the screen that has your CPU details on. Is it Game Status off the top of my head. There's an option there that says Manageable Clubs. Make sure you haven't that set to be just the country you are currently managing on. You can change it to any clubs or other specific nations.

Questions have been raised in the bugs forum about the lack of AI squad development ☹️

Just to add in my experience here. I transferred my fm23 save this afternoon which was in February 2024. I have holidayed indefinitely, it's taking ages due to the detailed level I have but it is in November 2024 and still going. I have about 200 edited files which has added multiple leagues and changed multiple competitions. So far so good.

It is possible though if you have custom made competitions. The only things you can't do is have the Russian national team awarded any ranking points so they eventually sit rock bottom, or have any Russian clubs playing their continental matches on home soil.

Yeah then I stole it for the title of my career forum save 😁

@'appy 'ammer isn't me @irish kopite, I've had to put these stupid \ signs into my username! However I'm sure they were equally delighted to see West Ham lift the Conference trophy which gave us Europa League qualification. ⚒️⚒️⚒️

Yes, and that used to be the European Cup Winners' Cup ! I've been reading "A Tournament Frozen In Time" by Steven Scragg. For anyone who's a fan of the old European competitions, his trilogy are a cracking read. And how I wish UEFA didn't get rid of the 'away goal' rule. Can't believe they opted for replays before that rule, and penalties to decide matches, were brought in.

Continuing with a converted fm23 save. Hope it works as promised.

Rubbish. It's a step closer to a super league. Too many teams qualifying for it from individual countries. It all started going downhill after 1992 ☹️

You should check out the career updates forum. There's plenty of llamas in there (I am one), and play the game "the right way" 🙂

This one was totally unexpected, he was only signed by the club in July!!! What is very surprising was he was getting lots of game time, he was performing well, but he has chosen to drop down a level to tier 4! This is a blow. Beattie was one of our main players and will be sorely missed. H & W Welders are 10th in the Championship and are in a relegation battle. He's moved up a level and he will be tough to replace immediately. I'm not sure just how worried I should be, even though the transfer window has closed. The players are all on non contracts, and unless I have misunderstood the rules, are free to leave at any time. I'm hoping I will be able to add to the squad using the freebie system in the next month or so. During January we had the most players leave the club in our division. How is this going to effect our immediate future for league survival? Time will tell.

The down side of the Bangor win were the yellow cards received by Sharpe and Geraghty. Both are now suspended for our next league match against the same opposition. Welcome news, however, was the new Chairman informing me I can start studying for my National C License badge. With no first team match due for three weeks, there's a lot of news items popping up and clicking to do. The new week saw the Under 18s draw 1-1 away to Chimney Corner, Stephen Beggs the goalscorer. The next round of the Intermediate Cup has paired us with a trip to Rathfriland Rangers. They are currently 5th in the Northern Amateur League Premier Division, a level below our tier 3. Sharpe and Geraghty will be available for that match as it is scheduled to be played 3 days after the Bangor match. We had a recruitment team meeting during the week, 2 days before the transfer window closes. The scouts have come up with no suggestions, so this prompted me to check out what they have on their lists so far. For the record we have 2 scouts, so this could be slow progress. There were only a handful of players where scouting was in progress. One or two looked promising according to the information gathered so far, but I want to stick to my realism principle and only bid for a player once fully scouted. I checked out the league rules on transfers and we are able to sign free transfers up to the 31st March. That is useful, as we won't be getting anyone in during the final 2 days of the transfer window, unless our Director of Football supplies anyone for me as a surprise gift!!! I am encouraged with the gameplay Quality of Life information about transferring careers from FM23 to FM24. I had prepared myself to be disappointed but it actually looks like I will be able to move this edited database into the new version.

Setting to "None" is great for doing a 'holiday' test save. It will fly through the seasons especially if you put lots of leagues as 'view only'. It's a great way to test edited files. Leave it running overnight and it's usually racked up 60 or 70 seasons.

On Saturday morning I was greeted with this message in my inbox: The new Chairman informed me that there will be no immediate investment in the club, but fortunately our transfer embargo has been lifted. Harry Norton returned to the starting XI after serving his suspension. Henderson dropped back to the bench with Reilly making way, McCormack and McCrea were also not selected as the Intermediate Cup rules state only 5 subs allowed on the bench. The match started well as we took the lead on 4 minutes. Watkins travelled from right wing to left with the ball into the Bangor half, a pass to Geraghty, and an immediate pass to Duffy took the ball deep into their territory. Duffy crossed from the byline where the ball found Lavery, who had lost his man, and scored with a precise, simple finish. Jordan Hughes had the ball in the net for Bangor on 31 minutes but was deemed offside. On 53 minutes Beattie produced a great diagonal ball out to Duffy on the left wing. Man of the Match, Duffy, immediately crossed and found the unmarked Lavery (again) who made it 2-0 with a rifled shot from 8 yards out. Hughes had the ball in the net for Bangor 60 seconds later, but was again flagged for offside. The unfortunate Hughes ended up being offside on NINE occasions throughout this match! Parker almost made it 3-0 fifteen minutes later when through one on one with the keeper, only for the Bangor stopper to pull off a decent save. The match was totally wrapped up in the fourth minute of injury time. Sahid Watkins produced a magical curling free kick from 25 yards out to seal our passage into the next round. A very pleasing win, and one that I hope we can repeat in our next match against the same opposition in 3 weeks time.

The post match press conference was an upbeat affair and I heaped praise upon our team for getting a late equaliser. Rhys Sharpe, of all players, was very pleased with my comments! I wonder if he is feeling guilty for being at fault for one of the goals and for being lazy in training sessions? The under 18s had a good 5-0 win away to Lisburn Rangers. Rhys Emerson scored again! On the recruitment front things are moving very slowly. I've asked the scouting team to focus on a goalkeeper and central defenders, and so they have recommended 2 strikers!!! (all be it good ones!). My Deadline Day recruitment meeting left me feeling quite deflated. Tuesday morning this appeared in my news inbox: By Wednesday morning this was in my inbox: By Friday morning we had this news: The transfer embargo is a bit frustrating. Great idea to do this in the last few days of the transfer window! What I don't know is does a transfer embargo include signing players on non contracts or not? We didn't have a transfer budget as it was, so I was only ever going to sign players on non contracts or loans. I suppose I will find out exactly what it means if I get the opportunity to bid for any players of interest in the next few days. And so my attentions now turn to tomorrow's cup match against Bangor...

In the build up to our crucial relegation clash with Knockbreda, I was pleased to hear that Spencer Beattie rejected any advances from any teams by saying he is staying with Armagh. His performances were also superb in training, far exceeding any of his team mate's efforts. Rhys Sharpe hasn't trained well at all and I'll be watching his performances closely. Another week has gone by without the scouting team recommending anyone. We are now two thirds of the way through January and I am starting to get twitchy that we will be left short in defence and goalkeeping positons. And so to match day, away to 10th placed Knockbreda. I considered McConnell playing in the middle but in the end I opted for Henderson to replace the suspended Norton. I told the players before the match that I wanted a win today, and we duly started the brighter of the two teams. Excellent work from Watkins down the right flank was rewarded when, Stefan Lavery side footed us in front with a neat finish past the keeper on 8 minutes. Spencer Beattie was struggling with a potential groin injury and was signalling after about 15 minutes to come off. We didn't get the substitute on quick enough as Liam Corr scored a goal mouth scramble, which involved the injured Beattie. I mentioned Rhys Sharpe's poor training earlier, well he was totally at fault for their 2nd goal on 26 minutes. A long ball from their defender drifted over Sharpe's head just outside the area, and he failed to react. Kanwei did react however, and as a result of Sharpe's inability to clear a ball, the Knockbreda forward found himself one on one with our keeper. He nestled the ball neatly into our goal for 2-1. We had a couple of good chances, from both Lavery and Henderson before the break to equalise, only to find their keeper in fine form. I usually remain fairly calm but I lost the plot in the dressing room. A few water bottles went flying and I sent them back out motivated. We were huffing and puffing but really getting nowhere. The turning point was on 77 minutes when Corr lunged in recklessly on Geraghty, who received a straight red card from Louise Thompson. Thankfully our player was unhurt in the challenge. As a result of having the man advantage, we tried to spread the play into the wide areas and to pass more to each other to keep the ball, and tire them out in the process.The Knockbreda defence was finally broken in the 88th minute. A free kick from the half way line was lobbed in by the young Henry McKenna, who had replaced Rhys Sharpe earlier in the half. Aaron Parker jumped clear of the defender and headed the ball over the keeper into the net for a deserved equaliser. A draw was possibly a fair result, and with only 2 games in the league this weekend, we have climbed off the bottom of the table. Our next league game is not until the 17th February, almost a month away! We take on Bangor in that match, just as we do next weekend in the 3rd Round of the Intermediate Cup. I just hope we have a couple of additions added to our squad before that transfer window closes.

The loss of Cummings is a disappointment, but as soon as Crusaders came in for him I knew we wouldn't be able to keep hold of him, even though he has only joined their youth outfit. Our own u18s were in action the day after the Banbridge game. Rhys Emerson scored one of our goals in a 4-2 loss away to Antrim Eagles u18s. That's 2 in 2 matches in the youth team for the 20 year old striker. There's been interest this week from 3 teams in the league below us for our central midfielder Spencer Beattie. I don't expect him to leave but he is on a non contract, so he holds the aces. I've gone for the same team and squad that played so well against Banbridge last time out. This was a disappointment. We didn't create enough, and failed to contain right winger Brad Jackson who contributed 8 key passes in the game. Nelson Agho scored 2 goals for Immaculata, the first was a header that came from a whipped free kick into the box. The second was a neat finish when one on one with Corrigan, after Jackson punted a long ball over our defensive line. Norton is now suspended for our next match against relegation rivals Knockbreda next weekend after picking up a yellow card. No points from this away day, and we remain bottom on goal difference after PSNI lost their fifth consecutive game in a row.