Football Manager 2021 Xbox Nintendo PC Gaming Mobile Gaming

[Micro Dave]

Some aspects of the game are taking some getting used to. I love the match engine but I hate the screen when there are no highlights, there's too much info and I don't know what to do with half of it. I thought FM20's in-match screen was perfect - it was clear, clean and displayed all the basic info you needed. All these xG/xA graphs can get in the bin, need a degree in data analysis to understand it. Not sure the body language stuff is actually worthwhile either, but I have enjoyed "thrashing my arms about" after defeats.

 

[Dylan]

Some aspects of the game are taking some getting used to. I love the match engine but I hate the screen when there are no highlights, there's too much info and I don't know what to do with half of it. I thought FM20's in-match screen was perfect - it was clear, clean and displayed all the basic info you needed. All these xG/xA graphs can get in the bin, need a degree in data analysis to understand it. Not sure the body language stuff is actually worthwhile either, but I have enjoyed "thrashing my arms about" after defeats.

The xG thing is slightly irritating. I don't mind them having it in, I'd just rather my assistant didn't tell me about it every 3 seconds. And I don't understand how they calculate it, I see guys miss absolute sitters and it goes up by like 0.04... I get that it's to measure the quality of chances created (I think) but seems a bit much.

The other thing that's really, really annoying me is the "media liaison officer" or whatever they're calling them popping up at the end of press conferences. I've never seen them say anything apart from "I think it went fine." What's the point in having them? I know it went fine, and press conferences have no impact whatsoever on the rest of the game anyway, as far as I can tell.

 

[Dylan]

So by some distance the best newgen I've found so far this year, ridiculous stats at 17. Currently playing a save as OM, think I've found my RB for the next 15 years

 

[Micro Dave]

I'm at the halfway stage of season 2. I had a much shakier start to my season this year (St. Mirren Park getting an extra 3,800 seats installed so might be something to do with home games being at Rugby Park until the new year) but have grown into it and fighting Ross County for 3rd.

Spoiler: League Progress

Spoiler: Betfred Cup

As for Europe, got a shockingly easy draw to make groups of Europa league where plenty of lessons were handed out to us until the last match. I assumed it was out and didn't know 3rd place got you a drop into the Europa Conference league so just as well we turned on the style...

Spoiler: Europa League

So I made it to the fabled 'after Christmas' at the first attempt. Astana awaits in the first knockout round - they'll likely be far too strong.

 

[Ray Gin]

I'm at the halfway stage of season 2. I had a much shakier start to my season this year (St. Mirren Park getting an extra 3,800 seats installed so might be something to do with home games being at Rugby Park until the new year) but have grown into it and fighting Ross County for 3rd.

How do you get your fixtures to display like that? i.e the green/amber/red for the result plus the goalscorers. All I can get is either or.

 

[Mouth]

Finished my 4th season with Southampton, a 0-1 Loss at Anfield on the last day of the season cost me the league title but we were only in with a chance because Man Utd bottled an 8 point lead in the run in, so not too disappointed. Got smashed a bit by PSG in the CL Quarters after topping our group and beating Inter in both last 16 legs. Szobozslai has been an absolute monster for me playing as in inverted winger on the left of a 442. Scores an insane amount of headers at the back post.

 

[Dylan]

Finished my 4th season with Southampton, a 0-1 Loss at Anfield on the last day of the season cost me the league title but we were only in with a chance because Man Utd bottled an 8 point lead in the run in, so not too disappointed. Got smashed a bit by PSG in the CL Quarters after topping our group and beating Inter in both last 16 legs. Szobozslai has been an absolute monster for me playing as in inverted winger on the left of a 442. Scores an insane amount of headers at the back post.

Good stuff Mouth, what's your line-up like?

 

[Micro Dave]

How do you get your fixtures to display like that? i.e the green/amber/red for the result plus the goalscorers. All I can get is either or.

There is a 'customise current view' tab up here where you can take or add whatever you like

 

[Ray Gin]

Good start, sitting nicely in the playoff positions. Bit surprised at that as we definitley have the worst squad plus at first everyone hated me. Got a complaint we didn't have enough strikers and my team talks were causing weird reactions. Think my teamtalks weren't that well received at the start of the previous save too, and maybe it takes a little time for players to buy in to what you're saying but this was something else. Loads of red/angry reactions for saying nice and encouraging things. Anyway, starting to win them round a bit there as well but still not great, we've had 14 games in total including the continental stuff.

 

[Dylan]

Started a new save as unemployed with the English, Scottish, Spanish, German and French leagues active. I ended up at Dunfermline who had just been promoted to the Scottish Premiership - I joined them in November 2022 with half the season remaining.

When I joined they were sitting in 8th place in the league and I managed to guide them to 4th place by the end of the season, winning 9 of my league games in charge with 6 draws and just 4 defeats.



We also made it through to the Scottish Cup Final against Rangers which we won 2-0 thanks to two goals from my main striker.



Overall a brilliant season but not sure it will be one I can repeat. Dunfermline don't have much money and the squad needs a lot more quality.