Football Manager 2012

[Mr Rager]

I'm on half term at college, so I've been playing this game way too much since last Saturday. Have finished my first season with Liverpool; finished second without buying any players (I disabled transfer budgets for the first window for realism). Strong season, but United were still way too strong for everybody else, finishing nine points clear and undefeated (I was actually on the verge of preventing this three matches from the end of the season, until the referee allowed an offside Berbatov equaliser to stand in the 92nd minute). Have bought Ezequiel Lavezzi of Napoli and Bruno of Villarreal in this transfer window, as well as several youth players, giving me a strong squad with plenty of options all over the pitch. A 2-0 win at Goodison Park is an encouraging start to the season.

Also took charge of Team GB at the Olympics, and defeated Spain in a penalty shootout for the gold medal... There was something quite brilliant about Gareth Bale scoring the winning penalty.

[bestbitter]

Has anybody got/played the PSP version? I had the 2011 version for my ipod touch and it was ok but rather limited (as you would expect). Just wondered if the PSP and ipod versions are the same,

[Bigpapa42]

I have to admit, I am full on addicted to this version at this point. The immersion factor is great, and I've actually been able to successfully create my own tactic this time around - though I had to do some reading to get a handle on things first. The immresion factor is great. All the little refinements from 2011 might seem small, but collectively they add up to a better game overall. Loving it.

[ChrisKid]

God I love this game sometimes

[ChrisKid]

Just been banned from the touchline for calling ref's bad calls, the game i missed, the league cup final against Aston Villa which i lost 2-1

[1234]

Originally Posted by ChrisKid

Just been banned from the touchline for calling ref's bad calls, the game i missed, the league cup final against Aston Villa which i lost 2-1

Unlucky, I used to get banned too much so "I don't want to say anything that might get me into trouble" has become my default response to bad ref decisions .



Started a game with Real Madrid recently and have just finished my first season:

Major Transfers in first Summer window and January:

In:
Sime Vrsaljko - Young Croatian RB, signed due to my lack of faith in Arbeloa (who will be sold in the transfer window between seasons 1/2). Rotated with Hamit Altintop in my RWB position. Got 32 starts altogether in his first season so was a bargain at £5M

Jelle Vossen - Again a signing for the future, this time a Belgian striker for £3.5M. Was brought in January, only run outs were in the Copa Del Rey and failed to find the net in those two starts and one sub appearance. Will be sent to Anderlecht (a new feeder club the board got me upon request) on loan for the duration of next season.

Mamadou Sakho - A signing for both the short and long term, the 22 year old french defender from PSG. Signed as a replacement for Pepe at £20M in January (see below) has been featuring since in a rotation system with Raphael Varane. Trying to develop both young french centre backs for the future

Out

Raul Albiol (Loan - Napoli) - Got annoyed at lack of game time, the final straw being signing in Sakho when a slot opened up at the back. Unsure whether Napoli will be taking up an option to buy him permanantly.

Pepe - In January a bid came in from the blue side of Manchester, and I was able to negotiate the price up to £40M, however they did not offer him acceptable wages so the deal fell through. I was quite fond of getting rid of a 29 year old (I hate players over 30 on FM) for such a hefty fee, so sent round a message trying to get a similar offer from another club. Spurs matched the £40M offered by Man City and Pepe was off the England after all.


In my first competitive games I lost out to Barcelona in the Super Cup on away goals (Won 2:1 at the Bernabeu before losing 1:0 at Camp Nou), handing Barca what would somehow be there only silverware of the season.

In the Copa del Rey we were paired with Barca in the 5th round (the first round we could realistically be paired with them. Round before quarters), and we seized on them playing a weakened team at Camp Nou to take a 5-1 aggregate win (4-0 win at Camp Nou ) and wen't on to claim the trophy with a decisive 5-0 final win over Villareal.

In the Champions League we qualified with maximum points from a group containing CSKA Moscow, Napoli & Kobenhavn, before beating Marseille, Chelsea & Man City on the way to the final which was won over Inter Milan 3-1.

Now onto the league. Barcelona set a new record for points in a season, hitting 102 points in a single season, going undefeated throughout the season (beat us at the Bernabeu before playing out a classic 4-4 draw at Camp Nou when we were level at points at the top of the table.)

Opposed to this in Madrid we suffered 2 defeats in league competition, the aformentiond Barca win and a dissapointing 2-0 loss at Valencia.

However unfortunately for Barca we were also on record setting pace, being level on points on the last day of the season, when Barca were held to a draw at mid-table Betis as we took a narrow win over Mallorca to seal the league on 104 points.

So Barca wen't undefeated and set what would have been a new points record, and still didn't win the league. An amazing season in Spain where 1 goal (more in the case of Barca) for either Mallorca or Barca on the final day would have seen the title head to Barcelona instead of Madrid.

Early in the summer but have already agreed to bring in:

Rene Adler - A good German keeper, who was suprisingly was willing to come in as backup to Casillas. Allows me to shift my other backups on and not have to rely on Adan if Casillas gets injured (like he did for a month this season).

Mats Hummels - Strengthens my defence massively, the young German will for part of a rotating line up of partners for Sergio Ramos consisting of Varane, Sakho & Hummels and in a few seasons when they are all at the same level have free choice of world class centre back pairings.

+ 2 gens - Two young talents who look good for the future, both 16 so definately long term signings.

Failed in an attempt to bring in Cabaye from the relegated Newcastle, the french midfielder choosing to head to Inter Milan instead (Madness, we beat them in the Champions League final).

Going to be shifting on most of the players coming back from loan, Drenthe, Gago, Albiol (if he comes back, etc.) as well as trying to shift along some of the around-30 players. The highest profile player to go will probably be Kaka if I can find a buyer, allowing me to buy in someone like Hazard. Although Xabi Alonso might also be on his way out the door if I can bring in either Javi Martinez from Bilbao or Yann M'Vila from Rennes. Alonso is fantastic sitting just in front of my defence but my age bias is telling me to sell him.

[Dalimyr]

Originally Posted by ChrisKid

Just been banned from the touchline for calling ref's bad calls, the game i missed, the league cup final against Aston Villa which i lost 2-1

Originally Posted by 1234

Unlucky, I used to get banned too much so "I don't want to say anything that might get me into trouble" has become my default response to bad ref decisions .

Replays will be able to clear up some incidents (offsides, two-footed lunges), but for others where it's less obvious in the match engine, a relatively reliable way to deal with this is to check the rating the ref got for your match. If he got a 9 or 10 then his decisions were correct, but if he got something like a 4 or 5 then he definitely got big calls wrong. I can't recall the last time I was reprimanded by the FA for pointing out when a ref had a shocker

[damonster]

Not really a soccer fan, but this game might be interesting, will give the demo a try.

[1234]

Originally Posted by Dalimyr

Replays will be able to clear up some incidents (offsides, two-footed lunges), but for others where it's less obvious in the match engine, a relatively reliable way to deal with this is to check the rating the ref got for your match. If he got a 9 or 10 then his decisions were correct, but if he got something like a 4 or 5 then he definitely got big calls wrong. I can't recall the last time I was reprimanded by the FA for pointing out when a ref had a shocker

Thanks for that, I always assumed the game operated in the same way as the real FA does most of the time. Don't criticise ref's even when they are obviously wrong.

Will look into ref ratings a bit more in the future. Although I am prone to respond to decisions Mourinho style, if it went against you it's the refs fault.

[Basmat01]

Originally Posted by Dalimyr

Replays will be able to clear up some incidents (offsides, two-footed lunges), but for others where it's less obvious in the match engine, a relatively reliable way to deal with this is to check the rating the ref got for your match. If he got a 9 or 10 then his decisions were correct, but if he got something like a 4 or 5 then he definitely got big calls wrong. I can't recall the last time I was reprimanded by the FA for pointing out when a ref had a shocker

Ive been playing FM for years now and I didnt know that. thanks for the info

[Fleisch]

So I hadn't touched this since December, and a few days ago (after an ill formed purchase of WWE 12 - which sucks btw) I decided to start a new game of FM12. I'm into my 2nd season as... Tonbridge Angels, who can be found in Blue Square South with the media predicting relegation.

So I started the rebuild, signing a couple of young players that had been released from their contracts. Winning all 6 of my friendlies was a good start, winning the Blue Square South with a 12 point gap was a fantastic finish!

I'm into January of season 2, and lying 3rd in the Blue Square Premier... Not bad considering they were tipped to drop into the Isthmian League when I took over and now in with a shout to make the Football League!

[1234]

Stupid, stupid Agents.

Rasmus Elm declared he wanted a move away from Alkmaar to a bigger club after Juve showed an interest in him. He was also someone I was watching, so when he got offered around for £4.1M I (Real Madrid) joined about 20 other clubs in making an offer.

Offer was accepted, and the agent came to me asking for wages of £18.5k a week. Sensing a bargain I offered exactly what the agent asked for leaving all parties satisfied.

He eventually decided not to come to Madrid, instead signing a £48.5k a week contract elsewhere. So either the agent pulled a cruel prank on me with no intention of Elm joining us, or he is an idiot as I would have matched those wages and he would now be playing for a much bigger team (one that just won a treble, including the Champions League).

Elm and his agent also decided against moves to German champions Bayern Munich (interestlingly, Munich won the league on Goals scored, but that is a different story entirely), Italian champions Juventus and French champions Lyon (and many other teams). And signed for...Aston Villa. A team who escaped relegation from the Premier League by 2 points.

Meh, atleast I don't have to do the impossible of trying to get rid of Esteban Granero because of Elm now.

Me - "Would anyone like Granero for the season? He can play in cup competitions and against us, and we will not recall him. Also you don't have to pay us anything, or pay his wages."

The collective footballing world - "nah"

*rabble rabble rabble*

[Fleisch]

Just won the Blue Square Premier play-offs! The mighty Tonbridge continue their march upwards. I believe this is their first foray into the football league. I'm not expecting much in terms of miracles (I think I've used my quota) but if I stay in League 2 with them I will be more than happy.

On the negative side, I've lost Frannie Collin who was my top scorer in the last 2 seasons... but it free's up funds to get in somebody new.

[ChrisKid]

Ended season 2 and now in mid July 2013:
As Liverpool i have finished 6th & 8th in the last two seasons.

My squad has changed a little:

Gk's:
Jose Reina,Alfonse Areola

Def's:
Glen Johnson,Jack Robinson,Daniel Agger,Steven Caulker,Danny Wilson,Sebastian Coates,Jose Enrique,Fabio Aurelio

Mid's:
Maxi Rodriguez,Jordan Henderson,Landon Donavan,Gabriel Torje,Jay Spearing,Steven Gerrard,Stewart Downing,Nathan Redmond,Alberto Aquilani

Att's:
Junior Hoillet,Luis Suarez,Romelu Lukaku


Promising Reserve Players:
(Potential Stars)
4stars:
Nabil El Amrani,Joe Carruthers,Kristian Forster,Raheem Sterling

3 1/2stars:
Aaron Edwards,Alessandro Aigner,Luke Shaw

3stars:
Jay Stott,Chris Gardner,Suso

Looking to get rid of:
Fabio Aurelio,Alberto Aquilani,Dirk Kuyt & Jamie Carragher

[ChrisKid]

This guy has potential and only £9m from AC Milan