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(F.Y.I THIS IS ABOUT FM07, AND ANYTHING BUT A MOANING THREAD - A STORY OF ONE FM'ER FINALLY SEEING THE LIGHT, ALBEIT BELATEDLY)
When FM08 was released, despite my protests to the contrary, I was (admittedly) DESPERATE for a copy. So off I headed to my local GAME store to purchase said game.
Unfortunately, it wouldn't run on my machine and in turn I couldn't get my fix of Management.
Boo-hoo.
I had already uninstalled FM07 from my PC after yet another unsuccessful experiment here
but decided to reinstall the game because I'd got the itch back with a vengeance. Thankfully I was able to get 7.0.2 patch online.
Those of you who followed my threads will know I was anything but successful in my games and continually came on here to whine and moan about the game "Cheating" me and that it kept just "Stealing" victories from me and the usual malaise you get on here, born simply out of frustration.
So this time round I had to mentally prepare myself to play it, I told myself that no matter what happens I just have to accept it, no save and retry, no moaning and accusing the game of cheating or any of that nonsense.
(Basically because I'd be on my own - as FM08 was the new "in thing" and no-one would listen anyhoo)
On loading up the game I chose to manage Atletico Madrid, a mid-table side with no real title ambitions or whatever, basically the Spanish version of, say Aston Villa.
Board expectations were "Achieve a safe mid-table position within the League" whereas fans expected a "Respectable" position. I'm thinking 7th - 10th at best - worst. (Media Prediction: 9th)
Well, had it not been for Valencia having better results against me than me against them, I'd have finished 3rd.
As it was, we finished 4th. No cups or anything like that but that's easily the most success I've ever had on any version of FM and I'm delighted.
All I done was set up a direct attacking tactic and stuck with it for the entire season. A global mentality and A high defensive line which I moved according to match progress. I kept the exact same starting line-up for the season also, rotating only when a player was injured and re-instating him on recovery.
By mid-season, half my players had "Enjoys the team's style of play" on their personal screen and they had "forged a strong understanding."
I realize this is a bit late considering everyone is now on FM08, this thread probably won't be received very well either by the forum regulars but I'm just so bloody happy with FM for the first time.
For the first time I "got it", no cheating, no moaning, no accusations; just head-down hard thinking get bloody well on with it, Poof!
We even reached that infamous "Brick Wall" (10 games in) I had gurned about so much but I just played on through it, rather than quitting like I done all the other times, we got through it and came out fighting.
What have I learned? Consistency is the key, I played the game, watched EVERYTHING, and it just started to "Make sense"...
So I'm updating my PC very soon after Christmas (the "final" Patch should be out) and getting FM08 in it's finished state, because I've got the bug again.
And like I said, this isn't a moaning thread, not in the slightest, thank you very much SI and apologies for going on a bit.
I really did moan A LOT.
But now I know it was simply because I never understood, and never took the time to learn.
It's easy to blame someone else for our own shortfall in understanding.
Throughout that entire season mentioned above I swear, not once did I feel like the game was cheating; it was trying to communicate to me that, for instance, my defensive line was too high or we were too direct or things like that. I don't know why, but for some reason I finally understood.
And for the first time, I was successful. (predicted 9th, finished 4th is a BIG leap!)
And for the record:
Season 2 has started on fire also; qualified for the ECC at the expense of PSV (lost 1-2 away, won 1-0 at home, through on away goals), in the first group game beat Lens 5-0 away.
Still using the same playing style that the players still love.
I love Football Manager.
As has been said, it takes a biog man to come and apologise.
Also, FM is FM...regardless. Even though Im very much enhoying 08 I xferd my 07 save to my spare pc and am still playing my old 07 save game...im just enjoying too much to leave it as is
LOOK! Not a moaning thread! 
Linear Mode
