This is my second instalment about how I feel the role of the Assistant Manager could be improved. The first one was about the training report and can be found here:
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...1/m/6552013463 Match Advice and Observations
Now for this post, one of the biggest problems people have with the game is with the ambiguity of the tactics, many people just don’t completely understand how to use them. This is one of the reasons why I think it is now time for the gamer to have the option of receiving advice from the Assistant Manager. This suggestion is based on something that has been discussed many times and from a personal point of view, I was very surprised there was nothing like it in FM08. This is my personal opinion on how it should be implemented....
First of all, this feature should be optional, many people will prefer to do it by themselves rather than get assistance and so it should not be forced upon them. On the manager options screen you should be able to choose on of three options:
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<LI>“Make advice and observations available during a match by request” –Choosing this match will mean that at any time during a match you are able to click on a “Request advice” button above the tactics button. The Ass Man will then give you any advice or observations he has (if any). He will not say anything unless you click on the button though. I will explain in more detail how the advice is given later on in the post.
<LI>“Receive advice and observations during a match automatically.” – Choosing this option would mean that you automatically receive the assistance at any time during the match, you will also be able to request advice by pressing the button as mentioned above.
<LI>“Receive no match advice or observations at all” – This option would mean you do not and cannot get any advice during the match. This is for anyone who doesn’t even want the temptation of getting any help. The “Request advice” button would be greyed out.
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Now for how the advice is given, after clicking the button the screen will change so that the pitch goes slightly smaller and a box appears below with anything the Ass Man wants to tell you. There will also be another box that has two options; “Return to Match” and “Change Tactics”. The match will also be played in full until you leave the advice screen. In other words it will work in a similar way to how it does when you click to change tactics.
If you are receiving the advice automatically then at various times during the match a window will pop up at the bottom of the screen and remain for a few seconds. This window will say the in one line what advice the Ass Man has to say, if you click on this window it will go to the advice screen where you will get more detail. You would also be able to close the window straight away. Obviously it should be done so that when this window appears it does not cover up any of the pitch. You would only receive advice automatically a few times a match and only at appropriate times, e.g. if there is 3 mins left and you are leading 5 -0 he won’t advise you how to get another goal.
The above suggestion on how you receive the advice is my personal opinion and I am still not convinced it is the right way. Any feedback or better suggestions would be very much welcome.
As for the actual advice and observations, it will not be written like instructions for the gamer, e.g. it will not say “move the width slider two notches to the right” or “select the counter attack option”. Instead it will read as if it is like a real life match and you are talking to the Assistant. Some things that might be said are; “The opposition is playing a very narrow game, we can do with copying them if we are to hold onto the lead” and “If we are to get back into this we need to start playing more directly”. He would even comment on individual players when appropriate, for example, “the opposition left back seems to be injured” or “Our striker is looking very tired, we can do with substituting him”.
As well as receiving this help whilst the match is being played there would also be a screen before the match and at half time positioned along with the tactics, team talk and opposition instructions. This screen will say similar things to earlier although at these times there will be slightly more said and it will be worded to suit the time. For example at half time instead of commenting on what is happening he would say “We have been playing too many long balls, the opposition will be ready for them in the second half”.
The detail and accuracy of what you are told would depend on the Ass Man’s attributes as well as his preferences (where it says what type of formation he likes to play etc...) This would mean that it is necessary to pick a good assistant if you are to take advantage of his help. Otherwise, you could end up with advice that in the end makes things even worse. There are also other things that could effect how good the advice is but that is a new idea from me and I will discuss it next time.
Finally, after the match you currently get very little feedback about what happened. Apart from a media message there isn’t really anything. IRL however a match will be reviewed and lessons will be learnt from it, especially in the higher leagues. The most obvious way to have this in the game would be to add an analysis tool like Prozone in CM (although I personally wouldn’t like to see the whole of it put in). For the time being though I think the following is a decent compromise if it is possible.
Basically, it would be very similar to a scout’s report on your next opponent except it would the Ass Man’s report on the last match. In it he will mention things such as the following:
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<LI>Who had good or bad performances in the match and why, e.g. morale, good tactic etc...
<LI>What type of tactic we used, e.g. direct, patient, counter attack etc... and whether he feels it was the correct way to play.
<LI>What he feels could have been done better in relation to the tactics.
<LI>Any key stats that stand out and what he thinks that suggests. For example, “We gave away a lot of fouls because we were playing a physical game, however, because we were against vastly superior opposition that was the right decision”.
<LI>His thoughts on the formation, good or bad.
<LI>The oppositions tactics and what problems they caused for us.
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If a post match report like this could be added along with a few more stats then it would improve the analysis side of things a lot. The last 4 reports should also be viewable in the assistant’s profile and you should be able to save it as a note as well.
To get this whole feature to work properly would take a lot of work and I wouldn’t expect it all to be done at once but rather a progressive addition over a few releases, probably starting with the advice before the match and half time. I do think that eventually it could be something great that improves the game a lot. It would make it more realistic and also help people when they need it, sort of an alternative to difficulty levels which would not be suitable for FM.
When FM08 was announced some people commented on the absence of a feature like this, someone from SI (can’t remember who) replied by saying that “the game should not tell you what to do” but
IMO this feature would not. Instead, it would guide you, it is up to the gamer to decide what action to take, and it is an optional feature.
Now criticise at will
Improving the Role of the Assistant Manager: Tactical Advice and Observations 
I think the solutions to the problem outlined in "Metaphysical Angst in FM" give you the same limits on AM power that you're looking for, without misleading the user.
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