[iajafer]

For my first excursion into the delights that are FM2007 I decided to take on an old favourite, East Stirlingshire, in the Scottish 3rd Division, "The Worst Team In Britain".

I loaded up with the large database and retained players from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, along with the leagues from Scotland from Division 3 and England from Conference North and South.

I was happy to see that the board would only allow a certain number of coaches, scouts and physios, I put ads in the Job Centre for all three plus an AssMan and was pleasantly surprised by the response, being from unemployed and crap blokes as well as some lower league donkeys, not a Ukranian or Nigerian International in sight.

I was pleasantly surprised by the scouting too, only allowed to scout Scotland, and a few relatively decent...for Scottish 3rd...players who were only just willing to sign, being as we're skint and living on scraps.

Now the not so pleasantly surprised stuff...

Season 1 - 2006/07

We got promoted.

Finished 2nd in the league and were promoted by virtue of playoff wins against East Fife and an away goals win against Stirling in the final.

P:36, W:15, D:10, L:11, biggest win 5-1, biggest loss 4-1.

Average attendance 340.

Hmmm...

Cups were crap, beaten by Stranraer and Clyde in the Challenge and League Cups 1st round respectively and by Queens Park in the 2nd round of the Scottish Cup.

Season 2 - 2007/08

We got promoted.

Finished 2nd in the league and were promoted by virtue of playoff wins against Stranraer and Hamilton in the final.

P:36, W:22, D:10, L:4, biggest win 6-1, biggest loss 4-0.

Average attendance 693.

Hmmm...x2

Cups again were crap, beaten by Clyde in both the Challenge and League Cups in 1st and 2nd rounds respectively, and by Montrose in the Scottish Cuo 1st round.

Season 3 - 2008/09

We got promoted.

Won the league on the last game of the season against 2nd placed Gretna.

P:36, W:19, D:5, L:12, biggest win 5-1, biggest loss 5-1.

Average attendance 676.

Hmmm...x3

Cups again were crap, beaten by Ross County and Dunfermline in the League and Challenge Cups in rounds 2 and 3 respectively, and by Hearts in the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup...which was our first round, if you know what I mean.

Summary

I like the game. I haven't experienced any aquaplaning yet, although result swings through inconsistency are an irritation. Red cards are way too many, injuries are incredible...I mentioned in another thread about having 21 players from 61 over three squads and the number of long term injuries, and that's every season.

...but three promotions in three seasons with East Stirlingshire? Unrealistic in the extreme.

Our top scorer's a 38 year old who has Acceleration, Pace and Stamina stats of 4, 3 and 5, and he's finished top of our charts for the three seasons and plays the full 90 minutes every game he plays.

[Church]

What do you mean, no aquaplaning, The Shire promoting three times in succesion is the most extreme aquaplaning I have ever seen.

You are obviously becoming an LLM God, Ian, can we bow down before you and worship at your feet.



.......oh, we already do that don't we.

[Ryn]

Blimey!

There was me thinking this version was harder for LLM.

I had successive promotions in the last game but didn't think it would be possible now.

Ian do you think it is down to tactical selection or possibly the fact that you can attract a quality of player that you shouldn't be able to attract, or what?

[iajafer]

I think the biggest disappointment is that this is my first attempt at FM2007. With the last incarnation it took a while before I sussed the formations and tactics, but this time...as shown with the top scoring guy...it appears that the stats of the player have less to do with the game than the playing with tactics and formations.

Wee webby with leagues and playoffs.

[Church]

\o/ Tables. :thup:

[iajafer]

Originally posted by Ryn:
Blimey!

There was me thinking this version was harder for LLM.

I had successive promotions in the last game but didn't think it would be possible now.

Ian do you think it is down to tactical selection or possibly the fact that you can attract a quality of player that you shouldn't be able to attract, or what?

I think it's down to tactics and formations. The players attracted have been rubbish, frankly.

*non-LLM - stay away!!!*

I've even considered getting a scout programme to look at the stats of the players and see if there are any "superstars" stat-wise in my squad, but they can't all be.

[iajafer]

Originally posted by Church:
\o/ Tables. :thup:

:o

I thought graphic evidence of a P:108, W:56, D:25, L:27 and gaining three promotions game would show...erm...something

[Ryn]

The tactical selection seems to make a HUGE amount of difference.

I know what you are getting at regarding the 'settling in' period of the game. Last year it took me months to get my tactical choices right, producing 'consistent' results.

This year I installed the game, set my tactics the same as I had them in the last game (as much as I could remember anyway) and off I went winning and losing games.

One small change to these tactics (1 or 2 clicks on a slider) made a large difference, considering the quality of players I have available to me are sh*te at best.

I find it difficult to believe that players playing in the lowest league in Italy are capable of following such exact instructions to the letter.

[Ryn]

Originally posted by Ryn:
The tactical selection seems to make a HUGE amount of difference.

I know what you are getting at regarding the 'settling in' period of the game. Last year it took me months to get my tactical choices right, producing 'consistent' results.

This year I installed the game, set my tactics the same as I had them in the last game (as much as I could remember anyway) and off I went winning and losing games.

One small change to these tactics (1 or 2 clicks on a slider) made a large difference, considering the quality of players I have available to me are sh*te at best.

I find it difficult to believe that players playing in the lowest league in Italy are capable of following such exact instructions to the letter.

Edit - especially seeing as I am English/Chinese and my knowledge of Italian is 'basic'

HTF can I tell the players what to do anyway?

[CaleyJaggie]

well Iaj that's amazing. I am still in my first season and have had 5 goalies :eek: injured in my last 4 games, I have 6 :eek: outfield players all out with long term injuries and am having to promote reserves/U-19 players nearly every match to cover short term injuries that I'm suffering. I am shocked at the amount of injuries I'm getting