Sussex Hammer

Was happily plodding away in 4th in the League with my 4-4-2, (that worked superbly in my previous game before it crashed!!) when suddenly after winning 9-0 in the FA Cup against Forest Green my form slumped big time.

The form of Pires, Ljungberg, Ashton, Dyer, the list goes on, came down as quick as the Xmas decorations!!

Bellamy who couldn't score anyway despite going one on one with the keeper at least 10 times in a match (thanks SI!), looked even less like scoring and I'm left scratching my head. A mid season slump or the Al conveniently working out my tactic?!

So I change my tactic to a more defensive counter attacking one. I can't score anyway but at least if I can shore up the defence I'll be happy.

It works,,,, sort of. Draws away at Man Utd 2-2, away at Arsenal 0-0 and home v Chelsea 0-0 restore my faith a tad. At least the one on one bug affects Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo, Drogba and Walcott as well!!

But as I burst with pride knowing that only Chelsea have beaten me out of the top 4 all season I'm brought back to earth with a bump. The supporters are dissapointed with my performances agains the big 3 because of either my inability to turn chances into goals or not enough chances created. Yet they are pleased with my 1-1 home draw against bottom of the table Sunderland,,, Huh??!!

Now come on SI, as a Hammers fan myself three draws in a row against the top 3 would leave me delerious and a draw against Sunderland would have me disgruntled to say the least...

Please, please, please sort out this totally unrealistic supporters confidence and whilst you are at it please also sort out the Board confidence which is even worse.....

Whilst I'm at it please also sort the following :

1. One on ones.... Please!!! I might have "turned my chances into goals" if this was sorted.

2. Unhappy players.... I can understand it if they are in the reserves but for players who sit on the bench this is just silly.

3. We spend a lot of time on a tactic, any chance of lowering the chance of the Al working it out withing a games 2 months?!

4. The weather.... I think I have played on 3 dry pitches and I'm 5 weeks from the end of the season. I know it rains in England but this is FM2008 not the Day After Tomorrow!!

Am I the only one who is agitated about the above??!!

Jablome

It really does rain a lot at my home ground. A lot.

Mike7077

The weather is crazy, though. I'm sick of playing games in downpour in temperatures of 34c in places like Glasgow! In October!

Doofus

Yeah I want to give my groundsman the boot. I'm fed up of going to away games where they have a pristine surface only for us to come back to our ground and it's like playing in a swamp.

He's obviously significantly worse than most others in the league. We started the season playing on muddy surfaces (the fool overwatered! ) and only 3 or 4 times has he managed to get a decent playing surface for a matchday.

Neji

Are you sayiung that bench warmers should be happy all the time? If so, think about Jens Lehmann. If a player sits on the bench every game but doesnt play any he will still get upset.

Are you playing fully patched? I've used the same tactic for 6 or 7 seasons now and been successful, I don't even tweak. It's most likely some other factor affecting you. Training levels, general tiredness etc.

Sussex Hammer

Yep, playing fully patched... In my previous game (also fully patched), I thought I had it right. Got into January and was 3rd in League with only two defeats, then my game crashed.

Started again, same players brought in, same coaches brought in and same tactic.

Now in February with 10 defeats and in 10th place. Bellamy can't hit a barn door from 3 yards yet after a slow start in my last game he was on 17 goals.

This game,,, 3!!!

Haestad

This is what its like for me:

You tinker your tactic to suit your teams strengths modifying things like Creative Freedom and Crossing intrustions. My form gets worse.

If I only tinker with the general sliders and formations. I win games.

Same goes for training. I try and optimise strength training and a week later two first team players injured 1 month+.