retired_ravi

You can arrange friendlies yourself?! :eek:

Seriously though, the only time I actually arrange any myself are to ensure that the Stiffs and young 'uns are getting some game-time in case I need them

retired_lil_talk_alot

In fact sometimes I feel like further expanding my philosphy, retiring as manager and just playing the game as a supporter.

And then I think "Oh my god! did I just actually think that?!!"

retired_lil_talk_alot

Yes... I can spell philosofee, sorry.

retired_blondielovespink

You can 'try' to arrange friendlies yourself. It's immensely harder for a low-rep side to get them approved than it used to be. In previous versions I used to set up 5 pre-seasons and a couple winter break friendlies if I played in a league with on of those. Now I consider myself lucky to get 2 preseasons and the only winter break friendly I can get is vs the reserves.

retired_mrsjb

You mean just watching all your team's matches and not interacting with the game at all? :eek:

Can't be worse than RL I s'pose At least Norwich win sometimes in FM.

retired_lil_talk_alot

ha yeah, you got it. would be a great way to waste my life. stll, its the only way I might ever see Reading make the premiership

retired_aries

As yet, as a manager of a Conf North team, although I have to admit trying, I've not got friendlies against ANY EPL teams, unless you count playing Man U or Arsenal reserves

I think that what I suggested is'nt really cheating.

I distinctly remember in RL whilst staying at my Gran's in Filey, I used to watch all Scarborough's pre-season friendlies. Just after Italy 1990 world cup, as well as the annual friendlies against the likes of Leeds Utd, Bradford City, Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, they somehow managed to get a friendly against Red Star Belgrade :eek:

I must admit I was stunned at the time, especially considering Scarborough were the better team at one point and that Red Star fielded over half of the Yugoslav squad that had just been in the World Cup. The same season, Red Star won the European Cup on penalties against Marseilles in probably one of the most boring European Cup finals ever lol.

Point is, I believe that getting money spinning friendlies against the highest level clubs possible is not cheating, just sound business acumen - after all, not only are we managing the players, we're managing the clubs finances to some extent. Especially as a LLM, you ignore the clubs finances at your peril, so finding ways of boosting your finances by using high profile friendlies seems more than fair & sure as hell beats sending out an elderley supporter at for a half-time bucket collection (Have seen that too lol!!)

retired_priyaa_00

Corrected your post

BTW just let it go :cool:

you'll never win this one against the locals

retired_aries

Hehe

But is'nt half the fun trying!?! :p

retired_dfiegel

i find it strange that you regard arranging friendlies to make money as cheating. Why do Manchester United tour Asia? Why did Nottingham Forest tour the US? A good few years ago i think Barcelona played a friendly against Derby, or one of the east midlands teams anyway. That can't have been for the manager to test his players.... only to make money.

OK, these examples aren't lower league teams, but they do show that teams often play friendlies against much larger or smaller teams solely for financial gain.