retired_saxgurl08

Guys,

I've been playing this game since CM1 (1991? 1992? gosh I'm getting old...) through all its incarnations.
Since then, every year, I wait till autumn to enjoy some seasons with my dear AC Milan.
I usually play 5-6 seasons, win 10-12 cups, then well..a new version comes up, and with that I throw away the old one.

I do not have too much time to devote to the game, wish I had more, but after all these years I still enjoy it as much as the first time.
The bugs are almost a feature of the game, indeed. A version playable out of the box? never...

Here is what should be improved on FM 2008:

- PENALTIES: too few (2-3 per season, they should be overall 6-12) and too hard to score (30/40% vs a real life average of roughly 70%)

- GOALS on DIRECT FREE KICKS: teams have 2-3 tops per season, should be at least twice as much

- AGING PLAYERS: ok, I might be biased, but aging players are still players and can deliver.. they should have lower stamina, pace, and so on, but in the game they turn total crap in a matter of days after their birthday (Without any significant stats drop)

- LAST MINUTE GOALS: 35% of the the goals I have conceded, went in the last 5 minutes of the game... just not realistic.


What I think has improved:

- CORNERS: I can finally score, yeah!

- CLOSE DOWN: in previous versions all players were rabid maniacs, now it is much better implemented, closing down is an attacking behaviour, not a defensive one!
- MARKET: big players sell for big bucks, crap players hard to sell.. that's the way it is
- RATINGS: make much more sense, all those 10s when beating an underdog 3-0 were just plain silly
- DISALLOWED GOALS: folks, these happen... and roughly 1 every 3 games is reality... looks good to me

That's all...

Now I'm off to search for the next Nil Lamptey...(remember?)

retired_Balanchinegal

Jeez, I've only been playing since FM05, and I'm 27yrs old.
To me the game is what it is, I haven't seen it evolve much but I would (Mostly!) agree with your opinion on what is realistic about it, especially disallowed goals - they're all over the bloody place IRL as heartbreaking as they are. (Look at Liverpool's Club World Champonship final 2005; lost 1-0 but had THREE goals disallowed!)

retired_sweborg

Wholeheartedly agree with your observations on amount of penalties given and DFKs.

retired_blakeary

The ref cheated, blatant

retired_allisoncopening

Haha I to have played since the games conception and I do remember the mighty Nil Lamptey and Nicky Papavasiliou the great newcastle winger haha !

retired_dego72

Good post, particularly agree about pens- theyve been broken for some time too.

I have mixed feelings about transfer fees- as although I agree that clubs will want top dollar for their stars I think that also;

A) There are too many huuge transfers going on.

B) If the AI manager values his own star players at astronomical sums then it would be nice to see them also appreciate the value of players to us.

retired_saxgurl08

True, but then again I never try to sell the great players.. so I don't really know. I might add the following two points, but as minor nuisances..

SCOUTING: they never scout a single player in the youth leagues...so i let them retire and live happy without scots

BOARD CONFIDENCE: it's just eye candy and doesn't affect the game... but when you have won whatever is up for grabs, have gazillions and the bank and they say they are "considering" your position...

on the other hand....

BEST ALL TIME 11 is a nice touch