retired_Mikey73

This is a topic I'm slightly unsure can be addressed, but it's one that's been nagging away at me for a few days.

Can you name many of the AI managers in your current division?

I'm approaching this from the following perspective - I'm currently in March of 2014/15. I've got 2 managers in the same game, one whose risen to manage Marseille, and the other whose been at Barcelona the whole time. The example to use is the Barcelona manager, mainly because I've played in that league the most.

In a division of 20 teams, none stand out as having any personality. Teams like Real Madrid and Valencia are soulless, anaemic collections of players, undoubtedly superstars, but with no recognisable theme behind them. What do I mean? Arsenal of old played hard-working, boring, dour football, replaced with attractive attacking football, made up mainly of foreign players and youth. Manchester United have always looked for attractive football, with a penchant for signing 'big' players, Van Nistelrooys, Rio Ferdinands, rather than the cheaper youths of Arsenal.

When I look at the league my Barcelona team is in, I can't detect any such personality, in either a club or a manager. Perhaps it's nitpicking, but it doesn't seem the best way to establish the proper emotional connection with your league. I want to be part of the league, rather than merely winning it.

Why am I saying all of this? What I would like to see is twofold.

Firstly, some kind of club philosophy would be nice. Certainly nothing set in stone, but an Ajax Amsterdam 4-3-3 attacking style, Manchester United and attacking teams, Spurs always looking to be attractive and so on so forth.

Secondly: Managers personalities need to be more defined. I want to feel that a José Mourinho is going to send out a well organised, defensive and direct team. I want to see signings that suit that, and tactics that are applicable, and also... detectable. I really do struggle to see if a team's playing direct football or short passing, defensive or attacking. Furthermore, the style of players they like should be more discernible. If manager X prefers fitness based players, show that in terms of the players he signs. If Manager Y likes lot's of individual skill, lot's of flair, I want to see that too.

retired_anthonyc

Yeah but then wouldnt your example contradict itself if mourinho took over ajax???

retired_Mikey73

That's another point, his style (of play) was unpopular with his chairman. That makes the job bloody difficult.

Look at it this way, Wenger revolutionised Arsenal's style of play, but a less successful example would be Sammy Lee at Bolton. If you can succeed then you should be able to slowly change a team's avowed style, but certainly the fans would need time to adapt, and the board etc, and the game should reflect that. (If any of this is possible ofc )

retired_ileana

Not to the extent that you seem to want, but if you make gloating or friendly comments through the press, the other managers in your league will become more vocal toward you.

So if you want you league to have a less professional personality, start stirring the pot.

ddong78

Excellent thread! :thup:
I too want to see managers looking for specific attributes.
And clubs to be looking for managers that suit their personality. For example, in the greek league, Panathinaikos should be looking for (managers that are looking for) teamwork, work rate, professionalism and low controversy, Olympiacos should be looking for (managers that are looking for) flair and dribbling, PAOK should be looking for determination, AEK for technique etc!

This is certainly possible to be done and would be great too!

retired_dellydoolittle

...anyway exellant post Scath!!

I remeber a feeling of my 1st CMs experiences. I know I was a kid, but I think those games were much more in time then these. with quality of nowdays computers, I realy think this game has stuck somewhere in last years. of course I'm not saying there is no progress, but look where are we now. some critising, other claiming it's the best, many of people I knew who were playing this game, quited. if you add our half year waiting for the patch to all that, and game having flaws in every feature, something is just not right.

your suggestion is realy cool, like many other suggestions as well. I just hope SI didn't decided for EA phylosophy; "each year one little feature".-> and we should be happy.

retired_anthonyc

I do get what your saying but things can change so much, I dont think it would be worth implementing.
As we discussed - Arsenal, late 90's were a world apart from the early 90's.
Mourinhos style wouldnt suit Ajax.
The points you made about Man utd - (given the week that it is) was completely at odds with how busby built his team.

Then the point about fans/chairmen adapting.
What if a takeover occured?

Just to re-iterate how things change...
7 or 8 years ago would believe fulham or wigan would sack a manager for avoiding relegation from the top flight?

In 1992 would newcastle have been devasted to be a mid table prem side?

7 years ago would leeds be sad to lose dennis wise?

27 years ago would Notts Forest have been pleased to get a result against the likes of swansea?

I could go on and on, but you get my drift.
I really dont think it could work.

retired_Mikey73

Cudman - I can well understand your points, all of them. In fact those would be worries I would have too.

You mentioned boards changing - well what if a new board doesn't like your style - maybe they'll sack you. Maybe they'll make you change. Would it annoy me if that happened to me, yeah, but it's realistic. It happens to managers.

I know things couldn't be concrete - but suggest a team philosophy, let it change, but make us work to change it. If United start the game as an attacking team, and I take over and introduce defensive dour boring football, make the board and fans question it, even hate it, and make sure I get sacked unless I get results that are properly impressive.

Keep in mind that Fabio Capello one La Liga, only to get sacked. So far Real aren't regretting that are they?

retired_anthonyc

Thats what it all comes down to.
If you dont get results you will get the boot anyway.
Im not arguing with you but im just stating that there are thousands of sugestions that pop up in here that wouldnt really have any affect on the game but some people would like to see implemented.
It just comes down to opinions.

retired_anthonyc

Oh, and madrid arent regretting it YET.
Perhaps the reason they are not as dominant as they were in the past is because they sack managers willy nilly (so to speak)