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I have been playing SI manager series since 03/04 i believe (not 100%, but somewhere there). I loved all your (SI) games until version 2007.
Version 2007 was a catastrophy in my opinion. The same much as version 2008 at the release, it feelt like ping pong manager or even worse sometimes it feelt like CM05 (terrible). The ball hight, slow movement, no closing down, everything leading to little influence the player has. I am very happy that you however looked in all those problems and fixed them, now the game is very playble, i would even say it is the best one yet. There are no sick situactions like there was a load of in 2007, the results now presents player mistakes not bugs. A very good turn around from buggy and not polished enough 2007 version. Thank you for this.
Allthough as i said the game is pleasingly polished, there are smaller gameplay issues. Including elements that has direct influence on the players actions where player cannot influence them back is not a way to go in my opinion. It closes possibilities for player forcing him to a certain action without interaction.
Exemple of this would be board, which at some moments during game can force you to accept a bid for a specific player. Now, there is no wrong in that, in many countries its even the way things works, where manager is a coach and has no more influence over transfers then "He would be usefull" or "He would not be usefull". But, first of all, that would not be "fun", the game play would be reduced to half. Second, the manager in real-life can answer to this, simply by ultimatum or probably by contract clauses where he would be assured that he has the final word on transfers.
Another issue would be the Under-18 players when singing them from diffrent countries. Where you cannot do that becouse its not allowed by rule, if the parents doesint move with the kid.
Both those have the same problem, they are impemented with good intentions to bring the realism feel closer and making the player feel even more as a real manager. But its only one half that you included, the one that affects the player but does not allow the player to affect it back. Becouse you included this rule of under-18 you should give the possibility for the manager to use the rule not just block the game play, the player should be talking to his parents in contract proposition not the kid or both. The same goes with board forcing, its only half of the whole, and the other half of this feature is as or even more important. Ultimatum and/or Contract clausure would make it a fully implented gameplay element.
A bit sloppy at the end you might notice, the champions league is starting, need to go. Thank you. I will come back soon.
FM2008 Review 
Linear Mode
