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Note : I've been working on this for a fair old amount of time, so please excuse any gaps in information, or changes in text attitude throughout the post
Intro
I'm basically writing this post for a number of reasons. Mainly to get across a lot of my views on the game, and the series, but also to incorporate a lot of the changes I feel needed in the game. I know there are separate places that each could be placed, but I'd prefer if I could just compound everything into 1 post. Also, on the agenda, will be a few answers to a lot of the more popular asked questions. I understand that may prove worthless, if the thread dies out, or just doesn't get read, but I'll give it a shot anyway.
Conents
Sector 1 - In Game Issues
-Transfers
-Youth Players / Camps
-Player P.A / C.A
Sector 2 - Records and Statistics
-Player Records
-Team Records
-Player Histories
-Player Statistics (Season Carry over)
-Manager Records
Sector 3 - Graphic Design
Sector 4 - Important Threads
Sector 5 - These Forums
Sector 6 - Typical Questions Answered
Sector 1 - In Game Issues
Transfers
Issue - I've attempted to sign a 16 year old Canadian (I'm AFC Wimbledon, in the the Blue Square Premier) - And it says he can't sign until he is 18. (Or at least his "will join AFC Wimbledon on DD/MM/YY" is the same as his 18th birthday) - I have an issue here, as I am attempting to sign the player from a free transfer. He currently has, and has never had any club. So my problem is, why can't he still come to my club and train? He's going to be out of any football action for nearly 18 months - and with no training, by that time he could be a lot worse for wear when he eventually signs.
youth Players / Camps - See "Important threads section for my views on this subject
Player P.A / C.A - See "Important threads section for my views on this subject
Alongside the issue stated there, its widely known that the AI "bump" their prices when a human manager is involved in the transfer. This seems largely illogical that an AI team can firstly distinct the difference between a human manager, and an AI manager, as it should not have the power to do so.
Sector 2 - Records and statistics
Player Records
So far, there are minimal amounts of Player records available. 16, to be exact. In a world where stats and records are thrived upon, and the fact that FM is a statistically based game, this stuns me. I'm one of the people that love to go 'overboard' on things like this, and take much pleasure in reading Dafuge's FM08 Records Thread from time to time, just to compare stats and records, that should be already included i the game. Of the records there, I do feel the game would benefit from a core group of records being added, along with a whole host of potentially useless ones. One of the other main factors missing with the records, is the fact that you only get to see the Number 1 record holder. I would absolutely love to see a top 5, maybe even a top 10 list of the record holders for any particular record.
Player Records I'd like to see included -
Top 5 All Time Club Scorers
Top 5 All Time Club Appearances
Top 5 All Time Club Assists
Top 5 All Time Man of the Match Awards
Top 5 "Goals in a Season"*
Top 5 "Season Appearances"
Top 5 "Assists in a Season"
Top 5 "MotM Awards"
**All records included from here on, I would like to see a "Top 5" list for. (Otherwise, I'm going to have to write out "Top 5" for all the records I note )
*** I also feel all records should be Season AND Career records. For example, the "Most shots on target" record could be something like
Most shots on target in a single season - Joe Bloggs - 82 Shots on target - 2009/2010
All Time Shots on target - Joe Bloggs - 534 Shots on target (2008 - 2014)****
Most Hat-Tricks in a season
Most Hat-Tricks in a row
Most Career Hat-Tricks
Most consecutive Games scored in (E.G - Joe Bloggs, 7 Consecutive Games (12 Goals) )
Most consecutive games assisted in (E.G - Gordon Benett, 3 Consecutive Games (4 Assists) )
Most Passes Attempted in a season
Most Passes successful in a season
Most Shots in a season
Most shots on target in a season
Most shots off target in a season
Most Consecutive Clean Sheets (GK Records)
Most Consecutive games conceded in (GK Records)
Most Consecutive games played (Joe Bloggs - 32 Games)
Most consecutive minutes on the pitch (Joe Bloggs - 2357 minutes)
Most Tackles Attempted in a season
Most successful tackles in a season
Most awards won by a single player (Joe Bloggs, 17 awards)
Youngest Scorer
Oldest Scorer
Quickest Goal Scorer (Joe Bloggs, 39 Seconds)
International Records - Would also be something similar to this.
*Currently, we have "Joe Bloggs - 35 2009/2010"
I would like to see
1. Joe Bloggs - 35 2009/2010
2. John Smith - 33 2012/2013
3. George Brown - 32 2008/2009 etc.
And the same for "Season Appearances, Assists, Man of the Match Awards"
**** - You can see here, I've put the opening and closing years of the player record in brackets. This is something I've always wanted put into the game, but there hasn't been much demand for.
Thats the player records pretty much covered. I'm sure there are a fair amount I've missed out, but they are the core group of records that I really would love to see, especially the "Top 5" sections.
Now for the confusing part
Not so much confusing, as possibly a lot of work. But I would love to see all the records for "Club" - but also by competition. IRL, on a Champs League day, sometimes Sky Sports may show - "Arsenal Top 5 Champions League Scorers". Why can't we have this in FM? I would love a drop down menu to sort all these records into the following categories...
[Club Records]
[League Records] + Specific Leagues (I.E - If the club was in Division 2, but got promoted, I'd like to see Div. 2 AND Div. 1 Records)
[Cup Records] + Specific Cup (I.E - F.A Cup, League Cup, Brazillian Super Cup, etc etc etc)
I know thats probably a huge amount of work, but its something that I would drool over were it ever to be included.
Team Records
Much the same as Player records really, where I'd just like to see a whole bunch of team records added, along with the records being broken down into specific competitions.
(I.E - "Biggest Win" - 9-1 / League 9-1 / F.A Cup 3-0 / League Cup 4-1 etc etc)
Records I would like to see added -
Consecutive Games Scored in.
Consecutive Games Conceded in.
Minutes without conceding
Minutes without scoring
Most own goals in a single season
Best start to a season (10 Games)
Worst start to a season (10 Games)
Highest Passing % in a single game
Highest Passing % in a single season
(Same as above for Crossing, Possession, Tackling and Heading)
Fastest Club Goal
Most Hat-tricks in a season (18 Club hat-tricks)
Again, I'm sure there are many more I've forgotten - but there's a group I would like to see added.
Player Histories
Something people seem to be in a tussle over. I would personally like to see the total goals / assists / motm etc in the player history, over ALL COMPETITIONS. I know some people don't like this idea, but surely we can have the option of both? It wouldn't be too hard to add a drop down menu with the option of "League Only - All" in it, would it? I know there's a few follow forumites that strongly agree with me here, but there's also a few that strongly disagree. So the drop down menu would satisfy both.
Player Statistics
Something I've never seen mentioned before, but I think is important. Currently, in the player stats section, it will give you information such as "Minutes since last goal" - 956 minutes. Thats great, except, at the start of the new season, this stat is reset. I had a player (Striker) who played over 20 hours without a goal, and now the new season has started, (and he still hasn't scored in over 10 hours more) - I can't prove that he played 20 hours without a goal, since the stat is no longer there. So could we please have a carry over in player stats on that screen please.
Manager Records
Finally, for this section, I'd like to bring some attention to manager records. Currently, there are a few "stats" in the mangers information screen, but I'd like to see some sort of table for these stats, to compare against the other managers in the FM world. (Yes, I know there is already some form of this, but not in a "record" format, and merely a statistics page)
Sector 3 - Graphic Design
Not a massive section here, just a few little thoughts I'd had on the graphic design while traipsing through the Graphics forum.
-It took me an age to learn a few little .xml codes to change around the layout of my "Team Selection" screen so it would look like
this - but I'd like to be able to have the option of changing the columns on this screen, without having to edit the skin. It's possible in the Manager Overview screen to change things around, so why not here?
Sector 4 - Important Threads
Just a list of threads containing discussions I feel important to the game.
Please note - I'm sure I've missed out a whole host of threads deemed important. Please excuse me on this one. I had all the threads I thought deserved here in a separate text file, and for some bizarre reason, it just wont open. There are also 3 threads, relating back to FM07 (and include FM08) that are no longer on the boards. If you feel there is a thread that could be added here, please let me know, and I'll get a Moderator to include it.
Sector 5 - These Forums
Ok, so the change is happening "imminently". But aside from that, what the hell is going on with the forums? When I first joined these forums, (pre-dating my actual registration date, I was a reader of the forums for many years before deciding to register) - it was the most helpful, friendly place, where people could get into a discussion without all hell breaking loose. What happened there? By and large, a lot of errors people have stems from the new era of 3rd party resources, and the "am I cheating" debate rages on regardless. But lets start having a little decorum on the forum, and being a bit kinder to our forumites. Remember, the new people on here may not know where to go. Yes, they should have read the rules, but lets be honest, who ACTUALLY reads them when they join? Give the newbies a bit of a break, and lets start acting like a community to bring this place back to life, and start making FM fun again.
I hope you enjoyed my thread, and I hope its not too boring to read.
OK. now thats just poor form on my behalf. Also forgot the youth sections in sector 1. Sigh. Lots of work left. was happy when I thought I'd finished it.
That was a good read Nep, and some thoroughly thought out ideas I particularly agree with the stats, I LOVE stats, I can't get enough of them, so the more included, the better for me! I think its brilliant when you're watching a game on tv and the commentator gives you these little tit bits, its fascinating!
:thup: :clap: :clap: Nep that is awesome, I love the idea of more stats I have pretty much worked on compiling mine on an Excel spreadsheet and working it from there which takes for ever but at least I have some sort of stats.
As for the forum, I have noticed it too, and I grabbed myself when I slipped into ripping someone out, and have tried to be nicer about it since, all around I think you have excellent ideas, and as an extension on the player not coming until his 18th birthday, I got one contracted as you showed, but then 3 days short of the birthday he retired because of lack of interest...
I agree with there being a need for more stats and more customisable team (and other) screens. I'd also agree that Human Managers should be on the same footing as the AI when it comes to transfers.
I'd also like to see better decision making from players in regards to contracts. Reputation matters aside, if I offer a player a high wage and a key role AND he list the team as a favourite due to being on loan with us for the last three years, why does he reject it to take on a bit part with lower wages at a club lower down the pyramid?
And when he does, can I at least know the reason why? Sometimes you get a reason, (training facilities, etc.) but a lot of the time it feels completely random.
Now I play by strict LLM rules and so am used to these sorts of things but the game needs to give us more infomation - loads of it. If you don't want to read it you don't have to, but it should be there for those of us who do.
Wow, that's some post. Well done for taking the time out for this. I admit I scanned over some of the more cosmetic things like records and graphics, as these things will develop however SI want them to without our input.
Couple of responses to your more solid points, though:
Quote:
Alongside the issue stated there, its widely known that the AI "bump" their prices when a human manager is involved in the transfer
I disagree with this, to a point. Yes, if no one else in interested you do end up paying a premium. However, a club's valuation fluctuates on the game, same as real life. I have a couple of examples(playing as Chelski): 1) I tried signing Micah Richards for 2 seasons, but with my self-imposed challenge I couldn't pay what Man City were demanding despite having the money in the coffers (they wanted 60M+ for him). I got him 3rd season for £38m + 25% sell-on, which in the scheme of the game is quite reasonable for this player. 2) I tried to sign Breno in the 2013 summer transfer window from Lazio and was quoted £45m. Again, I was unable to sign him for that amount. In January, Barca had a £32m bid accepted, and this was just inside my limit. Lazio ACCEPTED my £32m bid, which is a £13m drop.
So I don't think the game conspires against the human in the transfer market any more than it does with the match engine, which is not at all. The market is merely unrealistic in general, but it IS fairly consistent IMO.
Quote:
Sector 4 - Important Threads
A sticky at the top with "well worn" subjects and links to the most active threads would suffice here, I think. It's annoying reading all these "HELP ME" threads and finding out it's another whinge about chairmen not appreciating the fact you put out a weakened team against Bognor and THAT's why you drew 1-1.
Quote:
what the hell is going on with the forums?
What happened is X-Factor, Xbox and, before that, Watchdog. People demand instant success - especially the younger ones - and if they don't get it they kick off. It's modern life. With Xbox (and similar) consoles, most games are about skill, and if you play them long enough you get better and better, and you master them; FM isn't like that because it evolves along with you, and unlike platform games and the like when you start a new game you can't just repeat what you did last time and have the same success. And finally, Watchdog inspired a generation of people to complain, complain, complain, which seems to have passed down to the new internet generation. (I used to be a manager in a shop, and the number of idiots complaining about non-existent faults and trying to get money back through technicalities that they THOUGHT were law was unbelievable). Combined with the annonimity of these forums it's easy to kick off and vent your spleen when, actually, there's not that much worth yelling about.
In short, I agree this place should be a resource and not a slanging match. Good point.
I'm sure others will have comments about your remaining content.
<BLOCKQUOTE>Alongside the issue stated there, its widely known that the AI "bump" their prices when a human manager is involved in the transfer
I disagree with this, to a point. Yes, if no one else in interested you do end up paying a premium. However, a club's valuation fluctuates on the game, same as real life. I have a couple of examples(playing as Chelski): 1) I tried signing Micah Richards for 2 seasons, but with my self-imposed challenge I couldn't pay what Man City were demanding despite having the money in the coffers (they wanted 60M+ for him). I got him 3rd season for £38m + 25% sell-on, which in the scheme of the game is quite reasonable for this player. 2) I tried to sign Breno in the 2013 summer transfer window from Lazio and was quoted £45m. Again, I was unable to sign him for that amount. In January, Barca had a £32m bid accepted, and this was just inside my limit. Lazio ACCEPTED my £32m bid, which is a £13m drop.
So I don't think the game conspires against the human in the transfer market any more than it does with the match engine, which is not at all. The market is merely unrealistic in general, but it IS fairly consistent IMO.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
i agree somewhat with both points. the AI does ask for more on occasion. can't remember who off the top of my head, but i had a £21M bid rejected, then a rival bid £14.5M and it was accepted. i bid £16.5M and it was negotiated for £24.5M. although i reduced this to £19.75M and it was accepted, i was a little annoyed.
in another example, man utd bid £32M for daniel alves who i had unsettled and appeared on his favorued personel. obviously my equal bid was rejected, but i really didn't want united to get him, so i threw £45M at sevilla. after the deal was done, i was so fed up with the transfer system i honestly didn't play that gamesave for about 4 months.
valuation is based on performance for my players, it should be the same for AI managed players. if it worked both ways and my £15M player had hid £30M asking price matched because his performances were superb, i wouldn't mind. it's as if because the AI knows PA, the asking price is set according to this. unless i use external programs, i won't know PA, i'll conclude from performances and stat development.
a couple of ideas i had
i would love to see more in depth training feedback. instead of a monthly "he did well; he didn't" from the assman, each coach could report on how their training has gone, who has improved and where etc. they could also report when they feel a schedule should be adjusted accoring to previous performances. there should also be a separate youth team training report each month.
i would also like to see ppms appear according to where a player is playing, instead of linking to a tutor, which doesn't always work. for example, a player with no ppms who plays on the right wing and is intructed to "run with ball" should develop "knocks ball past opponent" & "runs with ball down the right" if his flair & dribbling stats are high. a player with 20 for long shots should gain "shoots from range" automatically. 90% of regens don't have any ppms, in fm07 nearly every CB had "shoots from range", which was pointless if i set them to defensive with no forward runs.
My Big Fat FM08 Thread 
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