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How to Turn a 2-Star Potential Player into a World-Beater in FM
Football Manager is a game that is all about unearthing hidden gems and turning them into world-class players. While signing wonderkids with sky-high potential is always exciting, there’s something uniquely satisfying about turning an overlooked 2-star potential player into a first-team sensation. With the right training, playing time, and tactical setup, even an average prospect […]
Why 4-2-3-1 is my go-to formation on FM
As regular readers of Higher Tempo may know (yes, apparently, we have some!), since I began writing for the site, I have tested popular tactics and shared my thoughts on whether they are good, bad, or just ugly. Like most FM players, I like the idea of weird and wonderful tactics and formations. Those formations […]
No More FM25: What the Surprising News Means for Fans
We waited and waited, and finally for the first time in over two decades, Sports Interactive and SEGA have pulled back on the launch of their flagship PC game, Football Manager. This announcement has in fact rocked the gaming community as players and fans are left puzzled as to the reason behind such a move. […]
How I am trying to make the most of FM24 while we wait for FM26
As Football Manager players, we get excited when a new edition of the game is due to drop. The editions of the games are not always that different, but as we all know, the game producers, SI, have attempted to make significant changes for FM25. This ended in FM25 being cancelled and players having to […]
Virtual Masterminds: How Football Manager Players Are Using Tactics to Excel in Real-Life Football
Football Manager has long been more than just a game. It offers a realistic simulation of football management, scouting, and tactical strategy. Today, passionate Football Manager players are using their virtual skills and knowledge of football tactics to excel in various real-world football roles, including scouting, analytics, coaching, and even media analysis. Applying Virtual Insights […]
FM24 Tactic Testing: GYR- Jack of Diamonds
With the recent cancellation of FM25, we decided to return to doing tactic testing on FM24, as we could be playing the game for a good while to come. The tactic we tested was GYR- Jack of Diamonds FM24, of course by prolific tactic creator GYR, and to be fair, it didn’t fail to disappoint. […]
Can we improve upon Ajax’s woeful 2023/24 season using FM24?
When we talk about football clubs with a rich history and legendary status, Ajax, the Dutch giants, always comes to mind. Named after a Greek mythological legend, Ajax’s lore is unique, cementing its status as a legendary name in the beautiful game. A nightmarish campaign in season 2023/24 However, despite their status as the biggest […]
Louis Saha Backs Premier League Manager to Replace Postecoglou at Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur’s season has been one of promise, frustration, and more recently, intense speculation over manager Ange Postecoglou’s job. The Australian tactician brought in to transform Spurs’ style of play is in the firing line after successive defeats in a short period of time saw Spurs bow out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. […]
FM25 has been cancelled – When will FM26 be released?
Like many FM players, we have been wondering what was happening with FM25. Last Thursday, I even published an article about what was going on with the game release. In the early hours of Friday, February 7th, after what seems to have been an eternity of silence from the game developers’ SI, it was confirmed […]
What is going on with Football Manager 2025?
If you are a fan of the Football Manager series (if you are here, I assume you are), then you may well be forgiven for wondering what the hell is going on with the release of FM25. Let’s rewind to September As you may know, in September, the Football Manager’s developers, SI, made a big […]
The Most Anticipated Updates For Football Manager 2025
Highly anticipated every year, by fans the world over, the Football Manager simulation game has become one of the most popular franchises in ‘video game’ history. Each year, fans look forward to seeing what the new features and upgrades will be on the previous year’s instalment, in addition to other changes, such as transfer budgets […]
Guillermo Ochoa is an FM hero who only appears at World Cups
Scrolling on Football Manager forums and other general football sites tends to lead you to some funny things. However, sometimes you see a statement that you think is daft but makes sense to you. I recently came across one of those statements, as somebody wrote, ‘Guillermo Ochoa only seems to appear at World Cups’. Now, […]
What became of former wonderkid Ryan Gauld?
There are so many stories of young footballers being hyped up. Many of these players end up as wonderkids on Football Manager. As we all know, these players don’t always live up to their potential. One player who fits into that category of player is Scottish international winger Ryan Gauld, who was once labelled ‘The […]
What happened to CM 01/02 icon Mike Duff?
Like me, you have to be getting on in years to remember Championship Manager 2001/02. However, if you had played it, there is no doubt that, at some point, you would have come across the name of Mike Duff. Duff was a 23-year-old defender who played for Cheltenham Town, who apparently had been in the […]
River Plate is a goldmine for signing players on CM and FM
Some countries and clubs have a reputation for producing top talent, and they have become go-to places to sign players on Football Manager. Argentina is a great market to shop in when it comes to signing players. One of the South American country’s biggest clubs, River Plate, has been a goldmine for signing players in […]
Did Vincent Enyeama’s real-life career live up to his FM one?
How many Football Manager players still have memories of wonderkids from decades ago? Well, most who have played the game long enough, and if they are relatively young, there will still be players that stick in their memory. One from my Football Manager journey that resides in my brain is former Nigeria and Lille goalkeeper […]
Players that have outperformed their real-life ability in Football Manager
Football Manager scouts tend to do a good job at scouting players and giving their honest opinions on stats. However, on rare occasions, there have been players whose stats or potential have been far higher than their realistic ability, or they have just played far better in the game than in real life. Here are […]
FM24 Tactics Testing: KNAP EF 424 IF P105 AC by Knap
Although FM24 has now been out for over a year, we continue to test and try out new formations and tactics. One of the tactics we have tested recently was KNAP EF 424 IF P105 AC by Knap, also known as Electric Funeral 424. Anyone who has spent any time in the Football Manager community […]
Talented French players who could be stars on FM25
In the latest part of our series about talented young players from a particular country who could make a big impact, we have arrived at French players. Over the years, France has become renowned as a country that produces top-quality players. Here are some younger French players who could be stars on FM25: (Most wonderkids […]
Where is Championship Manager season 01/02 wonderkid Mark Kerr now?
Some players are universally recognised for being wonderkids on Championship Manager (Yes, I am old) or Football Manager. They are players who everybody remembers from a particular edition of the game. For me, one of the most recognisable players from Championship Manager 01/02 was Scottish wonderkid midfielder Mark Kerr. Who is Mark Kerr? For those […]
Talented German players who could be stars on FM25
In the latest series looking at talented younger players from different countries who could be stars in FM25, we look at younger German players who could make a mark in the new edition of the game: Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz) The forward has been a hot prospect for a while in the German game. However, injury […]
Can Chelsea Win the Premier League Title In 2024/25… And Can You Replicate Their Success on FM?
There’s some common characteristics that champions at the elite level. An abundance of quality, obviously, as well as the determination to perform to the highest standards across a long, arduous season. In that regard, squad depth is also a great help. A dollop of luck is helpful, too, as Chelsea found out in their December […]
What happened to Championship Manager 3 wonderkid Andri Sigþórsson?
Any players of Football Manager or predecessor Championship Manager will know the great satisfaction to be had from grabbing yourself a wonderkid in the games. Many wonderkids have caught the attention of the public over the years. However, most of them failed to live up to their supposed CM/FM potential. Sometimes, the game researchers threw […]
Talented English players who could be stars on FM25
Although FM25 is still a long way away, we are going to look at talented young players from different nations who could well be stars on the latest edition of Football Manager. In the first article in the series, we will look at players from England. Jamie Gittens (Dortmund) The 20-year-old winger has broken into […]
Two-Thirds of UK Supporters Advocate for Greener Football Practices
At the juncture where sport and sustainability meet, the green wave is swiftly building momentum due to growing environmental awareness. Football, considered the most popular sport on the planet, is fast becoming the rallying point for debates on shrinking ecological footprints. Being a globally followed sport with millions of fans, it has massive potential to […]
Clubs with the best youth development rating in FM24
A big part of playing Football Manager is developing young players or even wonderkids and turning them into genuinely top players. Some clubs are better than others at producing top young players, though. Who are the clubs with the highest-rated youth development set-ups in FM24? (All ratings are based out of 100) Manchester City (Youth […]
PSV Eindhoven could be a go-to club for players to sign on FM25
In the last few seasons, Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven have dominated the Eredivisie. They cruised to the top-flight title last season, and this season, they have won 11 of their 12 league matches. One reason for their outstanding form is the quality of their players. With that in mind, here are some PSV stars who […]
FM24 Tactics Testing: 415 FiveStars 100Pts by Pbopeer 3352
With the arrival of FM delayed until March of next year, we thought we would return to one of our favourite aspects of FM: tactic testing. Recently, in my personal save, I have been testing various tactics just for the sake of variety. One of the tactics I tried was 415 FiveStars 100Pts by Pbopeer […]
What happened to past wonderkid goalkeepers?
If you have played Football Manager or its previous iteration, Championship Manager, as long as I have (nearly 30 years, yes, I am old), you collect an always useful collection of wonderkids in your memory. One of the positions I most like wonderkids in is goalkeeper. You can sign a goalkeeper in his late teens […]
Popular football formations in FM and real life
When we talk about winning on Football Manager, tactics or formations usually come up in the conversation. No matter the way in which you play, formations are vital in whether your team is a success or a failure. This is the same in real life and Football Manager. Here are some of our favourite real-life […]
What happened to Championship Manager bargain Joao Paiva?
Over the years playing Championship Manager and Football Manager, you tend to forget just how many wonderkids and memorable players there were in every edition. Some players are instantly memorable, but some are players who have thrived for you on the game and then only come back to mind when somebody else mentions them. This […]
Our thoughts on FM25 being delayed until 26th March 2025
Anybody excited about the release of FM25 will have to put their excitement on hold for a while, as on Thursday, the game developers Sports Interactive revealed that the release of the game will not be until March 26th 2025. It was a surprise, to say the least, as in September, the SI team had […]
The Most Important Skills for a Football Manager to Have
Behind the Ronaldos and Messis of the world is the true architect of a football team—the manager. While any club could sign the best players out there, there needs to be an equally skilled manager to mould and shape the team as a whole on match day and off the pitch. Without one to stand […]
The different sorts of FM players
Without being biased, Football Manager is the greatest video game that has ever been produced. The game continuously has millions of fans playing simultaneously. However, not all FM fans play the game as obsessively as we do at the Higher Tempo Press. There are undoubtedly different types of FM players. What are the various types […]
What happened to former FM wonderkid Javier Saviola?
As players of Championship Manager/Football Manager, we all love to look back at the wonderkids of the game. It gives us a tremendous feeling of nostalgia. These players may or may not have made it in real life. However, we will sometimes have unhealthy attachments to them due to them helping us achieve glory in […]
Why do I always manage Everton on FM?
In previous posts, I have probably explained why I always manage Everton on my FM saves. However, I thought I would delve deeper into my thought process and why Everton is my chosen team. I am a lifelong supporter of Everton The main reason, of course, that I manage Everton on FM is that I […]
Betting on eSports: EA SPORTS FC 25 and Upcoming Tournaments
The exciting transformation of the FIFA eSports world is just around the corner, as EA SPORTS FC 25 is set to be released on September 27, 2024. This game represents a major change, being the inaugural under the new banner of EA SPORTS FC after concluding their alliance with FIFA. The introduction of innovative mechanics […]
My squad rotation issue in Football Manager
We all love Football Manager. That’s why FM sites are so popular with fans of the beloved game. However, certain aspects of the game can be frustrating. That unexpected blip One of those frustrations can all be that their team is on a good run of results, and then suddenly, you produce an unexpected result […]
FM24 Tactics testing: Schalke 04 Asymmetric Tactic by pramsay88
We are back to tactic testing with our latest article. This time, we look at Schalke 04 Asymmetric Tactic by pramsay88. I must say I haven’t noticed this creator before on my FM rounds, but they deserve massive credit for this tactic. The conditions of the save For this test, I decided to manage Aston […]
Strategies for Predicting Premier League Matches
Part of the Premier League’s appeal is the unpredictability of the matches. The drama produced in England’s top-flight is unrivalled around the world. However, this makes it even more difficult to bet on the final outcome of games. If you are interested in predicting results via an online sportsbook, this article will provide tips and […]
Our favourite all-time FM / CM wonderkid 11
There is something special about discovering a wonderkid on FM and then the player appearing in real life. As an FM player, there is almost a sense of pride that you recognise them before they break onto the world football scene. There have been some top wonderkids over the years, some who have made it […]
How To Best Approach Sports Betting As a Novice
Have you ever wondered what the biggest revenue maker in the world of wagering is? The correct answer to that question would be sports betting. According to a famous TGM study, 35% of the entire UK population was involved in sports betting within a 12-month period. In America, 119.84 billion dollars were bet on sports […]
Is Football Manager Mobile as good as the desktop version?
It may be a slight surprise to some, but even as a long-time Football Manager player, I have never played Football Manager Mobile. I know it is quite popular and is quite well-regarded. However, it has never really appealed to me. I am not really a mobile gamer I have to admit I am not […]
Football Manager 2025 pushed back according to the latest update
While we all play out the dying embers of Football Manager 2024, we wait with bated breath for the next edition of our favourite football manager simulation. Well, we have received some news from SI head honcho Miles Jacobsen. Football Manager 2025 release has been delayed until late November In the June update, Miles Jacobsen […]
Can you revive Everton’s fortunes on FM25?
As many of our readers may know, I am a diehard Everton fan, so I always start my FM saves with the Blues. (Yes, I know how boring!). In fact, most of my long-term saves are with my own club, as ‘I feel the call of Everton come riding on the breeze’ when I manage […]
Which players epitomise their positions in FM24?
Certain positions in football and FM are just perfect for a player. You think of that player when you think of the position. With that in mind, I thought I would look at which players epitomise their position in FM24: Sweeper Keeper Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) In the modern game, there is no better example […]
Daniel Farke’s Measured Approach Can Inspire FM Rewards With Leeds United
Leeds United managed to secure 90 points in last season’s Championship, but still failed to earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The club’s hierarchy has stuck with manager Daniel Farke. The German’s patient play can deliver the points needed this time to get the West Yorkshire outfit back […]
FM24 Tactics testing: 4231 Moukoko OP by Krynz
We are back with our latest tactic article. I tested out the highly rated 4231 Moukoko/4231 Krynz. The creator claimed it scored 182 Bundesliga goals for him on his Dortmund save. He hasn’t attempted to reinvent the wheel, but I thought I would try to recreate his results with BVB. As usual, I simmed a […]
Can you make history with West Ham in FM25?
West Ham United is a club with a significant history and tradition in the English game. That history is strongly connected to the fact that three of England’s World Cup 1966 squad, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore, and Martin Peters, were all Hammers. In reality, though, success has been hard for the Hammers throughout their history. […]
NFL Games Similar to Football Manager
For fans of Football Manager, there is no better game. They can immerse themselves in the world of fantasy that allows them to believe that they’re really managing a football club, perhaps even convincing themselves that they could do it in real life if the likes of Liverpool or Manchester United turned around and said […]