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Chronicles of a Chancer Part II: Winter Blues
Spanish Inquisition Barcelona B: Part 2 ‘–Merry Christmas – everyone!’ ‘My favourite, this one.’ The dressing room was silent. All of the players where sat on the club benches after getting changed and prepped for the game. I skipped over to the iPod speaker and twirled the volume to make it blast out louder. My […]
Letou Decide: Mlog 10th February
Already this morning I’ve batted away Sky Sports’ Bob Bell with a question about whether I’ve effectively replaced Wayne Routledge with André Ayew. Considering Routledge has been injured for my entire tenure in Wales and only made eight substitute appearances under Stuart Reid, I don’t think it’s a case of Ayew replacing Routledge as Wayne […]
Vive la Révolution Part XI: Cannes we do it? Yes we Cannes!
Catch up on the story so far… It feels right to start today’s little update with my emotions iinterpretedthrough the medium of dance. AS Cannes, that amateur team I keep banging on about, are that Championnat National 1 CHAMPIONS. Yes, champions. We’ve finished ahead of the four teams spending more than €3m a year on wages. […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 13: International Frustrations & MLS All-Stars
I’m sick of the MLS schedule, I really am. We’ve enjoyed a storming campaign but things have become a bit more difficult over the course of the summer months as my squad has been completely ravaged by international call-ups. The U20 World Cup, Copa America, African Cup of Nations and Gold Cup saw many of […]
Letou Decide: Mlog 9th February
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Hey, it’s Friday! It’s time for some press conference goodness as old Charlie Tango can be relied upon for some wit and football related banter.” And while you would be 100% correct, this weekend’s game is actually on Monday night. We’ve been selected for television coverage, which is […]
AFC Bournemouth: Cherry Picking Episode One
Having played a ridiculous amount of hours on both Football Manager 15 and 16, I’m ashamed to say that I took my foot off the gas last year. All sorts of things got in the way of a consistent save on FM17, despite occasional highlights at various minnows around Europe. But this year, it’s time […]
Bringing Back Brum Episode 8
FM18 Birmingham City | Bringing Back Brum | Ep 8 Tactical Genius | Football Manager 2018 Welcome to a current series on my channel where we try to return Birmingham City to the Premier League, after 4 managers in just over 12 months stability is key. In Episode 8 we take on Norwich City at […]
Letou Decide: Swansea City vs. Manchester United Match Review
If you don’t follow the live coverage of games @TheHigherTempo, get on them. It’s a lot of fun to see the goals go in, the cards dished out and the substitutions in real time. Last night we welcomed José Mourinho’s Manchester United superstars to the Liberty Stadium. There’s been a lot written about the Busby […]
Vive la Révolution Part X: C’est votre tactique, mon ami
Catch up on the story so far… “I wouldn’t say we’ve changed what we are doing too much. Just a little tactical tweak to our system and some good recruitment and yeah, we are happy with where are at right now. It’s up to us to keep going. Of course, the teams trying to catch […]
Letou Decide: Swansea City vs. Manchester United Preview
According to SportPesa, we’re only ‘slight’ underdogs to beat Manchester United, I can’t help but feel that’s generous. I wouldn’t put more than a quid on us even at 11-5. For reference, Mourinho’s United are Evens. We go into this game at the Liberty in sixteenth place, but a win or a draw takes us […]
Tempo10 – Youth Intake Day
Join Mike and Samo this week as they touch upon many FM fans favourite time of the year, Youth Intake Day. Is it a golden generation or a bunch of flops? And does that really matter or can a player still make the first team? The discussion then moves to what we can do as […]
Canary Corner – Part 10
Here we go again. A new season, the fourth season on CM01/02, another clean slate for this set of players I have come to hate – at least those who remain. In the previous update, half of the ungrateful buggers jumped ship at the first possible opportunity. The important ones, the CM legends, all stayed. […]
Vive la Révolution Part IX: L’échec ?
Catch up on the story so far… “Do you know how crazy it sounds, to be sitting here talking to you feeling disappointed that we finished 4th? 4th! Every single club in the division pays their players. Every single club in the level below pays their plays. We don’t. We are still amateur and we […]
Letou Decide: Mlog 6th February
After the Arsenal game I was asked to react to my first defeat as Swansea City manager by the press. My response was that I want to move onto our next game. The next game is, of course, Manchester United at the Liberty. I was impressed by Arsène Wenger’s response to a question about my […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 12: Continental Challenge & Evolving Our Squad
Remember when I wondered if my side could cope with the addition of the North American Champions League games to our schedule? Well it turns out the competition is far, far less competitive than I imagined. It’s pretty much just us, the other MLS sides we’ve dominated in the past two years and then Mexico’s […]
Bringing Back Brum Episode 7
FM18 Birmingham City | Bringing Back Brum | Ep 7 Wolves At The Door | Football Manager 2018 Welcome the current series to my channel where we try to return Birmingham City to the Premier League, after 4 managers in just over 12 months stability is key. In Episode 7 we take on Wolves at […]
Letou Decide: Swansea City vs. Arsenal Match Review
I didn’t expect our game against Arsenal to go well and sadly, I was right. Let’s all be honest, games against Arsenal and Liverpool aren’t going to define our season, it’s the ones against Newcastle United and Burnley which count. What happened was that we at least restricted our goal difference to a minus of […]
Inept International Manager: Ep.3
Click here to find previous episodes of the Inept International Manager Several days later, we return to the Australian FFA offices to find CEO David Gallop looking rather perturbed stood in the reception lobby. There are only two other people present, one is the elderly receptionist looking over her glasses and typing with her two […]
The IC…Geracao de Ouro #8: Whose kids are these?
Before anyone jumps to, “where’s the first seven parts of this foreign nonsense?”; 1. it’s a continuation of The ICT Crowd world/story and 2. you’re an idiot for not figuring that out by the title. Also, thanks should be given to FM_Samo for actually putting thought into the title of this series. I sure as […]
Chronicles of a Chancer Part I: The Spanish Inquisition
The Spanish Inquisition Barcelona B ‘How does it feel to be appointed the new boss of Barcelona’s B Team?’ *Snap* *Click* A bored photographer floats around the room. ‘It feels great, I’m over the moon–’ *Click* *Snap* ‘–It’s your first job as manager, are you ready?’ a slim bald man interrupted. ‘I think so, I […]
Letou Decide: Swansea City vs. Arsenal Preview
There’s plenty of good news at present while the deadline day vote closes, Tammy Abraham is named Young Player of the Month for January with two goals in four appearances. Tammy is described as an enthusiastic striker in the report, which is fairly accurate and he hasn’t complained once since being shunted over to the […]
Vive la Révolution Part VIII: Les garçons vous payer vos joueurs des millions, vous ne pouvez pas battre amateurs
Catch up on the story so far… “‘Do you realise we’ve played 15 games? That’s nearly half the season gone already!’ shouted Johan Micoud down the phone. Yes, of course I was aware. 15 games gone, 28 points gained. 12 more needed to make sure we stay up, though that could be considered quite a […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 11: Third Season & Champions League Football
It was another successful season for my Atlanta United side last year, as we won the US Cup and clinched the Supporter’s Shield, but we fell short in the MLS final after losing to Sporting Kansas City. I retained the support of the board but this season is crucial. It’s the last year of my […]
Letou Decide: Schrödinger’s Deadline Day
Yesterday I said I was going to talk about transfer deadline day. An important part of what I and the staff here are doing, in partnership with Letou and the Higher Tempo Press, is to put the focus on you as fans, as football people, as game players. It’s the reason I ask for your […]
Irons in the Fire: Episode Three
It’s been a while on this one, hasn’t it? Well, here we are again. I left it with the January window opening and an FA Cup tie with Sheffield United around the corner. A potential banana skin at Bramall Lane was easily negotiated thanks to a 20th minute Andy Carroll strike. Before we could get […]
Bringing Back Brum Episode 6
FM18 Birmingham City | Bringing Back Brum | Ep 6 Second City Derby | Football Manager 2018 Welcome to the current series to my channel where we try to return Birmingham City to the Premier League, after 4 managers in just over 12 months stability is key. In Episode 6 we take on Aston Villa […]
Letou Decide: Newcastle United vs. Swansea City Match Review
I’m going to be honest with you, I think some people even in my own football club are becoming suspicious of my initial success with Swansea. The truth is, we’ve been incredibly lucky both with the way the games have been played out and the fixtures themselves. If you look at five fixtures as a […]
Vive la Révolution Part VII: Les amateurs de l’article la terre
Catch up on the story so far… “People told me it would be impossible to take a team of amateurs out of the 5th Division. The same people and more told me we would finish bottom of the 4th Division. Guess what those people are saying now, after we won the 4th Division? Of course, […]
Letou Decide: Newcastle United vs. Swansea City Preview
It’s a big game tonight against Newcastle United. It’s so tight at the bottom of the table that a win here could propel us up the table and more importantly, give us some much-needed breathing room ahead of consecutive games against Arsenal and Manchester United. Huddersfield did us a favour by beating Watford 2 – […]
Tempo10: Difficulty Levels
The team has drafted in a mystery guest to help out this week but can you guess who it is? They’re on hand to help Mike discuss ways to make the game easier trying to help him step up from Semi-Pro to World-Class. The discussion then turns to ways the game can be made more […]
Canary Corner: Part 9
Welcome back to what is now a rather tetchy Norwich. The end of season 3 is nigh, and despite my plans for Norwich to be in Europe at the end of this season, we’re actually in a spot of relegation danger. Not serious danger, but we can’t win. We lose a lot. Then I remembered […]
Vive la Révolution Part VI: La deuxième saison
Catch up on the story so far… “Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, oh I do like to be beside the sea….” It’s beautiful is Cannes. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Brescia for the ten minutes I was allowed to stay there. I loved Mumbai, full of life and a different […]
Letou Decide: Mlog 30th January
Today’s press conference is the second interaction I’ve had with the media in 24 hours as TEAMtalk.com’s Matt Smith was on the blower to ask about Leon Britton attempting to force a move away in order to play regular first team football. Apparently the dressing room is now said to be severely fractured, which is […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 10: Defending Our Crown
It’s crunch time. We stormed to glory in the regular season, winning the Supporter’s Shield with ease, and also secured the US Cup. With a double already secured, there’s plenty to be excited about but we’re not done yet as we look to defend our MLS crown. Due to our victories, we’ve skipped the Wild […]
Bringing Back Brum Episode 5
FM18 Birmingham City | Bringing Back Brum | Ep 5 Ageing Me Badly | Football Manager 2018 Welcome to the current series to my channel where we try to return Birmingham City to the Premier League, after 4 managers in just over 12 months stability is key. In Episode 5 we take on Sheffield Wednesday […]
Letou Decide: Swansea City vs. Preston North End Match Review
Thank you to those who tuned onto the @TheHigherTempo press twitter feed, if you did, you’ll have seen Swansea City almost capitulate and throw away a healthy three-goal advantage to end the game 4 – 3. We’d done brilliantly to get two goals ahead, then Preston scored, but we added two more. The fourth with […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 9: Atlanta’s Revolution Is Taking Shape
Good morrow dear friends, welcome to my city. Yes, I’ve claimed Atlanta as my own. I’m the king here and the king speaks for us all when he says we’re f*cking fantastic again this season and deserve our plaudits. The MLS Supporter’s Shield was retained with five matches to go and we barely broke a […]
Inept International Manager: Ep.2
At the conclusion of last week’s instalment, we left things with Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop making contact with Luis Enrique’s representatives to invite him over to take up the manager’s job of the Australian national team. We pick things up this week some 15,000 kilometres away from Australia in Europe in the midst […]
The ICT Crowd #7: Goodbye Caley… but what next?
Another season finishes and it’s another heartbroken mostly written post. Why? We were relegated. Yeah, my aim to stay up looked promising but was dashed by ten cruel minutes in Dumfries. I’m not going to dwell too much on the end to the season though because I’ve got a couple of options I want to […]
Letou Decide: Swansea City vs. Preston North End Preview
Later today I will lead Swansea City to take on my hometown club, Preston North End. I never liked Preston, despite the geography. My father was from Stockport and instilled in me a dislike that remains to this day. I could easily tell you the best place to park five miles from Edgeley Park in […]
Vive la Révolution Part V: Vers le haut ou vers le bas?
Catch up on the story so far… Bonjour! I guess you are here as you’d like to know what has happened down on the French Riviera? You’ve come to the right place as that is what I’m going to scribbling down over the next 1000 words or so. When we last spoke, I am pretty […]
Tempo10 Letou Special: Charlie Tango Interview
Mike is joined by current (virtual) manager of Swansea City Charlie Tango. Backed by Swansea sponsors Letou, Charlie is currently in the hot seat for our daily series which lets you vote on decision running on The Higher Tempo Press. Charlie is writing daily, in real time about his time as Swansea chief. Today he […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 8: All Change In Atlanta
Welcome back to the MLS, where my success last season has turned heads. I’ve been inundated with job offers and the attention has now turned towards my players, who are now being chased by top sides in Europe. I said I wouldn’t stand in their way and I won’t but it leaves us in a […]
Letou Decide: Mlog 26th January
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. I’m feeling positive, but I have been feeling positive since I arrived in Wales to rescue the Swans. As a matter of fact I was the only member of staff this past Saturday who was positive as we played Manchester City and my brilliance was vindicated […]
Bringing Back Brum Episode 4
FM18 Birmingham City | Bringing Back Brum | Ep 4 6 Goal Thriller | Football Manager 2018 Welcome to a new series to my channel where we try to return Birmingham City to the Premier League, after 4 managers in just over 12 months stability is key. In Episode 4 we take on Leeds at […]
Tactics Tested: Arsenal
Tactics Testing In this series, we will be looking at replicating a specific team’s tactics in Football Manager. We will do this by analysing how a side faces up to opposition in real life, then replicating that in FM. This can then act as a guide to FM, demonstrating how real-life football is represented in […]
Bringing Back Brum: Episode 3
FM18 Birmingham City | Bringing Back Brum | Ep 3 Early Pressure | Football Manager 2018 Welcome to a new series to my channel where we try to return Birmingham City to the Premier League, after 4 managers in just over 12 months stability is key. In Episode 3 we take on Bolton at St […]
Letou Decide: Mlog 25th January
It’s Thursday, which means as the players put in their hard yards on the training pitch, my mind is wandering to the issue of team selection for Saturday. We’re playing Preston North End in the FA Cup fourth round, at the Liberty Stadium and with the majority of our first-choice team fit. That all sounds […]
Vive la Révolution Part IV: Les progrès
Catch up on the story so far… Bonjour! Welcome back to the Cannes Football Festival. A quick reminder of the rules, because we like rules. #1 Free signings only #2 We will always “balance the books” With that in mind, how have AS Cannes started their CFA 3 season? You know what happened in the […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 7: Superb Start To Our Second Season
The Atlanta United board expected a lot of me after our spectacular campaign last year, as they seek another MLS victory and want the Supporter’s Shield as well. I’m confident of the latter but the difficulty with football in the US is that you can be the best team for the entire campaign, then only […]