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Negotiating staff contracts: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 22
My approach to negotiating staff contracts at FC Saxan is as follows. The wage demanded by the candidate is typically well above the maximum that Saxan, as a small club, permits. I therefore tend to offer the maximum allowed straightaway. In Moldova, some staff work on part-time contracts. It can be easy not to notice […]
Tempo Tactics: Recreating Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid
“We must not let ourselves get driven off course, no matter what happens we must stick to our natural game.” Zinedine Zidane Plaudits given to Zinedine Zidane focus on his personal skills – his ego management if you will – and that’s not just the players we’re talking about. This club in particular has many […]
The Legend of Roger Milla Part XI: We’re ready, are you ready?
So, as soon as I have committed all this to paper I will press “match preview” on the first game of the 2018 season, Mark Monroe’s third term in charge of Roger Milla’s first love, Tonnerre KC. We are playing our city rivals and the team that ended the incredibly tiny chance of us finishing […]
Eibar: An Analytics Story Part 11 – Season Two starts
Heyho, Eibar is back again. Apologies for the recent lack in updates but I hope I can make up for this with some transfer things I’ve got prepared for you. In case you forgot or you haven’t read the latest update, we managed to finish in 4th, securing Champions League football for the first time […]
1.4 Boeren, Boeren PSV – Eredivisie Match 2: PSV v Go Ahead Eagles
Pre-Match PSV are the heavy favourties with odds of 1/6 as they host Go Ahead Eagles at the Phillips Stadion in Eindhoven. Our scouting report picks out Elvis Manu as someone to watch – the Ghanaian winger drew 5 fouls from their opponents in the last game. We’ll avoid tackling hard on this one. Marcel […]
Banished To Bromley Part 11: A Nightmare on Hayes Lane
Moving into the New Year there was some good news to report as I managed to tie down Thomas O’Connor for another 2 years after he’d picked up 4 goals and 4 assists this season. There was also a New Year’s Day fixture on the cards as we tried to redeem ourselves against Sutton United […]
Our protocol for acquiring physios: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 21
Here is the protocol that I use, as manager of FC Saxan, for acquiring physios. Check the personality. If unsatisfactory (e.g. ‘unsporting’), abort. Check whether the physiotherapy attribute meets the threshold for the club? If yes, shortlist, If not, abort. Rank the shortlisted physios initially on the basis of their physiotherapy attribute. Then consider whether […]
Tempo Experiments #008: Does Game Time Affect Player Development?
Almost every FM17 save will include an element of youth development. Most manager want to know how they can get just little bit more out of one of their youth players. Is it tutoring? Is it training? Is it luck? Well, @offthepitchfm wrote a superb article looking at whether game time actually affects player development […]
The Legend of Roger Milla Part X: It feels weird being gutted at finishing 7th…
I certainly did not expect to be saying that come the final whistle of our final league game. 279 people saw us beat the already relegated champions of the previous season, Lion Blessé. We won the game 2-0, meaning we ended our first season in the MTN Elite I in an incredible 7th place. Incredible […]
1.3 Boeren, Boeren PSV – Eredivisie Match 1: Sparta Rotterdam v PSV
Pre-Match PSV travel to newly promoted side Sparta in the season opener. PSV are the odds on favourites at 4/6, as expected. Sparta’s Martin Pusic is doubtful as he continues his recovery from a broken toe. PSV’s injury tables remain occupied by Van Ginkel (strained knee ligaments), Locadia (shin splints) and Siem de Jong (pulled […]
The Spin-Off Story: Crash Dump City
We’re back in Berlin after last week’s detour into the realms of FM17 Guides. If you missed the last part of our spin-off adventure – Gwen Stefani title puns and all – then click here. Last time I left you we’d done some transfer business, smashed some semi-pro side in the Cup and had a […]
More important matters: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 20
My first decision as manager of FC Saxan has been to terminate the incoming loan of striker Artiom Puntus. That decision made, I can now proceed to more important matters. The club has no physio, but a memo in my in-tray informs me that I can appoint a Head Physio and one other. I won’t […]
The Legend of Roger Milla Part IX: I see away goals count in Africa…
Yeah, how do you like them apples, eh? Since we last spoke yesterday, that unbeaten run has gone on and on and on. Relegation thoughts have been replaced with cheeky “we couldn’t sneak into the top four, could we?” Well, of course we can’t but we can dream. We can certainly dream. There is a […]
The Set Pieces: 3 rules to make the most of the hidden weapon of Football Manager
Imagine, you became a manager of the small amateur club with limited financial options, you have only one coach and part-time physio and your players train after their shifts at work. You hope they will play with your own philosophy, with your favourite formation but there is not enough time to learn them everything. Imagine, […]
1.2 Boeren, Boeren PSV – Johan Cruijff Schaal v Feyenoord
Pre-Match PSV are noted as the bookies’ favourites for the tie at 6/4. The Amsterdam ArenA is expected to be filled to capacity for this gusty Sunday evening kick off. PSV are without on-loan Marco Van Ginkel who is suffering from strained knee ligaments, Jurgen Locadia also misses out due to shin splints. Siem De […]
Banished To Bromley Part 10: A New Face In Town
Before the first game of December I decided to call a team meeting regarding our poor form of 4 losses in our last 5 games. Thankfully the entire squad reacted well to me telling them they should be performing better but whether they start to perform… we’ll see. It was then confirmed that we’d face […]
No ticket to ride: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 19
On my first morning as manager of FC Saxan, I’m trying to decide whether to proceed with the loan signing from Sheriff of striker Artiom Puntus. I have designed a protocol for the acquisition of strikers in general. Time to apply it to the case of Puntus. Here are the notes I made as I […]
The Land Down Under VIII
Welcome back to The Land Down Under. Last season we finished off in amazing form, coming back from dead last and two points after seven games to take the lead with three matches to go and ultimately win both the regular season and the playoff Finals Series. Now that the season is over and a […]
The Legend of Roger Milla Part VIII: Well, Dave Bassett used to have a Christmas Party early…
When manager of Sheffield United, one of my all time favourite managers Dave “Harry” Bassett used to have the Christmas Party at the start of the season as he noticed his players used to perform better after January than at the start of the season and, frankly, he was getting a bit tired of dramatic […]
1.1 Boeren, Boeren PSV – An Introduction
In looking for a new save to see me through the end stages of FM17 I decided to take some tips from our Tempo 10 Podcast. Chris suggested that people should look toward The Netherlands and specifically at PSV Eindhoven. So, here I am… The Media and Board expectations are aligned with the suggestion that […]
Rivalità Tra Fratelli, Episode 13
This is the story of two brothers, a modern-day Cain versus Abel if you will, based in the northern powerhouse Italian city of Milan. If you’d like to replicate this challenge, we’re using the updated medium database with the following leagues: England (Premier League, Championship, League One & League Two), Italy (Serie A & Serie […]
Our protocol for acquiring a striker: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 18
Here is the protocol that I use, as manager of FC Saxan, for acquiring strikers. Check the personality. If unsatisfactory (e.g. ‘low self-belief’), abort. Check whether the player possesses a threshold level of determination. If not, abort unless both of the following conditions apply: (a) the player is young (say 16-17) and (b) the club […]
Leiria boss left emotional after missing out on promotion
The Leiria players and management were lost for words after narrowly missing out on promotion to Liga NOS. A hard fought 0-0 draw with champions Maritimo in the penultimate game of the season left Leiria in fourth place in the table. As it stood they were in a promotion place as the two sides directly […]
The Legend of Roger Milla Part VII: Relegated by the summer break?
This is not going well. This is not going well at all. Do you remember when I said I didn’t really want to get promoted as my young bucks could well get ruined in the top flight? Well, my young bucks are getting ruined in the top flight. I chose not to recruit experience. I […]
The Legend of Roger Milla Part VI: Post-Promotion Planning
Time seems to past quite fast in Cameroon. That might be because the air is cleaner, the climate is better and the food is nicer than back in Blighty. Anyway, Mark Monroe has been hard at work over the winter break trying to ready Tonnerre KC for their first season back in the top flight, […]
The Higher Tempo Press Goals of the Week: June 26th 2017
Welcome back to your Saturday dose of goals, goals and more goals. This is the final goal of the week competition before we move in to the goal of the month prize winning situation. Watch below to see last week’s winning effort plus 7 superb goals and 1 that seems to have cut out the […]
The Land Down Under VII
G’day, mate! The atmosphere is buzzing around Gosford and I’m glad you’re able to get in to join us! As you all know, we just got through the end of the regular season and finished as the season’s premier against 1000-1 odds. The season isn’t over, however! The season doesn’t end when the points are […]
The Legend of Roger Milla Part V: Yeah, this is turning into a daily ramble…
….but that’s alright, hey? Well, it’s the way it’s going right now so I am going to run with it. Yesterday’s game time was a lot of fun for the most part and, importantly, pretty damn successful. Catch up on all of the series so far here That’s if you call getting promoted six games […]
Podcast: Tempo10 Episode 6 with Ed Wilson from that other FM podcast….
The Tempo10 podcast is back and this week Chris talks to Ed Wilson of The Deep-lying Podcast to get some tips on how to make a good Football Manager podcast. Don’t forget, you can subscribe to the Tempo10 on iTunes by searching for Falbros Media Group…
COYW! Season 1, December
THE OBJECTIVE: TO MANAGE MY HOME TOWN CLUB, DOVER ATHLETIC, IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. DOVER HAVE NEVER PLAYED LEAGUE FOOTBALL. I AM GOING TO TRY AND CHANGE THAT. December. Driving into the training ground this morning and the first Christmas song is played on the radio. Wham’s Last Xmas, blaring out of my car as […]
Ceadir Lungan protocols: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 17
As I settle myself into the chair at my desk for the first time as manager of FC Saxan, I notice that there are some memos in the in-tray. The first informs me that 21-year-old Artiom Puntus will be arriving on loan, at no cost to ourselves, from Sheriff. This requires my first decision of […]
Tempo Experiments #007: New Boys At The Bridge
Now that Conte has threatened to leave enough times, Chelsea look set to start their summer transfer business. But what would happen on FM17 if they went ahead and signed the top six players they are linked to in the real world? Watch the video and find out! Don’t forget to like and subscribe. It […]
Searching The Stats 3.10
Episode 10 – The Season! Episode 1 – Introduction and full-backs Episode 2 – Centre-backs Episode 3 – BWM + B2B Midfielders Episode 4 – CM (Su) Episode 5 – AP (Su) Episode 6 – AP (ATT) Episode 7 – ST Episode 8 – GK Episode 9 – Transfer Negotiations So, we’ve finally got our […]
The Legend of Roger Milla Part IV: My lions might be learning how to roar?
Welcome back to Cameroon where I, well my alter-ego Mark Monroe (I know, I don’t know why I did that either), is having a whale of a time. Or, to be more Cameroon like, a lion of a time. No, that really doesn’t work. Catch up on all of the series so far here We […]
The Young Lions Roar: A Youth Intake Guide
I love youth intake day, but I think everyone else does too. How do you make a successful youth intake day though? Well, you could reload and reload until you get some good players in your own youth candidates squad. If that is your style, though, that’s fine. I do not care. I make the […]
Leaving Jock Stein behind: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 16
My meeting with Eugeniu Merciu, the chairman, on my first morning at FC Saxan was a perfunctory affair. No doubt on weekdays Merciu’s agricultural machinery concern has greater claim on his time. He seemed keen to palm me off on Ivan Burduniuc, the assistant manager, as soon as possible. Burduniuc was eager to please. Would […]
Aguero v Sanchez: Player Swap
One of the more surprising pieces of transfer gossip circling this week was the supposed swap deal which would see Alexis Sanchez switch places with fellow South American forward Sergio Aguero. The likelihood of two of the league’s outstanding players switching places is low and not something I can see happening but let’s take a […]
The Data Analyst: A Potential Difference Maker
Believe or not, not everyone on The Higher Tempo is actually any good at the game. Take me for example. My save over on my own blog has spanned five seasons – it took me three just to get promoted and I got instantly relegated then couldn’t bounce right back up. During that time, I’ve […]
The Legend of Roger Milla: Part III
It turns out that the first seven games of the MTN Elite II have been rather good to us. Considering Renaissance and Fovu Club are the clear favourites for the title, I am very pleased we have made such a good start – our one single defeat being on the opening day to Fovu. The […]
The man in the grey suit: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 15
To take up my position as manager of FC Saxan I decided to fly from the UK to Istanbul, catch a ferry to Giurgiulesti (a Moldovan port on the Danube) and then catch the train. Though neither the quickest route nor the cheapest, it struck me as the most adventurous and therefore – since I […]
Banished To Bromley Part 9: Frustrating Times
After a 2 week break, which saw Lee Minshull and Cemal Ramadan score for the under 23’s, our next game came against 5th placed Boreham Wood who are 2 points ahead of us. Unfortunately the 2 week break didn’t allow us to bounce back as, much like the last game against North Ferribly chances were […]
The Legend of Roger Milla: Part II
I’m starting to like it in Cameroon. It’s a new challenge, players I don’t know mixed with some half decent looking newgens. I write today having reached the end of preseason and it’s a few days until our first MTN Elite II match against the league favourites, Fovu Club. What have I achieved so far? […]
Lingua Franca: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 14
We returned to the UK for a few weeks to get our affairs in order. When you’ve spent the last few decades tucked away in rural Cambridgeshire, emigrating is a big thing. I decided I didn’t want to appear the Little Englander, so I’d make a start on learning the language. That will surprise them, […]
The Land Down Under VI
G’day, mate! I have a quick question for you Central Coast Mariners supporters. How many of you loyal fans threw five dollars at the team at the start of the season not expecting your bookie to be providing a return? With 1000-1 odds, there’s a bit of money to be made if we are successful, […]
#Tempo10 Episode 5: 3 tips on how to do a great FM17 experiment…
Hello listeners (well at least we hope you go on to listen to it). We are back with another Tempo10 podcast and this time I was delighted to spend some time talking to Connor Steer who has been spending a lot of time doing some cool experiments on FM17. It was a great chat and […]
Rivalità Tra Fratelli, Episode 12
This is the story of two brothers, a modern-day Cain versus Abel if you will, based in the northern powerhouse Italian city of Milan. If you’d like to replicate this challenge, we’re using the updated medium database with the following leagues: England (Premier League, Championship, League One & League Two), Italy (Serie A & Serie […]
What would Theotokos say? Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 13
Late Sunday morning, my wife, Karen, and I met Eugeniu Merciu, Chairman of FC Saxan, on the steps of the picturesque church of Theotokos of Kazan. We have had a little time to explore the city (as the town refers to itself) before our meeting. We’d hoped that a town with a population of under […]
Leiria boss relieved to see the transfer window close
Portuguese second division sides have always been a place for young talent to gain vital game time before making the step up to higher leagues. Leiria’s current crop of young players brought together in the summer had excelled in the early stages of the season and were challenging for promotion. It is now February however […]
An Alternative Guide to Alternative Leagues: Liga MX
We move up further north in the Americas as I introduce you to Mexican football and the Liga MX in Football Manager. The Liga MX is a very competitive league with a lot more resources than South America. The league has 18 teams and is also divided into two parts. The eight best teams from […]
The Legend of Roger Milla: Part I
Dear readers. I deliberated massively about whether committing this journey to paper, and I have decided that I shall. The last week has been an incredibly testing time since our best buddy, Ronnie Dog Austin, passed away suddenly last Saturday night. For those of you that have seen my brief moment in FM history – […]