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Hale End Heroes: Season 2, Part 3
My Arsenal adventure on Football Manager 2022 continues – and this chapter could be a very important one, as we attempt to lift our first trophy since I became manager. The Gunners are heading into 2023 sitting just inside the top four of the Premier League, but we also have some defensive issues that need […]
Hale End Heroes: Season 2, Part 2
My second season as Arsenal manager is now underway – and after leading the Gunners to 4th place in the Premier League last time out, the pressure is firmly on me to consolidate our place among England’s elite. In the previous chapter, I looked ahead to the 2022/2023 campaign by unveiling a couple of major […]
Hale End Heroes: Season 2, Part 1
It’s time to kick off the second season of my Arsenal series on Football Manager 2022. My main objective in this series is to win either the Premier League or the Champions League with a squad consisting mostly of Gunners academy graduates, such as Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka. The Gunners made steady progress […]
Hale End Heroes: Season 1, Part 3
How time flies! This is only the third chapter of my new FM22 series with Arsenal, and already we’re coming to the end of the 2021/2022 season! Today’s installment is a bumper one, as we go through the January transfer window, meet my first youth intake, and recap the entire second half of the season. […]
Hale End Heroes: Season 1, Part 2
The weather may be hotter than Granit Xhaka’s temper, but there’s always a good time for Football Manager! So sit back, grab a cool beverage, and enjoy this second chapter of my new FM22 series with Arsenal! My main goal in this series is to lead Arsenal to Premier League or Champions League glory – […]
Hale End Heroes: Season 1, Part 1
Welcome to Arsenal… and to the start of a brand-new Football Manager 2022 series right here on Fuller FM! Yes, for this save, I will be pushing Mikel Arteta out of his Emirates hotseat and taking charge of my beloved Gunners… but there’s a twist. The end goal is to win either the Premier League […]
Football Manager: What’s in a name?
Now for something completely different here on Fuller FM! Football has had its fair share of amusing monikers over the years – from the 19th-century England forward Harry Daft to the aptly-named Celtic flop Rafael Scheidt, via the iconic Paraguayan right-back Chiqui Arce. And as that very real Championship Manager advert from 1996 shows, the […]
FM22: The Age-Old Problem
In Football Manager 2021 – and in most previous FMs – many people complained about older players’ attributes declining too quickly. Once a player turned 32, their physical attributes would fall so fast that they’d be almost worthless by their 35th birthday. This isn’t always the case in real-life, as better nutrition and advances in […]
Retro Review: FIFA Manager 07
Hey everyone, Fuller FM here – the blogosphere’s most average virtual Football Manager, and it’s time for my retro review of FIFA Manager 07. Some of you might remember my ‘EA MAY’ mini-series from last spring, when I reviewed three separate games from Electronic Arts’ now-defunct FIFA Manager series. Though we haven’t yet made it […]
Review: Soccer Manager 2022
It’s that time of year again. For the fourth season in a row, I’ve had a look at the latest edition of the free-to-play Soccer Manager series. Some of you might remember my previous Soccer Manager reviews. I wasn’t too hot on either SM19 or SM20, but I gave a more positive review of SM21, […]
Improving international management on Football Manager
Let’s talk about international management in Football Manager. Club football might be the bread and butter of our sport, but there is nothing quite like the international game. Representing your country is always a high point in a player’s career, and winning the World Cup can lift an elite player to legendary status – like […]
Retro Review: FourFourTwo Touchline Passion
“If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,“Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, and – which is more – you’ll be a man, my son!“Ladies and gentlemen, Fuller FM will be playing 4-4-f***ing-2.” Welcome to another Retro Review here on Fuller FM. Today, I’ve decided to […]
Retro databases in Football Manager: Awesome, but impractical?
Let’s talk about retro databases in Football Manager. When we discuss which features we most want to see added to FM in the future, one of THE most popular requests is for Sports Interactive to add official historic databases. The ability to manage a football team at any point in history – or even just […]
FM Mythbusting: Are English Teams Overrated?
It’s time to resolve a debate that has been raging across the Football Manager for years. Are English teams – and English players, for that matter – too overpowered? Some people argue that Premier League players are rated too highly compared to their counterparts in La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga. They […]
Review: We Are Football
And so 2021 is coming to an end. I hope you’ve enjoyed the Christmas holidays as much as possible, and that you’ve been keeping safe with your loved ones during what has been another difficult winter period. You may’ve noticed that there hasn’t been much Football Manager content on here lately. Yes, despite my cautiously […]
Developing your own coaches in Football Manager
One of the most exciting aspects of any Football Manager career is when you develop young prospects to reach their full potential. Bringing through an academy wonderkid into the senior team and on the road to superstardom is one thing… but what about developing your coaches? When starting a new save, many FMers like to […]
The story of Football Manager’s newgen faces
Let’s talk about newgen faces in Football Manager. It seems like with every passing FM, there’s a fierce debate about the 3D faces that are assigned to youth intake players. Some people in the FM community hate them; others just tolerate them. Having played this series for over 20 years, I consider myself an FM […]
My thoughts on Football Manager 2022
After a quiet few weeks, Fuller FM has returned for another season! I took some time off from blogging after finishing my journeyman series, partly to recharge my batteries, and partly because of a family crisis, but now I’m ready to get going again! Football Manager 2022 has been officially out for just over a […]
Blog Update #5
Ladies and gentlemen… this is blog update number 5. Yes, it’s time for my annual post where I update you on what I’ve been up to over the past 12 months. With my long-term Football Manager 2021 save now completed, I’m ready to give my final thoughts on what has perhaps been the most divisive […]
Journey of a Deadman: #46 (Basel) – Finale
It’s May 2031, and everything has come down to these final five matches for Shama Deadman and his Basel team. In case you missed the previous chapter, Basel are still leading the Swiss Super League as they check back-to-back titles. They have also made it through to the Swiss Cup Final. Can Shama end his […]
Journey of a Deadman: #45 (Basel) – Swiss Brutality
It’s time for another installment of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series, as Shama Deadman’s quest for another league title with Basel continues. In the previous chapter, Basel’s defence of their Super League crown encountered a few problems, not least when it came to scoring. But a mid-season epiphany has led Shama to a tactical […]
Journey of a Deadman: #44 (Basel) – Second Season Syndrome
We’re into the last full month of Football Manager 2021‘s life cycle… but my journeyman series is still going strong. For now. Shama Deadman has already won the Swiss Super League title with Basel – and now he’s out to defend it. Today’s chapter will take us through the first half of the 2030/2031 season […]
Journey of a Deadman: #43 (Basel) – Die Besten!
Against all the odds, Shama Deadman has completed his first decade in football management – and he’s finally added a trophy to his CV! After taking over at Basel in the summer of 2029, Shama led ‘Die Bebbi’ to Swiss Super League glory in his first season. You can read about that first season in […]
Journey of a Deadman: #42 (Basel) – Ten Years Later
It’s been a long time coming… but after a decade in management, in which he has managed four teams in as many countries, Shama Deadman has finally won a trophy. If you haven’t yet read about how Basel secured the Swiss Super League title, or even if you just want to relive Shama’s crowning moment, […]
Journey of a Deadman: #41 (Basel) – One And Done?
Shama Deadman is about to complete his first season as Basel manager… but will it be one to celebrate? In the previous chapter, he began his tenure by giving ‘Die Bebbi’ a slender lead at the halfway stage of the Swiss Super League. They are also still competing in the Swiss Cup, but have dropped […]
Journey of a Deadman: #40 (Basel) – St Jakob’s Ladder
Guten tag, bonjour, ciao, nuqneH – and welcome to the latest chapter of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series, now coming to you from multi-lingual Switzerland! The 2029/2030 season is about to kick off, as is Shama Deadman’s tenure as Basel manager. In the last chapter, we met his new squad for the first time […]
Journey of a Deadman: #39 (Basel) – The Swiss System
“I got my first real Swiss team! Took the offer just in time! Now I’m with the blue and red! Twas the summer of ’29!” Welcome back to my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series with Shama Deadman! In the last chapter, we saw Shama lead his Győr team into the final stages of an epic […]
Journey of a Deadman: #38 (Győr) – Six Games From Glory
Here we go, folks – it’s the 2028/2029 season finale! In case you missed the previous two chapters, Győr have built a clear lead at the top of Hungary’s first division. Shama Deadman’s side look set to become Nemzeti Bajnokság champions for the first time since 2013… but Újpest are hot on their heels! Can […]
Journey of a Deadman: #37 (Győr) – Jeepers Keepers!
It’s time for another chapter from my Football Manager 2021 journeyman career, where Shama Deadman is having the time of his life in Hungary! We’re midway through the 2028/2029 season, and Shama has led Győr to the top of the NB I. You can read more about how they got there in Part 36. Much […]
Journey of a Deadman: #36 (Győr) – The Dream Continues
Shama Deadman’s fourth season in Hungary is underway. Having guided Győr to promotion – and then into Europe – can he now lead a title challenge? In the 2028/2029 season preview, we met several new signings – including a certain bear-hugging Russian – who Shama hopes will take his Győr team to that next level. […]
Journey of a Deadman: #35 (Győr) – Europa Calling
We’re into the NINTH season of my Football Manager 2021 series, which has taken our manager Shama Deadman on a journey across Europe. Today’s chapter is a very special one for Shama, who at last gets to experience a continental competition for the first time! Shama has been at Győr for three seasons, in which […]
Journey of a Deadman: #34 (Győr) – A Season To Remember
The 2027/2028 season has finished, and it’s been an incredible campaign that Győr fans will never forget! In their first season back in Hungary’s top division, Shama Deadman’s side built on a strong start and secured an unexpected 3rd-place finish – and a spot in the Europa Conference League next term! They also made it […]
Journey of a Deadman: #33 (Győr) – The Battle For Europe
The 2027/2028 season is almost over, and it looks set to be the greatest of Shama Deadman’s career! In the previous chapter, we saw Győr continue to beat the odds in their first season back in Hungary’s top division. As we head into the last few weeks, not only are they close to securing a […]
Journey of a Deadman: #32 (Győr) – Wanted!
Thank you very much for joining me for the latest chapter of my FM21 series with journeyman coach Shama Deadman. Part 31 took us through the first half of the 2027/2028 season, which marked Győr’s return to Hungary’s top division after a six-year absence. It really could not have gone much better, thanks largely to […]
Journey of a Deadman: #31 (Győr) – Welcome To The Top Flight
It’s taken a while, but today is the day that Shama Deadman finally hits the big leagues! Well, I’m not sure you would call the Hungarian first division a ‘big league’, but anyway… After winning promotion from the NB II, the Győr squad has been rebuilt ahead of what is sure to be a much […]
Women’s football – coming soon to Football Manager
As many of you may well be aware, Sports Interactive announced last week that they have begun work on introducing women’s football into Football Manager in the future. Studio director Miles Jacobson has set out SI’s roadmap for incorporating women’s competitions into FM, explaining the sheer amount of detail that will go into making the […]
Journey of a Deadman: #30 (Győr) – Growing Pains
It’s July 2027, and we’re about to enter the EIGHTH season of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series! Where does the time fly? Seven years of blood, sweat and glorious failure have finally paid off for Shama Deadman. In Part 29, he successfully led Győr to promotion from the NB II. They will now play […]
Journey of a Deadman: #29 (Győr) – Celebration?
Hey there, folks. It’s time for possibly THE most important chapter of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series so far! It’s the 2026/2027 season finale, and Győr are closing in on a place in Hungary’s first division. In case you missed the previous chapter (and I suspect many of you have), we left them sitting […]
Journey of a Deadman: #28 (Győr) – The Green Machine
Welcome back to my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series… where Shama Deadman’s fortunes have taken a turn for the better, for once! In the previous chapter, Shama began his second season with Győr in the Hungarian second division. Results couldn’t have gone much better, and ETO are already on course for promotion, but can they […]
Journey of a Deadman: #27 (Győr) – Unstoppable
It’s lights out and away we go for Shama Deadman’s seventh season as a football manager! Shama’s first year with Győr ended with his new team missed out on promotion to Hungary’s top division by just six points. During the summer break, he has brought in some fresh faces and rebuilt his tactics, which you […]
Journey of a Deadman: #26 (Győr) – Second Chance
My Football Manager 2021 journeyman series is now into its seventh season. Will it be lucky 7 for Shama Deadman as he seeks his first major success as a manager? In Part 25, Shama completed his first season with Győr, who finished just six points off the promotion places in Hungary’s second division. He has […]
Journey of a Deadman: #25 (Győr) – Defensive Disasters
The 2025/2026 season is almost over, and Shama Deadman is once again chasing a first career promotion. Despite a rough start, our journeyman coach’s first season at Győr has gone pretty well. In Part 24, a fine run of form saw ETO establish themselves as serious contenders to be promoted from the NB II to […]
Journey of a Deadman: #24 (Győr) – Rocha ‘n’ Roll
Welcome back to my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series, where Shama Deadman is now well into his first season as manager of Győr. If you’ve read Part 23, you’ll know that it hasn’t been the easiest of starts for Shama, who’s already sacked one of his goalkeepers and spent big on another. On the bright […]
Journey of a Deadman: #23 (Győr) – Feeling Hungary
Shama Deadman is about to begin the sixth season of his managerial career, as our journeyman coach kicks off a new era with Győr in the Hungarian second division. In Part 22, Shama introduced us to his new team, and welcomed back a few old friends from his past. He didn’t have much success at […]
Journey of a Deadman: #22 (Győr) – The One That I Want
Welcome back to my ongoing Football Manager 2021 series, as Shama Deadman’s coaching journey has taken him to his third club in a third different country. After five years honing his craft in Wales and Portugal, Shama has taken on a new challenge with Győr in Hungary’s second division. In case you missed it, you […]
Journey of a Deadman: #21 – Five Years Later
Shama Deadman has now been a football manager for five years… but his career hasn’t exactly gone to plan. Job 1: Cambrian & Clydach. Solid first season, almost promoted in the second season, then all it fell apart and Shama resigned midway through the third. Job 2: Espinho. Solid first half-season, almost promoted in the […]
England At Euro 2020… Without ‘Big Six’ Players
We’ve had to wait an extra year, but Euro 2020 is finally here! Or is it Euro 2021 now? Anyway, with the European Championships about to kick off, I thought I’d get you in the mood ahead of England’s inevitable Last 16 exit. It’s time for a Euro-themed Football Manager 2021 experiment! In today’s post, […]
Journey of a Deadman: #20 (Espinho) – Saving My Job?
Welcome back. It is crunch time for Shama Deadman, as the Espinho manager faces a potentially career-changing few months. The previous chapter saw the Tigres make a shaky start to the 2024/2025 Terceira Liga season, as inconsistent performances and even more erratic shooting left their promotion charge in tatters. They also exited the Taça de […]
Journey of a Deadman: #19 (Espinho) – What A Mess!
It’s time for another chapter in the tale of mediocrity that is Shama Deadman’s managerial career. Last time out, we previewed the 2024/2025 season – Shama’s third in charge of Espinho in Portugal’s third tier. He has made several additions to a side that missed out on promotion by just six points… but has he […]
Journey of a Deadman: #18 (Espinho) – You Espinho Me Round
Welcome to the fifth season of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series, where Shama Deadman has reached a career crossroads. In Part 17, the 2023/2024 season came to an end as Shama led Espinho to an unexpected Terceira Liga promotion challenge. No spoilers here, but if you’ve not read the last chapter yet, now might […]