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Journey of a Deadman: #17 (Espinho) – Portuguese Promotion Push
This has not been the easiest of seasons for Espinho manager Shama Deadman, but it could still end in glory! In Part 16, a spate of injuries forced Shama to do some troubleshooting, which led to an upturn in form. It’s now March 2024, and the Tigres have plenty of momentum as they target an […]
Journey of a Deadman: #16 (Espinho) – A Winter Of Injuries
Welcome back to my FM21 journeyman series. It’s almost the end of 2023, and Shama Deadman is now well into his second season at Espinho. In the previous chapter, the Tigres made an unconvincing start to their Terceira Liga campaign and enjoyed a mini-run in the Taça de Portugal, while Shama picked up his first […]
Journey of a Deadman: #15 (Espinho) – Rocky Form
Welcome back to Portugal for another installment of my FM21 journeyman series! In Part 14, Shama Deadman unveiled a new-look Espinho squad ahead of the 2023/2024 Terceira Liga season. He’s also enlisted a Dutch legend to help him build a team that can finish in the top half – or even challenge for promotion. Today’s […]
Retro Review: Total Club Manager 2005
It’s time for another ‘retro review’, where I find a vintage football management video game and see if it’s still as good (or bad) as I remember it. This is the third part of my ‘EA MAY’ mini-series. Throughout this month, I am picking out a number of titles from EA Sports’ opinion-splitting FIFA Manager […]
Journey of a Deadman: #14 (Espinho) – The Pitbull And The Tigers
Hey there, readers, and welcome to season 4 of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series! Shama Deadman is currently managing Espinho in the Portuguese third division. In Part 13, Shama completed the 2022/2023 season by leading the Tigres to 14th place – but now he’s set his sights higher as he prepares for his first […]
Journey of a Deadman: #13 (Espinho) – It’s Not Fair!
Right, who’s ready for another installment of my FM21 journeyman series? Last time out, Shama Deadman officially kicked off his new career at Portuguese third-division side Espinho. As you might have guessed, the first three months haven’t gone terribly smoothly… but it’s not been a total disaster. Yet. Today, the 2022/2023 season comes to an […]
Retro Review: FA Premier League Football Manager 2000
Hello there, folks, and I’m glad you could join me for another ‘retro review’, in which I take a retrospective look at a football management game from years gone by. This is the second part of my ‘EA MAY’ mini-series. Throughout this month, I will be reviewing a number of titles from EA Sports’ FIFA […]
Journey of a Deadman: #12 (Espinho) – The Espinho Experience
Here we go again with the latest installment from my Football Manager 2021 journeyman career, as Shama Deadman kicks off the second leg of his European managerial adventure! Shama has left south Wales behind and found a new job in Espinho – a Portuguese holiday resort that’s perhaps better-known for playing football on the beach […]
Journey of a Deadman: #11 – From Despair To Where?
Welcome to an important chapter in Shama Deadman’s managerial career. Last time out, a disappointing first half to the 2022/2023 campaign saw Cambrian & Clydach’s promotion push collapse. Shama was called into an urgent board meeting, during which he decided to jump before the chairman could push him out. Now jobless for the first time […]
Retro Review: FIFA Soccer Manager
Welcome to a new Fuller FM ‘retro review’, where I pluck a classic football management game from the mists of time and ask whether it still stands up today. This is actually the first review in a mini-series that I will be running throughout this month. This is ‘EA MAY’, where I will look at four […]
FM Mythbusting
There are various myths and misconceptions about Football Manager, which can often cloud our opinions on the series. Many of these are down to misunderstandings of how football actually works, and how the most realistic… More
Guides
Since launching Fuller FM in 2018, I have written several guides on various aspects of Football Manager. From setting up pre-season training to protecting your save files from corruption, these guides can help you to… More
Journey of a Deadman: #10 (Cambrian & Clydach) – Losing Our Bottle
I’m back with another installment of my FM21 journeyman series, as Shama Deadman heads into a “make-or-break” third season at Cambrian & Clydach. In the previous chapter, Shama brought in several new faces for the 2022/2023 campaign. Will those recruitments make the difference as they seek that elusive promotion to the Cymru Premier? Today’s chapter […]
Journey of a Deadman: #9 (Cambrian & Clydach) – Third Time Lucky?
Welcome back to my Football Manager 2021 journeyman story, where Shama Deadman starts from the bottom of the football pyramid and tries to work his way up the coaching ranks. So far, Shama has made steady progress in his first job in Wales. Cambrian & Clydach have secured back-to-back top-half finishes in the Cymru South, […]
Review: Soccer Manager 2021
As great as the Football Manager series is, it’s sometimes worth having a look at the other football management games on the market. That’s why I’m back today with another of my occasional reviews. My first game review on Fuller FM was two years ago this week, when I had a look at Soccer Manager […]
Journey of a Deadman: #8 (Cambrian & Clydach) – Throwing It Away!
Shama Deadman’s second season at Cambrian & Clydach has not been the resounding success he hoped it would. With the Cam Army struggling to get results at home, Shama has abandoned his Terry Venables-inspired ‘Christmas tree’ system – and instead resorted to route-one tactics. In Part 7, Cambrian had a strong run of mid-season results […]
Journey of a Deadman: #7 (Cambrian & Clydach) – C&C Music Factory
Shama Deadman’s second season at Cambrian & Clydach is now in full swing. After producing some decent results in their first dozen matches (which you can read about in Part 6), the Cam Army now have their sights on sustaining a promotion push. Today’s post will take you through four months of action – from […]
Journey of a Deadman: #6 (Cambrian & Clydach) – Captain Morgan
Shama Deadman’s journey into management continues now, as his second season at Cambrian & Clydach kicks off in earnest. In the previous chapter, he signed several new players over the summer – and convinced his star man to stay for another crack at promotion to the Cymru Premier. Today’s installment will take you through the […]
Journey of a Deadman: #5 (Cambrian & Clydach) – The Second Season
Season 2 of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series starts now! Shama Deadman has completed his first year in management, guiding part-timers Cambrian & Clydach to a 6th-place finish in the Cymru South. If you want to catch up on the story so far, you can find Part 4 on the link provided. Now, though, […]
Journey of a Deadman
“Journey of a Deadman” was my long-term Football Manager 2021 story, published exclusively on Fuller FM. The star of this story was 32-year-old Shama Deadman, who had just hung up his boots after many years… More
Journey of a Deadman: #4 (Cambrian & Clydach) – Giving Youth A Chance
We’re coming to the end of the first season of my Football Manager 2021 journeyman series… and what a first season it has been! Shama Deadman hasn’t enjoyed the easiest start in south Wales. In Part 3, we saw him battle to keep Cambrian & Clydach clear of relegation from the Cymru South. Meanwhile, he’s […]
Journey of a Deadman: #3 (Cambrian & Clydach) – Fire And Fury
I hope you’ve been enjoying the opening chapters of this new Football Manager 2021 series. I’ve certainly enjoyed taking a more light-hearted approach to my blogging. To recap the story so far, Shama Deadman has begun his managerial career at Cambrian & Clydach in Wales’ second division. We met his new team for the first […]
Journey of a Deadman: #2 (Cambrian & Clydach) – Baptism of Fire
My Football Manager 2021 journeyman series is now well and truly underway, as Shama Deadman begins his managerial career in the Welsh second division. In Part 1, Shama met his Cambrian & Clydach squad for the first time. Today’s chapter will see him take the Cam Army through the first three months of their league […]
Journey of a Deadman: #1 (Cambrian & Clydach) – Enter The Valley
Bore da! Welcome to the official first chapter of my new Football Manager 2021 journeyman series! For my latest blog story, I will track the progress of Shama Deadman as he travels across Europe looking to make his name as a football manager. His first job has taken him to Cambrian & Clydach – a […]
Journey of a Deadman: Prologue
It’s been some time coming, but at last, welcome to a brand new Football Manager 2021 blog story on Fuller FM! In my previous FM series, I’ve taken over a fallen European giant or a mediocre third-division team, with the aim of leading them to new glories. These stories have typically ended in spectacular failure, […]
FM Mythbusting: Common Misconceptions
In this post, I look at some of the areas of Football Manager 2021 that are most misunderstood by FMers.
FM Mythbusting: The Mid-Season Slump
In this article, I explain why mid-season slumps can happen on Football Manager – and how you can get your team back on track.
Using shouts in Football Manager
These are my thoughts on the various in-game shouts in Football Manager 2021, and when best to use them.
Rule Bretagne: The Unbeatables
In the final part of this mini-series, I look at my Rennes team which won Ligue 1 undefeated in 2023/2024.
Rule Bretagne: Four Years At Rennes – Part 2
My Rennes career summary continues, featuring a useless goalkeeper, three unhappy defenders… and an unforgettable season.
Rule Bretagne: Four Years At Rennes – Part 1
A summary of my first two seasons managing Rennes, featuring a torn-up tissue box, a takeover, and a couple of teen sensations.
My thoughts on Football Manager 2021
After nearly two months of non-stop playing, I’ve written a review on what I like (and don’t like) about Football Manager 2021 so far.
Preparing for pre-season on Football Manager
In this guide, I will give you some tips for setting up pre-season training and friendlies on Football Manager 2021.
Setting up a new game on Football Manager
In this guide, I tell you everything you need to know when creating a new save game on FM21.
My plans for Football Manager 2021
With the FM21 beta almost upon us, it’s time to announce my new beta save (on Twitter only) as well as my long-term blog career.
Retro Review: Giant Killers
My review of Giant Killers – a long-forgotten (and very basic) football management game from 1999.
The Sporting Life: Where Did It All Go Wrong?
In the final chapter, I look back at a horrendous 2020/2021 season at Sporting CP and try to figure out how we failed.
The Sporting Life: Season 2, Part 6
My job is at risk as the season ends with Sporting CP’s final seven league games – and the Taça de Portugal Final.
The Sporting Life: Season 2, Part 5
Sporting CP face Marítimo in the Taça de Portugal Semi Final but continue to struggle in the league.
The Sporting Life: Season 2, Part 4
A Lisbon derby against Benfica kicks fof a hectic winter period for Sporting CP as they try get back in the title race.
The Sporting Life: Season 2, Part 3
As Sporting CP continue to struggle through the first half of the season, it’s time for a major tactical rebuild.
The Sporting Life: Season 2, Part 2
Sporting CP kick off the new campaign with the Champions League qualifiers, plus a dramatic league match against Porto.
The Sporting Life: Season 2, Part 1
My second season at Sporting CP begins with a defensive rebuild – and a glut of goals in pre-season!
The Sporting Life: Season 1, Part 6
Sporting CP are top of the Primeira Liga with six games remaining. Can they hold off Benfica and win the title?
The Sporting Life
“The Sporting Life” was my second Football Manager 2020 story, published exclusively on Fuller FM. In this story, I took charge of a Sporting CP side who hadn’t won the Portuguese Primeira Liga since 2002.… More
The Sporting Life: Season 1, Part 5
A new midfielder signs as Sporting CP’s title charge gathers pace before a couple of defenders see red in Europe.
The Sporting Life: Season 1, Part 4
My first season at Sporting CP reaches its halfway point as I have the chance to win my first trophy – the Taça da Liga.
The Sporting Life: Season 1, Part 3
Sporting CP look to secure a swift passage through their Europa League group, but injuries threaten to scupper their plans.
The Sporting Life: Season 1, Part 2
Sporting CP’s new era begins with some early-season nerves in the Primeira Liga – and a goalkeeping clanger!
The Sporting Life: Season 1, Part 1
My new Football Manager story begins with a Sporting CP squad report, followed by the Supertaça against Benfica.