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Making Blackburn Great Again – Episode #5
In recent weeks, there’s been much speculation surrounding Blackburn Manager Luke Phelps, and his commitment to the club. But the 22-year-old responded to his critics this week: “First of all I’d like to apologise to the fans and the staff for my actions over the past month or so. There’s been a lot going on […]
Letou Decide: England vs. Spain
I’ll tell you what, this is an England team we can all get behind. I had the pleasure of watching Gareth Southgate’s England team continue their preparations for the World Cup with a game at Wembley against Spain last night and I’m actually impressed. There are still selection issues, Jake Livermore in central midfield and […]
Tempo 10: Not A Guide to Building a Club
Take time this Tuesday to take in this weeks Tempo10. To tempt you in we’ve improved the audio this week (maybe). Mike and Samo talk how to improve your Football Manager club in this week’s top podcast. They give you tasty tips to take teams to the top, and how to keep them there long […]
One Vision Part IV: Let the show begin!
We have stepped into an alternative reality where it is actually 1995 and all things Premier League are looking a little bit retro. Join @tenpotatoesfm as he goes back in time to a world where everything was a little simpler, football was played on the pitch and not just the TV and Wayne Rooney was […]
Canary Corner – Part 17
How do you do? Things are heating up in season 6, as our season got off to a reasonable start despite the fact that my strikers can’t score goals. Robbie Keane can though and that’s maybe all we need. We’ve still got the UEFA Cup to enjoy but of course, our main aim is to […]
Beating Nuno – Chapter Nine: Eleven Goal Thriller
Hello again. You’ll recall the last chapter was called ‘a free hit’ and it was about me facing Arsenal to make the semi-finals of the FA Cup. We looked at how my formation was better than there’s and my wing-backs would be able to exploit the space down the flanks. However, if you were paying […]
Letou Decide: Anorthosi Friendly Review
Yesterday I said I was looking to Germany for inspiration and I’ve been looking into Thomas Tuchel’s formations at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, which is especially apt considering he is being considered for the Arsenal job in the summer. A bit of background, Tuchel is something of an innovator with his systems flexible enough to […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 25: A Final Atlanta Hurrah
Five successful years at Atlanta United have come to a close. I took the MLS newbies from a blank sheet of paper to the dominant force in North American football and continued our success right until the last whistle of my tenure at the Mercedes Benz Arena. We retained the MLS Supporter’s Shield, which we’ve […]
Parità dei sessi 4: Stupid is as stupid does
I have good news and bad news. Let’s focus on the good part first. We did it. A 2-0 home win over Orrolese saw us claiming the Eccellenza Sardegna title in front of a bumper crowd. An impressing 1250 roaring fans in attendance making it a new record at the Vanni Sanna. New to the […]
Earning Our Stripes Teil 5: Transfergeschäft
Guten tag! Welcome back to Dirk van Oortveld’s quest to take MSV Duisburg into the Bundesliga and get into the upper echelons of European football teams! If you want to catch up on what’s happened previously, check out this link here. In the previous update, we went over the results for the remainder of the 2017 […]
Letou Decide: AEK Larnakas Friendly Review
I’ve stolen a moment this morning to write this up because it’s been a very relaxed weekend. The players have earned a break after their performance since I took over and I’m particularly enjoying Jose Mourinho taking shots at both Roberto Martinez and Julen Lopetegui for the use of his players during the internationals. We’ve […]
Inept International Manager: Ep. 10
Click here to find previous episodes of the Inept International Manager We begin Episode 10 of the Inept International Manager with breaking news (no, it isn’t the new graphic but that does look spiffy), that being that Louis Henrik has FINALLY attended a Hyundai A-League game. The game chosen for this monumental occasion was the […]
Beating Nuno – Chapter Eight: A Free Hit
Many of you out there will be without your normal dosage of club football due to the Internationals taking centre stage. If you’re like me and you’re a club over country kinda guy, all you want is for this break to be over and all your players to make it back in one piece. Anyway, […]
Chronicles of a Chancer: Part 8 Champions?
Bronze-Wig Making a Mountain out of a Mole Hill: Title Contender ‘Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained?!?’ Maximus Crowe What-do-you-call-him threw his sword at the crowd in disgust. I paused the VHS tape and pointed to the freeze-framed scene. ‘See that, my favourite part that.’ The team nodded their heads, I’d made everyone, […]
Letou Decide: England vs. Colombia
I have to say, the England friendly was a lot of fun to watch. I went away from it back on my private transport wondering if only England in competitive games were this entertaining. Immediately I realised that with Kane up front, Southgate was using Jack Wilshere as the direct replacement for Dele Alli, prompting […]
One Vision Part III: Back at the Boleyn
We have stepped into an alternative reality where it is actually 1995 and all things Premier League are looking a little bit retro. Join @tenpotatoesfm as he goes back in time to a world where everything was a little simpler, football was played on the pitch and not just the TV and Wayne Rooney was […]
The Deep Lying Podcast #Ep128: Dropping the(foot)ball on international week
In this week’s “not quite as good as it should have been” DLP, Chris tries to save face and still put together an international themed podcast. If we are honest, it might have been better not to bother. Anyway, what will you get if you give it a listen? The Grass in GrassNGear is back […]
Classic Championship Manager: Scotland on the Road to Euro 2004 Part VIII
In a time approximately 2 years ago when the Higher Tempo Press was basically just Chris and I retweeting each other for a laugh, I started a journey. Chris will tell you it was a spiritual one between two men and a love of a video game, but in reality it was the beginning of […]
Letou Decide: Apol. Limassol Friendly Review
Last night we played our first March friendly on our Cyprus tour as we visited Apol. Limassol. The formation chosen was a variation on the 5-3-2 we played once earlier in the season as an emergency measure during an injury crisis. I have to give Apol credit, if it had been me welcoming Premier League […]
5 Things To Check To Help You Win More FM18 Matches
No matter how we choose to play Football Manager 2018 only one thing counts at the end of the day, results. Fine margins can be the difference between success and failure, so how can you maximise your chances of winning before you even take to the field? Knowledge is power so try to learn everything you […]
Cherry Picking: AFC Bournemouth Episode Seven
I can’t quite believe it, but somehow Bournemouth have made it to Wembley. The glorious expanse of the national team’s stadium is soon to be graced with our players in the Carabao Cup final; the very same players tipped to narrowly avoid relegation at the start of the season. Composed passing football, defensive solidarity and […]
Letou Decide: England Squad News
Later today Swansea City play Apol. Limassol in a friendly match to keep our fitness levels up during this international break but I wanted to spend today having a look at the England squad for the two friendlies taking place over the next few days. It’s the one job we all think we can do, […]
Farewell to Pittodrie #1: An Introduction
FM18 has been an interesting one so far. There’s been bucket loads of enjoyment and effort with no real silverware or longevity. This is partly due to my obsessions/ projects of tracking players’ statistics or keeping a meticulous eye on finances, which are very time-consuming. However, for this game I’ll be primarily focusing on youth […]
Letou Decide: Mlog 21st March
Check your passport and pack your bags, no, I’ve not been sacked before you asked. That’s about as ridiculous as Mourinho being dismissed. We’re in 10th in the Premier League and I’ve just led the Swans to the FA Cup Semi-Final! No, it’s not that. Although I won’t lie, if I get offered a better […]
Tempo 10: On A Role
Mike and Samo are back, but they’re still in mourning for Mike’s laptop. Luckily Samo brings some good news in his much anticipated save update section. This week the daring pairing pick their all-time reliable player roles. This pod is dedicated to those who like to keep things simple. 4-4-2, big-man-little-man strike partnership and they […]
One Vision Part II: The Teams
Welcome back to my guilty pleasure save as I have turned back time (kinda) and will be having a crack at the 1995/96 season on FM18 thanks to a database compiled by Stoltze89Mafia and then further edited by myself. Today you can join me as I spend a fair bit of time musing over which […]
Canary Corner – Part 16
Welcome to season 6! Things are slowly turning for Norwich, after a few seasons of treading water we enjoyed a run to the Champions League semi-finals and an FA Cup win. Although there’ll be no Champions League football this term, we now have top class Youth Facilities and the board have agreed to expand the […]
Beating Nuno – Chapter Seven: Present Day
Here we are once more. This one is an interesting chapter. Of course, I’m going to say that, I’m writing it. Anyway, enough of the talking to myself. Sign of insanity that is, don’t you know? Yeah, I did actually. ENOUGH. Last time out, an impressive February meant that I finished winter five points ahead […]
Letou Decide: FA Cup Semi Final Draw
The FA Cup draw was made last night on @TheHigherTempo and it did not disappoint! First, let’s take a look at the four teams who have made it this far. Gerardo Martino’s Everton were the first to qualify, surprising nobody as they defeated Colchester United of League Two by five goals to one. The game […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 24: Preparing for a new challenge
You heard it last time folks, the end is nigh. I’ve named the date where the Atlanta save comes to an end, post World Cup 2022. In all honesty, I feel I’ve done pretty much all I can and I want a new, fresh and, frankly, unpredictable challenge. Anyway, it’s all going swimmingly in MLS […]
Parità dei sessi 3: We’re in the cup final!
We’re on a mission of gender equality. The women’s team at ASD Torres have won seven Italian championships, eight Coppa Italia titles and seven Supercoppa Italiana wins. The men have achieved nothing. That needs to change. Stay tuned for history in the making. Click here for the prologue and index of chapters. Felice anno nuovo! It’s […]
One Vision: Part I
If you believe Sky Sports, football spent the first 104 years just warming up for its proper launch – the conception of the Premier League. The 1990’s was a decade that changed the face of football forever – some bits were for the best, others not so much. But it was also the decade that […]
Earning Our Stripes Teil 4: Ein Blick auf die Mannschaft
Guten tag! Welcome back to Dirk van Oortveld’s quest to take MSV Duisburg into the Bundesliga and get into the upper echelons of European football teams! If you want to catch up on what’s happened previously, check out this link here. We’ve made it to the end of December in the week since we last […]
Letou Decide: Swansea City vs. Reading Match Review
Never in doubt, was it? Well, not until Jordan Ayew opened the scoring on eight minutes with what I thought was a near post tap-in after getting across the front of his defender but was actually an improvised stooping header according to the match report. Jordan Ayew is one of the real positives I’ve found […]
Inept International Manager: Ep. 9
Click here to find previous episodes of the Inept International Manager It’s the World Cup draw this week on the Inept International Manager and Louis Henrik’s Australia have been placed, unsurprisingly, in pot four alongside the likes of Algeria, Iran, Honduras and Saudi Arabia. Pot three is a strange place to be, Bosnia & Herzegovina […]
Beating Nuno: Chapter Six: Twelve Unbeaten & Counting
Good day to one and all and welcome back to the latest chapter of ‘Beating Nuno’, by now you should all know what’s going on and what this all about, however, if you are a new reader of this book (that’s right, a book), let me refer you to the prologue which will explain everything. […]
Chronicles of a Chancer: Part 7 New Season Ahoy
Bronze-Wig Making a Mountain out of a Mole Hill: Season 2 ‘If we were sat here back in July and I was to tell you, as manager of Braunschweig, you’d be sat top of the table, one point above Bayern Munich, with one game to play, what would you say?’ I stared at the smiling […]
Letou Decide: Swansea City vs. Reading Preview
You could have been very mean to me this week, but alas you were kind. Thank you. At the heart of the #LetouDecide project has been interaction and the journey of a season with Swansea City, so to have votes taking place each day this week was something of an unprecedented move but you the […]
The Deep Lying Podcast #127: GrassNRoots Management (LLM)
This week on the Deep Lying Podcast, James Jones of footballfancast.com quizzes Chris Darwen of thehighertempopress.com about what it makes to be a good FM18 Lower League Manager. Considering Chris’ recent exploits with AS Cannes, he might not be the right person to ask. The guys also give you nice long list of very cool […]
Scars And Stripes Episode 23: The End Is Nigh
Look at that title, daunting isn’t it? Indeed, the end is nigh but it’s not as negative as it sounds. Basically, I’ve made a decision on my future with Atlanta United and it’s going to come to a close – this is my last full season. I think I’ve done fairly well, haven’t I? Well, […]
Letou Decide: Mlog 16th March
It’s been a good week in the world of #LetouDecide with all the polls and Swans fans casting their votes. The team is set now but look over that tomorrow in the preview, today it’s the traditional pre-match press conference. Apparently, there are 13 journalists in the room so here’s hoping for some decent questions. […]
FM18: 5 Things to Do to Assess your Squad
It’s quite well known that squad building is one of my favourite aspects of our beloved game. How you do this is ultimately personal preference though, but one aspect is always consistent – assessing the current playing staff. How can you do this though? Well, it’s not too hard if you know what you’re doing. […]
Cherry Picking – AFC Bournemouth Episode Six
Welcome back to Cherry Picking, where I will be attempting to turn AFC Bournemouth into something slightly more than ‘that plucky south coast side’. If you’ve been following the series so far, then you’ll probably be sharing a mutual feeling with me: one of complete and utter astonishment. Not only have I pulled the side […]
Letou Decide: Forward March
This week we’ve been through the goalkeepers, the Swansea defence and the midfield. That leaves just the forward line. In all honesty, it’s the area of the team I’m least concerned with because we do have quality options. Each one of our strikers has at least 12 goals this season, whichever partnership wins the vote […]
Vive la Révolution Part XVII: Je suis un échec
“Oui, je suis un échec” I found myself saying to the microphone in my last press conference at AS Cannes. And it was true. I had failed, therefore I am a failure. When I rocked up on the French Riviera I was young, full of hope. I promised Ligue 1 football, that was a given. After a while, […]
Making Blackburn Great Again – Episode #4
When I first heard that we were due to hit by the ‘Beast from the East’ last week, I thought Pavel Pogrebnyak was coming to town. But it turned out that it was just a bit of snow. A full 6 inches at my door meant I was homebound on Wednesday, with minimal food in […]
Letou Decide: Deep In The Midfield
Welcome back to #LetouDecide and the choice for today as we prepare to meet Reading on Sunday is for the midfield combination. We’ll lay four across the middle of the park but the personnel is very much up to your call. As we have eight players to consider, this will be an image-centric edition of […]
Tempo 10 – Creative Forces
With the announcement of the Tempo10 receiving its own listing on iTunes, SoundCloud, Acast and almost everywhere else the boys are back excited to talk Number 10s. In what some may call a 10/10 Tempo10 with a top 10 listing in Denmark, the guys discuss the whos, whats and hows when it comes to setting […]
Canary Corner – Part 15
Welcome back. It’s the end of season 5 and we’ve still got a lot to play for. Our Champions League campaign has a chance of continuing after a win over Milan in group stage 2, the upcoming double header with Lille will be pivotal to our progress there. We’re in the FA Cup 5th round, […]
Beating Nuno – Chapter Five: Up For The Cup
Welcome back to one and all to another edition of ‘Beating Nuno’. With Wolves sitting pretty at the top of the table in the second-tier of English football, I felt it would be suitable to pit my wits against Nuno Espirito Santo to see whether he was doing a really, really good job or it […]