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CM0102: Walking in a Windsor Wonderland – ECQ 2004 Part 1
So, after a less than stellar start to my Northern Ireland career, we now prepare for the first full campaign under my control. It is at this point that virtual life truly splits from reality as our fixtures now follow a different path from the historical. Euro 2004 preparations see us paired against our nearest […]
Tempo10 Ep8: Did you even realise we’ve been away?
Chris, Matt and Mike return from their summer holidays together to mindlessly fill over ten minutes of your day talking about FM17, CM01/02 and, of course, a little bit of FM18. Chris realises his co-hosts are shocking at the game. Enjoy, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @thehighertempo
Segundo Volante: A New Role for FM18
SEGUNDO VOLANTE New Season, New Role So, here we are. The Football Manager 2018 Beta was announced on Friday 27th October and included in the new game are several new player roles. We all love a player role, don’t we? Whether it’s your inside forward, false nine or inverted wing-back, we all have our own […]
Rivalità Tra Fratelli, Episode 29: February ‘20
This is the story of two brothers, a modern-day Cain versus Abel if you will, based now in the Allianz Stadium. 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 B), Spain (La […]
Porto Manager steps down after disappointing end to the season
The 2024/25 season ended in disappointment for Porto and their fans as they once again failed to qualify for the Champions League. It also appears that they will be seeking a new manager as they head into the summer as the current boss has chosen to step aside. Despite confidence in his ability being low, […]
Tempo Tactics: El Pibe
“a pibe with a dirty face, a mane of hair rebelling against the comb; with intelligent, roving, trickster and persuasive eyes and a sparkling gaze that seem to hint at a picaresque laugh that does not quite manage to form on his mouth, full of small teeth that might be worn down through eating ‘yesterday’s […]
CM0102: Walking in a Windsor Wonderland – WCQ 2002
Championship Manager 01/02 has often been lauded as one of the best editions of the FM/CM series. With the ability to download and play the game (free and legally), I have decided to set myself a challenge that is a little different from anything I have done before. It is 14th July 2001 and Northern […]
The Young and the Old: Part 3
Back on Track After some disappointing performances last time out, particularly against Chievo, it was important to get off to a flyer this week.The first game of Part 3 in this Young and Old series was away at Carpi. I decided to switch things up slightly with a 4-2-3-1 formation, spearheaded by The first game […]
Southampton’s Black Box: Part 11 (Closing)
Welcome to the eleventh and final part of the Southampton Black Box save. Recent commitments have severely reduced my time available to commit to this save, and I don’t want to put out any content that isn’t something I’m proud of publishing. That being said, I want to take this opportunity to wrap-up the series […]
11 Players who need an upgrade in FM18
Football Manager 18 is being hotly anticipated by management fans everywhere, but the attributes given to top players by the professional scouts used by the game will also be under scrutiny. Whether they’ve had their first breakout season or have been criminally under-rated by the game, here’s a list of 11 players who desperately need […]
Taste The Feeling: Episode 22 – Conclusion Part 3
How does this affect results? Obviously operating such a conveyor belt system of players (explored in parts 1 + 2 if you haven’t caught up!) isn’t ideal in terms of stability but I was hoping that the player quality (that itself would be boosted by the increased finances we’d likely see each season) would see […]
AS MoneyCo – Episode Eight
It’s transfer time. First things first, Radamel Falcao is listed with a desired fee of around £20 million. Then Danijel Subasic is offered about again as Predrag Rajkovic has taken his spot, and Kamil Glik attracts interest from almost all of the European elite. In the real world, you’d have been able to get great […]
The Wandering Eagle Part 7: April ’17
Thirty days and seven matches, that’s how long we’ll have to wait until we know for sure in which division we will be playing. We have been doing well as of late and I’m confident our seven point gap with the relegation zone is enough to see us prevail. But complacency has no place in […]
11 Teams Who Will Struggle In Football Manager 2018
Did you see the frost this morning? A little condensation on your window? Mist across the motorway on the drive into work? The clocks go back all too soon. X Factor has started and suddenly we’re into single figures for weeks until Christmas. Before you know it November 10th will be upon us and Football […]
Taste The Feeling – Episode 22 – Conclusion Part 2
Finances Implementing such a model (shown in part 1) saw a huge upturn in finances for a majority of the clubs involved. Antwerp Coca-Cola Antwerp are now the richest club in the Belgian league by far, with a bank balance of just over £200m in May 2029 with a weekly wage budget of over £1.6m – of […]
Rivalità Tra Fratelli, Episode 28: January ‘20
This is the story of two brothers, a modern-day Cain versus Abel if you will, based now in the Allianz Stadium. 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 B), Spain (La […]
Porto managers’ position under threat after cup exits
Bookmakers are shortening the odds on Porto replacing their manager before the end of what looks to be another trophyless season. The boss, who is coming to the end of his second full season in charge, looked a dejected man as he clapped the fans who supported the team following their latest defeat away to […]
AS MoneyCo: Episode Seven
It is now April. Monaco sit outside the top three, and Champions League qualification is very unlikely. Europa League qualification is plausible, but that will mean Bernardo Silva is on his way out of the club in the summer. Our form had improved, though. Sticking with my control 4-2-3-1 on a regular basis and willingness […]
The Young and the Old: Part 2
Slow Beginnings The Serie A kicked off this week for the Young and Old side, against tricky visitors Torino. These opening weeks are going to include some poor performances, as the team gels and I figure out how best to integrate youth and experience. The opening game saw my preferred 4-4-1-1 formation, which sees Dries […]
11 clubs to manage in Football Manager 2018
Another summer has come and gone, and with it the newest edition of Football Manager comes into the view. The popular opinion of Transfer Deadline Day is to baulk at the huge sums and the mercenaries touting themselves from club to club – for Football Manager fans it is an opportunity for one club or […]
Taste The Feeling: Episode 22 – Conclusion Part 1
It’s been 5 real life months since I last updated you (unless you’re in #tastethefeeling on slack!) on how my Taste The Feeling save is going. In case you missed it first time around (if you did, take a read of the series from the beginning by clicking my name and going back to the […]
AS MoneyCo – Episode Six
So here we are. We pick the series back up after my Monaco side trounced FC Metz 5-0 to keep us in the European battle. Soon followed our return to continental action with a Europa League clash against Celta Vigo. It was an away fixture first up, and my 5-2-3 worked to perfection. Radamel Falcao […]
To Dare Is To Do Episode 54
FM17 Tottenham Hotspur FC To Dare Is To Do | #54 Season Review | Let’s Play Football Manager 2017 Welcome to a Football Manager series on my channel that’s right its Tottenham Hotspur. Today we go through the season that was 2018-2019. Join me on this adventure on football manager 2017. Thanks for coming to […]
The Wandering Eagle Part 6: March ’17
Going into the month of March, I’m feeling quietly confident about our chances of survival. We’ve lost just one of our last seven games and are three points away from the relegation zone. This month we’ll mostly face mid table sides and I feel points are to be had in the coming weeks. First up […]
11 things to do before you play a match in FM18
“Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin can openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance… …but why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life: I chose […]
Memories of the Multi-Player Experience
Given the large volume of active and notoriously dedicated devotees, it might sound strange that Football Manager has never become an online multiplayer behemoth in the vein of a WarCraft or a CounterStrike. The structure of the game couldn’t lend itself more perfectly to an online platform, and as talk within the gaming industry hints […]
Rivalità Tra Fratelli, Episode 27: December ‘19
This is the story of two brothers, a modern-day Cain versus Abel if you will, based now in the Allianz Stadium. 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 B), Spain (La […]
Difficult January leaves Porto outside the European places
Porto’s lack of attacking threat has left them seriously lacking in the Premier League and, unless things change quickly, could miss out on European football next season. They currently lie 7th in the table and are four points away from even a Europa League spot. It is then a further three-point gap to the Champions […]
To Dare Is To Do Episode 53
FM17 Tottenham Hotspur FC To Dare Is To Do | #53 Talking Tactics | Let’s Play Football Manager 2017 Welcome to a Football Manager series on my channel thats right its Tottenham Hotspur. Today were talking tactics after a request from a viewer, you can see my tactic in the steam workshop Join me on […]
AS MoneyCo: Episode Five
We’re back for Episode Five in the depths of winter and with a firmly chilly air around my squad after a poor run of results. With the build-up to the showdown with PSG underway, interest appeared for Valere Germain. The 26-year-old had started just three Ligue 1 matches and, with his ceiling clearly limited, was […]
The young and the old: Part 1
Peak Performing Players There is an obsession in football with signing players during their peak years. Football Manager tends to remind us that these years are between the ages of 24-30 for attackers, and a little later for defensive players. While it is obvious that players do tend to enjoy their highest performing seasons during […]
Classic Championship Manager: Scotland on the Road to Euro 2004 Part VI
It’s a pivotal day in my career as Scotland manager. These boys are like family to me, we’ve been through a lot together. But now, I need us to find a way of beating Spain at Hampden Park to avoid the dreaded playoffs. Here’s a reminder of how the table looks: We got beaten 3-0 […]
11 international teams to manage on FM18
International management has always been a bit underrated in the FM series. Many see it as too boring to really offer them a challenge. However, there are a lot of fun challenges to be had in the international arena. In this post I’ll name 11 of the most exciting challenges, in my opinion, hopefully enough […]
AS MoneyCo – Episode Four
So, we’re in late November and Monaco are unbeaten since August. It’s been a drawfest unfortunately, but racking up a long run without a defeat is always satisfying. There were signs we could be getting on a roll. Having confirmed our group win with a match to spare in the Europa League, we look a […]
My Best XI of FM2017
With FM2017’s life cycle coming to a close I wanted to look back over my season playing it and pick out some of the highlights. In terms of trophies and titles, it has been slim pickings. With the teams I have written about I did not enjoy the greatest amount of success but keeping Burnley […]
The Wandering Eagle Part 5: February ’17
We start the month on a very sour note: Although he needs around 419 chances to score, Madden has been in lethal form since I took the reins at the Iron. He has scored an incredible 8 times in 9 matches and will be missed. His replacement for now will be Kevin van Veen, of […]
11 Favourite Players from FM17
Whether its Robinho in FM07, Gonzalo Higuain in FM10 or Dimitri Payet in FM14, there are always those players that you know you can turn to in Football Manager, when you need guaranteed performances, regardless of their real-life ability. Here is a list of 11 favourites from Football Manager 17. Sandro Ramirez Sandro Ramirez, now […]
Rivalità Tra Fratelli, Episode 26: November ‘19
This is the story of two brothers, a modern-day Cain versus Abel if you will, based now in the Allianz Stadium. 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 B), Spain (La […]
Porto fall behind early on in the title race and may ‘focus on the cups’
Porto’s poor start to the league campaign may force the manager to consider making other competitions a priority. When he first joined the club he made it his aim to get Porto back to the top of Portuguese football. After finishing second last season their fans had hoped to challenge and go one better but […]
To Dare Is To Do Episode 52
FM17 Tottenham Hotspur FC To Dare Is To Do | #52 Ultimate Finale | Let’s Play Football Manager 2017 Welcome to a Football Manager series on my channel thats right its Tottenham Hotspur. Today we take on Barcelona in the Champions League Final at Old Trafford, can we make history and win the Champions League […]
Boeren, Boeren PSV: The season that was…
A season that collapsed in the end run but had some pride spared by a KNVB Beker Final victory over title usurpers Ajax. Time to look back and summarise it all. Eredivisie – 2nd Place It was a monumental collapse at the end of the season. PSV, having led for 21 games of the season, […]
Brexit Premier League: Part 8
The Inevitable Yes, it is over. I was told of my sacking while continuing on the 1st of January, as the bar that told me my next opponent changed to tell me of available jobs. I finished my reign with a pitiful 8 points, and I have no one to blame except myself, the players, […]
6 pointer already: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 81
Ungheni are the team predicted to go down with us from the Moldovan top flight. The thought of playing them just now, on the back of a disastrous opener, made me feel sick in the stomach. As I made the short rail journey from Taraclia, where I rent an apartment, to Ceadir Lunga, where the […]
To Dare Is To Do Episode 51
FM17 Tottenham Hotspur FC To Dare Is To Do | #51 Off To Wembley | Let’s Play Football Manager 2017 Welcome to a Football Manager series on my channel thats right its Tottenham Hotspur. Today we take on Manchester United at Wembley in the FA Cup Final, can we complete a league and cup double […]
1.53 Boeren, Boeren PSV: Eredivisie Title Run-In
Pre-Match Buoyed by their KNVB Beker Final exploits against Ajax, PSV are raring to go in the penultimate league game of the season. PSV know they are now relying on results elsewhere, a win for Ajax over Vitesse will spell the end of their pursuit of this season’s Eredivisie title. PSV are the bookmakers’ favourites […]
Nice problem to have: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 80
I was sitting with Iurie Priganiuc (our assistant manager) at the little bistro-style round table in my office that I use for informal meetings. I hate talking to people from behind my old Soviet-era office desk. We were discussing rather a nice problem. In our previous match (in the cup, versus a lower division side) […]
#FM18 Tempo Thoughts
Hello from Tempo Towers. Not long now, eh? It’ll be here before we know it. No, not Christmas. FM18. It seems that the “community” are doing loads of cool reveals about what they will be doing once the new game hits the laptop screen so I thought we should probably stumble along somewhat aimlessly and […]
AS MoneyCo – Episode Three
The season was not off to a great start for my young Monaco squad. Radamel Falcao had been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and poor finishing was complemented by misfortune to hold my side back. A mere three days after the Sassuolo frustration, Stade Rennais fans were treated to a trip to Monte Carlo. […]
Biggest match in town: Anglo-Saxan Chronicle 79
I had mixed feelings in the run-up to our 2nd round Moldovan tie against third-tier Ceadir Lunga, with whom we share a ground. On the one hand, as a top-tier side, we should beat them: that could turn things around for us, getting out of a rut and with luck giving a chance to build […]
The Wandering Eagle Part 4.2: January ’17
We get the opportunity to break the unhelpful habit of not converting our chances when we face Northampton Town, the big surprise of the season at 6th place. They play a revolutionary strikerless formation, which is almost unheard of at this level. Manager Robert Page is either a visionary or an evil madman bent on […]