The Higher Tempo Press
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Rivalità Tra Fratelli, Episode 5
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 […]
The Vagabonds: Part 2
So here we are! Squad sorted. System sorted. Now it’s time to see if literally any of it actually works. Naturally, in what is hopefully not a portent of things to come, we lose our opening league game against Accrington Stanley (who are they?). The game itself isn’t too bad and we play well enough […]
Splashing the cash: defender 14.3
So if Hapoel Ashkelon FC are going to progress from runner-up to champions, I’m going to have to do what I hate doing, which is splashing cash. And I’m going to have to do it much better than I’ve managed to do before — big money signings is something that I’ve always been rubbish at. […]
The Trophy Wife #3
Caryl, our Director of Football, departs on a well deserved holiday while I review the £75,000,000 worth of damage done in the January transfer window. Caryl’s half decent but vastly expensive backups will grace my bench for the rest of the season, while I plod along with my usual lineup. One man who definitely doesn’t […]
Brexit Bournemouth Part 20
I said my next four games would be make or break. I should have been less rigid in outlook; it turned out to be both. The good news is that it’s very much “make” on the league front. Third place Everton are first in line and are seen off 3-0. Adam Smith makes amends for […]
The Return To The Kosovo Journey: World Cup 2022 Qualifying Part 1
Here we are again – World Cup Qualifiers. We’re competing for the chance to China 2022, on account of Qatar being unsuitable. The last time around in World Cup Qualifying we gained 1 point from 10 matches but most importantly it was our first point in officially recognised International Competition. This is our litmus test […]
Mauricio Lemos
Welcome to the review of young defender Mauricio Lemos. Many of you will be familiar with defenders such as Balanta but maybe, like me, you don’t know about Lemos. Well, based on the start of game stats it seems we may have overlooked a possible amazing defender! In this review we take a look and see […]
Just about managing 14.2
Don’t tell the Hapoel Ashkelon FC board, but there’s not much in football management that I’m really good at. But there are a few things. One is low-level signings, by which I mean signing players who: don’t cost much aren’t playing at a high level haven’t achieved much on paper (i.e., in a database) don’t […]
The Boys of Borussia Part VIII
What, no made up conversation with someone else to kick this update off? No, not today. Today we are dealing with FACTS. Read Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII. My second season in charge of Dortmund II has come to an end and, on reflection, has been a decent season all in all. Sure, no […]
Blackpool on a poor run or finding their level?
Is the recent poor run a blip or a return to type for Blackpool FC? Having spent the first 11 league games of the season undefeated Blackpool are now in the midst of a terrible run. They have not picked up a win in the last seven league games and have fallen down the league […]
The Brex’t Episode
Having left Celtic and taken over at Southampton as the United Kingdom left the European Union, it was time to overhaul the new club. After bringing in Emilio De Leo as Assistant Manager and Warren Joyce as Coach, we quickly filled out the rest of the coaching staff. Ruben Jongkind, Phil Neville, Luca D’angeli, David […]
Eibar: An Analytics Story Part Four – Nullifying the Threats
Hello, we are back with Episode 4 of Eibar – An Analytics Story. The Friday episodes are going to be more of update episodes with the obvious statistical and tactical analysis thrown in while the Tuesday episodes are going to focus on one specific thing. This can be one player, one part of a Tactic, […]
The Return To The Kosovo Journey: UEFA Nations League Division C – 2020
So, we’ve taken a break and returned with our feet firmly on the ground following our Euro 2020 outing. I pleased that we managed to go and actually get a win out there despite the odds being against us but I do feel there’s still more to come from us. We set up for the […]
To Dare Is To Do #16
FM17 Tottenham Hotspur FC To Dare Is To Do | #16 Wembley Return | Let’s Play Football Manager 2017 Today we take on Manchester United in the FA Cup Semi Final! Can we win and make it to the FA Cup Final? Join me on this adventure on Football Manager 2017. Thanks for coming to […]
The Boys of Borussia Part VII
“I don’t care if he is likely to leave in the summer, this is not a good thing for me. There is no way they will give me the job yet, no way at all. My best hope is that they don’t find someone that might stick around for the next decade. This isn’t how […]
#Tempo10 Episode 2: Toby Tarrant’s beard, playing with Charlie and blue ticks…
First of all, don’t start expecting a daily podcast because you will only be disappointed. But, we are back sooner than expected with an interview that was an absolute pleasure to record. Toby Tarrant, otherwise known as the son of Trevor McDonald, does the early-breakfast show on Radio X and is one of the best […]
Tactical Balance in FM17
Follow @DistanceCovered on Twitter for more. Introduction People enjoy playing Football Manager for different reasons, such as signing players, managing their favourite clubs or winning major trophies. Personally, I consider the tactical side of the game to be hugely rewarding, and it adds a completely different element once it’s understood thoroughly by the user. Often […]
Brexit Bournemouth Part 19
Before we get the 2019/2020 season underway, there’s some big news from upstairs: Our new gaffe is ready for us to move into permanently after two seasons of playing in Hertfordshire and it seats a touch over 20,000 people. I’m excited to see that the ground has been futureproofed with the potential to double in […]
#FMSlack Q&A with @comeontheoviedo
Monday was the next in our series of Q&A’s with the content creators of the Higher Tempo Press. This week was the turn of site creator, editor and writer of the Boys of Borussia Chris Darwen. Writer of ‘Searching the Stats’ Reids kicked things off by asking a few Football manager related questions, What’s been […]
Board in the USA 22: Threepeat
Board in the USA 22: Threepeat This is it. The last season update you will get to read about Atlanta United, with the immensely partnership of Avery and Theiler, creating a dynasty. Let’s skip the pleasantries and see how we did. North American Champions League 2020 For those paying attention, we breezed through the NACL […]
Onwards and upwards 14.1
Six years have passed — six summers, with the length Of six long winters. Adapted from William Wordsworth’s ‘Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey’ Despite winning the Israeli Premier League Toto Cup in 2023, Hapoel Ashkelon’s league season fell apart. We reached safety only in the final fixture of the season. That […]
Tempo Does YouTube!
What, wait? Podcasts and YouTube kicking off on the same day? Sack your scheduler! Well you can never have too much of a good thing (yeah alright, stop laughing) and we are taking the brave steps into the world of YouTube as well. Take a look at our welcome video below and make sure you […]
#Tempo10 Episode One: Ten minutes on MLS with Avery
OK, OK – Episode One and we slightly went over ten minutes but don’t let that stop you listening to the very first Tempo10. Chris is joined by our resident MLS expert @avery1822 and he tries to persuade Chris as to why managing in the MLS is a good thing. How much convincing can be […]
Run, Forest! Run! Part 8: January Hymn
Happy New Year everybody! Let’s hope 2017 will bring Nottingham Forest much joy and success. To show him I really do enjoy having him around, I give my assistant David Byrne a grilled cheese maker which burns the name CLOUGH into his bread. You know what? I think I’ll give everyone such an apparatus. Except […]
Searching the Stats v3.3
Episode 3 – Midfield Part 1 Episode 1 – Introduction and full-backs Episode 2 – Centre-backs In episode 3 we’re going to look at the type of qualities we need from our central midfield. We decided in episode 1 that we’ll be going with a box to box midfielder, a ball-winning midfielder (D) and a […]
Brexit Bournemouth Part 18
With the third season put to bed, it’s time to do some analysis to inform our business over the summer so we can build on that third place finish last time out. Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s assess how we stacked up against our guiding principles: 1. Only scout, sign and use players and […]
My Ode to Oliver Burke
I had a watch of FootyGamer89’s video last month taking a look at how Burke developed in his simmed save. Of course, it’s that we need to keep in mind. It was a simmed save for the purpose of checking out how he develops in that environment. No offence is intended towards my fellow Higher Tempo […]
Board in the USA 21: Just Keep it Together
Board in the USA 21: Just Keep it Together This update will take us through the transfer deadline prior to the 2020 season. Also, shameless plug: if you’re not convinced from reading these updates that MLS is for you, do check out the latest podcast The Tempo Ten. In the first episode, I attempt to […]
Red cards, the management of
On the FM space on Slack I see lots of managers bemoaning red cards. My first response is to sympathise. Red cards can be sickening. One player’s irresponsibility can throw away a match and, with it, perhaps even a season. Yes, Anthony Grant, I’m looking at you. Remembering especially when you were one of four […]
Post-Brexit Saints: A New Challenge
After three years at Celtic building an all-British squad, finding success both domestically and in Europe along the way, it was time to move on. With the United Kingdom on the cusp of leaving the European Union, let’s find out what happened next… Handing in my resignation at Celtic left me with mixed emotions. I […]
COYW! Season 1, August
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. August Bleep Bleep Bleep. The early morning alarm awakens me from my slumber. North Wales is the destination of todays opening game. Wrexham, who were a Football […]
Brexit Bournemouth Part 17
We may have claimed another trophy for our ever-expanding collection of delightfully pure English silverware after that EFL Cup final win against Palace, but there’s plenty to play for in the rest of the season. With three months, and three competitions, still to go, it’s shaping up to be a hectic run-in. There truly is […]
Match Analysis: RB Leipzig vs Manchester United, Champions League Semi Final
This match saw head coach Ed Wilson and his RB Leipzig side welcome English giants Manchester United to Germany for this Champions League Match. The German side have become well known in European circles over recent years for their commitment to fast vertical attacking football whilst their opponents Manchester United still favour a style of play more […]
Board in the USA 20: Done it Again
Board in the USA 20: Done it Again Where we last left off, we made it to the MLS Playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year. We were looking to retain our title as MLS champions. Unfortunately, we are without our star playmaker Miguel Almiron, who has been plagued with injury the entire season. We strolled […]
Making love to agents: a guide
Judging from discussion on the FM space on Slack: there is little attention paid to agents; what attention there is takes the form of annoyance, frustration, or disgust. All they do is take your money! Well, my experience of agents outside football makes me question that. As a publisher I have had to deal with […]
Eibar: An Analytics Story Part 3
Hey Boys and Girls and everyone else, Eibar is back. Like I promised last time around, we are going to talk about the long time goals of the series including some short-term targets. Let’s get straight into it. Be a Basque Force Imagine if you are a Basque player and there are several clubs that […]
Run, Forest! Run! Part 7: A Long December
This month is going to be crucial. We’re facing our arch rivals and the biggest team in the league twice. It’s not going to be easy and we need everyone sharp as nails. I’m a bit disturbed by the collapse against Barnsley. We totally fell apart in a way I haven’t seen this season. I […]
Brexit Bournemouth Part 16
We start the new year as we mean to go on – needlessly pissing away points against bang average sides. Norwich City are the lucky recipients of our generosity. Haris Seferovic, a big Swiss oaf, a man whose first touch makes it look like he’s wearing concrete boots, bullies Steve Cook and scores a header […]
Rivalità Tra Fratelli, Episode 4
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 […]
Pulling the Rabat out of the Fez #2: Signings Just Becouscous
Sometimes I question my own mind. Like, how can I be so stupid? For example, the other day, when setting up a new career mode on FIFA, I contrived to not only spell my surname wrong but not notice the error until I’m halfway through the transfer window. Fortunately, that’s the worst of virtual Stoke […]
How about the Israeli Premier League?
If you look at the calendar on your wall, you may be under the impression that the year is 2017. And if you look on Wikipedia, you may think that the manager of the Israeli Premier League (IPL) club, Hapoel Ashkelon FC, is Yuval Naim. But you’d be wrong on both counts. It’s 2031 and […]
Brexit Bournemouth Part 15
Things were different. Oh boy, were they different. I was brave and decided to stick to my 3-5-2, rather than adjusting to try and combat their superior attacking force, and I was rewarded. Inside half an hour we were 1-0 up, Jordan Rossiter thundering in a half volley when Surman’s blocked shot looped off Smalling’s […]
Disciple of the Rafalution Part I
The Gospel according to Rafa Prologue In 2004, I was 12 years old and I watched with intrigue and excitement as David Moores sat beside Rafael Benitez, introducing him to all as the new manager of Liverpool Football Club. The Spaniard arrived on Merseyside having taken Valencia to two La Liga titles and the UEFA […]
Brexit Stage Left
After following up last season’s fantastic exploits with an incredible first half of the season, what did the rest of the campaign have in store for our Celtic heroes? Let’s find out… We pick up where we left off, with the January 2019 transfer window about to open. It was an underwhelming month for the […]
Free-to-enter competition 7.13
Free-to-enter because there’s no prize, other than kudos. But kudos is worth having, so don’t go. Elidiano signed for Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Ashkelon FC in early 2022. That season he made 7 starts and 3 appearances as a substitute, scoring 3 goals. His average match rating was 6.8. In the summer he was […]
The Boys of Borussia Part VI
So, we’re back. The board were so happy with me they gave me a new two-year deal. Not that that means much in modern football, right? That said, if Moyes can keep his job after that season at Sunderland I am not going anywhere. One thing I do enjoy as much as I hate about […]
Blackpool’s top scorer makes a return to form
Last year’s League Two top scorer Jack Redshaw finally returns to form as Blackpool remain unbeaten After scoring just once in eight games at the start of the season, last season’s main man Redshaw has now scored seven in six games. It is a welcome return to form as the fans at Bloomfield Road had […]
COYW: Season 1, Part 2
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. PRE-SEASON ( cont ) Sitting in my office, i use the term office loosely seeing as its a portacabin in the corner of a field which is […]
The Boys of Borussia Part V
‘You are doing what? You utter bastard. You don’t even have a game. Yes, I do want your effing job one day. But I don’t think you really need to try sabotage, do you? Oh eff off, why does anyone need three goalkeepers training in a squad when you lot are all pissing off on […]
Slack FC: Season 1, July – September 2016
Welcome back to another instalment in the story of 23 young footballers with a dream. Slack FC has been founded, hired a manager and the club is ready to make a name for itself. Things are looking rosey for the club, but it’s a big bad footballing world out there, and I’m sure that many […]