Dan

Away win

Right they've got me two 5 star free agents wanting about £100 a week in a day. Fair play I'm moved.

Hadn't even noticed this. Just created one for a young CB so lets see what they get for me. This?

Honestly think I prefer just jumping into crap sides as there's less pressure and it's never quite as easy as people think taking over someone good, but within reason I guess. These are bad but they're probably about League One level if anything and there isn't huge pressure, I'm not likely to be sacked (providing I never name 5 players in a game again).

I think the key thing was adding more defensive roles in midfield. There was an instance in the Iraklis cup game as well where I had the ball and I had no joke four players within five yards of each other which was completely laughable and an instant tactic overhaul for me. I think just tweak it somewhat. I'm not saying I've broken the game by any means but I think even in friendlies against dross you can often tell if it's effective or not - you'll always beat them but it's about how resounding it is and even though the APOEL win was a touch fortunate we took the other two apart where we wouldn't have done before. 2/2 wins in the league backs it up but the third game is very tricky. It seems to be a bit less forgiving tactically which, again, I see as a good thing. Did a save with Telstar in Holland on 24 at the end and I played a high line in pretty much every game for about 8 seasons. I should be going to Ajax and PSV and getting slaughtered and we ended up beating both with the worst team in the division. I didn't get beaten by 4 goals once on the whole save I don't think and it's already happened here. My advice on tactics would be go as basic as possible if you're unsure and then just tweak it from there where you see flaws. I didn't use a preset so I'm quite happy with the outcomes so far.

I never do as well with Leicester as I do with anyone else and I can only conclude it is because I do act with some sort of preconceived bias about our current players. I always found Schmeichel absolutely useless on the game as well and getting form out of a goalkeeper is definitely harder than other positions, yet I couldn't really get rid of him. Think the one time I actually did well was when I did sell him and bought Livakovic. I've noticed some of the bugs already including a corker in my first ever game on FM26. Some of the bugs off the top of my head are subbed players numbers being the same as the sub coming on (this seems minor but it's quite annoying when you don't know the players), certain situations where the 'down' button doesn't work, match details not loading etc... however..... So usually when I play FM I will just delegate my friendlies to my assistant. I will generally get them to pick the team as I can't be arsed to do the rotation unless the season is fairly imminent and for some reason the rotation has missed out X player who has no match sharpness. For some reason the game always wants you to build your tactic before you get going and I got half way through doing my team before deciding I'll just let the assistant do it actually. So it got to the first friendly. We're playing a team called Aigaleo who are in our league, so a decent test of where we're at. I click on the team selection advice and just use that team, dive into the game. Turns out this button is now bugged and when I've gotten half way through naming my team, they have literally only named five players in the team. We lose the game 16-0. It's funny but it's just a joke how they haven't fixed things like this in two years. Played another friendly and won 2-1 against a 3rd tier side having 27 shots so a good sign for my tactic. I've basically retained the whole idea of just playing a bit aggressively because I never thought FM24 really punished you enough for this. Well I soon found out in a cup game against Iraklis who were 4-0 up against us after 25 minutes and ended up beating us 5-1. What I realised is I really was way too lax with the out of possession instructions. Didn't even bother with screening, tracking etc... and it showed. Fixed this and went and beat APOEL 3-0 (somehow), thrashed another two third tier sides and then won my first two league games 0-3 and 2-0 so we actually look decent. I'm finding a target man useful, that Paixao I showed above actually looks really effective doing this. I've been a 2D classic player for years on this but I've finally switched this year, didn't like the 2D classic as the directional arrows on the players just constantly hide the ball and the ongoing 2D graphic in non-highlights is actually really useful. I really like the ME so far but I'm sure I'll find the irritants and things that are unrealistic / repetitive in time. I'm not a lover of the UI but I'm giving it a bit of a benefit of the doubt until I've played it for a while as I often don't like them early doors. It's definitely missing some things I like - missing having the director of football recommended signings etc.. but I think I'll get used to it and actually playing games rather than pissing around searching players all day is getting me hooked into it again. Sorry, this became a bit of a review when it wasn't meant to be but yeah on the whole I actually quite like this. Rare that I defend Jacobson but I think he's got a point about giving it time before enjoying. I do think some of the bugs are unacceptable though - they really have no excuse this year, they've had two years! But yeah on the whole I'm enjoying it. Until Kalamata slap us obviously.

They're bizarrely bad now. Like legit bottom 10 in Europe. How are they this bad?

Got a real eye on them now. Smash it.

They aren't that good and don't think they'll stay this high in the table but don't think you have to be.

This is what I mean - I'd rather all of this was just on one page rather than having to keep flicking. He is our one striker as well. Be interested to see if he's actually any use. Quality player in some ways for this level but probably won't be able to get any chances. Maybe I'm giving the 2nd tier of Greece too much credit.

I think with Leicester I always fumble it because I go into it with way too many pre-conceived ideas that aren't reflected within the game whereas if I take over some slop like I have done I've never heard of a single one of their players so they all get a fair crack. I'd be looking to sell about 15 players if I started with Leicester. Looks like Thomas has got the much overdue downgrade. He was very overpowered beforehand. Anyway the first Athens update: predictably poorly constructed squad. Started going through each player and six of the first eight players were left wingers yet they only have one striker, and he's 40. Couple of pretty good players for this league though and they did get relegated from the top tier last season so I do think I should probably get these up. There are elements of the new UI that I like, some of it is a bit smarter, but certain things are bugging me - players not having an 'attributes' page anymore and instead having to click on a button each time to get the players attributes graph (if people know what I'm referring to). Really annoying as I usually used that as the first thing I looked at before diving into the specific attributes. I'm sure there'll be a skin that has what I'm after though.

Jesus bloody hell this'll take some getting used to. Started as Leicester but got sick of the sight of our players about five minutes in so the wheel spin randomiser is back. We're off to Greece, Athens Kallithea in the 2nd tier.

Scotland have had every bit of luck they could possibly have had in this qualifying group but to go through like that I find it hard to knock them at all, incredible stuff and why you get into football in the first place.

What

He's also given Rudkin a get out of jail card. Absolve him of responsibility.

Correct. It's everything I expected. Extremely confident that it ages terribly and nothing actually improves and think those who think this is some sort of upturn are massively coping.

Bit similar to Sam Allardyce who was quite innovative at the time. Though he fully embraces that rep now.

Was on holiday for that Palace game, was gutted to miss it. God I was so happy when he came back, complete travesty he went in the first place. He left us in a fantastic position, if I was sure he was still up to that I'd have him back in a heartbeat.

They don't help themselves do they.

When I say that the standards at the club have been reduced this is kind of what I'm alluding to - a video of largely nothing, a gradual improvement, is treated the way it is. That's how you know the decline really has kicked in.

This is more like it. More what I was expecting.

Deck chairs titanic.

Think Fulham put paid to that. He was on a bit of a hiding to nothing in all honesty.

Actually agree with this in a very backwards and sadistic way

The whole thing was a massive step backwards from LCFC. We acted really tinpot and desperate putting him above the club. Look how Brighton dealt with De Zerbi for example, who was starting to pull similar tricks.