This Can Ruin Your Health (Football Manager 2005 (PC))

Member Name: utero

Product:	Football Manager 2005 (PC)
Date:	11/07/05 (147 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: More good additions, improved interface, seems to load quicker

Disadvantages: Incredibly addictive

I grew out of playing games quite some time ago, back in the day when Sega Megadrive’s were still the rage and Sonic 2’s Day was the highlight of the gaming calendar. However there is one kind of game that has got me hooked and continues to consume insane amounts of my time. That game is Championship Manager or as this latest version is called – Football Manager 2005. Having played Championship Manager 4 for quite some time it was a very addictive game but one that could be improved upon.

I’m glad to say that the maker’s have added little bits and pieces to this new incarnation to fuel your management lust. For those that don’t know what the game is about, well the title says it all. You are the manager of a football team, you pick the players, you make the transfer moves and you have to take the heat when things aren’t going so well. The beauty of the game is that there are numerous ways you can get enjoyment out of it. You can choose to start in the lower leagues where money is tight, or you can go in as Chelsea, spend millions and probably become an instant success.

The 2005 version’s interface has improved quite a bit. At first it was difficult to get to grips with having come from Version 4 but once you’re accustomed then everything can be controlled with a few clicks. One of the biggest thrills for me in the game is spending the transfer kitty, buying players, taking risks. This version offers a few more additions in that area. You can now offer better contract options to players and it seems to be a bit more realistic. In the last version at times it would be tough to negotiate with players, as they wanted extraordinary amounts in salary before they would accept terms. This one seems to have cut out the greedy agents and not modelled itself on the real thing! Transfer fees also seem a bit more realistic. For example as manager of Norwich City I negotiated a deal with Chelsea for Carlton Cole. Their valuation was £6M for a player with little first team experience. As you can now offer more incentives based on player performance, it wasn’t long before Cole was a Canary. Another option I like is the option to remove deadwood from your squad, offering mutual termination on contracts is a good way of offloading players rather than constantly offering them around to other clubs. Should you wish, you can install the game with the option of having player’s faces on their records. Personally I don’t go for this but some people might like to put a name to the face.

Another new addition is media interaction. Here you can be approached by members of the press and asked questions. How you answer can affect your status in the game. You could adopt a friendly nature or be a complete git. It’s good for making friends with opposing managers, or you may wish to rile up the opposition. It doesn’t add much to the game in my opinion other than making you feel slightly more important. Yes I’m one of those who actually get into the game and pretend it’s all for real and I’m the new Jose! I’m sure many others do to.

Interestingly enough certain players seem to come with real life attributes. For example you could buy Lauren Robert, like the real thing he can disrupt the team and be erratic in his performances. For me, he actually ranks as the worst money I’ve spent. But not every player comes with a true to life performance. You can’t expect to buy the players that actually belong to your real life team and expect them to perform like their real life counterparts. For example in the game, Norwich City’s own Mattias Jonson is a regular goal machine. Sadly this hasn’t been the case in real life just yet!
The makers of the game have done everything right. They’ve not really screwed with a winning formula. Pretty much everything is the same as previous versions, just with small additions that enhance your enjoyment of the game. It’s certainly worth the £15 you can currently pick it up for but just prepare yourself for being a recluse. Once you start you can’t really stop.

For the next version I’d like to see a bit more expansion on the media side of things where perhaps major incidents can threaten the stability of your season. Say for example, a fight breaks out on the pitch between players. You could then be given the options on how to handle the situation. I’d also like to see more additions into player negotiations where you could offer more incentives, contract options etc so you can set out a gameplan for financial stability. Also the scouting system could be better improved with perhaps the option to set-up a world wide scouting network.

We’ll see, but so far I’m happy having lead Charlton away from relegation and into Europe. As for my beloved Norwich City, well after two seasons of moderate success they sacked me when things weren’t going so well.

May they burn in hell!

Summary: The Daddy of Football Management Sims