Best football management sim on the market (Football Manager 2007 (PC))

Member Name: rassling

Product:	Football Manager 2007 (PC)
Date:	04/10/07 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Depth/scale, detail, match engine, AI

Disadvantages: Can run a little slowly

I'll be honest from the off - I absolutely love this game, and if I didn't have a job I'm sure I could lose vast quantities of my life to it. The premise, in case you don't know, is simple - take on the role of manager at the professional (or semi-pro) club of your choice, and try and guide them to greatness. You are in charge of buying and selling players, sorting out contracts for players and staff, setting training schedules and tactics, dealing with the press, motivating your players, all the while trying to ensure that you get results and keep the board and the fans on your side.

You can choose to start from the bottom (Sutton Utd anyone?) and work your way up - if you are successful, bigger clubs will take an interest in you when they have a vacancy - or just opt to manage Real Madrid straight away. What is impressive is the vast scope of the game - if you really feel so inclined, you can go off and manage a side in an obscure Oriental League somewhere, or similar.

The AI is good, and responds to what you do, and keeping your players happy is part of the challenge and seems to be about as realistic, in the context of professional football now. Some people have criticised the 2D match engine - I like it a lot. It's clean, and clear what is going on, and realistic. This game doesn't need lots of fancy 3D to be good.

So what niggles? Only very minor ones, to my mind. Unless you are running a VERY fast computer or a fairly limited number of leagues, it can take a while to 'think'. The team-talk options could do with a bit more variety. And it would be nice if the board could release the transfer budget a bit earlier in the summer! That's about it.

If you know your football and you want a well thought out, in depth management game, then look no further. Well, until FT 2008 comes out..

Summary: Fantastic attention to detail means FT 2007 is ridiculously addictive.