The FM 2011 Fanatic’s Dreams for An Aesthetic 2014

by eamonn  7/08/2013 | 12:34 2 Posted in FM 2014, Football Manager 13, Hype n News, Possible Features 

Time has been standing still. Standing still for at least two years now. I am stuck in 2011.

Football Manager has managed to stop the clock, the calendar. Time has ceased to move on. Time has acquired its own sense of values, speed, dimension. Even though it is FM 2011, time has skirted through to 2019, and I am still with Wycombe Wanderers.

But, the grapevine has been greased and Football Manager 2014 is soon to be released, and this fanatic, curiously, cannot wait. But why? I have hopes and dreams of some improvements, though not comprehending the changes wrought in 2012 and 2013 – but notwithstanding, I have a few hopes for FM2014.

Now, football oriented minds far superior to mine have already waxed lyrical of their wants and needs and hopes for the new release. To expound upon these views would merely be re-hashing Santa’s Christmas list. But, yes, of course, I would love to see better and more in-depth team talks; individual player heart-to-hearts; training to make a real valid difference for players; and much more diverse questioning during press conferences.

But … I would love for FM2014 to be much more Aesthetically Pleasing ! (as well)

As someone who has taken Christopher Lloyd’s advice in ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ to heart (“play the game, play the game”) – I always play the whole match through – love the match engine ! – I really feel it would be a gem if Sega sharpened up a wee bit in their visual area.

Introduction – Stadium – Walk On

In FM2011, match play begins directly from the kick-off. There are no close-ups of players nor introductions. I just feel it would be nice to see an opening scene outside the stadium, and then switch inside the park to the teams walking out onto the pitch, dissolving to a view of the opening line-ups, similar to the one we see whilst watching the telly. I believe it would be a neat lead in touch and one to really set up the match for those of us  who play the match engine all the way to see how our game plan works (or does not, for that matter – and attempt corrections during the match)

Shirt Numbers and Closeups

In FM2011, we are asked, as manager, to assign shirt numbers to each player – yet just what does this mean ? Not very much, I dare say ! We never see nary one numbered shirt during the match – they very rarely, if ever, come into play. I feel a close-up or two during stoppages in the match – a player scooting over to take a corner – the free kick specialist lingering over a 30 yarder – the goalkeeper brushing the snow flakes from his eyelashes on a cold January night – would add visually to the game. It would also give us a sighting of the shirt / team logo plus a name / number on the back.

Substitutions

Here, I believe, yet another area for visual improvement. In FM2011, we have to be eagle-eyed and very alert to be sure just when the opposition makes a substitution. It turns up on the bottom of the screen on the ticker tape – that is, if it is acknowledged at all. Subs are important ! And many times I have been caught out unawares – the other side may have already made all three of their changes. I feel it would be good, and sensible, to show us the change. For instance, one player coming off over to the bench, and replaced (with a handshake) by the player coming on, and on the screen the numbers and names of the players thus affected should also be shown. This way, we who watch the entire match engine, will know the exact point of the change, and can adjust and adapt immediately, if need be.

 

Press

I would like to see a visual press conference. That is, the manager standing at the podium with various news-hounds in attendance. We could point at each of them for their questions and they would be recognised as either local/national/international from either newspaper/radio/television media. Their questioning would be much more in-depth and diverse than it is now. We would have a much larger range of answers for them as well. As of now, we have the very same BOOORRRRRINGGG questions asked yet again and again and yet again. We need more variety and some strange and some in-your-face stumping questions, where we, as manager, can get ourselves into real hot water if we are not careful. In response, it would be brilliant to actually see the headline and the story connected on the ‘sports pages,’ or even the video in the ‘sports tv news’ clip.

This would add more options, more fun, more explaining for us as manager, and more interest in the game itself. It would also accomplish the fact of making press conferences much more fun, have much more meaning, and add more interest to the game, than the present press conference options have at the moment.

Fan Chants

Ok, technically, this does not fall under a visual improvement, but still, I feel, this improvement in the audio portion would be, yes, aesthetically pleasing. Would it not be grand to have the fans singing the club songs and chanting the player’s names? FM2011 sees no players ever fall into the fan’s bad books (not during the match) It would be much more interesting if the fans put some pressure on the player in the match, maybe boo someone in disfavour, and, yes, perhaps even get on the manager’s case too. It would bring more fire into the game – seeing how the player would react, and indeed, how the manager responds to game pressure from the fans.

Touchline Instruction

Whilst the match is in progress, would it not be good to yell instructions from the sidelines? – and not just ATTACK or DEFEND. I would like to also be able to issue instuctions to individual players during the match and not just at halftime or prior to the kick off. Perhaps we can light a fire under a player during the actual match play – might be interesting to see the reaction – perhaps the player can then give us their thoughts at halftime or after the match !

Winning Celebration

Now I am talking about winning big here and not just winning a match – but winning a competition – a trophy – promotion. Now there is nary a flutter – it is life as usual – you would never know we had attained something worthwhile. No ecstasy, no happiness, you would not think you had scaled a height. I really think a good celebration should be in order if your side manages to win something !  The players, fans going wild – a lap of honour – a raucous crowd – some celebration is needed ! Needed when a cup win or even promotion has been achieved ! A cup presentation may be in order too – a really good hearted victory celebration for promotion – the players jumping all over each other. Please, FM14, add something for winning – it is a mountain climbed – and should be celebrated as such (even in the visual format)

Annual General Meeting

Now how about, as manager, attending the AGM for your club. The owner, club chairman, could also be present – along with all the fans. The manager could have a selection of words to say and then the floor could be opened to the fans to ask any and all the questions they wish. Perhaps, it could be set up for 20 to 30 questions from the floor. The fans want to hear the manager in person, and of course, it depends on how the season is progressing as to whether you still have the standing of a hero or could come away from the meeting a wee bit worn and beaten down by the experience. You may just have to try all the harder to get the fans and the team on your side again and pumping all in the one direction. I just feel this would, once again, add lotsa spice to the game. Perhaps a groundswell of negative opinion  will be against you but … but, then again, depending on your performance, the fans will support you even more and act as a bulwark against the Board who are, in fact, itching to have any excuse to cashier you and bring in a new man. We would all have to be nimble on our feet, thinking and answering difficult queries, but we just may come away with more allies and be in a much stronger position. The AGM, I think, would be an interesting addition and bring the fans more into play in the game.

Summary

Perhaps my eight points are pedantic, and useless, to most Football Manager players. After all, the name of the game is to get results (well, to have fun as well!!)  and the end justifies the means. , and let us not get carried away with particulars – let us just burst into the room –and empty our weapon – and scatter the inhabitants !! … and just who – surely – plays the whole match anyway ??? We want to play 20 years as quickly as possible (heh heh) and watching our matches is labelled BORRRINNNGGGGG !!!

So, perhaps, my wish-list is only geared towards those of us in the boring section (heh heh) Yes, I would love to see improved tactical formations; coach talks; better training results – but for those of us – pedantic; slow; cautious – some tweeking audio/visuals would just set our imaginations into overdrive and allow us to saunter into the room –threaten slowly and softly – and charm the inhabitants over to our way of thinking

 The tall tales of Eamonn O’hanlon