I am just downloading it off Steam at the moment. They introduced a new requirement that you have to register your copy online or by phone so they can make sure you have a legit copy. The patch is already out I believe so I hope its playable enough from the start and not bug ridden as previous first editions have been in the past.
Let me know how you get on with it Shan. Havenāt played the last couple of versions but might get this one if itās good enough.
I find that theyāve nearly gone too realistic and it makes it next to impossible to turn a League 1 side into Champions League winners. My favourite one was 01/02 (I think). Brilliant game, just the right balance between realism and fun.
I like it so far. You get feedback during the matches from your assistant saying whos having a good/bad game, what you are doing good/bad and who you should concentrate on stopping from the other team. Maybe its a bit too easy but I suppose in real life this is what an assistant would do. The 3d match engine is terrible. Its no better than Amiga games from 15 years ago so I turned it off.
Downloading the āstrawberry demoā as I type this, was a massive fan and then read a great blog on the guardian this moring so am going to try this one outā¦ have a fair bit of travellin coming up, so if the demo is good will get the PSP version.
Agree with runt in that from about 03 onwards they made it too hard, hopefully this is a step back to the old days.
My first experience of this franchise was on a day tip to cork in the early 90ās, which coincided with a 486 arriving in our houseld i picked up copy of Champ Manager 93ā¦ Good times.
http://www.escapecrate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/champ_manager_93_box.jpg
Have you a link to that blog HB?
Here you go Rock.
Quality article. Tonton Zola Moukoko, ah the memories.
What a fooking legend. Play him in the hole behind the front two, then sit back and relax.
He actually has a great real life story too.
A chat with Tontonā¦
A chat with Tonton is really amusing. He is light-hearted, speaks freely about his football career until now as well as his plans for the future - and laughs kindly about the many calls he gets from people who are into the famous computer game Football Manager, once known as Championship Manager.
āThe other day I spoke with a guy for an hour. He wanted to know what had happened to me since I wasnāt playing for a major club. I was once one of the biggest talents in that computer game so he was wonderingā¦ Quite many phone me asking the same question.ā
āI was 15 when I went to play for Derby and, yes, I was very talented. Derby was just one of many clubs who wanted to sign me. I played there for five years. I really liked it. The town, the club, everything. Actually, I would like to go back one day. There were great coaches and nice people all around. Guys like Pablo Mills and Izale McLeod were not only talented players but also good friends. And a coach like John Peacock, now coaching the England Youth International, well, you should see him work. It was always a pleasure to train under him,ā Tonton says.
Pablo Mills has had a fine run for Rotherham lately and Izale McLeod is now playing for Charlton after playing for the Milton Keynes Dons for almost three years, scoring an impressing one goal pr every two games.
āWhen I left I was getting close to the first team like Pablo and Izale. They did make it. But I had some problems, you know, and I had to go back to Sweden. Still, the years with Derby are by far the best until now in my career.ā
The problems Tonton refer to are probably partly a disagreement with the Derby management at that time. Tonton wanted to study besides playing football and thought Derby would help him with this which they didnāt. In the end the current Manchester City manager Sven-Gran Ericsson helped Tonton getting a contract with a Swedish club and he left Derby. But all hatches seem buried not.
From strength to strength
āI donāt think Derby will stay up. Most of the players are obviously not good enough for the Premier League. Paul Jewell has to buy a bunch of new players, I think. The money is there now. In the long run Iām sure Derby will go from strength to strength and become a good Premier League side,ā Tonton says.
āThese days Iām looking for a new club myself and going back to play for Derby once again is one of my dreams. I turned down a deal from a Spanish side recently so Iām still looking for a place where I can kick-start my career. A Danish club could very well be a fine choice. I would love to prove myself at a higher level again. You know, I can play all places in the midfield but I prefer the free role as an attacking midfielder. But I play whatever the manager wants me to. I love playing football and just want to be a part of a good side,ā Tonton says before asking me whether Iāve got some pull in Danish football. The answer remains a secret for nowā¦
Settling down
āIf I find a good club I wonāt be too busy going away again, though. Iāve been travelling too much and I would like to settle down. I was seven when I got to Sweden from Congo and 15 when I headed for Derby. Afterwards Iāve been playing here and there. Settling down would be nice, you knowā¦ā says the man whose name undisputedly is one of the most famous in a computer game that the man himself hasnāt played. Go google Tonton Zola Moukoko if you donāt believe me.
āIt was actually nice being interviewed on something else than a computer game. Not that I mind, people are generally very nice, but my life is for real, you know, and right now I want to find myself a good club to play for. What happens next, well, who knows? Maybe Iāll settle down, maybe Iāll pull a Derby jersey on again one day. Maybe as a player, maybe as a supporter,ā Tonton says and laughs.
Before we say goodbye Tonton says āI wish you Rams all the best. It is a great club. Derby may be going down but only for a short while, Iām sure.ā
Now all that remain to find out is whether Iāve got some pull in Danish football
Cracking article. I loved both Bakayoko and Moukoko but the one that meant most to me was Tommy Svindal Larsen. Those AMC/FC guys werenāt exactly common but you could buy world class guys to play there. I always felt it was more difficult to find someone who could operate effectively further back and Iāve great memories of TSL in the middle of the park.
Cherno Samba was my favourite Cm Wonderkid that never made it. Think he is playing somewhere in Italy now.
Fernando Gamboa was my favourite. Solid 8/10 central defender every week without fail.
What about the Shaktar boys? There was 2 nigerians on that team who were 20 in almost everything and there was another lad as well. I think Aghahowa was one of them.
One bargain buy from Scandanavia that did the business and followed it up in real life was Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Some great could have beens as well though.
Going back through the yearsā¦
In the 93 version Chris Bart Williams was super as was the 16 year old Nick Barmby. Nigel Clough was the best player in the game.
'95 was great when they brought inthe full Italian league.
Actually, fook it, not going to bother buying the new one, but am going to download '95ā¦
You can get data updates for the 01/02 version and one of the earlier ones too I think. No reason why they shouldnāt be enjoyable now and theyāll surely run like a dream. I spent a whole mid-term break once managing Wolves on a 386. A real labour of love.
One of the proudest moments in my life was appearing in the 03/04 edition. I was shit though,(like real life).
Who did you play for?
Ah donāt want to be saying much, if you donāt mind. Tāwas nothing major anyways, was surprised to be in it.
Ah come on Runt! You canāt leave us hanging like that. British or Irish team?