[Archived] Football Manager 2011

[DeadlyDirk]

If anyone knows a Burnley fan that may be interested in becoming the new researcher for FM2011 then SiGames are currently looking for a new head Dingles researcher. Give me a shout if you know of anyone who may be interested and I'll put them in touch. They should obviously be a Burnley fan firstly, a fan of Football Manager and be able to look at them in an unbiased way and be sensible about their level of skill.

Oh and No I don't think they'd let a Rover do it and reduce all their players to sh1t, they're bad enough already anyway

[Hughesy]

Can you make sure that they update it so that the ground state is pathetic & in urgent need of investment!

Oh & deadly - 1 problem on my game iv noticed is that all other leagues have pathetic goal differencies - i.e. Inter will be top having played 20 games, but will have only scored 25 goals or something rubbish - is there a fix out their for that?? I sue the steam account so id have expected it to already be in my game (or would I need to start a new one to see the changes?).

Also - make sure you update the skills of our young stars - Jones, Nzonzi, Hoilett etc

[DeadlyDirk]

Can you make sure that they update it so that the ground state is pathetic & in urgent need of investment!

Oh & deadly - 1 problem on my game iv noticed is that all other leagues have pathetic goal differencies - i.e. Inter will be top having played 20 games, but will have only scored 25 goals or something rubbish - is there a fix out their for that?? I sue the steam account so id have expected it to already be in my game (or would I need to start a new one to see the changes?).

Also - make sure you update the skills of our young stars - Jones, Nzonzi, Hoilett etc

To be honest it's not something I've noticed myself, I've only played 2 games lol, (Rovers 21 seasons) and Liverpool (3 seasons). They do simulate the goals scored across the leagues pretty well, e.g if the average number of goals in the last 5 years of Serie A is 2.4 then in the game it should be around 2.3-2.5 so I'm sure it would have been addressed by now, you can't have been the only one to notice it if that's the case. Patch 3 is the latest and final patch which you can get all of the various versions from here

If that hasn't fixed it then try and Editors Hideaway on the same forum to see if anyone has tackled it with an unofficial patch.

As for Rovers, N'Zonzi and Jones are both getting pretty big raises, Jones especially(With excellent potential, but I won't spoil what it is, let's just say don't sell him!). Hoilett's being improved but not by as much, I like him and wish he'd been given a few more chances here and there but he still has a fair bit to prove.

To be fair most of them are being improved since the 10.3 patch because we were doing crap at Christmas! Olsson will probably be the other notable increase, Emerton has had a pretty significant decrease however.

[Hughesy]

Doesnt steam update itself? If so would it fix my current game - or would I need to load a new one?

For example - 15 games into the current Seria A, 9 teams have scored less than 10 goals.

[Eddie]

I hope that Linganzi will have decent potential. He's a reasonably well respected prospect here in France.

[Dunnfc]

Please can anyone give me the january update a link to it as steam aint working on my laptopand im clueless with these things lol, many thanks (Y)

[DeadlyDirk]

Please can anyone give me the january update a link to it as steam aint working on my laptopand im clueless with these things lol, many thanks (Y)

Latest (And Final) 10.3 Patch

[Big Fat Sam]

Don't forget to have us up for sale, pompey liverpool get bought quickly in 10.3 so surely rovers could as well?

Scouts could do with a boost as well, perhaps a boost to a few of the coaches and perhaps getting rid of those coaches that don't work at the club anymore or at least I've never heard of (every penny counts at Rovers and mutual termination costs). Salgado could also get a small one, given that all in Spain said his legs and head had gone when he signed. Ped's also to be made a central/attacking midfielder, Olsson to have AM L added as accomplished would be fair since he's doing well in that role for us.

As for you finding a Dingle chap, I doubt it'll happen they don't have enough fingers to count to 20 for the stat's.

[DeadlyDirk]

Don't forget to have us up for sale, pompey liverpool get bought quickly in 10.3 so surely rovers could as well?

Scouts could do with a boost as well, perhaps a boost to a few of the coaches and perhaps getting rid of those coaches that don't work at the club anymore or at least I've never heard of (every penny counts at Rovers and mutual termination costs). Salgado could also get a small one, given that all in Spain said his legs and head had gone when he signed. Ped's also to be made a central/attacking midfielder, Olsson to have AM L added as accomplished would be fair since he's doing well in that role for us.

As for you finding a Dingle chap, I doubt it'll happen they don't have enough fingers to count to 20 for the stat's.

Unfortunately it's hard to simulate our 'For Sale' status. There is no difference between owners and chairmen in the game so to put us up for sale I have to remove all confidence in John Williams which isn't the case. There is still a chance for the club to be bought out, it'll just mean that JW isn't actively seeking to sell to the first bidder just to get out.

The coaches have been reviewed and should only include ones still at the club, Cannon and McDonald in particular were improved. The scouting has been improved but it's one of those areas which is hard to find information about, you hear of having scouts in certain countries and areas but not often names or who gets the credit for finding certain players. We hear it from time to time and that's when it becomes a little easier but usually the manager will take credit and just mention that 'We've scouted him for a while'.

Salgado has gone back up, he was decreased a lot upon leaving Spain, the first half of the season I had little proof to argue that it should go back up, but now that he's settled and playing well I'm perfectly justified in increasing him

Olsson will probably become a natural at left midfield and accomplished now for left back. Although it's 'Natural' position we use it as what we feel is his 'Best' position which recently in my eyes has shown to be at left midfield. I think he still looks a little shaky at fullback still and has performed much better in midfield. Although there are exceptions we try to only give a player one 'Natural' position now.

Believe it or not they found a Dingle researcher!

[Big Fat Sam]

Unfortunately it's hard to simulate our 'For Sale' status. There is no difference between owners and chairmen in the game so to put us up for sale I have to remove all confidence in John Williams which isn't the case. There is still a chance for the club to be bought out, it'll just mean that JW isn't actively seeking to sell to the first bidder just to get out.

The coaches have been reviewed and should only include ones still at the club, Cannon and McDonald in particular were improved. The scouting has been improved but it's one of those areas which is hard to find information about, you hear of having scouts in certain countries and areas but not often names or who gets the credit for finding certain players. We hear it from time to time and that's when it becomes a little easier but usually the manager will take credit and just mention that 'We've scouted him for a while'.

Salgado has gone back up, he was decreased a lot upon leaving Spain, the first half of the season I had little proof to argue that it should go back up, but now that he's settled and playing well I'm perfectly justified in increasing him

Olsson will probably become a natural at left midfield and accomplished now for left back. Although it's 'Natural' position we use it as what we feel is his 'Best' position which recently in my eyes has shown to be at left midfield. I think he still looks a little shaky at fullback still and has performed much better in midfield. Although there are exceptions we try to only give a player one 'Natural' position now.

Believe it or not they found a Dingle researcher!

Can you not add in someone above JW to take the lack of faith hit, one of the jersey people? Just don't let Williams go. I've played the game since it inception and never once have Rovers been bought, but I suppose thats realistic.

Please make sure Olsson is at least accomplished at AM L as he plays further forward IMO than say a left midfielder (saves me time retraining him). The whole scouting system should be reviewed, IMO. Contacts of scouts, tip offs etc all play a huge part in real football. Christ they even have scouts for counties at most clubs in england especially in the lower leagues. Scouts come in and with them come all their phone numbers and mates, how you simulate that though is FM's problem.

Glad Salgado has gone back up, .

Your right I don't believe they found a Dingle researcher, or even a dingle capable of using a keyboard. I was alway under the impression they had to work in groups just to master the alphabet.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Just out of interest, will Keith Andrews be getting a decrease in his stats or will he stay around the same?

Do you know what any of the new features in the new FM2011 will be? I'd love us to start as a youth coach or a reserve team manager and be able to work our way up to become first team manager. Might be pretty cool if, for example, you were Bournemouth manager and then Manchester United wanted you as their reserve team manager. Also it would be good if you can have more input in board meetings i.e. more say on stadium changes or ticket prices to try and make more money etc.

[Majiball]

I'd like an option to throw a tea-cup at my players!!!!

I'd like the youth section expanded as well, cause its rubbish. Even with the best coaches and facilities you never really get any great quality coming through. Instead some random conutries with no decent rating for youth production start spouting wonderkids, left right and centre.

Also tell FM that Rovers don't play in some northern youth league against accy and the such, they play in the premiership academy north section, it pisses me off that they play rubbish teams and so don't develop as they should or could. Also there's more than one youth cup so get them to add in a nother one please.

Also why are there no international school-boy teams???? I also want to be able to employ a Academy manager, who will send me up-dates on how things look and potential players that may come through. They don't have to be real players but a message 3-4 times a season saying we've got a great looking young centre back that looks like he's got something might save me some dollar and time whilst I trawel through every country/team with good reputations looking for one.

Also why can't I have a wage budget for my staff? Its rubbish that I can only have ex amount of this or this I want to have as many as I want as long as its within budget. You can get good scouts for bobbins in the game and employ part-time ones as in real life, so why am I limited to say 7. 7 scouts I'll wager most teams even in league two have more on their books. Also please start a new staff role sports sciencetists and psychologists, who play crucial roles in the modern game. Madrid even have there own research centre so I'd like that as a potential improvement, just like expanding the stadium. In turn it could help boost your coaches attributes making the coahing better as in real life.

Oh there are also good points but just one or two idea's I'd like to see included.

[LeChuck]

Don't forget to have us up for sale, pompey liverpool get bought quickly in 10.3 so surely rovers could as well?

How would that be realistic? We're not going to be sold any time soon.

I'd like the youth section expanded as well, cause its rubbish. Even with the best coaches and facilities you never really get any great quality coming through.

It's realistic, I hope they don't change it.

How many 'great quality' kids have Man Utd had through in the last decade? Chelsea? Liverpool?

It's incredibly difficult to do so in real life, FM have got it spot on.

[Majiball]

It's realistic, I hope they don't change it.

How many 'great quality' kids have Man Utd had through in the last decade? Chelsea? Liverpool?

It's incredibly difficult to do so in real life, FM have got it spot on.

No mate its not, far from it.

If a club has millions of pounds and brings in the best coaches in the world to do the role they will start producing, look at the gunners, who turn them out year on year, barca, espanyol, inter, Madrid and so on its not realistic at all. Try holding up clubs from more than one country and you'll see what I mean as opposed to holding up clubs who are at present, developing, re-building their academies and ones from countries that actually do things the right way. Liverpool poached the barca man, they will start producing again, united do have kids coming through, cleverly et al and all the others out on loan. Chelsea are so young in these terms and its takes years and years for fruition to come through.

But hey what do I know about youth Coaching???

[LeChuck]

I'm not saying you don't know anything about youth coaching, but I've played enough Football Manager to know the output from youth teams on FM is a pretty fair representation of what happens in real life.

There a few clubs around the world (e.g. Barca) who can churn out stars on a regular basis. The rest of the world, and I include every English club in this, are lucky if they get a couple in a decade.

If you are really struggling to get players through in FM then I'd suggest you might need to change your approach. You WILL get players with the potential coming through if you have the facilities, but they'll only turn into good players if you use them right. Playing time is key.

You could always use one of those unofficial editor things that show you hidden stats in the game, and take a look at the PA of your youth players. That should tell you how many players with good potential are in your youth teams. I wouldn't recommend using it on an important game though, it does spoil the fun.

[American]

Arsenal don't develop good youngsters, they buy them. That's the best way to do it in this game, too.

[Majiball]

I'm not saying you don't know anything about youth coaching, but I've played enough Football Manager to know the output from youth teams on FM is a pretty fair representation of what happens in real life.

There a few clubs around the world (e.g. Barca) who can churn out stars on a regular basis. The rest of the world, and I include every English club in this, are lucky if they get a couple in a decade.

If you are really struggling to get players through in FM then I'd suggest you might need to change your approach. You WILL get players with the potential coming through if you have the facilities, but they'll only turn into good players if you use them right. Playing time is key.

You could always use one of those unofficial editor things that show you hidden stats in the game, and take a look at the PA of your youth players. That should tell you how many players with good potential are in your youth teams. I wouldn't recommend using it on an important game though, it does spoil the fun.

OK I've been playing the game since its inception, way back on the amiga. I understand the facilities etc but I also work within youth coahing in the real world. So I feel I'm more than qualified to comment on it. For example I have a rovers save, best facilities possible, bank balance of over 200 million and everyone of my coaches is 4-5 stars and 20 for youth coaching (5 employed intotal, for the youth). I get told the best player of his generation has come through and quite frankly he's rubbish. His stats are dreadful and not right for any position. I use tugs training, allow them freedon till 18, before linking them to the most appropriate world class player in my first team, dependent on whether I want them to change mentality or acquire PPM's. They either get sub/carling cup app's with me or get loaned out to one of 9 feeder teams/a league were they will play first team. There's nothing wrong with my approach, I in the main only sign player who can become club players and have at present 14 of them in my first team squad so my development procedure is sound IMO, I even take charge of the reserves to help it by ensuring their motivation is always high.

The issue is this, lets say Rovers in reality have loads of money. They could spend what they like on the youth, I cannot in the game, not realistic. If rovers were to increase their youth budget and say employ the whole of the coaching staff from Barca, does it not stand to reason that we would produce??? Eventually as the quality and reputation imporved???

Also there is no academy league in the game, and one of the youth cups is missing, there are two in england. Schoolboys (international) should also be included, as well. My players/youth team win the league every year sometimes going unbeaten for 3 seasons, they are that good. They do not develop since they are playing players who will retire by 21. I want them to play against the best youth teams in the country always, IE other premiership teams as they do in reality. I even go to the trouble of arranging friendlies against the best youth teams in the world during the season, to ensure they play against better players, thus challenging them. Just as If my rovers team was to play in the championship I would win every game without having to really ensure I get all the tactics and team-talks spot on.

Potential is not the be all and end all in the game, its stats and always has been my first team don't all have PA's above 170 two have 150 (1st 11 players, I have two teams, one for the bigger games and one for the lesser games), but their stats are perfect for the role I want them to play and they play just as well as anyone on the game. PA is meaningless if the stats don't add up. I have never used an editor (with the exception of having a Jacks back save game, sometimes its nice to start with loads of dollar given we have bugger all these days) and in the main do very well. But as for using one to sign players, again I don't feel its needed as the stat's can be seen and they matter more.

My youth has been at that sort of level for almost 10 years now, which in reality is more than enough time to get the best kids and develop them. I hold up arsenal as an example and barc, so why doesn't it happen in my game. If you check out the other teams youth set-ups, there isn't one in the world to match it and yet I've had one player who came from my club and he's barely a sub (not in the first 22). Sorry mate its not realistic and never has been, its always been a serious issue and even in one save were I went 50 seasons I had same set-up and only one player came through (abliet the best player I've ever had, period, 1200 career goals for rovers, back on the amiga). it does need looking at as developing players is one of the reason player keep going after the real players retire. And by that I want local lads or at least english and not me signing the best 16-18 years and making them club players. I have a total of three british players and meet all the criteria, as there is just no talent in the country and the ones that come through with high PA's don't have the stats to back it up or lack seriously in determination which means they are not worth buying. If you have the best coaches in the world in real-life and a huge budget you will produce the best players, just ask Barca and Arsenal and Inter, probably the best in the world at present.

[hollowsr]

I back up also what you say about them doing something with the youth league system. Annoys me we play Accy and teams like that. Granted it is a hard thing to set up but I'm sure it is doable.

Also you keep saying that there are two youth cups? What is the other one for out of interest?

As for not bringing players through it doesn't sound right, I had a Rovers game and got a few of my own players through but only after around 10 years or so, which I guess is probably about right in my view, the rest I'd bought from other clubs at 16 and put them through like that.

[DE.]

I've never really had any issues with the youth system, the only thing on FM10 that annoyed me slightly was the amount of bald 14 year olds appearing the FM facegen seems to like creating bald people.

In my current game I've got 3 youth coming through who look very promising and I'm keeping an eye on them, have no problem with the staff I've got or the way my youth development is being handled. I don't pay that much attention to it because I'm more focused on making the first team successful. There are plenty of other things the FM team need to look at before the youth setup IMO, it's not amazing bu it's adequete and good enough for the majority of players.

[LeChuck]

Maj - Arsenal buy all their youngsters, as American pointed out.

You obviously don't understand the PA system, it pretty much is the 'be all and end all'. That's where you're going wrong.

The kids with high PA might have crap stats to begin with, but keep playing them and the stats will sky rocket. Kids with decent stats at a young age might not have a high PA and therefore never progress.

Play a sandbox game with an unofficial editor. Play your kids with high PA regardless of their stats and see what happens. If you're just going off their stats then you haven't got a chance.

Obviously in the real game you have to trust what your coaches say about their potential, rather than cheating to look at the PA.

[Hughesy]

Im in my 5th season at Notts Forrest....i got them up & iv developed my training facilities and youth academy to state of art and classed as one of the best in the world.

Iv signed probably 40+ players aged between 15-18 and sent them on loans & to feeder clubs etc.

In my 5th season now - in the 4th season I won the league & both cups with an average age of 20.

In the 5th season im 8 pts clear after 27 games, my U-18's are top and also my reserves sit on top too. Iv got many youth players who have spent 2-3 seasons out on loan - signed them for 50-100k and they are now worth £1.5-3m each.

My keeper & my right back both came direct from my academy. I also tend to find that Irish clubs tend to have alot of good talent which my scouts always find. I also have 17 scouts scouring every area for players 19 and under.

[DeadlyDirk]

Can you not add in someone above JW to take the lack of faith hit, one of the jersey people? Just don't let Williams go. I've played the game since it inception and never once have Rovers been bought, but I suppose thats realistic.

Please make sure Olsson is at least accomplished at AM L as he plays further forward IMO than say a left midfielder (saves me time retraining him). The whole scouting system should be reviewed, IMO. Contacts of scouts, tip offs etc all play a huge part in real football. Christ they even have scouts for counties at most clubs in england especially in the lower leagues. Scouts come in and with them come all their phone numbers and mates, how you simulate that though is FM's problem.

Glad Salgado has gone back up, .

Your right I don't believe they found a Dingle researcher, or even a dingle capable of using a keyboard. I was alway under the impression they had to work in groups just to master the alphabet.

There's no way to show it without JW being punished. A takeover can still happen, it's just unlikely and would need to be a rich fan or something taking over rather than someone looking to buy because it's a good quick deal for them. That's probably pretty much the case in real life as well so I think it's the most accurate way to show it rather than JW not wanting to stay at the club and a quick sale being forced.

Just out of interest, will Keith Andrews be getting a decrease in his stats or will he stay around the same?

Do you know what any of the new features in the new FM2011 will be? I'd love us to start as a youth coach or a reserve team manager and be able to work our way up to become first team manager. Might be pretty cool if, for example, you were Bournemouth manager and then Manchester United wanted you as their reserve team manager. Also it would be good if you can have more input in board meetings i.e. more say on stadium changes or ticket prices to try and make more money etc.

Keith has had a bit of a decrease actually but more than anything his attributes have been changed around, most of his technical attributes are either single figures or close to 10 now, his mental ones have improved, I still have no idea why hs is worth so much on the game, it's partly to do with him having a long term contract which he signed fairly recently.

Unfortunately I can't discuss any new features for FM2011 for legal reasons.

I'd like an option to throw a tea-cup at my players!!!!

I'd like the youth section expanded as well, cause its rubbish. Even with the best coaches and facilities you never really get any great quality coming through. Instead some random conutries with no decent rating for youth production start spouting wonderkids, left right and centre.

Also tell FM that Rovers don't play in some northern youth league against accy and the such, they play in the premiership academy north section, it pisses me off that they play rubbish teams and so don't develop as they should or could. Also there's more than one youth cup so get them to add in a nother one please.

Also why are there no international school-boy teams???? I also want to be able to employ a Academy manager, who will send me up-dates on how things look and potential players that may come through. They don't have to be real players but a message 3-4 times a season saying we've got a great looking young centre back that looks like he's got something might save me some dollar and time whilst I trawel through every country/team with good reputations looking for one.

Also why can't I have a wage budget for my staff? Its rubbish that I can only have ex amount of this or this I want to have as many as I want as long as its within budget. You can get good scouts for bobbins in the game and employ part-time ones as in real life, so why am I limited to say 7. 7 scouts I'll wager most teams even in league two have more on their books. Also please start a new staff role sports sciencetists and psychologists, who play crucial roles in the modern game. Madrid even have there own research centre so I'd like that as a potential improvement, just like expanding the stadium. In turn it could help boost your coaches attributes making the coahing better as in real life.

Oh there are also good points but just one or two idea's I'd like to see included.

All I can say is I wish the youth section was a little more detailed as well. As researchers we really have no say on what is added to the game or improved to the game. We can suggest ideas each year which perhaps hold a little more weight than a normal user but probably not a lot more.

Anyway, us researchers have been asking for an improvement to the youth system for the last year or two. In the least for something like an Academy manager who could tell you a little more about your new youth prospects each year. E.g. Apps/Goals prior to joining the U18's, Schoolboy honours, How long they've been with the club etc. Generating 10 random players a year could certainly be improved upon.

Unfortuately we have no way to set the youth leagues but again perhaps it's something they will look to improve, it's another thing that's been asked for.

It's an interesting point about sports scientists and pyschologists, maybe it should be added because like you say they do have an increasing influence on the game but it would probably require massively reworking the match engine. Fitness and morale already play a massive part in a team's performance, if you start complicating it with the work of sports scientists etc as well it may become very annoying and tedious at times. I think it's important that the game remains as realistic as possible but they do need to maintain the balance between a chore and a game.

A seperate wage budget for staff and with the number of coaches depending soley on you being able to afford it is a good idea in my opinion and I'll certainly suggest if it hasn't already been. There may be an argument against it but I certainly can't think of one. Would a chairman really care if you had 6 or 8 coaches as long as their total wages were the same?

No mate its not, far from it.

If a club has millions of pounds and brings in the best coaches in the world to do the role they will start producing, look at the gunners, who turn them out year on year, barca, espanyol, inter, Madrid and so on its not realistic at all. Try holding up clubs from more than one country and you'll see what I mean as opposed to holding up clubs who are at present, developing, re-building their academies and ones from countries that actually do things the right way. Liverpool poached the barca man, they will start producing again, united do have kids coming through, cleverly et al and all the others out on loan. Chelsea are so young in these terms and its takes years and years for fruition to come through.

But hey what do I know about youth Coaching???

To be fair LeChuck has a point, Arsenal do buy a lot of their youngsters. The best way to try and emulate this in game is to hire a lot of scouts to work all over the road and then filter the age rating to look only for youngsters. You can find some excellent 16-18 year old's around and then nurture them your own way.

Maj - Arsenal buy all their youngsters, as American pointed out.

You obviously don't understand the PA system, it pretty much is the 'be all and end all'. That's where you're going wrong.

The kids with high PA might have crap stats to begin with, but keep playing them and the stats will sky rocket. Kids with decent stats at a young age might not have a high PA and therefore never progress.

Play a sandbox game with an unofficial editor. Play your kids with high PA regardless of their stats and see what happens. If you're just going off their stats then you haven't got a chance.

Obviously in the real game you have to trust what your coaches say about their potential, rather than cheating to look at the PA.

PA really is far from being the be' all and end all' in the game. The PA simply suggests what CA a certain player may meet. The CA however isn't even used in the match engine when calculating how your team performs, so how important CA and PA actually are is very debatable.

[Majiball]

I back up also what you say about them doing something with the youth league system. Annoys me we play Accy and teams like that. Granted it is a hard thing to set up but I'm sure it is doable.

Also you keep saying that there are two youth cups? What is the other one for out of interest?

As for not bringing players through it doesn't sound right, I had a Rovers game and got a few of my own players through but only after around 10 years or so, which I guess is probably about right in my view, the rest I'd bought from other clubs at 16 and put them through like that.

Don't you have the youth cup and then the local one the youth team plays in?? For academy teams.

At plymouth (IE for centre of excellences only, not academies) we had the youth cup & the puma youth alliance cup which our youth team always played in.

So 2 techincally with all youth teams.

Maj - Arsenal buy all their youngsters, as American pointed out.

You obviously don't understand the PA system, it pretty much is the 'be all and end all'. That's where you're going wrong.

The kids with high PA might have crap stats to begin with, but keep playing them and the stats will sky rocket. Kids with decent stats at a young age might not have a high PA and therefore never progress.

Play a sandbox game with an unofficial editor. Play your kids with high PA regardless of their stats and see what happens. If you're just going off their stats then you haven't got a chance.

Obviously in the real game you have to trust what your coaches say about their potential, rather than cheating to look at the PA.

PA and stats are an on-going debate even on the SI forums, you can get kids with great PA's who will never make it, period, they either lack pace, which is essential in the current version or have very low determination again essential for development in the game. Stats are key for me I wouldn't have striker with less than 16 for pace, acceleration, anticipation or off the ball because he just won't score enough goals, even a target man, CB's must be over 15 for acc, pac & jumping. The same applies for other positions as well I have the certain stats I always look for. No pace, no place, especially if you want to be dominant in the current version.

Can I ask if you had a youngster "best of his generation" (striker) with a 2 for finishing and for composure would you develop him??? I wouldn't.

Also ever signed Mats Rits??? I assume you have most people do, well for me he's a striker after a long re-training period because thats the position his stats suit, he excels in the role eventually.

Arsenal, just as we have(hoillet springs to mind), do buy players (sub 16 year olds, every club in the world does it), youngsters move clubs just as much as in the adult game. Its part of the game always has been and always will be even sub 16. But when they become scholars IE U18's in the game they have come through the ranks of that club regardless. As I said its highly logical that if I poach all of Arsenals coaches, or Barca's and have everyone of them being world class, with a fund of 200 million quid, why can't I after 10 years produce a consistent stream of great young players????

Do you seriously think a kid who's scored goals left right and centre at youth level would have 2 for finishing and composure, no chance, and yet the one I got did, he was released. Its not realistic, wenger came in they spent more money on the youth (as did barca, 10-15 years ago it wasn't as highly rated as now) and now year in year out one or two come through who have both the potential and the attributes to be different gravey (gibbs & wilshire this year, spring to mind). In the real world of youth coaching certain attributes are desired, pace is one of them as is athelitisium, very common in the UK especially. First team managers and academy managers dictate what they want from the young kids and so that type of youngster is sought and signed at sub 16. I would like to be able to do this as well.

My issue is I don't want to sign loads of kids from other U18's, I want them to come through. Espanyol in spain are great at doing this, and they have barca as neighbours. Check out Bilbao, basque only players competitive in La liga always have been and will be with a pool of 3 million people, and yet when I managed them I got nothing in 5 years? Not realistic.

You suggested downlaoding a Editor to check it all out so I did to see what my current team was to either agree or disagree with you. As I stated I work off stats, and don't use an editor. The only time I have done is the offical one to give me loads of money, because Rovers start out with zip & for a change and I wanted to sign some serious kids and they cost money so I could figure out the best ones.

Judging by my achievements over the years in the game, some have even been posted on the forums in the old oxford united challenge I'd say I have a pretty good grasp of the game. You don't beat premiership teams 6-0 in the FA cup with Oxford United in League two unless you get the game. Check them out same user name. All done using a tactic that baffled the AI, a front three of two amc's and one target man striker, Left side AMC swapped with the striker, Striker swapped with the right side AMC, right side AMC swapped with the left and so on. They where always changing position and the AI got so confused it did not know what to do. When it got better at it, I made them go the opposite direction and it struggled again. Still has some success now as well!

[Hughesy]

Id like to see them add in a few other things too - such as more control of expansion of stadium....i.e. Im at Forrest and they simply tell me the council wouldnt give permission to expand.

Well thats fine - But I should then have the option to perhaps request a new stadium on a new site. I have given my shareholders over £30m in divdends in 2 seasons, with my current wage budget (remaining) in Feb is at £56m, with around £68m total in the bank - clearly another massive chunk is going to share holders.

My stadium is full every week but I cant request we build a new one to grow the club.

[LeChuck]

PA really is far from being the be' all and end all' in the game. The PA simply suggests what CA a certain player may meet. The CA however isn't even used in the match engine when calculating how your team performs, so how important CA and PA actually are is very debatable.

A players stats are linked to their CA though, no? Or in other words, those CA points have to be 'distributed' somewhere?

I did a test game a while ago. I was Swindon in the PL but I was bored stiff of having no money, so I used FM Scout to find all players with PA >180 and bought them. Some had awful stats, they weren't even getting games in the Championship.

I stuck with them though and played them week in, week out. Nearly got relegated the first season, but I won the title in the third year. It was unreal how much some of the stats went up simply from first team football.

On the flip side, I used the tool to look at the stats of young kids I thought I'd found that were going to be stars. They had pretty decent stats but a low PA, that explained why they hadn't progressed in two seasons despite playing all the time.

I also discovered I had a young lad with PA 170 lurking in my team. I nearly released him because his stats were so bad, he had pace but barely anything else over 10. He ended up being a regular England international after a few years.

I think I took some screen shots of some of these players after their stats had gone up, I'll see if I can dig them out.