Gaming Football Manager 2024

[Chipper]

I think I did a medium database. My own club started with greyed out players too but I gave them all contracts to make them ‘real’. Then there’s so many free agents that I think clubs filled up quickly. I didn’t really check the squads of other teams as it was pretty simple going up the rungs until this point. But I can’t say I noticed greyed players anywhere.

Picked up form in the Vanarama but we’re still miles behind leaders Halifax, which makes me feel a bit better about losing to them in the Vase final. Still need to adjust to losing so much after 5 full seasons of domination though. It’s hard to not be annoyed at the players

Going to make a new one, max out on the database just in case. Good job I don't care too much about game speed.

Started level 13 on that last one so probably not enough players to go around with the small database. Thinking Bury for the history or Trafford FC for being close to Old Trafford.

Yes, must take some getting used to after having it so easy for a few seasons in a row. Even if Halifax better you this time you'll be in the PL one day when they're still slumming it in the lower levels.

 

[Berbaclass]

I can't remember when I didn't have a save where I loaded the full 400k database of players. It is only a bit annoying at the end of transfer windows occasionally if you're moving clubs. For me as I tend to do single club saves I just load the one nation I'm in (some maybe the big 10 leagues VO) and it runs absolutely fine. They've done great work in recent years optimising the processing and loading too which helps.

 

[Chipper]

Starting it up with a 172,950 database size.

England level 13 and above, all major and neighbouring nations down to their lowest default league playable.

Everything ticked in UK and Ireland region so literally everyone from these countries or playing in them.

Plus international players, players from top division / top clubs / continental reputation / continental competition from all continents.

 

[Solius]

Starting it up with a 172,950 database size.

England level 13 and above, all major and neighbouring nations down to their lowest default league playable.

Everything ticked in UK and Ireland region so literally everyone from these countries or playing in them.

Plus international players, players from top division / top clubs / continental reputation / continental competition from all continents.

Enjoy the slog and the free agent buffet. I’ve still only ever spent £1k on total transfers and that was an emergency mid season Gk after my first choice and back up both got long term injuries.

 

[Solius]

Finished 5th in the Vanarama but somehow won the play-off so it’s another straight promotion. This team feels woefully equipped for League Two though so we’ll see.

I got to the FA Vase final again, battering Halifax along the way but lost 4 - 1 in the final to York. Ffs. Shite cup anyway.

The board have finally let us turn professional now so will see what the future brings.

 

[SilentWitness]

Kind of explains a lot about the match engine and game really. Sad. Also explains how I got promoted with Havre to Ligue 1 and finished 2nd in my first season back in Ligue 1.

 

[Chipper]

Enjoy the slog and the free agent buffet. I’ve still only ever spent £1k on total transfers and that was an emergency mid season Gk after my first choice and back up both got long term injuries.

I intend to! Went with Bury in the 10th tier as they have a history and a big ground should we move up the leagues. Very good wage budget of £6k a week.

Now to get stuck into those free agents!

 

[Solius]

It’s proper bollocks how a player sits there for ages with nothing happening with them and then the second you offer a contract about 7 other clubs come out of nowhere and also offer one. It’s like the AI aren’t activated until you put an offer in. So dumb.

 

[MDFC Manager]

It’s proper bollocks how a player sits there for ages with nothing happening with them and then the second you offer a contract about 7 other clubs come out of nowhere and also offer one. It’s like the AI aren’t activated until you put an offer in. So dumb.

Basically the AI are United with their "monitoring targets".

 

[Solius]

Why are players coming to me with playing time concerns in the middle of the summer? Stupid.

 

[Chipper]

I hate promises. Offered at right back a contract and he said he wanted the goalkeepers to be improved. Already offered a contract to a new 'keeper so why not?

The goalie put pent to paper first, then the right back. That doesn't count. A week after signing he was pissed off I hadn't signed any goalies and was asking to leave. Would have to officially sign the full back before the goalie for him to be happy, it's stupid.

Ok there's a chance he doesn't rate the goalie but I'm sure it's not that. He's seen as a good player for teams in the 6th tier when we're in the 10th and has potential to play much higher than that. Definitely a star player at this level.

Spoiler

 

[Lay]

Promises are awful. Seems this version in particular has a hard on for them in every contract negotiation.

And yeah you have to sign the player they want strengthened after

 

[Chipper]

Enjoying this with Bury so far. 35 out of 39 points in the league which should be expected considering how much money we've got compared to the other teams but we've had a few close games. My players keep saying they're nervous during matches.

Cheadle Town who were predicted to be near the bottom early on are pushing us, only 3 points behind.

Guessing that I've generally got stronger opponents after ticking add players to teams instead of playing against so many greys.

 

[Chipper]

Obviously the game is detailed but something just popped up that impressed me.

Had a player called Bradley Barrett make his debut and the game said he scored the winning goal for Tranent in the East of Scotland King Cup 2019. They weren't lying, I googled to check.

Never heard of that team or tournament. Apparently it's a cup competition for members of the East of Scotland FA. Includes some league teams who no doubt play their youth team and some non-league teams.

 

[Solius]

Had to basically ditch a lot of my Vanarama players and take League Two a bit more seriously so I did some proper scouting and picked up some brilliant free agents, including a Portugese striker who has been lethal. He's just been called up to the Under 21s so I doubt I'll keep hold of him for long.

Our bank balance was sitting around the £1m mark at this point as I've basically never spent anything on transfers so I've been spamming the board for training/youth upgrades which they're now doing as I'm a club legend. We expanded our stadium to 6k but it made no sense to me as we rent it, and it seems like we paid to expand it?

League Two is quite forgiving in that 3 get automatic promotion and there's lots of play-off spots. We're 2nd at Christmas but Wigan are a point ahead with 5 games in hand.

 

[Maluco]

It’s proper bollocks how a player sits there for ages with nothing happening with them and then the second you offer a contract about 7 other clubs come out of nowhere and also offer one. It’s like the AI aren’t activated until you put an offer in. So dumb.

I absolutely hate this too. I had so many good players come to me on trial and have absolutely no interest, only for a big club to come in at the last minute when I had no more time to plan and no money to offer anyone else because it was tied up in that offer. So annoying!

I hate promises. Offered at right back a contract and he said he wanted the goalkeepers to be improved. Already offered a contract to a new 'keeper so why not?

The goalie put pent to paper first, then the right back. That doesn't count. A week after signing he was pissed off I hadn't signed any goalies and was asking to leave. Would have to officially sign the full back before the goalie for him to be happy, it's stupid.

Ok there's a chance he doesn't rate the goalie but I'm sure it's not that. He's seen as a good player for teams in the 6th tier when we're in the 10th and has potential to play much higher than that. Definitely a star player at this level.

Spoiler

I love them game, but it is sad we have to avoid so much of it. Never promise anything, never give press conferences (that just repeat until infinity), avoid player interactions etc…

Then they add things like Player Targets and all my players get angry if you ever so much as mention them.

 

[Solius]

I absolutely hate this too. I had so many good players come to me on trial and have absolutely no interest, only for a big club to come in at the last minute when I had no more time to plan and no money to offer anyone else because it was tied up in that offer. So annoying!

I gave a player a trial in January and he looked amazing. I offered him a contract and then about 10 other clubs also did that. Then he signed for 19th place Tranmere. I'm second and look very likely to be promoted.

 

[saik]

I gave a player a trial in January and he looked amazing. I offered him a contract and then about 10 other clubs also did that. Then he signed for 19th place Tranmere. I'm second and look very likely to be promoted.

Reputation. It just doesn't go up quick when you are shooting you're way up through the leagues.

 

[Solius]

Reputation. It just doesn't go up quick when you are shooting you're way up through the leagues.

Yeah it's annoying. I feel like there should be a Historic Rep and a Current Rep. If this was real life I'd be the talk of the entire pyramid and people would be amazed at the consecutive promotions.

 

[Chipper]

Starting again.

This massive custom database was an error. I said I didn't mind slow load times but it's really bad. It started with 172k players on the load screen but it's bloated up to 267k.

As I'm in 10th tier I don't need all the teams down to the 13th in there. It's adding another 2400 clubs at tiers 11-13 and processing all their results/transfers. Will look to re-jig a few other things too to streamline.

Third time lucky to get a balance that I like.

 

[saik]

Yeah it's annoying. I feel like there should be a Historic Rep and a Current Rep. If this was real life I'd be the talk of the entire pyramid and people would be amazed at the consecutive promotions.

Yup, I agree. It becomes very annoying when I'm in the championship and my reputation is still that of a Vanarama league club.

Which is why I sometimes use the editor to change the reputation to match the other teams in the league I'm in.

 

[Solius]

Starting again.

This massive custom database was an error. I said I didn't mind slow load times but it's really bad. It started with 172k players on the load screen but it's bloated up to 267k.

As I'm in 10th tier I don't need all the teams down to the 13th in there. It's adding another 2400 clubs at tiers 11-13 and processing all their results/transfers. Will look to re-jig a few other things too to streamline.

Third time lucky to get a balance that I like.

I hope you stick with it after all this.

Remember to delete the league below you once you get promoted. If you have confidence you'll stay up of course but it's par for the course with the really lower tiers.

 

[Maluco]

Back to life at Viz and it was a relatively quiet January window from what we are used to. We spent the CL money we had getting in Sangare, who is 29 now, but had great attributes. Strong, fast and a nice passer. A perfect defensive shield for my team with the bonus that he can pass.

Annoyingly, Keita (32) and Soyuncu (31) stats are beginning to drop so Colwill was brought in on loan and a Mexican CM wonderkid that was brought extremely cheap is starting to look the part. So those two drop to the bench and will need to be sold.

Scouting Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil is a little slow, but every so often, reveals a cheap player who looks very promising. I have a few more who turn 18 soon and should be ready to talk to us. It would be great to be able to include 3-4 in the squad next season.

We are flying through the league and have a 4 point gap as we hit the halfway point. Reiner is the best 1,5 million I have ever spent, coming up with numerous goals and assists, while Delap is banging in the goals.

I expected a little more from Doku and especially from Madueke, they seem to blow hot and cold far too frequently and are often off the pitch before the hour mark.

We did fantastically well in the CL, only losing to Real Madrid (1-3) and Bayern (0-1). We had some great results along the way to finishing an incredible 6th on the overall table, beating Monaco in Monaco (3-2), Ajax (4-0), Feyenoord away (7-2!) and Juventus (3-1)

Big money for the club…that they won’t give me for transfers.

We also got through to the League Cup final, our first final since the second half collapse against Porto in the Portuguese Cup. The players just didn’t turn up and we lost comfortably to Benfica.

Two final losses in a row, that has me questioning the way I am setting up. I still think there are games that seem decided before we play them though!

 

[Solius]

Yup, I agree. It becomes very annoying when I'm in the championship and my reputation is still that of a Vanarama league club.

Which is why I sometimes use the editor to change the reputation to match the other teams in the league I'm in.

Yeah I will do that if it keeps up. You basically cannot grow organically without the editor. Our stadium is still a rented 6k place but I'm refusing to edit any of that as getting the board to build a stadium of our own eventually will be really satisfying I think and I don't want to just create one for myself.

 

[Maluco]

I gave a player a trial in January and he looked amazing. I offered him a contract and then about 10 other clubs also did that. Then he signed for 19th place Tranmere. I'm second and look very likely to be promoted.

Yeah, it seems to be once anyone half decent comes in, you are finished. If I see another contract being offered now, I just immediately pull mine out. I have never beaten an English side to a player, even Championship ones, despite me being in the CL.

The interest shouldn’t be “triggered” by my offer. They either knew about/were looking at the player, or they weren’t.

I am getting those contracts offered in April, as soon as my budget comes up, because once they are clubless and asking for less money, I have no chance of getting them.

 

[SilentWitness]

Back to life at Viz and it was a relatively quiet January window from what we are used to. We spent the CL money we had getting in Sangare, who is 29 now, but had great attributes. Strong, fast and a nice passer. A perfect defensive shield for my team with the bonus that he can pass.

Annoyingly, Keita (32) and Soyuncu (31) stats are beginning to drop so Colwill was brought in on loan and a Mexican CM wonderkid that was brought extremely cheap is starting to look the part. So those two drop to the bench and will need to be sold.

Scouting Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil is a little slow, but every so often, reveals a cheap player who looks very promising. I have a few more who turn 18 soon and should be ready to talk to us. It would be great to be able to include 3-4 in the squad next season.

We are flying through the league and have a 4 point gap as we hit the halfway point. Reiner is the best 1,5 million I have ever spent, coming up with numerous goals and assists, while Delap is banging in the goals.

I expected a little more from Doku and especially from Madueke, they seem to blow hot and cold far too frequently and are often off the pitch before the hour mark.

We did fantastically well in the CL, only losing to Real Madrid (1-3) and Bayern (0-1). We had some great results along the way to finishing an incredible 6th on the overall table, beating Monaco in Monaco (3-2), Ajax (4-0), Feyenoord away (7-2!) and Juventus (3-1)

Big money for the club…that they won’t give me for transfers.

We also got through to the League Cup final, our first final since the second half collapse against Porto in the Portuguese Cup. The players just didn’t turn up and we lost comfortably to Benfica.

Two final losses in a row, that has me questioning the way I am setting up. I still think there are games that seem decided before we play them though!

Good going. I find that in finals the rep of bigger sides does have an impact even if you might be better than them. They have that history and experience in those games whereas you may not.

 

[saik]

Yeah I will do that if it keeps up. You basically cannot grow organically without the editor. Our stadium is still a rented 6k place but I'm refusing to edit any of that as getting the board to build a stadium of our own eventually will be really satisfying I think and I don't want to just create one for myself.

The bolded part is very true. You can sometimes get lucky and get a tycoon takeover and it might help a bit but if the takeover happens when you are in League 2 it already becomes pointless by the time you're in the championship because his £1m investments are great for league 2 but nothing for a championship club.

Then you're back to player sales to make some money but because you're reputation is so low AI clubs makes pathetically low offers like 100k for players who would easily fetch couple of million. Sponsorships are also of low value because again reputation.

I create a narrative in my head(3 back to back promotions, I'm the talk of the town) to justify using the editor for this bullshit.

 

[Nickosaur]

First full season at Gladbach going well... currently 8 points clear of Bayern in Jan! (27/28 season).

Fully expect them to turn things around (they just bought Foden ffs!) but after two defeats at the start of the season I've been basically unbeaten.

Changed my tactic in the summer to a sort of wing play/gegenpress hybrid that seems to be working well now. But just picked up a few injuries - feel like the inevitable mid/late season slump isn't far away...

 

[Chipper]

I hope you stick with it after all this.

Remember to delete the league below you once you get promoted. If you have confidence you'll stay up of course but it's par for the course with the really lower tiers.

Was getting into it so I'm sure I will, just a shame it was taking so long.

Nice tip about deleting the league below, cheers!

 

[Solius]

The bolded part is very true. You can sometimes get lucky and get a tycoon takeover and it might help a bit but if the takeover happens when you are in League 2 it already becomes pointless by the time you're in the championship because his £1m investments are great for league 2 but nothing for a championship club.

Then you're back to player sales to make some money but because you're reputation is so low AI clubs makes pathetically low offers like 100k for players who would easily fetch couple of million. Sponsorships are also of low value because again reputation.

I create a narrative in my head(3 back to back promotions, I'm the talk of the town) to justify using the editor for this bullshit.

You've convinced me to at least edit my rep to match the other clubs around me

EDIT: fecking hell we were like 500 behind.

 

[Maluco]

Good going. I find that in finals the rep of bigger sides does have an impact even if you might be better than them. They have that history and experience in those games whereas you may not.

It does seem like we are always up against it when we draw them. I don’t know if it’s a mentality/determination thing in my squad. I should have shut up shop against Porto last year and started to pass to feet and try and kill the game off.

This time though, players just never got off the starting block, lots of 6,4 and 6,5 ratings and nothing I could do to get any sort of reaction.

You are possibly right about the mental edge of going into the final against one of the big clubs. Maybe I need to ease expectations instead of telling them to win, despite the positive reaction.

 

[SilentWitness]

It does seem like we are always up against it when we draw them. I don’t know if it’s a mentality/determination thing in my squad. I should have shut up shop against Porto last year and started to pass to feet and try and kill the game off.

This time though, players just never got off the starting block, lots of 6,4 and 6,5 ratings and nothing I could do to get any sort of reaction.

You are possibly right about the mental edge of going into the final against one of the big clubs. Maybe I need to ease expectations instead of telling them to win, despite the positive reaction.

I never do the team talks it prompts you to do a couple of days before the game about title chances or chances of winning finals. Just feel like it never goes well. Better to just avoid

 

[Solius]

I never do the team talks it prompts you to do a couple of days before the game about title chances or chances of winning finals. Just feel like it never goes well. Better to just avoid

Yep. I've learnt my lesson on that one too. Shame so many parts of the game just have to be avoided because they're broken.

 

[Berbaclass]

Had to basically ditch a lot of my Vanarama players and take League Two a bit more seriously so I did some proper scouting and picked up some brilliant free agents, including a Portugese striker who has been lethal. He's just been called up to the Under 21s so I doubt I'll keep hold of him for long.

Our bank balance was sitting around the £1m mark at this point as I've basically never spent anything on transfers so I've been spamming the board for training/youth upgrades which they're now doing as I'm a club legend. We expanded our stadium to 6k but it made no sense to me as we rent it, and it seems like we paid to expand it?

League Two is quite forgiving in that 3 get automatic promotion and there's lots of play-off spots. We're 2nd at Christmas but Wigan are a point ahead with 5 games in hand.

I usually rebuild every year if I’m going up through the leagues. I use a team as a benchmark in terms of ability and base everything on that because in theory if you can match that they you should be able to compete with the best teams in the league.

 

[saik]

You've convinced me to at least edit my rep to match the other clubs around me

EDIT: fecking hell we were like 500 behind.

It is still going to be challenging as you'll still struggle with stadium and stuff but at least players will be more willing to join and it won't feel as bullshit as before.

 

[saik]

I usually rebuild every year if I’m going up through the leagues. I use a team as a benchmark in terms of ability and base everything on that because in theory if you can match that they you should be able to compete with the best teams in the league.

Rebuild as in sell the whole squad and buy a new one? Doesn't that wreck your team dynamics?

I usually sign all the released Prem youngsters that you get in that email and if you are lucky enough to snap them all up when you are in Vanarama, they are going to easily carry you till championship. Players like Forson, Ethan Williams, Musa, Dudziak, Kacurri, Danns, and few other youngsters I'm forgetting from Chelsea and Tottenham.

Also, I noticed in this year's version there's this thing where players who are too good for that level randomly signing for a club at that level. I was able to sign McAtee who was still lower Prem/championship quality as a Vanarama club as he was released by Sheffield. Same with Patino who was released by Arsenal when he was easily Prem quality and was signed by Bromley or some other Vanarama club. Also, WorktheSpace signing Irogebunam and Scarlett in his YouTube save.

 

[Alex99]

You've convinced me to at least edit my rep to match the other clubs around me

EDIT: fecking hell we were like 500 behind.

For something that seems to be a crucial part of so many aspects of the game, the "reputation" system seems completely broken.

It needs to be way more dynamic than it actually is, for starters.

 

[Solius]

Promoted to League One. 4 Games left so will try to overtake Wigan and actually get a trophy to show for it.

 

[Chipper]

Just trawled through all the kits when deciding who to play as in the latest attempt of the English 9th tier (I said 10th tier earlier by mistake). I'll be looking at it a lot so should pick something that's pleasing to my eye.

Going for Fairford Town.

Spoiler: Honourable Mentions

Romford

Bishop Aucklund

FC Isle of Man

Arlesey Town

Pinchbeck United

Lymington

Petersfield Town

Shepton Mallet

 

[Solius]

Just trawled through all the kits when deciding who to play as in lates attempt of the English 9th tier (I said 10th tier earlier by mistake). I'll be looking at it a lot so should pick something that's pleasing to my eye.

Going for Fairfield Town.

Spoiler: Honourable Mentions

Romford

Bishop Aucklund

FC Isle of Man

Arlesey Town

Pinchbeck United

Lymington

Petersfield Town

Shepton Mallet

Give Kitbasher a go if you want some proper realism. Can create some lovely kits with that and it even generates the 3D ones so it looks good in game too.