Football Manager 2014

[stokeriño]

Nope, just you.

[Plubby]

I mean, the burn was there but I was awesome at previous years' games

[Twist]

Any tips on getting possession higher? I'm struggling big time. I rarely get more than forty percent. Frustrating.

[Benji]

I always get that no matter what team, formation, or style that I play as, "retain posession" has become the one shout I leave on all the time.

[Twist]

Even retain possession is doing nothing for me. Frustrating at this point.

[Lineker]

I find that a combination of retain possesion, work ball into box, exploit flanks, overlapping fullbacks, and a high defensive line leads to me bossing possession. Of course, you need the right players to do this

[Liam]

My team has gone a bit to shit, although are still in with a good shout of qualifying from a Champs League group of Wolfsburg, Olympiakos and Athletico Madrid (reigning Spanish champs!) - even beat AM at theirs.

[Liam]

Topped my group as a 4th seed, but am 14th in the Prem. It is tight, but still, nowhere near good enough.

[Benji]

A update to December's patch popped today. Full change list with today's at the bottom...

FM14 Patch 14.2.0 - Main Changes (Released 18/12/2013): The new Football Manager 2014 Update 14.2.0 covers, but is not limited to;

STABILITY
- Fixed rare crash when continuing game
- Fixed another rare crash when continuing edited save game
- Fixed crash testing rules in Advanced Editor
- Fixed crash when searching invalid latitude value in Editor

MATCH v1439
- Fixed rare occurrence of stats incorrectly showing 255
- Reduced instances of direct free kicks aimed too close to crossbar inflating woodwork stats
- Fixed instances of throw ins taken just on pitch
- Tweaked urgency of engagement of ball player in own half depending on defensive player's tactical settings
- Improved general logic of when to attempt a tackle
- Tweaked aim direction of sliding tackles
- Reduced wild challenges slightly
- Fixed keeper accelerating out of area after fielding ball
- Fixed player ratings not updated quickly enough in some circumstances
- Some tweaks to player ratings including weighting on headers, interceptions and tackles
- Fixed poor detection of save quality
- Reduced first time keeper clearances under little pressure when he has short distribution PI
- Fixed strange ball movement after some instances of players pushing opponents while going to aerial ball
- Fixed non marking of short corner option player
- Reduced poor attempts to win corner off opponent
- Reduced poor cross attempts that had little chance of completion
- Reduced pointless shot attempts slightly
- Fixed quick free kick direction facing
- Fixed blocked crosses being set as completed crosses in stats
- Fixed short corners being set as crosses in stats
- Fixed players going through bench
- Fixed subs running on pitch after friendly win
- Improved keeper kick out from hands contact point
- Fixed issues with depth and width values after human tactical changes
- Fixed player standing at wrong end of pitch when following "stand in front of keeper at free kick" instruction
- Fixed bad goal kicks when the keeper kicks the ball out for an injury
- Refined counter attack trigger point depending on team mentality setting
- Improved player decision making during counter attack phase of play
- Some general tweaks to on ball decision AI
- Increased chance of player misjudging ball path slightly
- Made it harder for player to kill pace on fast moving ball especially at speed
- Improved ball velocity on some crosses
- Fixed ball contact point issue when putting ball out of play for an injury
- Added cross less often PI
- Fixed some issues with kick off AI
- Fixed some issues defending corners
- Fixed some keeper positioning and facing issues, including coming out inviting easy lobs
- Some tweaks to pass AI
- Tweaked d-line position slightly
- Fixed some further engagement of ball player issues
- Tweaked default cross aim slightly
- Reduced further attempts to buy corner off opponent
- Increased long shots slightly
- Fixed keeper misjudging occasional headed back pass
- Reduced penalty scored % slightly
- Fine-tuned CCC detection very slightly
- Reduced overhit mid-range passes caused by physics interface flaw not player error
- Tweaked player movement at dead balls slightly
- Reduced defensive headers that are aimed too close to own goal
- Small tweaks to shot and pass accuracy

FMC
- Improved Match Plan substitution logic
- Increased individual player training to prevent players becoming unhappy with workload
- Fixed mid-season Budget news item sometimes not appearing
- Fixed user not being able to declare interest in jobs when AI Managers are 'insecure'

STEAM WORKSHOP & ACHIEVEMENTS
- User can now 'scan for graphics' to manually index Workshop graphics
- User can start challenges from Workshop
- Game will now index files without a config
- Kits can now be uploaded to Workshop
- Manually deleted files will no longer produce error for users
- Italian Hero Achievement fixed

UNLOCKABLES
- Fixed rare instance where No Sacking would not unlock
- Can now turn off IGE before creating a new game
- User can add second nationalities
- Can now move players between AI clubs
- Can now transfer free agents using 'move to other clubs' option
- Future transfers cleared when free agents are moved

COMPETITIONS & RULES
- Fixed rare example of clubs incorrectly failing FFP
- AI will now always register players when user is on holiday
- Stopped Swedish Second Divisions changing number of teams
- Spanish "B" Team Squad Numbers now remembered between matches
- Stopped players returning from their end of season break too early
- Stopped Scottish Premiership Playoff matches being scheduled for consecutive days
- Fixed rare example of Belgian season not being scheduled
- Fixed scheduling of Copa Libertadores & Sudamericana when removing South American leagues
- Fixed Italian transfer window dates
- Fixed overage rules in Russian U21 league
- Fixed Scottish Premiership Relegation Playoff scheduling
- Stopped assistant manager arranging reserve friendlies when already in a reserve league
- Fixed North American Gold Cup attendances
- Fixed Belgian Pro League European Playoff Final scheduling when cup winners qualify
- Set 2015 Asian Cup Qualifying groups as per real life
- Fixed English League Cup / EURO Cup fixture clashes
- Fixed English FA Cup replays being scheduled during international breaks
- Fixed 2015 U20 World Cup scheduling

TRANSFERS & CONTRACTS
- Reduced player bonus demands in contract negotiations
- Stopped former staff generating scout reports
- Stopped AI clubs bidding on players they cannot afford
- Improved AI shortlisting for Spanish B teams
- Stopped out of contract players from being agent owned
- Fixed expiry date being set in the past for transfer targets
- Improved logic of AI co-ownership offers
- Fixed user being unable to Approach To Sign player after deal falls though
- Fixed semi-pro sides being unable to offer non-contracts

USER INTERFACE
- Fixed Continue button disappearing before penalty shootouts
- Fixed text overrun on GK attribute octagons
- Fixed code displayed in board meeting
- Fixed match focus not state saving
TRAINING
- Fixed tactical familiarity not adjusting when some strategies changed
- Fixed formation familiarity being lost in certain circumstances

NETWORK
- Fixed Offer to Clubs screen changing when other users navigate
- Fixed warning message when clients attempt to join network game

Football Manager 2014 Patch 14.2.1 Released!

Today, January 2nd 2014, Sports Interactive released a new minor fix to Football Manager 2014! The new FM14 update is still save-game compatible, but for the fixes on the Brazilian league rules, you will need to start a new save to apply for these changes.

Like earlier, please use the steps above in order to update your game to the new FM14 14.2.1 patch.

Football Manager 2014 14.2.1 Change list of all new changes:

- Improved balance of managerial job & contract offers
- Fixed user being unable to set offers as non-negotiable
- Fixed AI team selections when simulating 2014 start dates
- Fixed 2D Classic pitch in zoomed views
- Fixed Uruguayan relegation system
- Fixed Brazilian foreign & age limitation rules

[Gazz]

Any tips on getting possession higher? I'm struggling big time. I rarely get more than forty percent. Frustrating.

Look at the player analysis. I guarantee its because your keeper and defenders are just hoofing the ball. Set them all the shorter passing and look at your keeper distribution.

[Summers]

Into the second season with Valencia now.. first season saw Banega, Diego Alves and Helder Postiga leave in Jan, with Adan, Honda, Correa & Torres (loan) coming in. We finished 5th and lost in the Europa League semis.. I wasn't massively displeased. We struggled to score goals, so that was a bit pants.

Second season business saw Pabon, Cissokho, Feghouli, Pereira and Guardado all leave, raising 25m. We then spent 16m on Gabriel Barbosa (18 y/o Argie striker), Sergio Ayala, Loris Bacchetti and Ignasi Miquel (all in reserve team currently) and Rasmus Jonsson, recently relegated Bilbao pair Mikel Rico and Ander Herrera and Torres returned on loan - with van der Wiel also a loan signing.

8 games in, we're 11th. Proper mixed bag, losing too many already.. bad loses to Valladolid and Granada were followed by a 3 - 2 win over Barca at the Mestalla. Injury crisis at the back has hurt me bad. Rami and Ruiz are both out with bad injuries. Leaving me short on central defence options.. our midfield is full of quality (Parejo, Honda, Canales, Herrera) but none are really shining bright.. and once again up front is an issue. With Torres, Jonas, Jonsson and Paco all looking as impotent as each other. Jonas and Torres have 3 goals each, but they just don't look clinical enough.

The weak defence is hurting, because we find ourselves falling behind without a chance of getting ahead.

[MJB]

Anyone know the date when new teams join the Conference North/South in England? I'm holidaying through the first season and want to take one of the new teams on but I don't know what date to holiday to.

[Summers]

So, Ricky Costa decides the best thing to do when we have a defensive crisis is get back to back red cards in a league game, then in europe.

Twat.

[Hobo]

I think the best thing would be to manage Norwegian club Odds BK just to be the "Odd manager".

And try and live up to that name.

[Benji]

I think the best thing would be to manage Norwegian club Odds BK just to be the "Odd manager".

And try and live up to that name.

Totally want to do that and just try every experimental formation that comes to mind.

[Hobo]

And only sign players over a certain height and weight.

Also your keeper must be 20 eccentric and take penalties! (Although I like to sign those if and when I can).

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

So basically, Vincent Tan's Cardiff City but in Norway?

[Jimmy]

Finished my 1st season with Spurs. Finished 4th and won the Europa League. Chelsea finished 7th and luckily lost in the Champions League final to Barcelona. I was bricking it there. A pretty good season, but we struggled to get anything out of the big games, and slipped up on a few games.

At the start of the season - Coentrao came in for 10 mil, Leandro Damiao for 4.6 and Honda mid season on a free. Coentrao didn't adapt amazingly and Rose kept him out of a 1st team position for the majority of the season, Damiao played 2nd fiddle to Soldado (who finished top scorer) and Honda provided useful cover.

Villa gor relegated, so I bought Benteke off them for 15 mil. Had the choice of Benteke or Mandzukic for 11 mil, but chose the younger option. Shifting some players out - Chadli for 9 mil, Siggy for 13 (because we just have too many midfielders and Eriksen has the CAM spot down.) Adebayor's off on a free too because he's awful.

Hoping to bring in Bernard so I have a good inside forward on the left, but he is pricey

[Gazz]

Anyone know the date when new teams join the Conference North/South in England? I'm holidaying through the first season and want to take one of the new teams on but I don't know what date to holiday to.

Its either 7th or 17th July

[Summers]

I was eyeing up three central defenders in Jan. The first two were going to cost too much, so I went for the third. Then at the end of the window, the first two both end up on the transfer list. Fuck off.