Arguably one of my fave PC game series has just released this year's version.

Gonna get it today! Looks so much better than last year's coz now you can create your own competitions and clubs and play over the internet! We might be able to set up our own league at long last!

I have played FM 2005, 2006 and 2007.

I have added Football Manager to my birthday or christmas list.

I will probably have to upgrade my PC next year again

I'll probably end up buying this game but I far as I was aware it comes out next week..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... d_i=468294

If there is an online mode then it should be a good new addition.

Well I thought it was next week too, but like last year Game appears to be selling early last year I got mine on the Monday of the week it was supposed to come out on the Friday!

But yes, it looks amazing, so far you could create your own teams but nothing would have been manageable, only real teams could be managed. Now you can manage your own teams AND create your own competitions/leagues/tournaments!!!

I would imagine though that because of the recent changes in management (Warnock instead of Taylor at Palace, Grant at Chelsea instead of Mourinho, etc.), but it still sounds wicked.

EDIT: I was disappointed as Game say they are selling the game on Monday at the very earliest! Still good though as they'd be selling it days early again!

Sols, DEFINITELY worth buying it!!!

Why? Without even me explaining what I already think of the game, take a read of all the new bits in the game:

New features for Football Manager 2008 PC/Apple Macintosh:

Match Flow - The largest change to match-day in a Sports Interactive game since the introduction of the second match engine. Match flow brings more atmosphere to match-days with match previews, team talks, opposition player instructions, the match itself, half time and post match. These now seamlessly follow on from one another, with no more pausing to make tactical changes, and a mini-radar pitch whilst making those tactical changes to keep you in touch with what's going on in the match

International Management - The international management gameplay has been completely revamped for Football Manager™ 2008, including, but not limited to, media improvements, international retirements, player interaction, international scouting, improved pool selection, captain selection and a separation of international and club morale for players.

Easier to Use - A much cleaner skin, a brand new advisor system to help players through various areas of the game. A new notes and notebook system, better button positioning for simpler navigation and an updated tutorial and manual. Also, coach reports make taking over a new team easier, and the new calendar system lists all important dates throughout the season. These all help to make Football Manager™ 2008 the easiest Sports Interactive game to use yet.

Confidence - Players can now easily tell what the board and supporters think about their performance in the game through the new confidence section. This gives players feedback not just on their current progress in competitions, but also their financial management and signings.

Transfer Centre - A new way of managing all current transfer and loan bids for a players club, both incoming and outgoing, making it easier to compare bids and reject or accept them.

Match Engine Improvements - A greatly improved match engine, once again utilising the footballing brain of former Republic of Ireland international player Ray Houghton as well as other tools used by real-life managers to make the most accurate simulation of football in a computer game. The ability to change the pitch dimensions at the start of the season to suit players styles of play better has also been added.

Awards re-write - An overhaul of the awards system inside the game which is not only more accurate now, but also includes new awards such as the European golden boot, and a "best eleven", which shows the all-time (in game) best eleven for all teams and nations.

Finances revamp - To reflect the changes in modern day football, Sports Interactive have updated the finance area of Football Manager™ 2008 to better reflect the ever changing football world, with more information available to the manager too, including, but not limited to, corporate match day income, season ticket news, investment funds, improved sponsorships, collective win bonuses, and the ability to move around funds from the wage budget and transfer budget (and vice versa) at any point to help you in your quest for the ideal squad.

Fan days - The board can now arrange fan days to boost ailing attendances, or for matches that are likely to attract a low crowd, with a long term affect to attendances if all goes well.

Expanded media - More media and feedback than ever before, plus more detail in existing media, and a new competition news section to find out what major things are going on in all league competitions

Regenerated player photo's - All in game generated players now have pictures using FaceGen technology to give each player more personality, and the ability for the players to be seen to grow up in front of your eyes as the game is going on.

Faster - Saving and loading is now significantly faster, with network gaming faster and smoother to play, as well as tactical changes and match reports being quicker than ever before.

---

The two bits I love the most is the playe 'ageing' photos, and the best bit: in the past if you were in 'the red' financially and yet you had shedloads of transfer money left, now you can switch funds so say you're short on funds for the club etc. and somehow got loads of money for new players, you can mix and make things financially better!

Solskjaer is getting his copy soon, but who else has bought it?

I strongly recommend you at least try the demo - you will not be disappointed.

Trying my hand at lower-league management in 2023, took over Hayes & Yeading (Blue Square South), my first game was against Newport (Welsh Premier Div.), and after 10 minutes I was 1-0 down to a goal by Jonathan Ross...

I won 4-3, but isn't there a copyright issue there?

Hmm... just seen England win the 2026 World Cup, 1-0 over Portugal. They do have an odd way of celebrating though...

The same evening of the World Cup win, Gareth Southgate was sacked as England manager!?
Just imagine that actually happening... the press would have a field day.

A couple of screenshots from my season at the moment.

And I'm going to guess (from personal experience) that Dave Hibbert's slight concern is the competition for a first team place?

That is pretty good, but two seasons in and Shrewsbury are still in the same league...any decent cup runs?

Well I started off at Man Utd and finished 3rd two seasons running and got to a FA Cup semi and Champions League semi and they didn't offer me a new contract.

This is my first season at Shrewsbury and I reached the 2nd round of the League Cup, (Beating Brighton in the 1st round) and haven't entered the FA Cup yet.

I've loaned a few players in but at the moment I seem to be struggling to score goals, my strikers keep missing sitters!

A few concerns there...

Hereford, Chester and Wrexham above us, whats going on there?!

Darren Moss is a legend best defender we have so improve his morale.

Also get Joe Hart back in the side...

Come on MSN whenever Sols, I'll send you my training programmes - they're not overly harsh but then again I've never tried managing a League Two side before.

An update for you from my current season with Shrewsbury.

Sols, whatEVER is your secret?!?!?!?

Merthyr Tydfil
5th in the Blue Square South
Play-off Winners 2027
PREMIER LEAGUE HERE WE COME!

The game looks quite good and handy that it looks like it doesnt have much moving graphics so might actually work on this crap computer that I have..

So I went and bought it and even though Play.com think it hasnt even been dispatched yet it arrived this morning, if it's crap Divvy I want you to refund me

Big-Divvy reserves the right to block any requests for refunds from a "Tom22" as he has opted to purchase the game at such a ridiculously late date.

It is a great game, I can only complain of one thing, and that is when you're trying to make amendments to the squad during a game (i.e. substitutions, tactics), you have to physically pause the game now - in past games you could actually stop the game by clicking on a tactics button.

My fave bit of the game is the player pictures age with the game!

My next two seasons with Merthyr haven't gone too well:

20th in BSP after 46/46 games played
24th in BSP after 8/46 games played, sacked.

Now I'm looking for a new job.

It's not installing