Thetownend.com

Anybody playing?

Early access released yesterday.

What have the last couple been like? I lost most of my teenage years and early 20s to "Champ Man" but eventually got turned off by the ever increasing complexity/detail.

Similarly, from the age of about 13 to 23 I was pretty obsessed with the game. I particularly loved the multiple game options and often spent long hours with a good friend sitting playing the game. (before internet etc) I remember having to turn our backs as we were both offering the good free agents (Taribo West etc) deals and we had to ensure we didn't know how much we were giving in money or contract lengths.

I actually bought the game in about 2018 for old times sake but it didn't have the same 'magic' as before, although I did enjoy the hours spent playing it. I haven't really 'done' computer games for ages now, but if I ever get the urge, it's always football manager that I would turn to.

I tend to play the iPad versions now, which are much more like the c. 2001/2 CMs in being a lot simpler (and faster to play).

I have bought it on beta pre release but am trying to download it now, got it for a reasonable £33.

Yeah, that's what I want. Text only matches. None of your graphics nonsense.

Got it going. Why are Newport now considered a fierce rival?

I just found this hilarious 'Newport fans journey to the CG' live feed update from the Adver which seems to back that up.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23855779.swindon-town-v-newport-county-heavy-police-presence-swindon-ahead-game/

In reality, I think there was some recent trouble at Newport but I don't think there is anything like a rivalry between the 2 clubs. Just the usual Welsh v English edge I would have thought?

I have graphics cranked up to max all the time.

Just finished downloading lets see how the Town team shapes up!

Starting my save tonight. Be good for us all to compare progress in here!

I hope they have fixed the 433 formation issue when it was so hard to lose games in 2023 if you played with that formation. A bit like Genpress from the year before.

(https://i.postimg.cc/nL4KyDs0/Untitled.png)

2024 has a few improvements in '23, noteably the match engine is smoother, the ball is more true to actual physics, teams and players move around in a more natural way. The transfer system has been tweaked a bit too - you can use a 3rd party (who'll take a % of the fee) to help offload players who have little/no interest from other clubs.

2024 is the last one before a big overhaul though, so it's not drastically different to 2023 and next year will have much bigger changes.

Gender neutral Clem.

TBF it has been chairperson for the last 3 generations of FM's.

How big is our competitive budget in game? :D

I just 'sim'd' a season. Flynn sacked after 152 days, his replacement by AI Clem was Rob Jones the Middlesbrough under 18 assistant manager, sacked after 107 days, his replacement was Martin Rennie who was sacked by Falkirk in 2022. Swindon finished 24th with 49 points!

£43k per week wage, of which £41k is being used and zero transfer budget on mine.

Enjoying GM24 so far, a few bugs, I am top of the league in January without losing a game, only bought in Tyler Fredricsen from Liverpool on loan in defence and Josh Martin on a free on the right wing.

In January I brought in Lewis Grabban and Connor Wickham on frees to bolster my attack as Austin and RHM are often injured yet still Austin has 21 and 19 goals!

(https://i.postimg.cc/wjJWZDxS/end.png)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fbf8TZ9C/otherntitled.png)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7hf9V2Qt/scorer.png)
(https://i.postimg.cc/LXyvLTvZ/table.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/j5qZD96b/tactic.jpg)

8-2 up at half time, interesting, the game finished 8-4!
(https://i.postimg.cc/kXSFgqrS/Untitled.png)

Ok. I'm 2nd after 12 games but it's tight. You've absolutely romped the league there. Perhaps I'm too defensive using 3 at the back with wingbacks!

Just to add to this.

One of my staff told me Saidou Kahn wasn't going to sign a new deal. So I spoke to his agent, and agreed for Peterborough to approach him. I negotiated a fee of 100k. Was chuffed with that as he'd leave for nothing in the summer. He was also easily replaceable.

I sign Callum Camps from Stockport as a replacement on a 3 year contract. Deals goes through. Nice.

Then Khan can't agree terms with Peterborough. So I'm stuck with him and my budget is eaten.

Was too annoyed about Saturday to start with Town, so started unemployed. Now managing Kawasaki Frontale  :D

Got a good save going with Southampton at the minute. Will probably swap to a non league club when bored of this one.

With a non league to Prem save, that period when you get in the Prem and rise to the “best of the rest” but get slapped by the top 4 all the time and don’t have the budget/facilities to grow further is usually where I lose interest

Took a 2 month break on FM23 for that reason, got Dulwich Hamlet up eventually but got kerb stomped by the big guys... came back to it, won the Champions League that season and the Prem the following year!

Waiting for the non league database update to take Chard Town or Axminster into the league.

Did a save at Queens Park, romping the league after 12 games and got a draw at Rangers in the cup.

Interestingly I have 10 season long loans who can all play in every game.

I had the same issue with players wanting to leave even when top of the table, Khan, Clayton, Hutton and FBT all wanting out when their contracts ends in the Summer and will not sign a new contract no matter what.

Also had this at the end of the transfer window....

(https://i.postimg.cc/k4Ns3zjw/Untitled.png)

Who says FM isn't realistic!