Football Manager 2014: 12 New Features To Be Excited About

4. You Can Bribe Fringe Players With Money

Contract We€™ve all got that one player we rate highly but just can€™t see a place for in our team. Whether that€™s because your MVP happens to occupy the same position or because his position/style of play doesn€™t suit your formation, he€™ll just rot on the subs bench until you figure out a use for him. Yet you still won€™t get rid of him €“ you know it€™s wrong to foist arrested development (not the TV show, never the TV show) upon a player, you like him and dammit, he€™ll find a purpose eventually. But still, he€™ll get annoyed with you. After all, it€™s only natural. Dimitar Berbatov aside, footballers are competitive animals who demand game time. However, when push comes to shove, they€™re willing to be placated with assurances and bare-faced bribery, something which Sports Interactive have twigged onto at last. Yes, it appears that in the next FM you can include a contractual bonus for every time the player ends up as an unused substitute, meaning you can guarantee the loyalty of a bench-dweller without having to sacrifice the harmony of your team. I don€™t know about you, but I personally think that€™s a fantastic addition, if only because it€™ll stop my reserve keeper throwing his toys (and gloves) out of the pram when all he's getting is Carlisle on a wind-swept Tuesday night.
Contributor
Contributor

Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League. You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.