Football Manager 2014: 12 New Features To Be Excited About

2. Tactics Are Less Confusing

Tactics A common problem with the match-day tactical variations of FM €“ or more accurately, the in-match €˜shouts€™ system €“ was that you could often give conflicting advice, telling your players to get hassle the opponent but still demand they stay on their feet in a system which must inspire headbutts, punching and elbow-charges. Sure, the game did make an effort by invalidating one for the other but occasionally, two seemingly opposing ideologies could be activated at the same time. We€™re all human, and we all did it, once upon a time. There€™s no shame in saying you€™ve made a mistake and devolving into face-palming fury when you realise you lost that crucial game because you confused your players. But it looks like FM 14 has made steps to fixing the problem of the shouts system, segregating them into four columns pertaining to possession, distribution, defending and general, and telling you which option would sit at odds with the options in other columns. It€™s basically the equivalent of stabilisers stopping you from tactically shooting yourself in the foot, but somebody will find use for it. Again, if it stop you committing catastrophes, any improvement like this has to be encouraged.
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.