Games
Struggling to get three points in Football Manager 2018? Here's why.
Football Manager is one of the most complex games around, and it's a given that you'll make mistakes along the way. Fail to learn from them and you'll soon find yourself out of a job, desperately seeking another shot in the manager's hotseat.
To help you avoid making too many clangers, we've identified some of the top mistakes that players make in Football Manager. Remove these errors from your game, and you'll soon start racking up the wins, promotions and trophies.
1. Always changing tactics
When you're on a losing streak, it's tempting to make constant tactical changes. This not only unsettles the side, but leaves you playing a guessing game, implementing random strategies in the hope that one will stick. Instead, go back to basics – what are your squad's strengths, and how can you build around them? Make simple, strategic decisions when changing tactics, and give your players time to adjust.
2. Not having a Plan B
Football Manager allows you to assign up to three preset tactics for your team. Do this from day one of your managerial reign, and you'll give your players ample time to become accustomed to these strategies. This is crucial regardless of whether you've discovered the perfect tactic or not, as if you stick to one style, other managers will soon learn how to counteract it. It's easy to rest on your laurels, but don't fall into this trap.
3. Ignoring player roles
If you're a new or returning player from year's past, the importance of Football Manager's player roles might pass you by. Each player in FM 2018 has a set of favoured roles and duties, and playing them in these roles will help get the most out of their abilities. This a major element that must be considered when developing tactics, as players who are given unsuitable roles will likely prove ineffective on the pitch.
4. Missing out on key dates
Not knowing some of the most important dates on the calendar can you leave you at a significant disadvantage in FM. Arguably the most beneficial is the pre-contract window (it varies across the world), which allows you to start acquiring players for free prior to the end of their existing deal. It's worth discovering your country's youth intake date, too, letting you scout potential wonderkids before anyone else does.
5. Losing the dressing room
Player mentalities are a significant part of FM 2018, and it's all-too easy to lose the dressing room as a result. Pay attention to your team's Dynamics, prioritising the squad hierarchy to ensure you don't anger the most influential members of your squad. Another common mistake is the desire to ignore player requests in the hope they'll go away, but by doing this, you'll do more harm than good. Instead, respond in a calculated manner.
6. Overlooking the team report
The team report screen is an invaluable resource in FM 2018 that often goes overlooked. It provides a key look at your squad's strengths and weaknesses, plus a depth chart that helps to narrow down the perfect formations to use. This comes in particularly handy when taking charge of teams you know little about. Identify your squad's most prominent strengths, and you'll have the perfect base to build upon.
7. Skipping pre-season
It's tempting to skip pre-season in Football Manager given the many hours you can spend playing friendlies, managing your tactics and ploughing through news items. It might seem like a good idea at the time, but those few weeks are arguably the most important of the entire season. Analysing how your squad is coming together will offer huge benefits going forward, so resist the lure of letting your assistant do all the work instead.
8. Not building for the future
It's easy to forget about your team's youth players when embroiled in the day-to-day aspects of running a club. However, taking the time to train, coach, tutor and give game time to your most talented young players can have a huge effect in the long run. Consider upgrading your club's youth facilities, too, and don't be afraid to dip into the transfer budget for a potential wonderkid every now and again.
