Championship Manager Thread

[RalRhino]

Originally posted by Penguin
What do you currently use for a tactic? Mostly 4-4-2 attacking down the flanks with long passes. Occasionally, I switch to a 3-1-3-2-1.

My frustration with the game is that the board members have no long-term memory. You would think that bringing a team from Div. 3 to the Prem. in 4-5 seasons would keep you from getting fired if your team get relegated back to Div. 1.

Also, wanted to pass along the name of a great target striker. Julian Alsop from Cheltenham. He has 19 on both heading and jumping. I put him in front of the keeper for coners and he'll score on maybe 1 of every 5 corners. He's had 30 goals in 40 starts for me this season in Div. 2. Definately worth a look.

[Penguin]

I suggest you stick with the 4-4-2 when you're in Div. 1. You don't need to be tactically innovative in order to survive; a simple tactic like the one you use will work fine. Just remember to keep counter-attacking on. Also, try and find a fast striker to pair with that good Target striker you have.

As for the impatient board, that just depends on what club you managing. Some boards are just more patient than others.

While we're on the subject of name dropping, look for a DMC by the name of Scott Willis. He starts the game with Lincoln in Div. 3. Great buy!!

[Bonji]

My best advice for finding bargain players is using the cmscout utility. It goes into the CM database and queries it for hidden attributes, etc. Some will see it as cheating and if you play against humans I wouldn't cheat. But against the computer, have at it!
You should be able to find the utility on sigames.com

[GersMan]

Originally posted by RalRhino

Also, wanted to pass along the name of a great target striker. Julian Alsop from Cheltenham. He has 19 on both heading and jumping. I put him in front of the keeper for coners and he'll score on maybe 1 of every 5 corners. He's had 30 goals in 40 starts for me this season in Div. 2. Definately worth a look.

He just knocked me out of the FA Cup. I hate him.



Question about the 2D match screen: When you see something clearly happen on the screen, like a dumb throwin giveaway which leads to the winning goal. Do you think the offending player "knows" what he did. I had a player do this and also get a "6" or "average" rating for the match. I warned him for poor performance and he hasn't gotten over how unfair it all was since. I guess I really frosted his pumpkin because now he wants to leave. I'm starting to think I was taking the 2D screen a bit too literally, in which case I have to ask, what's the point?

Another question: Anyone have a link to an article on what SI plans to do re their own game next year?

[mactheknife]

i dont warn players unless they give a couple of 5s or 4s like nearly back-to-back.

[Spartak]

Originally posted by mactheknife
i dont warn players unless they give a couple of 5s or 4s like nearly back-to-back.
True. Warning players only pisses them off. Nothing good ever comes out of warning or fining players in CM. My suggestion is to criticize them in the media. Strangely, players in CM react better if you criticize them in the media rather than warning them in private.

[DutchFootballRulez]

I only warn players when they:

1. Get Sent off for bad behavior.
2. Refuse a transfer.
3. The Coaches say they Are Training Poorly.

[Bonji]

I warn them even less. In CM4 I've never fined anyone, only given official warnings for dismisal in a prior match. If someone is ever violent in a match, like punching another player, I'll fine them for that.

[appoo]

there aren't any American leagues in 03/04 right? And plus any player under contract with MLS is also not in the game right? So no DaMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey, or Freddy Adu?

[Spartak]

Originally posted by appooOnU
there aren't any American leagues in 03/04 right? And plus any player under contract with MLS is also not in the game right? So no DaMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey, or Freddy Adu? Nope. No MLS players are in the game. I never play MLS so it is no matter to me but if you want to play MLS get CM4 instead of CM 03/04.

[afgrijselijkheid]

i'm still on CM4 - got preston north end to the prem first year and nicked a uefa cup berth by making the FA cup final (lost to arsenal who also won the title)

second season - got matched up with basel after a victory over some crazy turk side (gdasbonzporgurcli?) that was up 3-1 on aggregate with 40 minutes left at home in leg 2 and got two cats sent off - the swiss chopped me up pretty good and i missed another uefa bid on the final day when fulham scored in stoppage to tie me

third season - now chock full of americans (bocanegra, donovan, howard, gibbs, lewis, davis) and smart buys with my somewhat meager transfer kitty (farnerud, sonck, de jong, mexes) i have the lilywhites in 3rd near the midway point and cruising along in the uefa (although dangerous schalke 04 is next)



ya know, we all complain about the problems with these games... but it's probably best that they aren't any better 'coz we'd all be obese and pale

[appoo]

Originally posted by Spartak
Nope. No MLS players are in the game. I never play MLS so it is no matter to me but if you want to play MLS get CM4 instead of CM 03/04.

nah I think MLS seasons are boring because the lack of outside compition. I just wanted the players themselves. But thats ok, O'Brien and the rest of the Euro boys are still around. And plus I already ordered it. I'm planning on being Ajax. Is Donovan in the game? Since his contract is with Leverkusen?

[Peakite]

Still playing CM00/01, and having a pretty poor season. Took Halifax to the Championship for the first time, but now the following season is fast approaching and I'm currently in the relegation zone, no home wins as yet in the league (scoring around a goal ever other game isn't helping, mainly on my travels), and home exits in the third round of both cup competitions to second and third divisions sides, together with a hammering by a first division team in the Charity Shield.

Still the Champions League has been kinder, going quite well (even though I couldn't cope with Ajax), but have so far triumphed twice at home (HSV in the first stage and Adanaspor in the second). Tight group with Sparta Prague and FC Haka at the moment.

[Khan]

Where can one acquire a copy of CM 03/04? I'm still using my ancient CM 01/02; I don't remember where I got that from.


Thanks in advance!

[Clint Eastwood]

www.gogamer.com has 03/04

[Bonji]

Originally posted by Khan
Where can one acquire a copy of CM 03/04? I'm still using my ancient CM 01/02; I don't remember where I got that from.


Thanks in advance!

Ebay is also a good place to get good deals.

[zonker]

Originally posted by appooOnU
Is Donovan in the game? Since his contract is with Leverkusen?
Yes, Donovan plays for Leverkusen in 03/04. There are also some fictional American teams (Houston Conquistadors, Cleveland River Fire etc.) that you can't manage, but they have some random fictional players that you can buy.

[MHaifa1913]

I got Scarborough and Leyton Orient in CM2 to the UEFA Champions League. With CM4 I was able to win the UEFA Cup with Maccabi Haifa as well as qualify for the CL quarter finals. I just have to get by Shaktar Donetsk.

[Peakite]

Couldn't stop the relegation, not one of my greatest seasons. Goal scoring the problem, especially at home. Scored two by the second week of September, but then they dried up. Slightly better on the road, hitting 13. Finally managed another home goal against domestic opposition, as I've started the following season as I attempt to bounce back, leaving only one fixture (which I failed to score in) after this. About 350 days in total. I did mange to get my highest average crowd fot the club though. They did complain quite a lot.

Strangely my scoring in Europe wasn't quite so much of a problem, not great overall at home (except for putting five past Rijeka), but did overcome Barnsley in the final on penalties.

Offloaded a few players, my wage bill is about average for the first division, and I have two superb central defenders, a great midfielder, but lost my keeper as he swept the major awards.

[Danks81]

Originally posted by bluedaddy19

ya know, we all complain about the problems with these games... but it's probably best that they aren't any better 'coz we'd all be obese and pale

A truer statement there could not be.