Football Manager returns in mid-November and last weekend I, along with a number of other notably more recognisable names, had the honour of being invited to Sports Interactive to take a sneak behind the curtain for what they have in-store for us with FM20*
With our lunch orders taken, our lives signed over & our shoe laces removed we load Football Manager 2020. From the manager creation page you can already spot the little changes, managers look more realistic, hairstyles are Azzopardi-esque and there is some rascal clobber for your manager to wear on the sideline but it’s when you’ve selected your team that the real changes start as you are welcomed to the club in the all new board room setting. Here you will have your formal introduction, your coaches will give you a brief overview of your squad, you get your first look at the board’s vision for the future and you get to make arrangements for that all-important intra-squad friendly.
Football Manager 2020: Headline Features First Look
This year sees the introduction of the Development Centre, Club Vision and Playing Time Pathway, these are accompanied by new Graphic Improvements and an upgrade to your Backroom Staff.
When the headline features were released my train of thought was already heading towards the longevity of a save so the more you put in, the more you will get out and as you start playing the game you’ll see how these seemingly subtle changes can transform your whole save experience.
The Development Centre
When you start your save there isn’t a great deal going on here in terms of development but as the game goes on you start to see information on the state of your youth team and your hottest prospects. The progression graphs are great for giving a clear guide on how a player’s developing month-to-month and the backroom advice let’s you know when they think he’ll be ready for some first team football.
When we were first introduced to the Development Centre on social media my initial reaction was that it was all the information we already had grouped together in a new menu, but after playing the game it feels like so much more. I play the game with a notepad by my side at all times, noting down future stars, noting where I’ve sent them on loan and noting why I’ve sent them on loan. The Development Centre collates so much of this and whether it’s an overview of players out on loan, their progression or where to find your much-anticipated Youth Candidates the Development Centre is that place. Unfortunately, there just wasn’t the time to get far enough in the game to experience the long-term benefits, but our friends @FoxInTheBox, @WorkTheSpace & @GoldenFM will have you covered with some simulated game footage.
A helpful tip - If you’re like me, you’ll be used to finding your Reserves and Youth Teams on the sidebar, these teams are now found in the Development Centre across the top of the screen.
Club Vision
I’ll go out on a limb here and say that Club Vision is my favourite new feature in Football Manager 2020, even if it does put you to work on the first day! You will have noticed from Monday’s Twitch Stream that Club Vision is split in to three areas – club culture, ongoing activity and the club’s five-year plan and that the board have a far greater say in what’s happening at the football club than they ever have, you can be challenged on the style of football, your transfer policy, your financial control & the club’s competition but don’t worry, you will be given the opportunity to flex your managerial muscle and ask for items to be removed or added, but be prepared to negotiate.
There’s also another nice addition in Club Vision in the form of grading, you are now graded on Performance, Club Vision, Match Performance, Transfer Activity, your Tactics & your Squad which looks a lot nicer than the five bars we used to get.
Playing Time Pathway
Ever over promised and underdelivered to a player? Well the new Playing Time Pathway gives you the opportunity to structure a player’s growth or decline using the new squad statuses which gives you the freedom to plan for the future without upsetting the player... unless you are me. During negotiations with a player I screwed up the negotiations causing him to reject a contract and end any hopes of bringing him to the club!
Note – A great new addition to goalkeepers' contracts are the Emergency Backup & Cup Goalkeeper options.
Graphic Improvements
As I said at the beginning of this post, you’re greeted to a new game with the new manager model and the difference is noticeable, not just in options of attire but in the whole look of his or her anatomy, no more go-go-gadget arms! It’s not just the manager that looks different, the players have a different look to them in a match with the kits and fitting a much-needed improvement.
The new pitch textures look great as well, I wasn’t expecting the difference between dry, damp and wet to be that obvious but that, plus the pitch deterioration really make playing the game in 3D that much better. For some impressive gameplay footage go and check out @DoctorBenjy’s latest video.
Backroom Staff
FM20 sees the new addition of two new staff roles, Technical Director and Loan Manager. The Technical Director looks after the hiring and firing of first-team staff and is involved in coaching development and works with your coaches to plan training schedules if required. Your Loan Manager will decide which players will go out on loan, where they go and provide feedback through the Development Centre on how they’re doing while they are away from the club. How much they do is totally up to you as the Staff Responsibilities screen has been revamped to give you a more in-depth way to make full use of the backroom team.
That’s all from me on today’s post, for game play footage of the event make sure you check out the other WeStreamFM lads’ footage from the weekend @DaveAzzopardi, @CurtyFM & @BigHerbTheNerd. We also had the opportunity to sit down with Neil Brock, Seb Wassell & Nick Madden at the weekend and interview them for the 5 Star Potential Podcast so keep an ear out for those special episodes.
Last but by no means least, we would like to extend our gratitude to Sports Interactive for the invite, especially to Dom & Tom for looking after us all weekend, Neil, Nick & Seb for being so accommodating and answering all of our questions and to Miles, the gaffer, for taking the time on a Sunday to come in & talk to us about the game. These guys love the game, don’t give them a hard time on the internet, help them make the game the best it can be by reporting bugs in a constructive way when the beta drops and you’ll get a better game because of it.
Until next time. Thanks for reading.
*All captured images were taken from an Alpha build of the game at the Sports Interactive HQ and are a work in progress.