Given that we’re in the beginning of the silly season and have little else to talk about besides wild unsubstantiated transfer rumors, I thought I might submit a miniscule (and admittedly way off-topic) problem to all of the illustrious minds here at ArseAm.

The problem is this:
About 10 years ago I purchased a football manager sim (on PC) for my aunt. For the better part of a year and a half, she was absolutely hooked on it, but lost her copy of the game shortly before her system melted.

Since then, she’s gone through extended phases with other (some might say “easier” sim programs: Civ 1, 2 & 3, etc…) , but has never recaptured the enjoyment she had with the manager sim.

Unfortunately, I can’t remember what the name of that original sim was (since it was all text and tables, and comparing my memory of the game to descriptions I’ve read on ebay, I’m suspecting it might have been “Championship Manager”).

So, she now has a P3/500 and I thought it might be nice to get her a new(er) football manager sim (off of ebay probably). Unfortunately, I have no idea which, of the four or five titles available, is generally thought of now as the best manager sim.

Which one would you avid game players suggest (and please don’t mention that she should upgrade her system, as that goes without saying, but is impractical for the near future)?

Secondly, if I bought a game from England would it be playable here (or at least playable without having to change the system preferences, installing a slew of drivers and the like)?

Thanks in advance.

So, my gutty little NAC Breda take on big, bad Chelsea in the Champions League (this is an update from last week’s post regarding my EA FIFA gaming).

In the first leg I go to Stamford bridge and fall behind 1-0, only to fight back to take a 2-1 lead. In the second half they get the equaliser, but I’m feeling pretty good about the draw and two away goals. I played a 4-3-1-2 formation and for the most part it worked.
Read More …

Ok hotshots, you think you know so much about football, well, we’ll see about that.

I’m currently playing FIFA 2005 on my Xbox and I’ve got an epic Champions League matchup against Chelsea coming up. First, a bit of background.

EA’s FIFA games are just about the only games I’m play. They always look and play great. So, I playing in career mode. In this mode you are the manager (I’ve called myself Arsene Wenger) and you can’t just start by managing Arsenal or Real Madrid. You have to work your way up. So, in season one I managed Celtic. I won the SPL, going undefeated in the process. Since this is professional football I showed no allegiance to the club that gave me my first shot at managing and instead jumped to NAC Breda of the Dutch league (even after winning the SPL I couldn’t jump to a decent team). First season at Breda I win the Dutch Eredivisie. I made a great purchase during the January transfer window, bringing Kluivert back to Holland.

Now in my second year at Breda I’m in the Champions League (and on top domestically at the halfway point). During the CL Group phase I just grabbed the second spot on goal differential (Monaco won the group).
Read More …