FM Obsessive

Athletic Bilbao - A tough challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:33:00 +0000

FM Obsessive is back! After a blogging sabbatical (Dissertation, Brazil, University) I am ready to report on my gaming since the magnificent Football Manager 2012 came out.

Since my (slight) obsession with all thing Euskadi (Basque) since creating a Basque league for FM 2011, I decided to take over Athletic Club Bilbao; a club within the autonomous community of the Basque Country and proud of it. So proud indeed that it imposes a strict transfer policy - only players with Basque can be bought by the club. Athletic can buy and sign Spanish youth players that don't have Basque as a second nationality up until their 17th birthday.

So as you can see, it is a tough challenge, breaking into the top two in Spain with a team limited as such!

What will you do when you first get FM12? - My checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:25:00 +0000

Less than a week and counting the days until FM12 is released! But what will you do first? Here's a list of the things I might do come midnight 21st October!

Editor.

I love the editor, and to make my game as realistic as possible, I might load up the editor (and latest patch), make some essential changes to player and staff movements that the game might not have. I also like to do some housekeeping when it comes to club and competition names. So I'll rename the essential competitions like The Barclays Premier League, Bundesliga, Champions League and so on.

Read more »

FM12 is almost here - New features

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:39:00 +0000

Less than a week to go for the most anticipated game of the year: Football Manager 2012 will be released next Friday 21st October. Shops will open at midnight to allow the fans to flock in and Steam will be inundated with potentially hundreds of thousands of downloads.

But will it be worth it? What really is different in this version of the BAFTA winning series compared to FM11? Will it just be an expensive transfers update?

Bug on FM12 Demo

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:09:00 +0000

Now I absolutely love the new FM12 game. The interface is great and the new feature are fantastic but I'd thought I'd share a quirky bug with you.

So I'm my beloved QPR playing at White Hart Lane, when Modric gets done after scoring fouling Paddy the goal doesn't get chalked off. So it shows 2-0 (ended up conceding again to make 3-0) but only Adebayor's first goal shows, also Paddy Kenny only shows to've conceded 1 goal and not two.

I thought it might right itself at the end of the game but alas no, still shows as 3-0!? Puzzling...

A revolving door at Blyth as Spartans prepare for the Championship

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:00:00 +0000

The Championship beckons for Blyth Spartans, so for a club whose ground is still 4400 in capacity, poor training and youth facilities and many of the squad have come up from the Blue Square North, a lot needs to change.

Firstly I have realistic aspirations of the season in the 2nd tier of English football and as such told the board I expect a mid-table finish. A nice transfer kitty is welcome, however I adjusted it to give me more freedom in the wage department and rely on loans and frees rather than spending much of that money.

4th season, 4th promotion - The Championship beckons for Blyth

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 17:17:00 +0000

The impossible has become possible, Blyth Spartans, who, 4 years ago were in the 6th tier of the English football pyramid are now just one promotion away from the Premier League.

A final day victory against Yeovil Town ensured a 4th successive promotion for the north-eastern club. On what was one of the most dramatic climaxes to the football league for many years, the top 6 were separated by 3 points and all were in with a shout for automatic promotion. But at 16:45 Reading were champions, Sheffield Wednesday could only manage a 0-0 at home to Charlton and were thus leap-frogged by Blyth.

Blyth precariously perched at the League 1 summit

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:19:00 +0000

After a self imposed exile (University, work, marriage and honeymoon) I have continued with Blyth Spartans. We are looking for a fourth successive promotion into The Championship from League 1 and are currently 1st at the turn of the year into 2014.

The top 7 are separated by just 9 points. Blyth's cause was significantly aided by a fantastic domineering performance against promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

Massive change of personnel for Spartans in League 1

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:47:00 +0000

Firstly the now familiar routine of showing the media predictions of doom and the pitiful wage budget.

There's also been a massive change of personnel with a lot of reserve and youth players that weren't showing enough potential and progress. Also Hermann Depré was shipped out for £60K and Liam O'Brien £85K adding some vital funds.

Blyth's meteoric rise through the leagues continues

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:11:00 +0000

Not only is it a third successive promotion for Blyth Spartans but a third successive championship. We finished strongly with 8 wins out of the last 10 to finish 5 points ahead of Southend.

Blyth pushing for a third successive promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:54:00 +0000

37 games gone in Blyth Spartans' League 2 campaign and things are looking good. 2nd in the race for the championship and only four points behind favourites Southend Utd. We are also 9 clear of 8th so at least a playoff spot looks likely.

Blyth Spartans tactics analysis

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:49:00 +0000

After back to back promotions and 103 wins out of 143 games, I thought I'd divulge my tactics. I do leak goals but score plenty too and a 72% win ratio isn't too shabby.

4 2 2RL 2 basically employs the wingers and full backs bombing on to deliver balls to the far post for either the opposite winger or the striker.

Encouraging start for Blyth Spartans in L2

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Firstly, a strange coincidence, after Jamie Ness' wonder-strike in the real life Old Firm derby he scored an almost identical goal in a much more important game on my FM11 Blyth Spartans save. Compare the two below!

Blyth Spartans Have had a really encouraging start in League 2, lying 4th after 18 games. We started well beating Carlisle 3-1 on the opening day but have since crashed out of the League Cup and the St. Johnstan's Paint Trophy. although with the help form Jamie Ness' goal we're still in the FA Cup, meeting Walsall in the 2nd Round.

Basque Leagues

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:31:00 +0000

After years of Spanish and French rule, the Basque people have finally won independence.

I have made the Basque Country playable - This database includes 90 clubs divided into 5 leagues of 18 each.

88 clubs from the Basque region of Spain (including Athletico Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Real Union, etc and all their reserve and youth teams) and two from the Basque territory in France (Bayonne & Genets Anglet). All the Spanish and French leagues have been adjusted accordingly to render them playable alongside the Basque leagues.

Out with the old, in with the new - Blyth ring the changes

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:26:00 +0000

A new season for Blyth Spartans in League 2 and a real step up in class. The club has gone professional so all the part-time players need to be offered full-time contracts. In a lot of cases players were expecting a 100% hike on there current deals, something that I just can't afford and did not reflect their abilities. So some of the ageing French contingent had to leave as did Alassane Mendy, who wasn't developing as I'd hoped. Oliver Nicholas also left the club for a record £75K.

Lionel Zoko also left for a decent £35K, He'd become surplus to requirements as I'd captured some excellent loan signings (finally) from Newcastle in the form of Aaron Spear and Ryan Donaldson. Other stand-out signings are:

Free players from the French Amateur leagues

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:52:00 +0000

I've had some fantastic success in my Blyth Spartans game by heavily recruiting players from the French Amateur leagues. Not only do they come for free (£5K release fee if under 24), they join your club the day after the contract is offered. The list below (or Read more) is of players who signed or were willing to come to my club in the Blue Square North on part-time contracts. Some will join at the start of the game and others after 6 months. This list is not complete, so if you have any other recommendations, please let me know.

24 wins in a row, 117 points, Blyth Spartans destroy the Blue Square Premier

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:13:00 +0000

The headline almost says it all. Blyth Spartans had an emphatic second half of the season and racked up an unprecedented and record breaking 117 points with 38 wins, 122 goals and a goal difference of +81.

15 game winning streak - The Spartans march on

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:24:00 +0000

Blyth Spartans have beaten and extended their longest winning sequence to 15 games (and still going on). Spartans have had some scares, 2-0 down to both Braintree and Dover but coming back to thrillingly win 4-3. The run began after a disappointing loss to Lincoln, but since then the squad responded from a chastening by manager, Olly Hunter by sweeping away all in their path. Next up is Grimsby, and Blyth will hope to avenge the defeat at Blundell Park earlier in the season and continue the winning streak.

The run leaves Blyth Spartans top of the BSP, 18 points clear of The Mariners and looking nailed on for promotion.

New Zealand Database and Logos

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:38:00 +0000

After the unbeaten run and the success of New Zealand in the 2010 World Cup, I've made the domestic league playable and created an accompanying logo pack.

I've expanded the current 8 team ASB to 14, including a custom made reserve team of Wellington Phoenix (NZ based club that play in Australia A-League). The other 13 are all now semi-pro clubs to equalise the competition. I have also scrapped all the regional leagues and moved the rest of the teams into an 18 team second division with two promotion places.

There are bound to be errors, so if you come across any please let me know.

I hope you enjoy, make sure you run the Aussie league too, that way you can manage Wellington Phoenix and also take control of their reserves, thus competing in both sides of the Tasman Sea!

Click here for a link to the New Zealand.dbc
Click here for a link to the New Zealand Logo pack

To install just unzip and place the .dbc file in your EDITOR DATA folder in your FM folder in Documents. For the logos put in your GRAPHICS folder.

Demolition of Telford & a great start in the BSP

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:49:00 +0000

Blyth Spartans went to New Bucks Head to take on AFC Telford and destroyed a very poor Lillywhites team with the visitors smashing home 8 goals, Pierrick Chaitreuil with a hatrick and ably supported by strikes from Sakali, Walker, Clamy, Lorie and Potier. Spartans were helped by Telford being reduced to 9 men in the second half as the Northumbrian team moved to the top of the Blue Square Premier. Blyth manager, Olly Hunter, was delighted with his team's performance. "It had been coming. We'd seen glimpses of what we can do in the last few games and we see what the lads are capable of each day in training. So for it all to come together today, it's great for the boys and the fans.

Byth Spartans in the Blue Square Premier

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:23:00 +0000

The media haven't been kind in their prediction for Blyth Spartans in the Blue Square Premier.

But I'm a confident manager so when the board asked me about aspirations I chose promotion. I do believe we can go up again with the quality in the team but i also chose promotion as it gave me more to play with in the transfer and wages budgets.

A new season and my ruthless tactic of out with old and in with the new means the axe has fallen on some of the stars that helped me with promotion last season. Older players like Raphael Nade, Armand Ossey and Mohamed Benyachou all went abroad earning me £16K. I'd also got rid of some fringe players that were just not developing as I'd hoped - Dali Gomez, Peggy Lokando and Declan McAvoy, to free up some wage space.

Free Transfers - Players for the Lower Leagues

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Lots of lists for players are for professional and higher league teams. Here is a list of players that will sign for Blue Square Premier sides and some, part/time deals for Blue Square North/South. This list was with the French league selected and thus is French heavy.

Easily the best of this list is striker Ahmed Soukouna who I signed in a Luton game. He scored 48 goals in 40 games and the next season the board sold him to Bordeaux for £3.5million - DEAL.

Goalkeepers

Yoann Djidonou	GK	24
Vincent Degre	GK	21
Liam O'Brien	GK	18
Sam Pearce	GK	24
Adam Street	GK	19

Double time for Blyth

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 02:22:00 +0000

We are the Champions, my friends! Blyth Spartans romped home and clinched the Blue Square North by 8 points from AFC Telford, who were also promoted via the playoffs.

It's been a great season, not only winning the league but also the FA Trophy. Spartans met Blue Square Premier Mansfield Town in the final at Wembley in front of over 28,000 fans. Although we totally outplayed Mansfield they took a shock lead with just 5 minutes to go. But then this happened...

Read more »

How to upload goals or highlights to YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:56:00 +0000

Whilst playing Football Manager I witnessed a fantastic and crucial goal. Instantly I went to the upload screen and found I wasn't able to upload it and share with you. So after much searching, trail and error and a misplaced common-sense I eventually figured it out and how very easy it was.

Step 1

Choose your video resolution (1080p is best) in Preferences.

Blyth push on, are the Spartans heading for promotion?

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 23:23:00 +0000

Blyth Spartans are sitting pretty at the top of the Blue Square North. AFC Telford are still our main challengers but Gainsborough have dropped off and Guiseley and Alfreton have both had a distinct fall in grace.

I've also been busy in the transfer market, off-loading 8 players including "stars" Paul Brayson and Nicky Deverdics who, both at £450 per week, were a drain on my wage budget. They were also not performing and did not have the attributes to meet my growing standards. I really am pushing the boundaries of my wage budget but I did bring in some replacements of better quality than I got rid of and on lower wages.

A good start to the season for Blyth Spartans

noreply@blogger.com (Olly Hunter) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 02:26:00 +0000

So, it's the middle of November and I'm pleased to report Blyth Spartans are doing much better than I expected we would, considering the amount of new signings brought in and departures from the club. Spartans are currently 1st in the table, 6 points clear of Gainsborough and 8 of AFC Telford and Guisely. We had a great run of results, unbeaten in 11 until the defeat at Corby where an injury to Liam O'Brien meant youngster Joe Segar, who although performed well the game before against Hyde, committed two mistakes and thus our run came to an end.

However, the very next game, Spartans met League 2 side Port Vale in the FA Cup 1st Round. I'd decided to bring back O'Brien, who despite only just recovering from a gashed leg, had a fitness rating of 72%. This gamble ultimately paid off as Blyth Spartans shocked the professionals 2:1! Hopefully we can get to the third round and draw a Premier League club away, to get some cash to help the finances.