Has Football Manager Ruined Us?
I’m sure most who visit the website have played either Championship Manager or one of the many versions of Football Manager.
I have Football Manager 12 on right now while I’m writing. My main thought with Football Manager 14 coming out is have management simulation games ruined our enjoyment of the game?
This isn’t knocking the games or creators. They are amazing games and the cause of many sleepless nights. Many of us either failed at playing or just never played the sport and instead enjoy from the comfort of our armchairs. We want to tell people how we would have done better.
For the most part, sports radio has made this big in America over the last thirty years. I can only imagine that it’s been the same in the UK. Since the 90’s we’ve had football management type games so people now see how in their own dream world they can take Forest Green to the Champions League or win the treble with Crystal Palace (don’t laugh, I did it on FIFA!).
We don’t need more self important people watching the sport. This sport gives us so much that petty arguments over a managers selection or why a player was transferred is boring. It stems from the fact that we can play these games, and say “Hey I can transfer in Bale to Liverpool and win.” Or Keith Millen is a better manager than he’s ever been allowed to be. Isn’t being a fan of a club about just watching the sport and loving the game?
Maybe that’s too naïve, but this sport should be positive.
We’ve seen the growth of Football Manager blogs showing how to play each system or how a player would work in each system. I’d love to see how many of these bloggers have their coaching badges. The sport is far more difficult that all night sessions with Red Bull. There are managers out there who haven’t figured out the sport themselves and they’ve been doing it all their lives. So a couple of young people can diagram a formation with different players and they are suddenly experts?
That’s because they’ve been playing these ‘virtual’ games for years and think that they are better.
We have to take these games for what they really are. A good way to escape from the stress of the real world and have some fun. Why can’t we just separate the video game world from the real world? Oh that’s right, there are parent groups that have been saying this for years, and it’s the kids fault for the ills of the world. The games aren’t for trying to prove that you can do the job of a manager.
Except for that guy in that lower league in some small country but that’s not the point.
This is probably going to be a problem we are all going to face with armchair fans. That’s just the segment of the fan culture that we have to adapt to and that’s sad.
Speaking about Football Manager, I have to get back to my game. I think I have a young Brazilian who can make Preston North End the next Manchester United.
Article written by Stephen Brandt
