Anyways, I installed an old classic yesterday: Ultimate Soccer Manager! 98! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
The game is old, but you can auto simulate games, so it runs smooth and fast. Today I started a game with Bolton. Back in 98 they were newly promoted from div 1 (which is called championship nowadays). The formationsystem itself is based on a CM-like squared field, with two levels of defenders (ordinary defenders, D, and attacking defenders AD), three levels of midfielders (defensive DM, ordinary, M, and attacking, AM). We allso have two levels of attackers, forwards and strikers, with forwards being closer to midfield. Your position is based on your attributes, if you're good at passing, you're a M, if you can allso tackle somewhat good, you're a DM, and if you can shoot good you're a AM. Often you have a decided place on the pich (left, central or right, with five being able to play in each level (with D being one level, AD the next, then DM and so on)), but some players can play both left right and central.
Anyway, Bolton has three good attacking defenders, with one being left (Robbie Elliot, now in Newcastle IRRC), one right (Neil Cox, Watford, if he hasn't retired) and one central (Mark Fish, Charlton). This is very well suited for the standard 3-5-2 system the game has. So, I play 3-5-2, since they allso have two decent attackers (the best one being Dean Holsworth, who usually score some 10-15 goals a season). The problem is the midfield. It's based on four normal midfielders (two wingers, two central), and an attacking midfielder in the very center of the pich (perfect for someone like Zidane, or the current Boltonplayer JJ Ochoca). OK, they have kinda bad midfielders. They have two good attacking left wingers (Allan Thompson being the best), but that's about it. So, I scouted the trasnfer list for midfielders. Apart from laying a bid on div 1's second best midfielder, Steve Stone (a good AM right). Div 1 allways negoshiate with premier leaghue clubs. And negoshiateing means they'll accept bids. If the player allso negishiate about contracts, you'll get him. Since he plays in the same country as me (England, if you play in the same country, the chance of wanting to negoshiate increase greatlly) he wanted to negoshiate. So I got him. That's midfielder nr 1. I allso bought Eyal Berkowich (25 year old AM, no decided place on the pich. I used him as the central AM) and Neil Redfearn (32 years old central midfielder fom Barnsley. He's kinda cheap due to his age, and he has good passing/ballcontroll, which is just what I need, a good playmaker). So, now I've allso got a decent midfield.
OK, I play on, when you simplly click past matches, the time flies (both in game and out of it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />). You just check so no injuries appear in the starting 11. You never use subs. You allso keep an eye on the transferlist for possible squadimprovements. I felt like I needed a good striker (since my second striker Nathan Blake isn't that hot, and Holdsworth can't score all our goals), so I checked extra carefull for strikers. But what I found was a goalkeeper, Franchesko Toldo (with 91 out of 99 in keeping, the only value a keeper needs). He acually wanted to negoshiate, so I got him too (nice, three midfielders and a kick-[nocando] keeper!). After a while Michael Owen turned up on the list (he was 17, had great shooting, great pace, great ball controll, and (strange enough) great heading ). He plays in England so he wanted to negoshiate (after a few tries). The funny thing about USM is the transfer list. Anyone can show up here! I've bought Ronaldo (he's the best player in the game) with Boros (who plays in divison 1).
The league was going ok, had a mid placement as a goal, and managed to reach a mid placement. In Aprill I managed to get Darren Hucherby from a free transfer (played for Coventry, 21 years old striker, really fast, with a good shot too, and decent heading/BC on that. And free <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />).
Finnished 14:th in League. Next season, the first thing I did was buying Steve McManaman from a free transfer. Now, this was 98, so he was on the peak of his ability. 26 years old, an AM with no decided place, great passing, good shot, great pace, good heading, good stamina (even though it's should be better, he had iron lungs back then), good at set peaces (superior to anyone in my team), and good ballcontroll. Price like �10 000 000. I got him for free. Walked like a train right through any team, won first four games (includeing a 2-1 victory to Man U, who where England's best team back then). Then I thought I shoud save and quit for that moment. But instead of quit I pressed restart, and the game disapeared <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />!
�bereil
Drink Up Ye Cider. 
