I will do an update for each month of gameplay and will link to relevant youtube highlights etc.
I am also looking at some software called Camtasia which records you playing the game.
Anyway, before we start the game in July 2012, here's a little background
A few observations on FM 2013. You have much more control and support than ever before, with your assistant reminding you if you have done something stupid. This helps as even though I am 'between jobs' in RL, I still don't have the endless time to devote to FM that I used to, and very occasionally in the heat of everything, I will miss something like the fact my goalkeeping coach has been bought by Derby and no-one is training my goalies! These things are very rare, but it's good to know your assistant will remind you. Again the game plays more realistically than before, with the slight loophole whereby you could trick your transfer/wage budget by signing a group of players at the same time, being eliminated. So far it also seems that clubs are far more wise at knowing when they have a good young player, and the days of buying the next Messi for 20,000 appear gone. That said you can do more to develop the youngsters you do buy, so again if you put in the work you get your reward.
The most addictive and realistic simulation in the world
As those who follow me know, I don't 'cheat' in FM so I never view these lists of best new youngsters etc that some FM players like to share and send out. To me it would ruin the sense of achievement. If my scouts don't find them, or I don't know them in RL they aren't getting signed!
My 1st seasons, therefore, are usually about prudence and consolidation.
I got a big shock when I took over Norwich City and the chairman gave me just £3 million and a wage budget of 315 million (!) and told me to avoid relegation. He also said that because their finances were tight I could only have 15% of transfer fees generated by selling players. I could have argued on this point but decided to accept he knew the club's finances better than I, and to work within the constraints.
I have always hated mediocre players on stupid wages so I quite relished the challenge of keeping the wages low whilst achieving success. When I managed Newcastle most players were on £50,000 p/w plus (including Alan Smith, Joey Barton etc) and as previosuly detailed, I ditched them all post haste. At Norwich the highest earner is Bassong on 25,000 and everyone else is on 20k p/w or less. I wanted to ensure that those I brought in were also on sensible wages. If you work out what kills your finances on FM, it's not paying 8 mill for a great player, if their wages are sensible, it's buying players on a free and paying them stupid salaries which end up costing more than the fee, and lead to a wage escalation race among your players. Of course you miss out on some talent that way, and there have to be exceptions that prove the rule, but that Eureka moment which came to me during FM 2010 has stood me in good stead. Pay what you need to in transfer fees, but keep wages manageable at all costs.
I will close this first post with a list of the squad I inherited. Very few big names or fancy-dans, and very much UK based. Lacking in real top quality, imho, with the exception of Bassong and possibly Turner and Garrido. Some solid premiership players, however, and some who really are Chamiponship level and who I will need to replace. However I have learnt from experience not to try and change too much too soon.
Club captain Grant Holt. Will he be in Simington's long-term plans?
| 1 | John Ruddy |  | GK | October 24, 1986 | Everton | 2010 | 83 (0) | 0 | |
| 13 | Declan Rudd | | GK | January 16, 1991 | Academy (1999) | 2008 | 11 (4) | 0 | |
| 28 | Mark Bunn | | GK | November 16, 1984 | Blackburn Rovers | 2012 | – | – | |
| 31 | Jed Steer | | GK | September 23, 1992 | Academy (2003) | 2009 | 2 (0) | 0 | |
| Defenders | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Russell Martin |  | RB/CB | January 4, 1986 | Peterborough United | 2010 | 109 (3) | 7 | |
| 3 | Steven Whittaker | | RB | June 16, 1984 | Rangers | 2012 | – | – | |
| 5 | Sébastien Bassong |   | CB/LB | July 9, 1986 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2012 | – | – | |
| 6 | Michael Turner | | CB | November 9, 1983 | Sunderland | 2012 | – | – | |
| 18 | Javier Garrido |  | LB | March 15, 1985 | Lazio (loan) | 2012 | – | – | |
| 20 | Leon Barnett | | CB | November 30, 1985 | West Bromwich Albion | 2010 | 40 (4) | 2 | |
| 22 | Elliott Ward | | CB | January 19, 1985 | Coventry City | 2010 | 54 (0) | 1 | |
| 23 | Marc Tierney | | LB | August 23, 1985 | Colchester United | 2011 | 31 (2) | 0 | |
| 24 | Ryan Bennett | | CB | March 6, 1990 | Peterborough United | 2012 | 8 (0) | 0 | |
| 33 | George Francomb | | RB | September 8, 1991 | Academy (2008) | 2009 | 3 (0) | 0 | |
| – | Daniel Ayala | | CB | November 7, 1990 | Liverpool | 2011 | 9 (1) | 0 | |
| Midfielders | |||||||||
| 4 | Bradley Johnson | | CM | April 28, 1987 | Leeds United | 2011 | 25 (4) | 2 | |
| 7 | Robert Snodgrass | | LW/RW | September 7, 1987 | Leeds United | 2012 | – | – | |
| 8 | Jonny Howson | | CM | May 21, 1988 | Leeds United | 2012 | 11 (0) | 1 | |
| 11 | Andrew Surman |  | CM | August 20, 1986 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2010 | 42 (7) | 8 | |
| 12 | Anthony Pilkington |  | LW | June 6, 1988 | Huddersfield Town | 2011 | 25 (7) | 8 | |
| 14 | Wes Hoolahan | | AM | May 20, 1982 | Blackpool | 2008 | 136 (21) | 31 | |
| 15 | David Fox | | CM | December 13, 1983 | Colchester United | 2010 | 60 (7) | 1 | |
| 17 | Elliott Bennett | | RW/AM | December 18, 1988 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2011 | 24 (12) | 1 | |
| 21 | Jacob Butterfield | | AM | June 10, 1990 | Barnsley | 2012 | – | – | |
| 26 | Simon Lappin | | LM/LB | January 25, 1983 | St. Mirren | 2007 | 108 (14) | 3 | |
| 27 | Alexander Tettey |   | DM | April 4, 1986 | Rennes | 2012 | – | – | |
| – | Korey Smith | | CM | January 31, 1991 | Academy (2007) | 2008 | 61 (12) | 4 | |
| – | Tom Adeyemi | | CM | October 24, 1991 | Academy (2000) | 2008 | 4 (9) | 1 | |
| Forwards | |||||||||
| 9 | Grant Holt (captain) | | FW | April 12, 1981 | Shrewsbury Town | 2009 | 115 (14) | 70 | |
| 10 | Simeon Jackson |   | FW | March 28, 1987 | Gillingham | 2010 | 34 (33) | 18 | |
| 16 | Steve Morison |  | FW | August 29, 1983 | Millwall | 2011 | 23 (14) | 10 | |
| 19 | James Vaughan | | FW | July 14, 1988 | Everton | 2011 | 1 (5) | 0 | |
| 25 | Chris Martin | | FW | November 4, 1988 | Academy (1998) | 2006 | 82 (29) | 32 | |
| 37 | Harry Kane | | FW | July 28, 1993 | Tottenham Hotspur (loan) | 2012 | – | – | |
Next month: July 2012. Assessing the squad, deciding on formation and looking to strengthen the team.
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