Soccer is one of the biggest sports in the world, boasting a massive audience that loves anything and everything to do with the beautiful game. The tactics and thought put into games are such a treat to witness that some people might want to live out a power fantasy that allows them to replicate the act of being a manager for a professional soccer team. This is where the legendary Football Manager series comes into the picture.
While most people definitely fantasize about being a professional manager, the reality is that Football Manager is a pretty complex series. There's a pretty decent learning curve involved in understanding the game, leading to some players making costly mistakes that can affect their run in Football Manager 2022.
10 Keeping A Lean Squad
It's fine for players to develop a habit of favoring certain players in one position most of the time. However, this doesn't mean that the squad should only have these crucial players and some fringe ones.
Injuries, international breaks, and suspensions can throw a wrench in the tactics of players who rely on players to perform all the time in a particular position. A squad should have more players that cater to all positions to avoid any setbacks.
9 Not Focusing On Youth Prospects
A big part of Football Manager 2022 is building a squad for the future. However, most players decide to either rely on established names and forgo homegrown talent that has potential.
Most big teams in the game have great youth academies where many potential first-team starters are present. Ignoring them is not a wise move for any aspiring manager who wants to build a strong and long-lasting team.
8 Ignoring Experience In Favor Of Potential
Of course, a team shouldn't solely rely on youth either. It's well and good to have young and promising players on the team, but they need experienced players with more games under their belt for guidance.
A new and fresh team might sound exciting, but the reality is that teams need a mix of experience and youth. Leaning too far on one spectrum leads more to short-term planning than anything else.
7 Failing To Rotate Players
At the end of the day, the football players you sign for your team need to feel like they're valued. It's a sorry situation if players are constantly benched for other candidates, regardless of the justification behind this decision.
A manager should try and play their fringe players whenever they have the option. Getting enough playtime will keep these players content and maintain their trust in the manager.
6 Keeping A Rigid Strategy With No Backup Plan
Most Football Manager players are bound to have a great strategy that they can rely on pretty much all the time. However, keep in mind that exceptions to the norm can always exist. If a team is unable to deal with the opposition, then having a backup plan is critical. Failing to instill such a tactic in players early on will have dire consequences further down the line.
5 Changing Tactics Way Too Often
When gamers initially get into the Football Manager series, they might want to play a team with flair and experiment around with as many formation options as possible. However, this can be quite detrimental after a point, since players won't be able to gel with this tactic in time.
Football Manager is a game about patience, and managers should stick to their guns and let players develop in the formation they've set instead of changing tactics all the time. Without a clear vision, the losses will just keep on increasing.
4 Ignoring The Staff And Their Importance
A football team's staff plays a huge role in ensuring that players are scouted properly, get proper training, are coached well, and can recuperate in time, among a whole host of other functions. So, it goes without saying that managing a team's staff is also quite important.
Unfortunately, most Football Manager beginners end up forgetting about this crucial aspect of a team. Getting around to this task sooner rather than later is highly recommended.
3 Not Making The Most Of A Player's Potential
Each player has a preferred role that they wish to perform on the pitch. It goes without saying that letting them do what they want plays a huge role in letting them flourish in a match.
So, it'll be a shame if gamers end up forcing their own roles on them instead of trusting them to do what's right. Not only does it decrease the effectiveness of a player, but it also makes them less happy over time.
2 Making Big-Name Signings Instead Of Planning Long-Term
The transfer market is a crucial aspect of Football Manager that players need to master sooner than later. This is especially true when it comes to selecting the player that could be a valuable addition to the squad.
Instead of simply going for the biggest name on the market, gamers should be smart and only sign players who can contribute to the squad without a massive investment. It's a smart transfer strategy that mandates the efficient use of scouting to sign potential world-beaters.
1 Failing To Make Proper Substitutions
In-game management is one of the biggest aspects of Football Manager 2022. A match is dynamic and can change with a single moment, so managing the game in the heat of the moment is imperative to winning matches.
This is especially true when it comes to substitutions, which can make or break a match. Making poor substitutions at incorrect times is a recipe for disaster that is better off avoided.