Well this is my first article on FM2009, its biased its opinunated because its what I think, what do you think? You could write your own article in your account page or make a comment below.

So onto what this article is about, the new features in Football Manager 2009 for the PC. Let me start off by saying im a big fan of Football Manager and I will be buying FM2009 because im sure like previous versions it will still be worth it but over the last couple of versions ive gotta worried about the lack of new features put into the game, its like their running out of ideas?

The features

Assistant managers

Sports Interactive are promising more involvement from the assistant managers, this is a good thing as im sure they have a bigger say in a team than whats represented in the game at the moment. However im a bit concerned with how much more involvement they will have, it seems that all they will do is give you stats on morale etc when a game is underway. But the questions is what else could they make them do? Im not sure myself but this new feature has potential, we're have to wait and see...

Gender

Sorry but I don't care about this new feature at all, as I'm a man I don't really care about playing as a women, but there is those people out there that like to do so in chat rooms etc?

Player database

Its increased again, good if you have a super computer but otherwise meh.

Transfers

In the preview videos released Miles mentioned how transfers had been re-written in the game, this sounds great but I want to know more. I understand its liked to short lists and how these have changed but I want more details, have player values been tweaked? Is there more options like paying over a certain amount of months etc?

Training

Training has a new feature, you can now ask a player to learn a move, this sounds really cool actually, you can turn your wingers in Ronaldo's, but if their third division players I doubt this would work well. Its a nice little feature.

But what about other sides of training, I feel its so basic in the game right now, training is so important in real life but the game doesnt give it enough focus, not enough features there. I will be interested to know if more has been added here.

Media

The media side of the game seems to have been giving a good few new features that I think will definitely enhance the gameplayer, in fact im sure im gonna make a prat of myself being contridicted in the game. Big thumbs up for the conferences and media's ability to remember past comments.

Match engine

Now come on, the fact is the video's released really only had one major announcement in them, and this was that there is now going to be a 3D engine. You could hear the cries of some old skool fans all over the country but from the looks of it, if you dont like it you don't have to view it.

I personally think it can work, it looks ok but lets see how smooth and realistic it is, it could in fact show huge weaknesses in the match engine that you could get away with, with blobs on a 2D screen. If its good its a bloody good move, if not they would have rushed a decision they could have waited on for a good few versions yet.

What can some people on the forums at SI talk about now?

Overall

Overall I think some of the features are very nice, the 3D engine could be very good, or a very bad move but im sure I'll purchase the game as it will be worth it. I'm sure there will be a revised article when more details are know, because the fact is I haven't played a demo of FM2009, this is from looking from the outside.