Better Than McLeish? Football Manager 2012 Review.

As one of the many disappointed and angry fans that Aston Villa created over the summer with the appointment of Alex McLeish as manager, I was often faced with the retort that I couldn`t do any better. Well let`s see, shall we? Thanks to the guys at Sega, I was given a review copy of Football Manager 2012 – which is released 21st October. It can`t be that hard, can it?

It`s fair to say that the appointment of Custard Cream didn`t get you lot exactly excited. Suddenly, I know what it felt like to be an unwanted manager with no record of glory in charge of a club who`s fans didn`t want me in charge. Ah well, time to shape my coaching staff.

FM2012 has been updated with the latest club transfers both players and coaches. So I decided for a clean slate, and to put my own man in as assistant manager and to remove Peter Grant. I offer Grant a mutual termination and console him by telling him at least he didn`t have to move house to be at Villa for less than five minutes. The next day it was him consoling me – the board had blocked his removal and he`s staying. Hmm. Thanks Randy.

I knew what to do to get him back. I use the updated and much improved transfer center to place a bid of £7million (the full transfer budget) on Aiden McGeady. That man just continues to haunt Aston Villa. After placing Beye and Heskey on the transfer list to try and get some wages freed up. Beye is soon off but Heskey is clinging onto his peg at Bodymoor Heath. And so pre-season begins….

A decent start with a win against Aberdeen is spoilt slightly with a loss against Porto. Not to worry though – the team is still getting used to the formations they are being asked to play in – another new feature in this year`s game is a redesign of the tactics screen – which gives the choice of having 3 formations as a ‘backup` for the squad to be prepared for with an indicator on how well they are coping with it. Next it`s off to Randy to see if he`ll sort out a feeder club to send our youth players too. It`s politely declined. I`m beginning to feel as if Mr Lerner doesn`t like me.

I`m not sure why. Pre-season continues to go fairly well, with fourteen goals scored and five let in during five games. The players are getting used to the 4-2-3-1 formation well….but the fixture list computer has not been kind with Arsenal first up for the season. But with the squad now ready, we might as well throw ourselves in the deep end.

During the summer two players have been signed – Darron Gibson for £2.5m and Younas Kaboul for £3.5m – the first for cover and the latter after seeing Richard Dunne score two own goals and make a ridiculous error during pre-season. And who says Football Manager isn`t realistic?

Whilst Gibson started ahead of Jenas, Kaboul was left on the bench at the Emirates as Dunne and Collins had been the partnership for every pre-season game. Arsenal started brightly, and within a quarter of an hour Gervinho finished a well worked move which bamboozled our defence. Hmm. It`s going to be a hard one.
It was made slightly easier, however, when Gabby Agbonlahor got in front of Mertersaker to equalise on the half hour but it wasn`t long until we were behind again and went in at half time 2-1 down. A couple of private chats with the players to reinforce the pleasing nature of the performance despite the result worked – Gabby got running down the right to put in a great cross with Stevie Ireland diving onto the ball. 2-2. And then moments later…3-2 – an N`Zogbia ball into the middle causing problems and was eventually stuck into the net by Mertersaker. Not a great debut, that. And then, moments before the final whistle….another goal. Villa fans go mad – as it`s Gabby on hand to finish a swift move and put in a famous victory. 4-2 at the Emirates for my first league game? I`ll take that.

The good form continued. A 4-0 win at Yeovil for the second string in the league cup was followed by a 2-0 away win at Sunderland – Richard Dunne scoring at the right end before N`Zogbia wrapping up the points with only two minutes left. It`s easy this management lark. And the manager of the month award for August awarded to Mr Custard Cream is fully deserved – even if I say so myself.

And then…it all went wrong. The fifth league game of the season saw us visit Manchester United at Old Trafford. An uninspiring performance put in by a team well and truly beaten by half time as we lose 4-0. We can still look at the table and see the club in second place – but it`s a bitter pill to swallow.

And now, dear reader we reach the point of the season to match the real world. A win against Everton followed by a home loss against Wolves means after eight games, Aston Villa stand proudly second in the league, with 18 points. A full seven points more than Mcleish has won in his first eight – so without any doubt I am a much better manager than the beleaguered Scot.
Seriously though – the new Football Manager 2012 is a triumph. Anyone who loves the game for the in depth analysis, stats and general game play will be delighted as this is a step on from last years version. And anybody looking at it as a purchase but a little worried it`d be too much to learn – worry not – a new tutorial and hints throughout the game make it easy to pick up for the first time gamer.

It`s only been a week – but Football Manager 2012 could become my favourite version of the game yet….

Football Manager 2012 is released on October 21st – and wives, girlfriends and partners of football gamers – prepare not to see your other half for quite some time.