Hello friends, it’s finally time for the announcement I’ve promised. We’ve got plans for this website once Football Manager 2013 comes out and now is the time to share those plans with you.
I’ll try to be very brief:
1. Stories
This website has started with me writing a Football Manager 2009 story. Then I invited more people to share their stories here, and the website grew as a result. But now we also have a very good forum, with fantastic people writing great stories. My belief is that having some stories published on the main site and others only on the forum is not fair, because it might lead to the perception that the forum writers are not as good as the main site writers. That is definitely not true, so from now on the place for stories will be the forum. I will probably write a story on the forum myself.
2. Downloads
There will be lots more of those, some produced by us and others shared from other websites. The bottom line is that you will be able to find the very best downloads for Football Manager 2013 right here, including tactics, graphics, utilities and everything else you might need (except cheating tools, I’ll always be against that).
3. Guides
These will be my top priority, helping you in various areas of the game. The ultimate goal is to write a Football Manager 2013 Handbook, even better than the pretty successful one I’ve written with Darren for FM 2011.
4. Player profiles
That will be Darren’s task on the Scouting Network, he will surely do a brilliant job once again with the help of his scouting team.
5. Better forum
We’ve already installed a new software for the forum, making it a lot easier to use and more enjoyable overall. But we won’t stop there, Jake and his team of moderators will do their best to keep that place friendly and full of life.
6. FMS Newsletter
I’ve already switched to a paid solution to manage our newsletter and that is because I want it to give you more than the daily round-up of new posts. Most exclusive downloads will be available only on the newsletter and I will also send quick FM 2013 tips and more exclusive content only through the newsletter. So get your inbox ready and sign up today!
7. Fan site reviews
I’ve helped lots of people with their Football Manager related websites and now I decided to make a habit out of that. Basically you will send me a request to review your website, I’ll have a look at it and then write a review promoting your efforts but also giving suggestions on what to do in order to make that website better.
8. Tactical reviews
This is something I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time. I’m offering to test your FM 2013 tactics, review them and tweak them into better tactics if possible.
9. Real football
We’ve already started to cover real-life football with Ana writing the Spanish League round-ups and yours truly taking care of the Premier League stuff (sorry, I was unable to make my post this week…). If any of you feels prepared, we could extend that in order to cover the Italian Serie A and the French Ligue 1, I’d be glad to welcome two more capable members to our team.
That’s what’s planned but feel free to offer suggestions and ideas. Until then, if what we have in store seems good enough, please support us by liking our Facebook page, by following us on Twitter and by sharing our content through the various social media channels. Thanks ;)
Zuil
10 октября, 2012 at 15:56
Hi Johnny,
The direction you are taking this site in is completely the right one. I really found your FM 11 handbook useful and if you can make a FM 13 one it would be great. The scouting network is also very useful. Also with the real football, what about finding someone for German Bundesliga as well? Anyways I just want to say that this site is truly great so please do keep up the excellent work.
And you have inspired me to create my own blog so if you have anytime could you check it out where there is a poll on a team I should manage on FM 13. Cheers!
myfootballmanagerjourney.wordpress.com
Johnny Karp
10 октября, 2012 at 16:37
Thanks mate. I am considering the Bundesliga but that would be a bit too much for now. Maybe later on once we see exactly what we can do with the other leagues.
MRDNRA
10 октября, 2012 at 16:12
In regards to tactical reviews, how would you carry them out? Would you need the same squad as well?
Johnny Karp
10 октября, 2012 at 16:36
I’d need the save game file and the tactic file, yes.
Paine
10 октября, 2012 at 16:25
Some ambitious projects here Johnny, but I’m sure you and the other guys could accomplish all these tasks, I think you’re well aware about the risk that this site could become a little bit of everything, leaving behind its original (and successful) focus: FM stories.
Johnny Karp
10 октября, 2012 at 16:36
It wasn’t an easy decision but it’s not an artificial one I think, the website evolved into this naturally.
Darren Smith
10 октября, 2012 at 19:14
I agree Johnny, besides as mentioned anyone can write a story now so that no longer sets the site aside. Plus all the improvements that are made will help thousands as opposed to keep hundreds happy which is what the stories achieve. (Your words I believe :))
I think this year was proof that just writing stories isn’t enough to move the site forward, but you know I’m fully behind this anyway.
Paine
10 октября, 2012 at 19:55
I see your point Johnny and naturally you know what’s better for your site, what I meant was that if everybody could write a story, not everybody could write a good story, like you, Darren and others here were used to do. I think the best stories should stay on the main site (or advertised like you said), it’s a good way to motivate all the writers, not only the good ones.
A story could be a great way to share tips about the game, lots of people read them to learn how to become better managers.
Just my thought, of course.
Johnny Karp
10 октября, 2012 at 20:05
I agree, but finding tips in a story can be tough for someone who can’t follow that story regularly. Having the tips in one place should make that more accessible while the stories will keep an important place in the website structure through the forum. I have been following several forums and good stories tend to gather the most readers even without somebody pointing out which is a good story and which isn’t. We have at least 10 good story writers on the forum (myself excluded, of course), and having at least 10 stories on the main site would have been way too many.
Paine
10 октября, 2012 at 20:09
You’re too humble… :)
Gaurav Chaddah
10 октября, 2012 at 16:26
Excellent thinking their Johnny, I think with yourself, Bargav and if Dan and Exsessive ever return alongside Martin writing on the forums it would be even better than it already is, do you know if they will return to writing this year?
Also like all the other new things, can’t wait for the handbook, should be a good read and also all the new downloads, guides, tips ect ect, I can’t wait! :D
Johnny Karp
10 октября, 2012 at 16:39
The forum will be open for anybody who wants to write. The best and most popular stories will be advertised on the main site, of course.
vaibhavc
10 октября, 2012 at 18:08
Great to see that all stories will be on the forum, now more and more people will be on the forum! Looking forward to the handbook, the previous one was fantastic.
Johnny Karp
10 октября, 2012 at 19:45
Thanks, I’m sure the new one will be even better.
Niels Theis Bendtsen
10 октября, 2012 at 19:49
Love the changes!
Johnny Karp
10 октября, 2012 at 19:50
Thanks, I hope you will be happy with the outcome as well.
Erbsademon
10 октября, 2012 at 19:54
Really like the direction you are taking. I LOVE reading your guides!! I still refer back to guides from FM10. Looking forward to continue reading your site. It’s really enjoyable to take a break from staring at the mundane spreadsheets at work to read posts and stories on your site. Keep up the good work!
Johnny Karp
10 октября, 2012 at 20:00
Thanks mate, I hope we’ll keep producing stuff that you can enjoy.
Kevin
10 октября, 2012 at 23:50
All in all it’s the best way forward. I always felt a bit aloof being on the front page ( though very honured of course) whilst there was equally if not better material in the forums. This makes all the stories even and a one stop shop to visit.
I think tactics, guides etc..will draw a lot of attention as fans are always looking for good, practical advice and FMS WILL be the place to find it for sure.
The first comment mentioned about the real Bundesliga though I think it would somewhat worthy for individuals to take on these types of leagues in Football Manager and describe their experience as they play in the league essentially creating a «Rough Guide to….»
Slovenia anyone? :)
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2012 at 08:19
That’s a good idea Kevin, such guides should be quite useful.
Bhargav
11 октября, 2012 at 00:43
Sounds truly awesome! I can’t wait to see how the community grows and adapts!
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2012 at 08:20
Thanks buddy.
Lye
11 октября, 2012 at 02:03
Looking at how this site has evolved, i understand the decision and logic behind to move this site forward. It’s certainly a bright one. I agreed with Paine in some sense. I think stories should not be move entirely to the forum. I believe many of us are attracted to this site initially because of your amazing stories.
Honestly i think not all will visit the forum as logging in will hinder a visitor from entering the forum(Probably i am wrong). I guess i am the minority here but just giving my 2 cents.
You certainly know best than me on what direction FMS should be heading and i am sure you will lead FMS to be the best Football Manager resource site ever. All the best.
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2012 at 08:21
You don’t have to log in to visit the forum, you can read everything in there without having an account. You only have to log in if you want to post, and that takes around 30 seconds.
Davy Doyle
11 октября, 2012 at 13:09
How’s it going Johnny. It’s davysrfc1901 from the forum. I could do a League of Ireland report each week for the site if you wanted. It would give a good insight to people who prefer playing the smaller leagues in the game and in the real game too.
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2012 at 13:30
Thanks for the offer mate but that would add way too much real football on the main site. Feel free to do that in the appropriate forum section if you want to.
TheZiggy
11 октября, 2012 at 13:29
I have one major problem with the forum, which is a personal issue. The theme with the white text on a dark background is something I can’t read for very long at all before I start seeing artifacts which make it really hard to see.
Sadly the alternative theme for the mobile takes away all the extra goodies, which is understandable, but doesn’t look great on a PC screen.
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2012 at 14:46
I know, but most people seem to like the dark theme so I guess you can’t make everybody happy. However, I am considering allowing users to switch to a default light theme with more options than the mobile one.
TheZiggy
11 октября, 2012 at 15:28
The dark theme does look nice, so I wouldn’t want you to remove it, just because I can’t read it for more than a minute without feeling like my eyes are going to explode. Sadly for me, quite a lot of good websites are almost unreadable, because of this problem.
Adding a light theme would be wonderful, as I’d be more inclined to take part with what is going on there.
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2012 at 15:33
I have just made the default IP Board theme available, let me know if that does the trick. You should see a doctor about those eyes of yours though :P
TheZiggy
11 октября, 2012 at 17:20
Thanks Johnny, that’s a lot better for me to look at posts.
I do need to get my eyes tested again, but this is something I’ve always suffered from. I guess I should mention about this though when I have that done.
Thales De Mattos Oliveira
11 октября, 2012 at 13:45
That`s exactly what I thought would happen! The site is getting bigger and better. I hope you`ll add a little something about Brazil someday.
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2012 at 14:47
Thanks. You can add everything you want about Brazil in the forum.
Tom Miller
11 октября, 2012 at 15:32
Will you still be carrying on with the podcast as you didn’t mention it? I think that you should make a youtube channel and have some video guides on there which could make the site more interactive as you could show how tactics work in the real game. I would be happy to help with that sort of stuff if you need help :)
Johnny Karp
11 октября, 2012 at 15:36
The podcast will probably continue, Darren and Jake will most likely keep it going. As for the video guides, I’m not sure I understand how a video makes things more interactive. As a user I always prefer a written guide to a video one to be honest.
Tom Miller
12 октября, 2012 at 16:11
I see where your coming from
Ana Garcia
11 октября, 2012 at 21:05
I think its also a good idea, sometimes felt weird sort of taking all the limelight writing on the main site when I enjoyed so many great stories on the forums that many people have never even read.
Also writing on the forum will be less pressure I guess as I found sometimes I had to force to play a season or two in order to get a post on the main site so people wouldn’t lose track where on the forum its a lot more relaxed if that makes any kind of sense! :)
I think the changes will improve an already terrific community here, so you have my support as always.
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2012 at 05:09
Thanks Ana, I’m happy to see that we see the stories situation in the same way.
Jack
12 октября, 2012 at 03:01
Hey Johnny, these ideas sound great especially looking forward to all the guides you have planned :) I would also be extremely interested to write on real world football, I’m currently in my 3rd year of uni studying English I also write on the student paper and blog (rarely) to try and become a sports journalist so any opportunity would be much appreciated :)
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2012 at 05:07
You can send me a proper application via email, there are a few people who have done that already.
Jack
12 октября, 2012 at 15:15
Just sent you an application. Thanks.
Johnny Karp
12 октября, 2012 at 18:01
Received it, quite impressive. We’ll keep in touch but I can tell you that you are among the favourites ;)
Jack
12 октября, 2012 at 20:21
Thanks for looking over it.
Bill Okpalor
13 октября, 2012 at 19:40
I cant wait to play