The Football Manager Football Show

It's a fresh helping of The Football Manager Football Show as we move through the end of December, through the month of January and into transfer-window territory in Turkey.

Just when you thought a winter break would serve your players well, it turns out that injuries, the African Cup of Nations, suspensions and a slip in league form are starting to take their tolls.

One of our managers has been informed that his recent run of results could result in a club exit while the other is drafting in reinforcements.

There are goals galore in the sixth round of the Turkish Cup as forgotten players get their chances, discover form and reap the benefits. Wonderkids finally get a break before their tags wear off and one club player's just gone and scooped himself a major award.

We're also (thankfully) able to register an extra player or two for the latter part of the season and we break down the change in league rules for Turkish football heading into the 2022/23 season. Will we be around to see it through is another thing.

And if we thought January was going to be tough, February looks like it's throwing up four cup games and four league games in quick succession so squad depth is going to become a real factor.

As always, you can join the conversation or come say hi on Twitter, we're @FMFShow.  

Note that this episode contains strong language from the start.

It's our final episode of 2022, just in time to ring in the new year as we hit the Christmas season in Turkey!

It's Christmas baby, so we're taking a few days off and back with episode 48 in time for New Years!

From our houses to yours, happy Christmas and all the very best for 2022!

We've all been there. Unfortunately, some of us have been there more than others.

You're one up, two up, you look like you're cruising. They pull one back, but you're grand, there's only five minutes left, they'll never pull things level. Until they do.

It's been the story of the week for one of our intrepid managers as our Turkish adventure heads into the winter months.

With tactical switches, questionable results, silly injuries and other issues raising their heads, we've got our November round of fixtures to get through including another handful of European games.

Will there be changes on the way in December? Can the good times keep on rolling? I suppose we'll find out!

This episode contains strong language.

There are two things we've learned from this episode.

Firstly, substitutions require a whole other level of planning for Turkish league games when injuries mount up and you have to keep an eye on your foreign and domestic player counts before running the risk of dipping into your under 19s pool.

Secondly, Shane has no love at all for Gwyneth Paltrow, unless of course there's a Hollywood job offer on the table.

This week we're cruising through the month of October with five games down for decision, including two in European competition.

The concerns over early season player fitness are once again making an appearance, just like most seasons in FM21. Are we being too harsh and expecting too much? Or should your starting eleven be happily able to go six or seven games without needing a rest day or rest week.

There are frustrating draws, points dropped, scalps claimed, screamers scored and more as our Turkish adventure gathers steam.

It's Turkey-time, baby.,   

And just like that, European competition has rolled around.

This week, despite seeing a twelve-day international break, we've got a lot going on.

• It's our first FM22 transfer deadline day, which in Turkey happens to be 8 September and also the last day for squad registration before early January
• Shane's bound for Cyprus as the Europa Conference League group stages get underway
• Ken's heading back to the King Power stadium as he takes on Leicester having overseen the Foxes for two seasons in FM21

There's plenty of talk of VAR, tactical tweaks, corner routines and more.

Squad registration rules have taken their toll, shifted dynamics in the dressing room and despite the fact they're written in black and white, it turns out to be easy to make a costly mistake. 

We'll cruise towards the end of September as the early tone for the season is set. Who comes out on top this month? You'll have to wait and see...

Separately, as we move into December, a massive thank you to everyone who helped make November 2021 our busiest month for listens and download since we've started on this Football Manager journey.

Much love. 

Episode contains strong language throughout.

Oh, hello regular season, it's been a while!

With pre-season in Turkey wrapping up, it turns out we've got a couple of very important play-off fixtures to get through if we're to achieve some part of our boards' targets for 2021/22.

Last week we found Shane knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers so we're both into the final Europa League playoffs with St. Johnstone and Royal Antwerp on the horizon.

We knock out our last pre-season friendlies and cruise into the league proper as life in Turkey officially begins with the first two games of the season.

We've held our final European game for a live (well, recorded live anyway) play-along for the second leg European fixtures. 

Across seasons 1 to 4 we managed a live game or two at the beginning and end of each season and this seems like a good place to start. Stick with it!

Again this week, there's no love for Turkish squad rules, transfers, transfer budgets, player trials and the rest. 

Let the games begin.

Like what you hear? We'd love our thoughts - tweet us @FMFShow or leave a review wherever you do your podcast listening. And if you've got your own #FM22 journey to share, let us know and we'll give it a shout!

Contains strong language throughout.   

Away goals don't count any more, that's what we're told. So what impact will it have as Galatasaray heading into Champions League qualifiers this early in the season? A trip to the group stages would mean massive money...

This week on the podcast we're wrapping up pre-season - just about anyway - but we're taking a bit of time to analyse our squad and options before kicking off the league proper next week.

From tactical decisions at Galatasary to figuring out the myth that is Mesut Ozil at Fenerbahce to lop-sided friendlies, lack of squad depth in certain roles and the murky mire that is the summer transfer window (and why nobody wants to leave our clubs and yet nobody wants to buy anyone from our clubs), there's plenty to mull over this week.

To all who took the time out to join us last week - maybe even as your first time listening to the podcast - thanks a million for making it our MOST listened-to episode since we've started the podcast.

Grab a fresh helping of the podcast every Friday via Scoreline.ie or wherever you do your podcast listening. 

This episode contains strong language throughout.

We asked, you answered.

Football Manager 2022 is upon us and our timing couldn't have been better. With the new game dropping a little earlier than expected, it turns out we finished up life in La Liga at exactly the right time.

We took to Twitter for your suggestions (and gave away a copy of FM22 in the process) on where we should start the new season and new game. Believe us, there were so many good options.

But when we chopped everything up and threw them in a big bowl (that looks an awful lot like a replica Sam Maguire), the draw told us we would be heading to Turkey.

So as we get warmed up, this week we're looking at assessing our squads, getting to grips with pronunciations, Financial Fair Play, transfer prospects, tactical prospects and more before we get tucked into the preseason.

The fun starts now, the big games start next week, and we've got a whole year to go.

 Follow us on Twitter to join the conversation @FMFShow.  

It's the final chapter of our Football Manager 2021 journey but before we go, we must close out life in La Liga.

There are just four games left in the league.

Can Real finish on top?

How vital will Atletico v Barcelona prove?

Has a certain superstar kicked his last ball?

Will the pressures of the Champions League prove too much?

So many questions!

Let's go finish our FM21 journey!