Custom PC vs Fabio Capello

Posted at: Wednesday 6th February 2008 by Phil Hartup

Phil Hartup loads up Football Manager 2008 to see if he can get a good result against the Swiss, and give Fabio Capello something to live up to

First Half

Switzerland take a surprise early lead, scoring from one of only two shots on target for the first half (0-1). This proves that at least FM2008 has Paul Robinson’s number. Fortunately Crouch scores after 30 minutes so we finish the half level (1-1).

Meanwhile with the team at sixes and sevens in the ratings department, it’s time for a typical half time shake up. While things might seem a bit mediocre from the pampered all stars of England my team has finished the first 45 minutes with 11 shots, and Micah Richards’s face has conveniently attracted an elbow, warranting the dismissal in first half injury time of Valon Behrami, Bayern Munich’s right wing back. Facing ten men and doubtless all sorts of asinine criticism from Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker if they can’t win this in the second half I bring on some subs, including Sol Campbell for his set-piece heading skills and Alan Smith because even though it’s a friendly he’ll never give up (and if he does get sent off at least he’s spare with the Swiss down to ten anyway).

Second Half

Against ten men I figure, what the hell, let’s throw something forward. This backfires as, although Joe Cole scores midway through the half (2-1) Matt Frei pulls one back near the end (2-2). With England throwing it all forward there are plenty more chances before the final whistle goes, at least for England, but goals are what counts and the fact that the Swiss score with their one effort on target of the half is enough to make me think maybe picking Robinson wasn’t the smart move.

They say it’s not the winning but how you play the game that matters, with 18 shots on goal, 13 on target and a goalkeeper determined to miss things you can’t say it wasn’t at least an interesting game. Managing England in a FM2008 campaign is a unique challenge, and sadly a rather overlooked one, though it doesn’t lend itself too well to full time play as you spend a lot of time doing very little. With a 2-2 draw in the simulated game all that remains to be seen is if Capello’s England side will do any better. Personally I expect they probably will, though I expect, given Capello’s MO it will probably be only marginally more exciting than a PC game that looks like a spreadsheet.