My FM Dilemma Starts Here
Been playing Football Manager since like forever, so when 2025 dropped, I grabbed it immediately. But then I wondered – is it REALLY better than 2024? Or just another shiny update? Decided to run my own test.
First up: FM 2024
- Fired up my old Newcastle save. Took like 5 minutes just loading, ugh.
- Forgot how clunky the squad planner felt. Dragging players around was like herding cats.
- My tried-and-true gegenpress tactic still worked wonders though. Smashed Man United 3-0, felt good man.
- Scouting? Painfully slow. Sent my guy to Brazil and waited forever for reports.
- The match engine… yeah, players still did weird stuff. Keeper watched a slow roller go in. Classic FM.
Then Came FM 2025
Alright, fresh install, new save same Newcastle. Hoped for magic.
- Loading time? WAY better. Like, grabbed a coffee and it was ready before I took a sip.
- New squad screen looks cleaner. Moving players felt smoother. Less headache for sure.
- Tried my gegenpress… got absolutely murdered first game. Defence was all over the place. Lost 4-1 to Spurs. Embarrassing.
- Spent ages tweaking. Player roles seem pickier now. Old tricks didn’t fly.
- Biggest shock? The scouting. Set up assignments and boom, reports flooded in crazy fast. Like, scouted South America overnight.
- Matches look sharper. Player movements? More realistic. Less “why did you do that?!” moments. Keeper actually dives now!
- Transfer negotiations… man, it’s brutal. Agents asking for insane wages. Had to walk away from so many deals.
- Board expectations are harsh too. Wanted top four immediately with a Championship-level squad. Good luck.
Head-To-Head Messiness
Ran them side-by-side for a week. Pure chaos on my desk.
FM 2024 felt familiar. Like my comfy, slightly worn-out trainers. Easy to jump into, tactics just worked (mostly), even with the janky bits. But oh man, that slow scouting and loading times drove me nuts. Felt dated.
FM 2025? Total different beast. Looks slicker, runs smoother. Love the instant scouting and prettier matches. But everything else felt… harder. Tactics needed brain surgery, transfers were a nightmare, board gave me constant grief. It kicked my ass at first.
My Final Take
Honestly? Depends what you want.
- Chilling with old saves, don’t wanna relearn stuff? Stick with FM 2024. It’s predictable, mostly works.
- Want the challenge, better looks, faster scouting? Ready for frustration? Go FM 2025. Feels like the future, even if it kicks you hard.
Me? I’m sticking with 2025 for now. Yeah it’s tough, but once I stopped being lazy with tactics, started actually thinking… man, beating City with my overhauled tactics felt amazing. Worth the pain? Maybe.
