Finally had enough time to start playing FM again - after a somewhat unhealthy month's or so absence.
Started up a game as Middlesbrough, don't particularly know why - it's the first time I've taken over a top-flight team since Championship Manager 97/98. I'm actually finding it quite hard.
Started off well, and was sitting in 4th for about 10 games, and then it all started to go wrong. Southgate, Mendieta, Downing, Morrison and Rochemback all decided to get injured together, in the space of about a week. Viduka had to go off on international duty to play for Papua New Guinea or whoever it is he swans about for, and so I've been forced to actually put Massimo Maccarone on the bench. The direct result? 5 straight league defeats. In 3 of those games, teams have nicked a late winner - including Arsenal, who I pissed on but failed to score against.
I do have a knack of beating the big teams - a Kevin Vandenbergh brace at Old Trafford sunk United, and Sevilla were beaten 2-1 in the UEFA Cup group (which also includes Leverkusen - topped that group).
In the transfer market, I off-loaded Schwarzer and Parlour for a combined fee of £5 million, which paved the way for me to bring in Craig Gordon, Michal Gottwald, Ignas Dedura (possibly the worst performing player I've ever seen), Christian Rahn, Victor Moses and Kevin Vandenberg. Combined total? £3.6 million. The January transfer window will see Michael Carrick and Samuel Holmén join the squad to bolster up midfield, and that will pave the way for me to get rid of Doriva, Fabio Rochemback and, with any luck, Massimo Maccarone.
I might play Malcolm Christie up-front just for a laugh.
I still recommend everyone plays as lower league teams.