Make Shirt Numbers Matter More

[Weston]

[This post was inspired by this thread]

I think picking squad numbers should hold more importance in the game. This is one of the rare aspects of football that would increase both realism and the arcadey gamey aspect that constantly seem to be at odds.

We see how important squad numbers are in terms of egos, shirt sales, pressure, etc. As a Juventino I saw this with the #10 once Del Piero left - it was left open, then given to Pogba because Adidas wanted to increase hype/revenue. When it went to Dybala people worried it would put too much pressure on him. When Ronaldo and Bonucci joined they made players give up 7 and 19 respectively. These decisions can affect favor in the dressing room, both between manager and player and between player and player, which would fit in nicely with the growing aspect of social dynamics. I can't imagine Kessie was too pleased when Leo made him switch to 79 when he had originally picked 19 in honor of his deceased father.

FM already includes some very questionable player interactions / variables, I don't see why a player being upset that they can't get their preferred number isn't more reasonable than many of them. It's one of those things that would make you roll your eyes when faced with it, JUST LIKE REAL LIFE. If you give a young lad the #10 at a big club then depending on his attributes either he should improve confidence and leadership or he should crack under pressure and start to underperform. It's a big sign of faith in a player and it should be registered as such. If you give #10 to a big, beloved player like Madrid just did with Modric, you should notice a tangible increase in his shirt sales and the revenue that comes from it.

Two of Italy's most promising center backs both prefer #13 because they idolize Nesta, and it's not unrealistic for them to get a boost of confidence settling into their new club if they get it. It would be a great touch if once in a while you got an inbox message saying that a player would like to change his number in honor of his newborn children, when the game already includes many random things like this. These things matter, and they add a nice, subtle, realistic flair to what can sometimes feel like a cold computer game.

[Ianbanksjones]

Many years ago, Mustapha Hadji of Coventry changed his squad number after the numbers were announced, but before the season started. He decided to compensate all the supporters who'd been left with the wrong shirt number.

[VSfallin]

On 12/08/2018 at 16:33, Ianbanksjones said:

Many years ago, Mustapha Hadji of Coventry changed his squad number after the numbers were announced, but before the season started. He decided to compensate all the supporters who'd been left with the wrong shirt number.

The Lord of the Lords did the same thing at Arsenal

[Shead]

Totally agree with the original suggestion.

Many ways and means of giving such added importance. 

Taking some additional real life examples:

a) When you sign a new number 9 for example, (or number 10), there often seems to be reference and comparisons made to previous great number 9s (or 10s) of the same club (for example Milan buying Higuain and whether he will live up to the likes of Inzaghi, Weah, Van Basten etc). This could increase pressure on the player or boost motivation. 

b) When Milan sold their number 10 which was Rui Costa, the Managing Director of the time always says that five minutes later he received a call from Seedorf asking to be given the number 10 kit. The manager would need to to decide whether to accept that request (at the cost of a better number 10 being disappointed for not being considered) 

c) Zidane explained that when Real sold James Rodriguez, he asked the players in the dressing room to name that one player that they feel they could always give the ball to when they are in trouble knowing that this player will know what to do with the ball and how best to use it. He explained that almost all Real players had replied 'Modric' and this is how he gave him the number 10 kit.

On a minor note (as probably the work involved would outweigh the once/twice in a career chance of doing this), another suggestion connected to shirt numbers is choosing to retire a shirt number. This can be for a definate (example some clubs choose for the number to remain free for two years after a player's retirement) or indefinate period. Some real life examples include Maldini, Baresi, Zanetti, and Maradona (even though Napoli had done this late in the day). Perhaps, this should be subject to Board approval by means of a number of requirements needing to be met for the Board to approve such request (such as  having to meet a few of the following: the player was in clubs youth system, the player had high level of loyalty toward the club and played with the club for atleast 10 consecutive years, the player captained the team for many years, the player ranks very high in the all time standings of player appearances, the club has had a highly successful spell while the player played with the club,  the player retired with the club, the player's ability ranks very highly compared to that of any other club player in their history etc etc)  

 

[Weston]

1 hour ago, Shead said:

a) When you sign a new number 9 for example, (or number 10), there often seems to be reference and comparisons made to previous great number 9s (or 10s) of the same club (for example Milan buying Higuain and whether he will live up to the likes of Inzaghi, Weah, Van Basten etc). This could increase pressure on the player or boost motivation. 

b) When Milan sold their number 10 which was Rui Costa, the Managing Director of the time always says that five minutes later he received a call from Seedorf asking to be given the number 10 kit. The manager would need to to decide whether to accept that request (at the cost of a better number 10 being disappointed for not being considered) 

All great points!

These two especially highlight how shirt number selection seems like an afterthought in FM as that screen only comes up at the end of the transfer window, whereas it would be a lot of fun to be given the option to select numbers at the time the player is signed immediately before the press conference to announce the signing. It truly feels real for the first time when you see your favorite club's new player holding up the jersey with his name and number on the back!

This subtle change would greatly increase the realism and enjoyableness of these otherwise relatively mundane simulations of first-day fanfare. Where is the news article claiming "New Juventus signing [player] has been given the #10 shirt - how will he live up to the legacy of Del Piero, and, in recent years, Pogba and Dybala?" You get the idea. And then, if that player leaves, the Seedorf player in this context could have an inbox message appear with the potential for an immediately fulfillable or deniable promise to switch the #10 to him like you suggest, perhaps even with staff recommendations just like when you choose a captain.

All of this being said, FM tends to go overboard with certain player interactions. If an average player wants #33 and gets #36 instead they should probably NOT become murderously angry for 9 months until forcing a move away from the club. There is definitely a nuanced balance to be struck here.

[enigmatic]

28 minutes ago, Weston said:

All of this being said, FM tends to go overboard with certain player interactions. If an average player wants #33 and gets #36 instead they should probably NOT become murderously angry for 9 months until forcing a move away from the club. There is definitely a nuanced balance to be struck here.

You've played the game before, you know this is what a move in this direction will actually end up with  . Your youth team captain turning your entire youth squad against you  because his preferred shirt number is currently occupied by Harry Kane, your new signing demanding to be sold before even playing a game because the autoassign didn't/couldn't give him his much coveted number 37, your star striker suddenly losing confidence because he's got Basingstoke's famous number 10 shirt.

Maybe some media stories about iconic number 9s would be a nice cosmetic touch, but introducing more player tantrums or weird losses of form for implausible reasons and interactions which bear no resemblance to real life and have no possible resolution is the very opposite of what should be happening.

[steff13]

do you have few troubles with your players? for me, maybe the only thing, that they haven't took offence to me, was their shirt number... 

[Weston]

35 minutes ago, enigmatic said:

Maybe some media stories about iconic number 9s would be a nice cosmetic touch, but introducing more player tantrums or weird losses of form for implausible reasons and interactions which bear no resemblance to real life and have no possible resolution is the very opposite of what should be happening.

 

18 minutes ago, steff13 said:

do you have few troubles with your players? for me, maybe the only thing, that they haven't took offence to me, was their shirt number... 

Neither of you are wrong, but this shouldn't be idealistic. I'm presenting this suggesting off the base assumption that FM is already working very hard to fix the currently disastrous player interaction system. This CAN work, IF the game is improved, which is what we're all aiming for here in this forum. Believe me, if they introduce a way for your players to mutiny because the third choice goalkeeper couldn't get #9 then I will be the first to complain haha!

[Jimmy Wong]

Thank you. Reviewed so locked.