Icy

We are two already but it sucks as some teams I enjoy watching in real life use it and I'd like to use it without feeling "dirty".

Totally agree with you both. I recently wrote this in the unofficial reddit channel and will paste here as well as it applies to your points: In some cases it's a matter of how difficult is becoming to self impose rules so it reaches a ridiculous point like ok let's play with our eyes closed and moving the mouse with our feet while singing and cooking. I have been playing LLM rules forever, even before it was like a standard set of rules. Initially they were trying to make the game more realistic juts using common sense, let's not do things that are not realistic even if the game allows me to do them, but now I find myself restricting what I can do more and more not for extra realism but because deficiencies of the game. Like in FM24 if i use a 4-2-3-1 with two support DMs they over perform and play better than a more realistic anchor or defensive midfielder on defend and B2B or playmaker, one containing, the other running or passing. But on the other hand, to use two support DMs is not totally unrealistic, so why not to use it? What about using a 4-2-4... it's not usual but... not totally unrealistic to use it either, so if I'm losing a game and I switch in the last 10 minutes to 4-2-4 attacking... am I cheating or being unrealistic? I feel I do, so I don't use it. If I praise the players training every week for 3 weeks, their morale goes up (If I do a 4th time they lose it because I'm praising them too much). So should I stop praising my players training to not to get that morale boost? Press conferences mind games. Besides how repetitive and boring they are, once you master the mind games, and you don't need to be so smart, just use common sense and observe results. Then you can use them to your advantage vs the AI, should I then delegate press conference? I can be so aggressive signing quality staff so it's so easy to have the best staff in your league and for cheap. Should I delegate then staff signing to the AI to not to take advantage of it? I can rotate my players much more than the AI, like every game in the second half I do the max 5 player changes, so all my players are in good form, reduce injuries and nobody complains about playing time. The AI does not, is that unrealistic what I do? The famous gegenpress tactic, we know it's overpowered in the ME, but there are many teams playing like that in real life, so can I use it? what is the limit of it being unrealistically used? What about attacking mentality the 90 minutes even against teams better than mine? Signing young players fired from top teams is something that happens a lot in real life, and some of them with that second chance become decent top division players but... in FM it happens way too much to the point that it's so easy to have the youngest team in the league with low salaries. There is no incentive to sign old veterans as their mental and tutoring skills do not matter that much. Should I restrict myself to 1 young FA signed per year? or 2 or 3? what is realistic? I can continue with many examples that are not just abusing the game with weird formations and sadly it extends to more and more parts of the game so at the end if I don't want to feel like I'm overachieving because I'm gaming the game I just must delegate everything to the AI and just click on continue, that of course is no longer playing a game but watching it.

Going a bit offtopic but I'm 100% with you. I'm a Real Madrid fan in real life but I haven't coached it in FM in the almost 30 years I have been playing CM/FM as I want a challenge. I play exclusively LLM with a lot of self imposed rules for realism and as soon as I win too much, got back to back promotions or have too much money in my bank I get bored and start a new save. I'd love to really have to work my way up, to grind every game, every signup I make, every young player i find and develop and it all without handicapping myself that much or not using the game as it's designed but I guess we are in the minority here but we are still not alone. Check the realism thread for same minded players ( I wish we could have the LLM forums back). And yeah, I'm a 49 years old fart, who has been playing this game since CM Italy in 1994 and who also play complex wargames and strategic ones that feel more like a second job and where I struggle to win. It all despite being the CEO of a large adtech company with an stressing real life but I don't need easy games to relax but complex ones to challenge me.

Yes, they do. the text commentary also displays it from time to time, like coach X berated his team or something along that.

Why is Bellingham playing left sided? he is not fast enough to play there. Imho he has amazing quality but can't find his role at the national team. His natural position is number 10 but Fodden is also great there and more mobile so maybe he should go back and play alongside Rice but going forward as b2b or mezzala (in FM terms)? I also wonder if he is also going to play back in the midfield in Real next season with Kross gone or he will keep playing more as 10 or even second striker.

Joselu from second division to winning league, champions and euro in the same year, so happy for him. Now earn some money in Qatar and enjoy life.

Yessss! I think it was deserved. Spain played like a team regardless of who was on the field. I was really scared when Rodri went out but Zubimendi did perfect there. I think we played very well in general, thanks to Nico and Yamal we can mix the old short passing control style with counters and wing play that we didn’t have before. I we just had a proper striker we would be unbeatable.

What a play!! Too bad Lamil didn’t score.

Just when I was going to cry about Rodri injured and we scored! Still worried about Rodri not being there, he is incredible at his position both defending and controlling the game.

If Spain wins Rodri should be man of the tournament.

England defending smart, clogging the middle and pushing Spain to the wings as we have no chances of crossing vs their central defenders. Nico or Yamal dribbling and low crosses are the only chance here.

Kane did something finally.

Good game from England, disappointed at Netherlands. I was expecting more from then. if England goes through and keeps playing like this the final vs my country could be an epic game. IMG_1576.mov I have the luck of being in the stadium right now and the ambience is fantastic, the Dutch are majority and started very vocal with the chants but they diluted like the team while the English roar after the goal was incredible.

Morata injured by an steward who fell off over him 😂

Simón with the feet is probably the worst GK I have ever seen at pro level. It’s getting ridiculous in this competition.