Football Manager 2024 review: With truer football motion, increased tactical details, an enhanced transfer market and a smarter player interaction system, this is another great stride for the FM franchise

• The latest edition of Football Manager is set to be released on November 6 
• FM 24 includes several new and improved features that enhance the game
• This includes changes to the transfer market and player interaction system

It’s that time of the year where everyone channels their inner Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho or even Neil Warnock.

Yes, it’s the time for the release of the next instalment of the legendary Football Manager franchise with FM 24.

It feels as if every time SEGA announce a host of improvements to the game, and this year is no different. 

There has been a complete revamp on set pieces, allowing for more control over your teams tactics. 

You are also now able to offload players through agents, providing you with more funding to rebuild your squad.

The latest edition of the Football Manager franchise, FM24, will be released on November 6

The game sees a variety of improvements across a whole range of different features 

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Meanwhile, there are also number of ways to set targets and encourage, allowing for a different method of motivating players.

But how does the latest model of the game line up overall? Below, Mail Sport takes a look at various aspects.

GAMEPLAY

Firstly, this year’s improvements allow for a more complete control over the club you decide to manage, yet you are still able to adjust your level of control. 

You are even able to dictate if you would like current transfers to be included in your game file. There is the ‘FM Original’ mode – where updated squads are included from the start, ‘Real World’ – which follows transfers by the date, so if there are any deals to happen in January, these will continue to go ahead in the save at that point.

Finally there is ‘Your World’ – this is a mode where there is a blank canvas and no transfers that are due to happen in the future will take place. This mode is targeted for players looking for a different reality.

The biggest upgrade is the option to carry your saves across. So when you open up FM24 for the first time, you will be able to bring your 10-year save when you took Bromley from the National League to the Premier League across from FM23.

But, with regards to the gameplay in matches, FM24 sees huge improvements, particularly with the way players behave.

The new game allows you to choose a particular game mode with regards to future transfers

There are several updates to ball physics, lighting and player behaviour within the gameplay

The new build-up to matches increases the excitement ahead of kick off, while players’ movements and rotations are even more realistic and you will definitely notice differences with a huge amount of positional fluidity.

This is particularly pertinent with the introduction of an inverted full-back player role, with those in that position becoming increasingly important attacking weapons in the modern day.

It is noticeable that the players perform their roles like you would expect them to do in the real world which is a welcome boost.

There are other general upgrades to ball physics and lighting too and the realism of matches is only increasing.

TRANSFER OVERHAUL

If you thought that it was easy to sign players previously, those days are now gone. Following the overhaul of the transfer market this year, be prepared to battle with rival managers for signatures of stars and staff. 

This may even result in you missing out on your top transfer targets, due to fighting against increasingly intelligent AI managers. 

The aforementioned use of intermediaries as essentially third-party brokers is another intriguing addition.

They can be used to generate interest in your unwanted stars, or help to sell other players if you are looking to raise money. 

You can now use intermediaries as essentially third-party brokers to sell unwanted players 

It is an intriguing addition alongside TransferRoom and only increases the realism of the game

A new partnership with TransferRoom – a real life player trading subscription platform where clubs can list players and communicate with other clubs over transfers – has also been added to the game.

Again, this helps to generate interest in players, while you can also see which players are available to sign from other teams.

On a separate note, the J1, J2 and J3 leagues have now been added. This is greeted with glee for for Japanese fans, as they have been added as an in-game league for the first time in history while it also provides you with the chance to pick up the next Karou Mitoma!

TACTICS 

The overhaul on tactics and player interactions are probably the biggest changes on FM24.

We mentioned above about the in-game movements via gameplay, but a particularly welcome addition is the introduction of set piece coaches.

Ever the craze in the Premier League these days, it provides you with one less thing to worry about, while also ensuring your dead ball deliveries are as effective as possible.

Similarly, if you do want to control them, you are also now able to simply select the priority of what tasks you want assigned when attacking and defending, and then your coaches automatically pick the best players for each role.

For example, which players are most suited to attacking the front post, who should be staying back and who is hovering on the edge of the area. This is most welcome as you no longer have a scenario where a couple of substitutions messes up the roles and your 6ft 9ins centre back ends up outside the area or even taking the corner.

The detail on implementing your particular tactics – whether this is a slow, possession-based build-up, gegenpressing or a direct style – is as impeccable and realistic as ever.

The overhaul on tactics and player interactions are probably the biggest changes on FM24

The delegation of set piece responsibilities give managers one less thing to worry about

Interactions with players have improved massively too. If a player comes to you with a problem, such as complaints about their lack of playing time, you are now able to set them targets to meet.

This could be a certain number of goals to change their squad status, and can also be used when sending young players out on loan.

For example, if you are Manchester United manager and Facundo Pellistri goes on loan to Wolves, you could say to the young Uruguayan, “get me 10 goals and assists across the season and you’ll become a first team player next season”, and this ability to interact improves the immersive experience of the game.

The interactions are much more realistic, both from a verbal and body language perspective, which ensures you can have truly constructive conversations with players and staff. 

VERDICT

As someone who hops between wanting full control over the club and just looking to focus on games, FM24 provides a game for players of all ages. 

If you want to start the next Wrexham project, try and win the Treble again with Man City, or to take your boyhood club back to their glory days, there is a mode for all.

There is a reason that the Football Manager series continues to hold high levels of popularity. 

The numerous upgrades, paired with several adaptations to suit player needs, whether you are a novice or an FM pro, means SEGA have provided a go to game for fans all around the world. 

With truer football motion, match authenticity and tactical details, this is yet another great stride for the franchise.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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