FM2005

By Tom Bason
June 8 2011

For me, Football Manager, and its Championship Manager predecessor is not a game, it’s more of a way of life. Wolves are always an interesting team on it, full of good players yet underperform when managed by the computer. Here is a rundown of my all-time Wolves CM/FM XI. I’ve gone for my favoured formation on CM, 4-3-1-2. Note, all players are players who started with the club, not signings I’ve made:

GK Matt Murray; FM2006

Goalkeepers have always been a little poor for Wolves, and it says a lot that the best of the lot was never a regular for my Wolves team, having to sit on the bench behind the Uruguyan Hector Carini. However, eventually he became England’s first choice, and never failed me when called upon. Sadly, towards the end of his career he decided that the grass was greener elsewhere, and departed in search of first-team football.

DR Serge Romano; CM96/97

A player signed in the summer of 1996, who went on to play a massive five games in real life (two starts). On CM96/97, Wolves were well blessed with rightbacks, and Romano had to fight off a young Jamie Smith for his starting spot, experience winning through. However, age eventually told, and he lost his place to a young whippersnapper by the name of Cafu, who went on to lead the Premier League goalscoring charts from rightback. For a couple of seasons, Romano was dependency personified before the years took their toll.

DC Dean Richards; CM98/99

It was writing my tribute to Deano that inspired me think about my greatest CM/FM team. Richards was a rock for Wolves, specialising in the centre of a back-3. However, he was more than capable of playing in a back-4. The only problem with him was his contract expired at the end of the season, and if you did not manage to get it renewed, Europe’s big boys all came sniffing around. Aged 24, he had ten years at the top level left him, and always went on to win numerous England caps.

DC Joleon Lescott; CM00/01

The only question about Jo was whether to include the CM00/01 version or the FM2006 one. Both were excellent, capable to making the step up to a higher level. I plumped the former version due to his age, just 19 meaning he had a number of years left in front of him. I pretty much signed him for whoever I was managing, and he never once let me down.

DL Lee Naylor; CM98/99

Just as the last six years have been characterised by a lack of a left back, so has Wolves’ CM/FM history. Lee Naylor, a Wolves supporter made over 300 Wolves appearances in real life, and stood out as a young 18 year old on CM98/99. Equally happy at fullback, or being played further forward as a wingback, he was never a player to go on to great things, but was a steady player who was capable of scoring goals.

CM Paul Cook; CM93/94

I was just 10 years old when I last played this version, so my memories are a little hazy, but I clearly remember Paul Cook’s gorgeous left peg. The short of player who would dominate games, I remember him getting numerous Man of the Match awards, who would also chip in with goals.

CM Fernando Gomez; CM98/99

Another player who many fans will have forgotten ever played for Wolves (20 starts + 2 sub appearances), but on CM98/99 he was a wonderful midfielder, guaranteed to get 20+ assists a season with 5 or 6 goals. Aged 33 when he arrived, longevity wasn’t on his side and as such his physical stats declined rapidly, but who needed pace when you had his vision. One of the best passers in the history of Wolves CM/FM history, I couldn’t see him and Cook ever giving the ball away.

CM Colin Cameron; CM01/02

This is probably a personal choice, as Cameron is one of my all-time favourite Wolves players, but he was excellent on CM01/02. Play him as a central midfielder with license to get forward, he would run all day and grab his fair share of goals. If you desired, it was generally possible to get £7-8 million at the end of the season, but why would you want to do that?

AMC Robbie Keane; CM98/99

I would put him forward as the greatest Wolves player ever on CM/FM, Aged just 18, he was a magician when played behind a front-two. A picture can tell a thousand words, this screenshot describes everything I want to say about him. Legend

SC Steven Fletcher; FM2011

The most recent player in the team, in his one and only season so far for Wolves. Links up beautifully with Kevin Doyle (how I wish this was real life), when played as a deep lying forward, he would drop in behind the lines and cause defenders and midfielders untold problems. Never a player to moan when not starting, his work ethic and effort (basically, he would put in a shift) were vital to a team with few stars.

SC Dean Sturridge; CM03/04

I didn’t play this version for long as I only got a computer that it would work on a month or so before Football Manager 2005 came out (I was still playing CM00/01 and 01/02 until then), but in the one season I remember, Sturridge got 27 Premier League goals. Given a free-role, he would play off the likes of Steffen Iversen and score goals. His all-round play wasn’t the best, but he was a goalscorer, and a godsend to a team with precious little in the rest of the team.

My Favourite XI - Championship Manager

Discussion started by Wolves , 08/06/2011 13:24

Wolves
08/06/2011 13:24

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ernesto hunt
08/06/2011 14:50

Why bother with this fantasy world stuff when reality is so much more interesting - in fact, incomparably more interesting.

If you are going to 'time waste' your life away - and at twenty five probably the best all round years of your life - then do something more constructive, for God's sake!

This facility that enables a 'restart' on most of these electronic games seems to have addled the brains of many of the young, especially some on this board, into believing the world can be changed and mistakes or wrong judgements reversed with the ease of pressing a button.

Some consequences of poor decisions last for decades, as do some at Wolves to this day. Life has no reset button and the more time spent debating and planning of choices makes for less problems in the future.

Wolf³, I have two words of advice for you - GET REAL.

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Surrey Wolf
08/06/2011 15:02

Harsh ernesto!.... some of us like playing these games they're good fun....the worry is people who think that because x player did well for them in a game they should be worth a punt in real life. Football manager et all do not represent real life.

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Joker In The Pack
08/06/2011 15:08

Ernesto, how can you slag anybody off about living in a fantasy world with a name tag like yours? talk about trying to live the dream......

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ernesto hunt
08/06/2011 20:49

I know it's harsh, Surrey. But I share your worry that some are confusing the fantasy with the reality.

Joker, don't think I ever tried to live the dream. Only too aware of my failings. Anyway, I changed the 'ie' to an 'o' specifically to distinguish my tag from the real thing.

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toomb
08/06/2011 20:59

Jeez Ernesto. It was just supposed to be a bit of fun in the close season when there's not a lot else to write about.

I don't get anything for this, sometimes I really don't know why I bother



toomb's twitter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:08:22:58:36 by Wolf Like Me.

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davies wolf
08/06/2011 21:24

well i enjoyed the read, remembering the players we use to have. got fm2011 and fletcher is immense, still got him 5 seasons later

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Ivybridge Wolf
08/06/2011 22:47

Live and let live I say.

Anybody for a game of bar football? ..... it was big in the 70s!!

Keep going with the articles Toomb.

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Badge32
08/06/2011 22:56

I am a FM man myself and currently have FM2012. I tend to start in the lower regions and try to earn the Wolves job so most of the players tend to be gone when I arrive.

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