Well, a few years ago whilst looking at the Sigames forums i stumbled up LLM'ers. A rather strange bunch of people with their own idea of how the game should be played, and to say they take it seriously would be an understatement. Basically, it's a way of playing the game in the most 'realistic' way i.e. No searching for players, using other peoples tactics or looking at the player transfer screen. Searching for players that were good on previous games is a big 'no-no'. The only players you can sign are those that your scouts find. Usually a random team generator is used to pick the team you start as, and, taking England as an example, any club above conference level is unacceptable. Anyways, my current FM games had become a bit stale, having grown bored of constant success with the same players, i felt a new challenge was in order. A quick trip to the SI forums for a brush up on the LLM 'rules' followed by a trip to the random team factory named 'frank', which picked out Thurrock, who would now be the proverbial guinea pig in my LLM experiment. With a meagre bank account of £7k and not a penny to spend, my boards aspirations of a respectable top half finish would seemingly have to be achieved by my inheritted squad with an average age of 23. The early pre-season signs we're inconsistent, i had no trouble scoring goals, but shipped them by the bucket load. My attempts to add to my scouts were unsuccessful, no applications for the position meant i was stuck with my single unproductive scout. The season had began by the time he found his 1st player, meaning i was unable to add to my squad before the season opening. Indifferent results followed, it was no suprise that i was the top scorer in the league, but also had the worst defensive record. Time for a few tweaks to the tactics i felt. Thankfully my scout had started to do some work, and by September i'd added to my squad to the tune of 3 long term loans and 4 free transfer signings, their names shall remain annoymous as is the LLM way. So, until my next update, i'm off to the training ground to try and whip my current squad into shape. Anybody else every tried the LLM way? Any who have, feel free to post their stories on here, just remember the LLM game means no bragging, no tactic tips and no player names/recommendations.
Cool, very good My friend plays llm rules. I often play in those leagues,however not totally to the llm rules.
Ok, ive liked the idea of doing it, its just getting round to it I once managed bishops stortford as llm in 2006 which was fun. I did 6 seasons, getting 2 promotions
I'm also a user on the sigames forums and it appears a decent way of playing the game, i might do it at some point but never really got round to it. Regarding those that only play the LLM way on the forums well the regulars in the LL section are to be quite honest a bunch of jumped up wan*ers. They're so far up themselves it's unreal, they obviously think they are far superior. I reckon their attitude actually puts some people off playing LL.
I actually enjoy reading some of these posts as much as the blogs from the real games! Keep me up to date please Luke when you next have some news. As Spock might say, fascinating
this is the first ive heard about this type of game it sounds interesting and would make a change from the real thing though currently only 5 season in with swansea and that was a nice challenge for me might try conference normally and then give it a go is it sumtin ud recomend trying out?
Totally agree mate, read about this a few years ago but never gave it a try. Must admit it's been well worth it. Only started this afternoon and i've been totally engrossed. Spent a good hour or so earlier reading threads in the LLM section and i must say your description is just perfect. They treat it like some kind of exclusive cult and i'd agree they must definately put people off playing.
Thank you sir, praise indeed from our leader. Fear not, the next update will arrive fairly soon, what else does a student have to do other than play FM?
frank just gave me harrpgate town. although i guess i have to stick with it, it just so happens thats where a very goof friend of mine comes from and by way of describing my hatred for it, it has the only northern waitrose in england.
Cool I'll look out for you on the forums there, I mainly post in the 360 section as thats the version I play now.
January Update Well to say i'm not pleased would be very wrong. We entered January on a 10 match unbeaten run which has seen us rise to a more than respectable 4th position. With little knowldege of football at this level, and only one rather poor excuse for a scout to find me players, i'd anticipated a season of inconsistency, moments of magic followed by moments of madness. A further 3 free transfer signings added to the squad and the addition of a young Nigerian striker on loan until the end of the season softened the blow of losing my top scorer for anything up to 6 months. Despite that loss, we've continued to bang in the goals, 47 goals in 24 games gives an average of almost 2 goals a game, certainly a factor in the rising attendances at Ship Lane. Despite a rising wage bill, the bank balance shows a respectable £13k in the black. Look no further than our superb FA Cup run for a reason to explain the sudden upturn in our financial position, which took us through to the 2nd Round after beating local rivals Gravesend of the Conference National 4-1 away from home. The cup run came to an end away at Carlisle with a 5-1 defeat, our first taste of action against full timers left me in no doubt how far we'll have to progress if we want to make it as far as League One. I can't help but get the feeling we've been punching above our weight so far in the league, we've won a number of games in the last minute or withstood a barrage from the opposition and sneaked a winner before desperate defending took over and helped ensure the 3 points. This team never seems to stop fighting, testament to this is the fact we've lost the least games out of all the teams in the league. So until next time, hope you enjoyed the read, and if your not too busy, how about applying for my vacant scout position, little or no knowledge is required, just ask my current one.
You've made me want to try this now, my Watford games gone stale, young top 6 side but with no chance of massive improvement in foreseeable future to win the league. I'm gonna have a go at the Welsh Premier League. My main aim - to (eventually!) win the Uefa Cup with Aber Town!
I can't hack the games that low down - though I admire those who can. I tried Bedford Town when I first got FM07, though I didn't exactly stick to the LLM rules. The net result was relegation from the Conference South in my first season. They're probably the hardest side to manage in the game though: no infrastructure, no money, not a single player or staff member of note and newly promoted.
I would apply but i get the feeling youd rather not know about the players who have "the best legs" or look most like Hendo. FM's more fun when you just cheat no no im lying.. honestly..
Job application denied. When Thurrock have progressed enough and i'm in a position where we can hire a tea lady, i'll give you a call, providing Hollyoaks isn't on.
I might well be trying to make it realistic, but you can't compensate for the other sides. Top of the Conference South Fisher Athletic's star right winger has just signed a 2 year deal worth £100,000. I Can't imagine many Conference South part-timers are on £50k a year.
I once had a lower league game with St Albans, you tend to be able to get Watford players to come on loan due the geographical location of both towns. I managed to develop a left winger called Alex Beckham from the age of 16. He played in my team as we marched up the leagues and it was most satisfying when he got his first Ireland cap! I love that about footy manager the fact that you can develop players if you stick with them.
sometimes developing players backfires though i bought joao carlos (gk) when he was 18 for 900k hes now 21 a regular in the brazilian team and getting first team football in my mid table prem side (swansea) but now hes worth 6 million and chelsea and aresnal are showing an interest immediatly he wishes to leave he handed in a transfer request and i rejected it hoping he'll change his mind as 3 more years on his contract :]] he probs wont but a man can dream
I'm starting a game with St.Albans with the patch but can't be bothered to do LLM, basically i'm putting it off again ;D
Good old St Albans! Try and get Blizzard on loan, I managed to get him for a season in the Conference south and he quickly became a legend.
Well, to say it was a season of ups and downs would be an understatement. A devastating loss of form saw us lose 9 games on the spin, before 2 draws helped steady the ship. This horrific loss of form saw us plummit from a healthy 4th in the table to a still respectable but not quite as inspiring 11th position. The loss of form no coincidence with the loss of our big Nigerian striker who missed the final 4 months of the season with a Fractured skull. His strike partner, the Small Nigerian struggled to find the net without his bruising fellow countryman beside him. Thankfully the horrifc run was followed by a contrasingly brilliant run. The final 10 games saw us win 8 and draw 2, leaving us once again in 4th spot and the Conference South play-off's drew us against Newport County, a team i had already beaten twice that season. A decent 0-0 draw in the first leg away from home left me feeling confident, that is until my keeper decided he'd have the mother of all shockers in the return leg, 3 shots on target let to 4 goals, quite how this happened i'm unsure but nevermind. A consolation goal did little to raise my spirits, although i was suitably proud to have taken a team predicted for mid-table mediocrity into the play-offs. The close season saw a number of changes, 3 of the loan signings from the previous season returned to their clubs, however a young centre back from Crystal Palace decided to stick around for another season. Add to this further loan signings which consisted of a striker from Brighton, a winger from Crystal Palace and a centre midfielder (and free-kick god) from Oldham, i fancied our chances of bettering the previous seasons accomplishments. Add to this the free transfer signings of a few players released from League clubs leaving me with the feeling that anything less than a play-off spot would be deemed a failure. My board were slightly less optimistic in saying that a comfortable mid-table position would be deemed a suitable achievement. So we began the season with high expectations. The opening games brought scrappy wins without really dominating sides, although who am i to complain about picking up points without playing well. Steady progress was being made in the FA Cup, until we met local rivals Gravesend in the final qualifying round. The Conference National side proving too strong for us and gained a 3-1 victory. An Irish ex Birmingham pro was added to our squad in September, with the right winger scoring a brace on his debut. Unfortunately to accomodate his wages we were forced to release a couple of young players who didn't look like they'd have a future at the club. Bids from Hibernian and Norwich for our star left winger were rejected. We might be skint, but offering a fifth of his actual value is taking the biscuit, We Shall Not Be Moved!! So after 16 games, we're sitting pretty in 1st place, 7 points ahead of our nearest rivals Farnborough in 2nd place. Non-League legends Stevenage await us in the next round of the FA Trophy. So as we approach christmas with everything to play for, i can feel myself becoming more and more attached to my Thurrock game, even took the time to look out for their result in the classifieds on Saturday afternoon, a 0-0 with Salisbury City if your interested. Roll on this evening when i can settle down for a few more hours of FM fun.
Yea i was, several seasons of hard work with little result, progress had just started and the future was looking bright, then the wan*ers sacked me. Don't know what you're laughing at, bet you were distraught when you got Watford relegated to league one on FM06.
